Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Oahu, Hawaii

Trip Duration: 4 days/3 nights

Hotel:
Sheraton Waikiki
2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815


The hotel is within walking distance to beach, restaurants and shopping area. Most of the time after dinner, we just stroll at the beach or do some shopping. They also have an infinity pool facing the beach as well as kids friendly pool.

Things to do:
  • Iolani Palace(Tour Close @ 4pm)
    • Nice place to visit, they have parking inside and there are also street parking, but read the sign for street parking to make sure your car does not get towed! The basement area was under construction when we visited here, but still a must visit place in Oahu.
  • King Kamehameha Statue
    • If you watch Hawaii 5-0, you would notice this statue instantly. This statue is across from Iolani Palace and in front of Aliiolani Hale(Hawaii Supreme Court). After you take picture with the statue, make sure to go inside Aliiolani Hale. They have museum there and this is also another spot you'll notice in Hawaii 5-0. 
  • Polynesian Cultural Center 
    • Expect to spend the whole day here. If this is your first time to Oahu, you need to include this in your must visit list. We reached here just before noon and it's the perfect time. This is what we did in order:
      • Island of Hawaii 
      • Island of Fiji
      • Iosepa
      • Lunch
      • Canoe Parade
      • Samoa show
      • Aotearoa
      • Tonga
      • Canoe ride
      • Luau Dinner
      • HA Breath of Life
  • Dole's Plantation
    • It feels like a waste of time going here. We took the train rides(it was ok) and also the maze(it was wet so not so fun having to step on soggy grounds). The pineapple ice cream is such a rip off. It was really expensive. The store has some really interested stuffs I never seen outside Dole's. If you have extra time, you should do a short visit here, but if not, it's ok to pass on this.
  • Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, Bowfin Submarine Museum, and Pacific Aviation Museum
    • Make sure to reserve your tickets early! If not, you'll have to line up when they open(7am I believe) to get your tickets. Tickets to Pearl Harbor is free, but if you want to visit USS Missouri or the submarine, you would need to pay extra. We visited all these 3 spots and I would say it's worth the visit! 
Foods:
  • Helena's Hawaiian Food
    • We went here straight from the airport. It's pretty close from the airport and on our way to the hotel. The short ribs deserves 4* but everything else is just ok. We ordered 2 menu D with 2 ahi poke, tripe stew and mac salad for 6 people and the portion is just right. Worth coming just for the short ribs!!
Close up of short ribs

Menu D
  • Doraku Sushi
    • Try to come during their happy hour(5-7pm everyday)! We were seated 2 minutes before happy hour ends and our server was so nice he still let us order from happy hour menu. Everything in the happy hour menu was $6 or less, including drinks!
  • Duke's Waikiki -- Not recommended
    • We have a reservation, but we still have to wait around 20 minutes before we get seated. The foods are average, but the location is nice. It's right by the beach. The foods here are expensive. There are better foods around the area, you are not missing out if you don't eat here. 
  • Marukame Udon
    • We lined up here about 15 minutes before they're open and the lines got longer and longer closer to opening time. Luckily the line moves pretty fast. They don't have a lot of seats inside and it's cafetaria style where you line up to get your foods first, pay, then sit and eat. 
Marukame Udon and extras!

  • Tea Time Taiwan
    • Ask for half sweet. The place is pretty clean and they have variety of drinks.
  • Spicy Ahi & BBQ
    • We love sushi, so when we found this place, we were in heaven! Fresh salmon and ahi, need I say more?
Salmon and Ahi Tuna Bowl

  • Bubbies Mochi
    • Their mochi ice cream is amazing! The place is hard to find, they are in the back of the complex. It took us at least 10 minutes to find it. Parking area is also small. 
  • Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin
    • Tonkatsu sandwich here is a must. Since there are so many foods we wanted to eat, we decided to buy this for to-go and eat it in the plane. Even when it's not hot, the sandwich is still really good!
  • Musubi Iyasume
    • Awesome snacks on the go! Every morning before we go, we always stop by this place and buy several musubi for breakfast and also to eat on the road. It's cash only, so make sure you have cash ready!
All the different kinds of musubi

  • Leonard's Bakery
    • The malasadas here are great! You need to eat it while it's hot though. We tried the regular/sugar, chocolate filled and custard filled. All are amazing! Must try when you are in Oahu!
Photos
pciltraveldiary's Oahu Hawaii album on Photobucket


Itinerary:
Day 1
Landed @ Honolulu Airport
Lunch @ Helena's Hawaiian Food (Cash only)
Iolani Palace
King Kamehameha Statue & Aliiolani Hale
Check in Hotel
Dinner @ Duke's Waikiki

Day 2
Brunch @ Marukame Udon(check first to make sure they are open)
Polynesian Cultural Center 

Day3
Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, Bowfin Submarine Museum, and Pacific Aviation Museum
Lunch @ Spicy Ahi & BBQ
Dole's Plantation
Dinner @ Doraku Sushi

Day 4
Stroll around the hotel
Check out and head to airport

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