A (Perfect) Week in Hawaii

Hawaii is the definition of paradise. Comprised of 7 islands, each has its own unique gift to the world. December 17, 2011 I quit my job working as a corporate slave in Houston, TX. My next adventure would take me to Corpus Christi, but I did not start until January 7, 2012. That day is also my lovely wife’s birthday, whom was off from work for winter break. With the help of mileage points, I was able to book 2 tickets from Houston to Honolulu for a minimal price (Click here to get the details). To add to the benefit, my cousin was a dive instructor off Waikiki Beach. It can be pricey to island hop from the main island, so here is a way to spend 5 days in Hawaii!

Day 1

Visiting family can help cut cost!

From Houston, we arrived in Hawaii around lunch time. Since domestic flights do not feed you, we were starving after 8 hours. Rent your car and grab a bite. Local fast food is the L&L. I would recommend getting a hotel at Waikiki since most of your activities will be water based. There are plenty of hotels a couple blocks off the beach that are affordable (~$100/night) and still walking distance to the beach. Just relax the first day. Check into your hotel and go to the beach. Hawaii is 4 hours behind Central Time Zone so bed time may come early. Test out some restaurants with a view.

USS Missouri

Day 2

Aviation Museum

Typically I would go straight for the strenuous activities, but the Pearl Harbor Exhibit would be something I would do first. We mistakenly did this the last day (day of flight) and we were rushed plus the sun drained us. There is some great information and great stories to be heard. Some you can't even believe like the USS Missouri is 5 feet long and 18 feet wider than the RMS Titanic! They have different combinations you can do. The obvious must is the USS Missouri. Take your time here. Do the self-guided audio tour. We also did the aviation museum (a shuttle bus takes you, don't walk) which was great. Visit all the hangers you can. After touring Pearl Harbor, finish the day with a Luau. Most hotels can arrange Luau’s.
We tried out Germaine's, but there are others, including one in Wakiki with Hilton Hotels. There are Luau's throughout the island, but this island has HORRIBLE traffic. Actually second to only Los Angeles. The dinner and a show is amazing. Traditional style roast and a “time travel” show of how the native Hawaiians got here. They are expensive, about $75 a person, but it was fun. Can't beat a dinner and a show!

Day 3

Koko is steep!

Hiking day! I would begin with Koko head trail that is East of Waikiki Beach. This is a popular hike, so go early! It is very easy to get to, but a steep climb. Sometimes called stair masters on steroids.There are remnants of an old railway that went up the mountain that takes the place of part of the trail. This trail gets packed, but the views at the top are worth it. Make sure you bring lots of water as you will need it. Most people turn right back around, but I suggest exploring once on top. You are see downtown and into the ocean as far as the visibility will let you. We even saw a whale breeching the surface! On the way back to Waikiki stop at Diamond Head Crater. This can actually been seen from Koko Head. This hike will give you good views along Waikiki and downtown Honolulu as it is very close. You'll probably be exhausted, so hang out in Waikiki and rest. Beer is always good after a solid workout!

Yep. That's an octopus on my head

Day 4

Always something...

If you are not SCUBA certified… do it. Hawaii had great dive opportunities. I used Island Divers because it was close to where I was staying. We did 2 dives and it only took half the day. I recommend searching around, but you really can’t even go wrong. There is even night diving! The dives are generally picked the morning you depart and take weather into consideration. Most of the dive spots were a 15-30 minute ride and could easily still see the shore. The visibility is great, plenty of marine life, and bountiful colors of coral. Since you are already wet try some surfing on Waikiki after the dive. You can rent a board for an hour. These waves are not the same as seen on North Shore. They are quite a bit smaller and you have to be patient. Also, it is not a sand bottom, so make sure you avoid the coral. I wasn’t so lucky… So maybe next time I should just relax on the beach and enjoy a nice drink... which isn't a bad idea either if you aren't a surfer. Wrap up the day doing some souvenir shopping at the International Market Place in Waikiki. Although, it is very commercialized, they do have an abundance of items to chose from in one centrally located area.

HUGE waves on North Shore

Day 5

Pack up all your stuff in the car and head out to North Shore. No need to get in (unless you dare!) but just enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing. We visited the beach where world class surfers compete in the Pipe Masters, talk about scary waves! Swing over to the Dole Plantation and take a quick tour. You may learn some fascinating information like pineapples do NOT grow on trees (you’re welcome for saving you the embarrassment later on). Try some fresh pineapples, or anything pineapple for that matter.

Home featured in the HPV

Depending on your time of departure or willingness, the Hawaiian Plantation Village (HPV) has a 90 minute tour. The tour involved the staple sugar canes and the lifestyles of the early Hawaiians. It is interesting to see how the natives adapted their life around the sugar cane industry and how they lived.

There are of course other fun things to do on the main island, like Stairway to Heaven. Overall, you honestly can't go wrong. Plus there are plenty of waterfalls!