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0 Subject: OT: Places to stay on Oahu

Posted by: Species
- Leader [07724916] Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 18:44

Hey all - I have an opportunity to take advantage of an astonishingly inexpensive flight to Oahu, but have never been to Hawaii before. It would be my family of 4: me, the wife, and boys ages 12 and 10.

Ultimately I'd love a facility on/near a beach. I doubt we'd be hugely active in terms of tours and whatnot, and if so I'd do 'em all in one day to save on car travel (i.e. Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona, maybe the zoo for the kids). But MAINLY, I'd want a relatively quiet area with a relaxing beach that we can go into the water without worrying about 30 foot waves.

Budget is important but not the only factor. I have no idea about the geography of the island, or what beaches and sections of the island might be best. Condo is fine - doesn't have to be a resort.

Any recommendations for certain beaches/areas of the island would be welcomed. Thanks!
1biliruben
      Leader
      ID: 589301110
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 18:56
Are you dead-set on that particular island?

It usually adds only another hundred, more or less, to get to another island where "a relatively quiet area with a relaxing beach " would be easier to find.

I've never stayed on Oahu, but if you went to the Big Island or Kawaii I could give you some recs.
2Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 19:07
The flight special is to Oahu and to make it all work, yeah I'd be planning on staying there.

It's not like I want a beach to myself, but Waikiki is not on the list, for example.
3biliruben
      Leader
      ID: 589301110
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 19:11
Er.. Kuaui.

Gotcha. My grandparents used to go to Oahu a bunch, but it was back when there were much fewer people.

I'm sure you will have a great time regardless. Hawaii rocks.
4ksoze in Reno
      ID: 442242318
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 19:41
Species,
I assume you don't need an explicit full answer this instant (I hope not, this hotel room tv internet access thing sucks), I'll give more details after I get home on Saturday. I was born and raised on Oahu and, while I don't have to spend money on a place or car when I'm there, family is for that, I know the island pretty well. For quiet, long sandy beaches with waves about 28 - 30 feet SMALLER then you mentioned try kailua man i give up on this stupid thing now it won"t do commas or periods i"ll tell you more on saturday but look into bed and breakfasts in kailua though they might not be cheap
5GoatLocker
      Sustainer
      ID: 060151121
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 21:55
I'll try to get on later when my brain is working better and give you a short list of places to stay in Waikiki.

Also, other areas of ht eisland.

And, if my brains aren't working well, one of the guys that works for me lives on the island and I'll get him to help me with a short list.

Maui sounds better for what you want, but we can make Oahu work okay.

Or Molakai.

Cliff
6jimmy
      Dude
      ID: 349182621
      Thu, Mar 23, 2006, 22:21
Though its of little help, my brother lives on Kauai (Princeville), and his son lives on Maui. A trip out there does sound like a good ideal.
7Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 00:23
Kahuka/Turtle Bay opinions anyone?
8ChicagoTRS
      Leader
      ID: 566152116
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 01:20
If you are looking for a deal on a hotel room I would recommend checking out this site:

www.biddingfortravel.com

Most times I can get rooms for 50% or less of the advertised prices...helps you with priceline bids...of course can't pick the exact hotel but using their data you can get a good idea of which hotels are available and the minimum bid that will be accepted. I have literally saved 1000s...often stay in 4* and 5* hotels for 2* prices.
10Mojo
      ID: 202222410
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 11:50
I've stayed at Turtle Bay 3 times, the last being in 2004. The facilities were updated from my last stay in 98. It has activities to keep the kids busy and there are several excellent beaches close by and other tourist sites (Cultural Center, Waimea).

The North Shore is a world away from Waikiki, which is nice to visit but not the place you go if you want to relax. I think the big waves are from Nov - early Feb. I've only been there in June-August so, if you're going soon, you should check to see if the waves are still cranking.
11Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 12:13
Anyone got a minute to give me a brief geography lesson? I'm using vrbo.com, and it breaks it down between N/S/E/W sides of the island, then with all of the beaches/neighborhoods.

