Oahu

[F/O Crunch]

Things to do... Places to stay... nightlife to check out...

Any experiences out there? Spit 'em out!

(Sometimes a picture tells a thousand words)

[v6g]

I was there two weeks ago.

Things to do / see:
Diamond Head Crater - http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/o ... park_id=15walkable from Waikiki

Military stuff definitely not to miss (first four in this list all in the same area around Pearl Harbor but too much to do in one day if you like to take it all in):
USS Arizona Memorial - http://www.nps.gov/usar/ - memorial / museum for the Japanese attacks.
USS Missouri - http://www.ussmissouri.com/ - The ship upon which the Japanese signed the surrender document - with some good exhibits inside the ship about WWII
USS Bowfin - http://www.bowfin.org/website/index.cfm - WWII submarine. You can do this and the Missouri in one day
Pacific Aviation Museum - http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/ - we didn't have time for this sadly, but you could probably make it an entire day (it looked big).
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_M ... he_Pacific
If you're with a wife/gf then probably best not to do all the military stuff on consecutive days - risk of military overdose but my wife found it all fascinating all the same.

Other place not to miss:
Hanauma Bay Beach - http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/hanauma_bay_beach.html - one of the best places in the world for Snorkelling/Scuba. *** GET THERE EARLY *** - on our first (failed) attempt it was full by 9am. On the second (successful) attempt we were there just after 7am and it was almost full. Busy but snorkeling on the reef was amazing.

We stayed in Kailua (along with Mr Obama at the same time too)! Nice spot - not as touristy as Waikiki/Honolulu, just an average town. Great beach. Place we were staying was the spare room of a friendly local family - about $100 a night. Joined them for New Years Eve celebration. Pool in back yard. PM me if you want contact details.

Aloha!

[iflyforpie]

Did all of the above when I was there. Also cool to do a circumnavigation of the Island, either by renting a car or on the cheap (like we did) using 'The Bus'. Went up to the Polynesian culture center and the North Shore. Also don't forget to enroll in the inpromptu surfing lessons available at various places along Wakiki.

[F/O Crunch]

Right on... That's solid information!

Thanks fellas, and see y'awls when I get back!:P

foc