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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Hawaii Help
Anyone stationed on Oahu? My parents and in-laws are coming in for Christmas and we have so many things we want to do but we need help narrowing it down. This is the first time since we PCS'd a few months ago that we are having visitors. Here's what I have so far:
Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor, Dole, Makapu light house,Waimea Valley, Diamond Head
What are your "can't miss"? TIA!
Re: Hawaii Help
I haven't lived here that long, either, but I've only been to one thing on your list (although I can see diamond head from my lanai).
The polynesian center doesn't sound like anything I'd ever visit. Same thing with Dole.
According to a visitor I took to Makapu'u, it's very similar to diamond head, so you could probably just do one of those 2. We chose makapu'u b/c the parking lot at diamond head was full.
Manoa falls is a good easy hike. Plus, once you're up in Manoa, you have an excuse to eat at sergio's.
If you're going to Waimea, continue around to the shrimp trucks. Yum, garlic shrimp. You can turn that into a loop down to Kaneohe. My parents really liked byodo-in which is along that road. I'd like to visit eventually, but it's been low on my list since I actually lived in Japan.
What about the whole downtown cultural stuff. There's Chinatown, I'olani palace, Kamehameha statue, etc. Plus it's a good excuse to be right near Hiroshi's for their half price happy hour.
Have you checked out living social or groupon? They just had something for Kualoa ranch, and I still have 2 coupons to use for a catamaran cruise in Haleiwa. I think there was a whale watching cruise recently as well.
Really, though, I wouldn't stress about making sure you hit everything. It's a vacation for your family, so let them relax. And let them just spend time with you. If you're doing both north shore and makapu'u, you're doing a ton of driving which despite having beautiful scenery can get old pretty quickly.
I agree with absolutely everything everyone just said. I think the PCC is a little too tacky, it seems like it's trying to be educational and traditional Hawaii, but it's just the opposite.
I would definitely only pick Diamond Head or Makapu'u to do, not both. I enjoy the Makapu'u hike and scenery more, but Diamond Head is like *the* symbol of Hawaii, so they might want to check it out.
My husband and I actually got that Groupon for Kualoa Ranch that Sibil mentioned. We went yesterday and spent pretty much the whole day there, horseback riding (the 1 hour tour was kinda meh...) but everything else was awesome. The movie tour was great! It can definitely be pricey though, but I would recommend the movie tour and the fishpond/tropical garden tour...those were great!! The views there are awesome, everyone was super friendly, and I learned a lot.
Dole is also iffy IMO, I guess if you have time swing in and get a pineapple whip with them, but I think the little activities there are kind of lame.
Pearl Harbor and Waimea Valley are good choices. The North Shore in general is a must-see. Ala Moana if they want to do some shopping. I like Rumfire and Shore Bird in Waikiki. I will also second the sunset booze cruise down that way, we do the Outrigger Catamaran and that's always a good time.
Like someone said, if it's their first time here then I'm sure they are looking forward to relaxing more than anything else. Hawaii is beautiful, they will have a good time no matter where you bring them!
We have very frequent visitors here and the must do's are always Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, the North Shore, and a luau.
Lower on the list are Makapu'u, Manoa, and Kailua/Lanikai. I love Hanauma Bay too, as long as you go when it's not too overcrowded. PCC was a one time thing for me that I offer to visitors, but only one has taken me up on it. We went to Dole frequently when my son was younger. It was fun for a 3 year old, not so much for anyone else. My personal favorites are Chinatown, KCC Farmer's Market and as touristy as it is, I love wandering Kalakaua and people watching. oh, and everyone always asks to go to the Aloha Stadium swap meet for souveniers.
How did I not know this?! Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
P.S. I think the discount at Rumfire is for food only, not drinks (go figure!)