Hawaii in April

[fenchurch]

We finally remembered to actually book our tickets for the big vacation trip to Hawaii next month(!! where did the time go?) -- we kept talking about it and looking over options, but never quite getting anything purchased. Well, now we're committed, because we've paid our airfare and reserved our seats! Squee!!!

I haven't been to Hawaii since I was 10, when we stopped for a bit while we were moving back to the Mainland from Guam. I'm very excited about getting to do some of the tourist type things, because it's something I never really got to do. Whenever we were on Oahu, we spent most of our time visiting old friends of my parents -- my mom went to high school there and that's where my parents were living when they met and after they got married. It's also where I was born. rackham has never been... so, we figured it was the ideal place to celebrate our 20th anniversary (talk about wondering where the time has gone!)

Even more squee-worthy is the second leg of our vacation... on the Big Island. And you know that that means! Volcanoes!!!! SQUEEEEEE!! I've want to go to the Big Island all my life! And we're going!!! *does the Dance of Joy*

So, people! Friends of mine! For those of you who have gone more recently than I have, what's your favorite thing to do on Oahu and the Big Island?

Comments

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

My favorite things on Oahu: The shrimp trucks on the way to Waimea; watching the surf and the surfers on the North Shore; shave ice at Masumoto's (also in Waimea); driving around the island in all directions; the University of Hawaii and the neighborhood around it; the view from the Punchbowl; Haunama Bay; Diamond Head; Leonard's Malasadas (fabulous hot!) and plate lunch at the Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu;; all the Zippy's everywhere; drinks at the Halekulani at sunset (you can get virgin ones, and yeah it's corny, but beautiful); Chinese food in Chinatown; Ala Moana Beach, where real Hawaiians hang out; the first mission church and the grounds around it; the huli huli chicken trucks parked around downtown; Iolani Palace (touristy but fascinating and oh so sad); the Bishop Museum; Punahou Academy - and actually, everything in Oahu (my favorite island).

My sister says the Saturday farmer's market at Diamond Head is not to be missed - she says the homegrown/homemade fruits, jams, breads, condiments etc. are fabulous and make great gifts (I know this first-hand).

I've never been to the Big Island (only to Oahu, Maui and Kauai), but sis says the coffee plantations are cool, and they have a wonderful farmer's market too (in Hilo, I think).

You're going to have big fun no matter what you do. Hawaii is amazing.

ETA: Sunday brunch at the Halekulani is amazing, too - very expensive, but worth it just to pile your plate full of yummy Hawaiian and Asian goodies and take it to a table overlooking Waikiki. The dessert table is impressive, as well - I've never had a Sacher torte quite like the one made in Hawaii.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all the suggestions! I'll definitely be adding them to the list... Love the idea of going to the farmer's market. It's not something that ever would have occurred to me to do, either.

the view from the Punchbowl;

You know, other than going to Sea Life Park or to Paradise Park (which I hear is no longer there), the Punchbowl is the one thing I remember doing on Oahu and I'd already been planning on taking Rackham there.