Hawaii Attractions

  Notes from a Big Island

Advantages: Stunning, unique scenery, Excellent value for money, Be amazed by nature
Disadvantages: Madame Pele may not put on a lava show for you!

The state of Hawaii is made up of six major islands (there are 19 in total if you include all the minor islands and atolls), each with its own distinct personality, landscape and reasons for visiting them. O'ahu is home to state capital Honolulu and the world famous beach resorts of Waikiki, and it is here that the majority of visitors to these islands end up. While O'ahu is the Hawaii of imagined paradise, the playground in the Pacific that attracts ...
...it for me was the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The United States has many National Parks that you can justifiably describe as "spectacular": Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon would all easily fall into this category. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers something a bit more, however. As well as being spectacular, it offers nothing less than the miracle of creation as a daily attraction; Big Island is an incomplete island and evolving ...

Collingwood21 19.06.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii

So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish

Advantages: I did get to swim with a dolphin, Friendly staff
Disadvantages: Expensive, Small, Poorly maintained, Poor visitor facilities, Conditions for animals not great

...trip. This was where the Sea Life Park came in, as an option to swim with dolphins that we could afford a bit more easily. "Is This The Way To Waimanalo?" = The Sea Life Park is located on the windward side of O'ahu on Makapu'u point, near the town of Waimanalo. It is easily accessible from the tourist hub of Waikiki via the number 23 bus (which is conveniently marked "sea life park", runs frequently and picks up along Kona ...
...small compared to the huge sea life centres you find in mainland America, but no - it is just small. The central attraction is the open-air ocean theatre where daily shows are performed with dolphins and penguins, but we found upon arrival that this was closed for renovation. While we had come with the primary aim of swimming with dolphins, had I been a regular visitor this would have been very disappointing as there was no indication that the main ...

Collingwood21 02.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Sea Life Park, Hawaii

Worth a visit if you have nothing else to do.

Advantages: Lots to see
Disadvantages: be careful about the time of day you go to visit.

I visited Honolulu Zoo in the summer whilst on Honeymoon in Waikiki. The Zoo is situated at the far end of Waikiki on the way towards Diamond Head. We happened across the zoo after finding adverts in one of the many brochures and fliers you can pick up from the hotels. The Zoo is within easy walking distance of Waikiki hotels and is worth the visit if you have nothing better planned. Unfortunately we chose to go around midday on our first day - ...
...around the different areas. Honolulu Zoo is set into different continents depending on where the animals are from. This makes it easy to navigate if you have a particular wish to see a particular animal. We choose to just amble along following the path whichever way it took us. We spent a good hour and a half at the zoo and that was without much to see. I was looking forward to seeing the Tigers but they were napping in the shade and not coming ...

cathtucker06 22.11.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu

Ala Moana Shopping Center

Advantages: Nice, good shops, restaurants, good time
Disadvantages: None

I have visited Ala Moana several times. It is really one of the best shopping centers I have ever been to (I have been a lot in US and Europe). What I liked the most is that there are many shops starting from medium to high budget, having famous designer goods. The Information Desk staff is very helpful and nice. Lots of small bench areas between shops - so you can leave your family to rest for some time if you want to have a look at some stores ...
...atmosphere inside, open air. This shopping center has the first floor dedicated to all type of restaurants and cafees, so you can eat really quickly and for the price you want. On the top floor they have some beautiful restaurants, having Hawaiian music and dances, with very good service. There is a show time at the afternoon every Sunday - with real Hawaiian Hula dances, songs and fun. Really good ...

AAmelia 13.08.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Ala Moana Center, Honolulu

Hilo Hattie the best shop in town

Advantages: Hawaii in a shop
Disadvantages: NONE

Hilo Hatties are all over Hawaii, and you can not go to Hawaii with out going here. It is Hawaii in a shop literally! Filled to the brim with all of Hawaiis most popular gift ideas, save all your present shopping for here. They have so many great buys from Hawaiian atire, to the best coffee in the world (KONA), macadamea nuts (Get me some please), mugs, T-shirts, Hula dolls, Hawaiian kitchen utensils, picture frames and much much more. You really ...
...you buy too many!!!!! Hilo Hattie although just a tourist shop is a mini experience in itself, you walk in and are often greated with free coffee or juice, given a lay andyou begin your shopping. There is so much to choose from. t is a very colourful exciting shop that really gives the essence of Hawaiian culture. You can collect tockens and if you spend a certain amount in any combination of Hilo Hatties you can get a free gift. Depending on which ...

Suzanne8 17.11.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Hilo Hattie's, Honolulu