March 2024

We had an amazing week in Honolulu, staying at the Hilton Grand Islander in Waikiki, where our one bedroom suite with an ocean view balcony quickly became our favorite spot for morning coffee. The staff was wonderful, the view unbeatable, and waking up to the sound of the waves set the perfect tone for each day.

We started the trip slowly with a day around Oʻahu taking in the loacal farmers market, tasting locally baked treats, and then touring Ko’olau Distillery. Ko’olau Distillary is a veteran owned gem producing Hawaiian whiskey, vodka, and gin crafted with volcanic-filtered rainwater. This was a great and fun tour if you are interested in the alcohol making process.

Our adventure picked up the next day as we rented kayaks right from the hotel and spent a fun afternoon on the bay.  We explored Waikiki a little bit and came across a food truck park on Ala Moana Blvd. (Update: now closed) Here we sampled several dishes and enjoyed the live music for hours. It was perfect!

A major highlight was our visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial. With both of our families having strong military ties and two sons currently serving this was an emotional and moving experience. The exhibits, film, and memorials were powerful reminders of sacrifice, and visiting the resting place of 1,102 Marines and Sailors was truly humbling. I highly recommend booking reservations in advance through Recreation.gov, as slots fill quickly and people were being turned away at the enterence. Afterward, we grabbed a bit to eat at Restaurant 604, a lively waterfront spot. The food and drinks were great and we even had the honor of buying lunch for a table of young service members next to us.

The following days brought even more adventure. After fueling up with a hearty Loco Moco breakfast, we spent two days scuba diving with Kaimana Divers, exploring Horseshoe Reef and encountering sea turtles, octopus, colorful reef fish, stingrays, eels, and even a pod of dolphins. Kaimana Divers exceeded our expectations and were professional, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Wanting to stay dry for a bit, we set off to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Lāʻie. We decided to take the coach to the culture center to save us the headache of the island’s infamous traffic. Once we entered the Polynesian Cultural Center, we were immersed in the traditions of Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, and Tonga. We tried the hands-on activities, watched cultural demonstrations, rode in the canoes and ended the night with a luau and theHa: Breath of Lifeshow. While the luau food was just okay, the storytelling, music, and fire-knife performances of Ha made for an unforgettable evening. We purchased the Super Ambassador package and it came with a private tour guide to explain everything to us as we came up to it, reserved front row seats for us at every cultural event so we did not miss anything, and we had premium reserved seats at the Luau and Ha show. While we were there several people committed how this was their second and third day there as they wanted to be able to see everything, I highly advise the Super Ambassador package to save time and frustration.

On our final day, we slowed down to enjoy the beauty at Waimea Valley, wandering through lush botanical gardens before hiking the mile long trail to Waimea Falls. We decided to take the chilly dip in the pond beneath the waterfall, it was the perfect, peaceful ending to our trip.

On our last night in Honolulu, we treated ourselves to dinner at Beachhouse at the Moana, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We had a beachfront table with a front-row view of the sunset, creating the most romantic backdrop for our final evening. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere elegant yet relaxed, and it felt like the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a memorable dining experience in Waikīkī.

Honolulu may not have the laid back vibe of other Hawaiian islands – it’s busy, crowded, and full of traffic, but the blend of history, culture, adventure, and ocean views makes it a destination worth experiencing at least once.

If you’re thinking about planning your own trip to Honolulu, Hawaii I’d love to share more tips and recommendations to help you make the most of your visit!

Honolulu

Scuba Diving 

Polynesian Cultural Center