Hawaii - travel info & pics

[GaryinSydney]

Howdy,

I'm visiting Honolulu/Waikiki in Oahu for the first time in May - but i cannot seem to find much of any information or pictures about it on SCF.

So could people please post their ideas, views, pics etc.

I'm only there for 9 nights but especially would like information on suggested tours/trips & the gay scene there.

Cheers,
Gary

[FREKI]

Hawaii :drool:

For pictures:

Honolulu:
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Honolulu+type%3Acommunity&new=1&source=search_results_top
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=Honolulu

Waikiki:
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Waikiki+type%3Acommunity&new=1&source=search_results_top
http://images.google.com/images?q=waikiki&hl=en

Hawaii: http://community.webshots.com/topics/51/100251_views_0.htm
http://www.hawaii.com/

[dmg1mn]

When I was there I remember the Polynesian Culture Center was pretty cool.
It is on the North Side of Oahu. Alittle ways from Honolulu.
http://www.polynesia.com/

Hanauma Bay Beach was cool. They call it an underwater park.
I remember you had fish swimming around your feet & you could just stand there & feed them. It is on the Southeast corner of the island.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/hanauma_bay_beach.html
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/dmg1mn/3d513632.jpg

[Jan]

Hawaii is the best place in America, next to NYC. In general you enjoy both good bits of both American and Polynesian culture, it's all there. When sticking in Oahu, you might want to avoid Waikiki for last time I was there it seemed more like a Japanese business and tourist center (seems to be a Japasese honeymoon hot spot), then a surf paradise, but then again, you might like it. You'll have a good time checking it all out yourself, nive days should be enough time to check it all out. I can't judge on the gay scene, but I really can't image anyone making a beef out of it over there. The Hawaiians cleverly developed south shore for tourists and kept the north shores pretty much to themselves, which are the best places to go if you're into surfing. If you have a chance, do fly out some of the other islands as well. I really enjoyed the laid back style of Maui. I stayed in the village of Paia for a couple of months and had no problem getting used to not knowing (or caring) what day it was. Ho'okipa beach (near Paia) is good for wind surfing if you're into that. Basically the only reason to be rich is to be able to affort homes in both Manhattan and Maui. Now that I'm talking about it, and looking outside my window at the same time, I realize I really want to go back there some day soon. But you have a good time there. :)

By the way, the fanous travel writer Paul Theroux wrote a real good and funny novel (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618219153) set in Honolulu.

[micro]

Oahu's North Shore beaches are great for surfing or body surfing in the big waves (but they are supposed to be really big only in winter). Waimea Bay is the nicest beach up there.

Hanauma Bay in the south of Oahu is an incredible good place for snorkeling. They show a short introductory video and you can rent the snorkeling gear there. When you go a few meters into the water from the beach you can already see it all: colorful fish, corals and giant turtles.

Whale watching tours start from opposite Ala Moana shopping center.

Polynesian Cultural Center is a bit artificial and very expensive.

Climbing Diamond Head Crater is exhausting but it pays because the view is great. You can also drive around a scenic road north of Honolulu which offers good views.

If you want to fly to the Big Island for volcano watching you should check beforehand if they are active at that time, otherwise it could be disappointing (as it was when I was there). There are helicopter tours available that go above the volcanoes.