Oahu

Hawaii, as travel agents and Hollywood like to remind us, is "paradise". Mark Twain himself described it as "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean". When we think of Hawaii we imagine beautiful beaches bordered by palm trees, hula dancers swaying gracefully in the sun and richly colourful tropical sunsets, but if you push past the hype what do you actually find? Well, turns out they are pretty much right and this is paradise ...
...ever expect to find. Hawaii is spending days hiking through rainforests and up extinct volcanoes to savour dramatic views, before enjoying evenings sipping mai tais to the sound of slack-keyed guitar music as you bask in the last warm rays of the tropical sun. It is drinking gloriously fresh guava juice with flowers in your hair and garlanded round your neck, just because they are there. It is swimming in the warm Pacific Ocean and marvelling at ...

Collingwood21 15.04.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Oahu

...there, we visited two islands, Oahu and the Big Island. I think we spent only three days in Oahu. Here I will attempt to describe some of the interesting points of our visit. Polynesian Cultural Center ========================== Suffering from jet lag and arriving around midnight, we decided to visit and read most if not all the tours available in the hotel lobby. We booked a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center for our first day. It was quite ...
...the main tourist attractions of Oahu and decide which of them is worth a second visit. Eventhough our bus guide was not native of Hawaii, but a resident from Minnesota, he proved to be entertaining. He took us to various landmarks, such as the Diamond Head Volcano, the famous Waikiki beach, places where films such as Jurassic Park, Magnum P.I., Baywatch were made. Visited a Macadamia nut farm, Dole pineapple plantations etc. We made only a few stops, ...

petitesquirt 02.07.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Oahu

...did enjoy my time on Oahu and there is plenty so see and do. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Waikiki beach is fantastic if a little overcrowded but there are plenty of city buses which can take you to the less crowded beaches around the island. The Hawaian cultural centre is great and well worth a visit but allow plenty of time to get round all the villages and whatever you do you have got to go visit the 'Chief' from Samoa, what a hilarious ...
...explain why I think it is just one of those you have to see it for yourself moments. Go to at least one Luau whilst your there, we went to Germaines and it was great. The raising of the pig ceremony has to be seen to be believed. Avoid if an easily offended vegetarian. The snorkeling at Hanuma Bay is fantastic. It was my first attempt at snorkeling and the boat we went on first took us out to a sandbank where the water was only a few feet deep so ...

foxyftb 04.08.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Oahu

...visited the Hawaiian Island of Oahu from 1956 when we Honeymooned here until the time my Nephew was killed in a car crash that was caused by a drunken driver. The first time we stayed at the Royal Hawaii, (a grand Hotel that is part of the Sheraton Chain), all the Towers in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and in our own Condo. On our Honeymoon we flew there on Pan Am with Ed Sullivan and his wife sitting across from us. We have flown on United and ...
...or shown on a Map. Oahu is the 4th largest, (Hawaii is the largest then, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Moloki and Lanai). This Island Chain is the 5oth State in the United States. Hilo on the Island of Hawaii is the Capital City. Oahu was once a much larger Island but half of it collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. It is impossible to drive arrive around the Island because the Western part are Military Bases. My review will be a composite from the many times ...

MRS.CANADA 24.09.2002 (26.09.2002) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Oahu

We travelled to Oahu in August 04. We stayed in the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach hotel. What a beautiful hotel, we booked an Oceanfront Room as we were travelling from UK, so wanted to wake up to something pretty spectacular every morning - and spectacular it was. The beach was lovely though a bit narrow and at nighttime when the gas lanterns on the beach front was lit, it was very romantic. However - it was very noisy !! My idea of a holiday is ...
...In waikiki - everyone is up extremely early (about 6am) and the noise travels quickly up to the 11th floor. Also, loud music plays all day - so no afternoon nap either.....and the music and noise goes on until about 11.30pm. I was also fairly naive about hawaii in general - I expected it to be more 'American' and have good nightlife like lively bars playing up to date music, etc. Entertainment was mainly hotel based and of the hawaiian variety, ...

brenda7657 24.05.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Oahu

...Presley of course. In reality Oahu - and in particular Waikiki Beach is a typical tourist trap, full of cheap souvenir shops and very crowded. Admittedly, its not all like that and there are some wonderful beaches, though its a matter of knowing where they are and if your time is limited, you don't want to be on the road all day. The island is perhaps best known for Pearl Harbour which is well worth a visit - a very moving experience. Accomodation ...

MikeyUK 01.07.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Oahu