saluki9 said:
We're going to Maui again this December for 10 days. It snowed for the first time in Chicago yesterday and I'm not happy about it at all. I hate cold weather.
Nords, my wife wants to fly over to Oahu for the day because in all the times we have been to Hawaii she has never seen it. All that I have really seen of it is Pearl harbor and the airport. What should we see if we only have one day there?
Damn, this is a travel agent's challenge. There's barely enough time in one day to do the USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum, let alone the rest of Oahu (I'm kidding). But I can't just point you to the "101 Things To Do" website and cross my fingers!
First, since it's only one day on Oahu, you might want to send a PM to JB for Maui suggestions. You won't have enough Oahu time to find a good surfing spot among the North Shore crowds and I don't want you meet you at Queen's Beach for surfing lessons if the water's flat (as it's likely to be at that time of year).
Here's a number of Oahu options depending on your interests:
- "Butt on a bus": Most travel agencies on Maui will offer a one-day Oahu circle-island tour. It'll leave Maui at something like (*groan*) 5 AM and drive you around Oahu, returning to Maui at (*ugh*) 11 PM. But you'll "see" everything on Oahu (even if it's just through a bus window & a camera lens) and it's an all-in-one airfare-included package with zero planning required on your part. I wouldn't do this if you have any independence whatsoever.
- Expensive retail: take a cab from the airport to Waikiki (Kalakaua Ave). Shop until you drop, stroll Waikiki beach, and dine at Duke's or the Wailana Coffee House. If you "have enough time" then go a mile ewa (west) along Ala Moana Ave to the Ala Moana Shopping Center or stroll Waikiki's history markers (they look like surfboards). Hint: If you & spouse have different interests then you could try the Army's museum at Fort DeRussy, or Bishop Center is in Oahu's financial district.
- Cheap retail: take a cab or shuttle bus to Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Shop until you drop, dine at the food booths, and maybe walk over to visit the USS ARIZONA Memorial. Buy all souvenirs, holiday presents, & gag gifts here. The Swap Meet will be open every day until Christmas.
- Urban sightseeing: take a cab to check out the holiday decorations near the Honolulu Hale (including Shaka Santa), visit Iolani Palace, stroll through Chinatown, see if Aloha Tower is open for sightseeing, and browse the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Dining could be in Chinatown, at the Marketplace, or find a cab to take you to La Mariana Sailing Club on Sand Island Access Road. (No, the cab driver is not going to abandon you in front of a crack house-- it only looks that way.) LMSC is a local legend landmark whose owner, in her 90s, may close down soon.
- Military: Cab to the USS ARIZONA Memorial and pick up tickets first. When you know your time then either browse the museum by the ticket booth, or the USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum (next door), or spend a couple hours on the USS MISSOURI Memorial (a free shuttle to Ford Island). When you're done with the ARIZONA then go back to the other two places to pick up whatever you missed. The brand-new Ford Island Naval Aviation Museum might just possibly be open by the time you get here-- or not.
- Cultural: Cab or bus to the Polynesian Cultural Center and spend the day there. However you'll probably get enough of this at Lahaina.
- Museums: Cab to the Bishop Museum with a side trip to the Maritime Museum at Aloha Tower Marketplace. If you take this option you must have your picture taken alongside a classic surfboard. When you return home you can claim that there are hundreds of them on the beach for "anyone" to borrow.
- Environmental: Wear sneakers, bring bottled water, mask/snorkel, towels, & a flashlight. Cab to Diamond Head and hike up to the lookout. Cab to Makapu'u point and hike to the lighthouse. Snorkel Hanauma Bay (closed on Tuesday!), no fins required. Cab to the Honolulu Zoo (surprisingly good, especially for Chicago residents). If the weather's rainy then fall back on the museums or Waikiki.
Did I miss any general interests?