Mojo - you say 'it's a nice place to visit, but not the place to go to relax' - I assume you mean Waikiki? I'm pretty certain that I am not going to stay at Waikiki because of the crowds.

In a general sense, if I'm not staying in Waikiki, what is the best side of the island to stay?

Thanks for all of the comments so far.
12Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 12:14
And ksoze - let's definitely talk when you get back....having a local would be SWEEEEEEET
13GoatLocker
      Sustainer
      ID: 060151121
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 12:22
Greg,
I'll try to catch you on AIM later and talk to you.

Cliff
15Tosh
      Leader
      ID: 057721710
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 12:31
Lost in Oahu.com
16Nerfherders
      ID: 64532914
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 12:40
When I was on Oahu, I stayed at Waikiki, at the Hilton Hawaiian, which is on the far west end of Waikiki beach. It's probably the best part of the beach too, becauce its large and there's a park right next to the hotel, meaning you can spread out a bit.

I was there working for the government so I got a government rate, so Im not sure what rates are acceptable to you. But if you want relaxing beach on Oahu, Waikiki is the way to go.

Even though Kuawai is the nicest island, I would avoid going there at this time beacause they have just been devastated by heavy rains and floods. Much of the island might be closed off.
17Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 13:03
Lots of condos available in this "Hawaiian Princess" condo complex on the East side of Oahu near Turtle Beach in Mahaka. Seems like a nice location.

People refer to the "windward side" (i.e. Kailua as ksoze mentioned) on the east and the leeward side or west side like this Mahaka side. Since I don't mind driving a little ways to see stuff, top priority is location and beach access for those "do nothing but sit under an umbrella" days. This condo complex certainly has the location and access down pat.

Still searching.
18Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 13:06
Check that. Mahaka is on the West side.
19Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 13:07
Cliff - cool man. Should be on my usual 8pm-ish PT tonight.
20Species
      Leader
      ID: 07724916
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 17:39
Hmmmmmm....maybe ksoze is the best to answer, but I bought a book on Oahu and the Mahaka and Wai'ane side of the island (leeward) has an old reputation for being "rough" parts of the island? True? Stay away? The book actually says it's ridiculous and these days the reputation is unwarranted.

In reading this book, being specific about the type of beach I want seems important. I'd like to be somewhere that the kids and play in as long as the seas are reasonable - it seems not all places are that way.
21Unemployed
      ID: 59245230
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 20:44
With a family I would first consider whether you want to do no cooking, bed making etc by staying in a hotel or if you intend or need to be able to cook and want more room. There are plenty of hotels and plenty of vacation rentals, both condos and homes. www.vrbo.com I have 3 children and have preferred renting a home on the east or north sides. Often they come with swimming gear/bikes etc which is helpful. Kailua and Lanikai are my favorites for this. I don't think you have to worry about giant waves on the North side at this time of the year. As for the leeward side, it is far less poulated and developed, although Marriott recently built a big one at the southern end of it. The one thing to consider here is that the major car rental companies prohibit their vehicles from driving there.

Oh as for the other islands, they are great as well but I love Oahu, because you have everything. If you want privacy, you can have it away from waikiki. If you want to shop, there's waikiki/honolulu and the malls. There's a great zoo, small aquarium, sea life park, chinatown, the giovanni shrimp truck and some truly beautiful sights. I am so freaking jealous.
22GoatLocker
      Sustainer
      ID: 060151121
      Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 21:22
You can drive the entire island in a couple of hours.

The old stories about the rough areas are basically no longer true.

I know things have changed a lot.

Let me try to make a call on Monday to the guy that works for me and see what he says.

I usually stay on Waikiki just because it is so close to everything.

Cliff
23ksoze
      Leader
      ID: 04619323
      Sat, Mar 25, 2006, 17:56
Species,
Check your email.

The "Hawaiian Princess" condo looks nice and good price-wise but I can't speak for that side of the island, very rarely have I ever been over there.

I was born and raised in Kailua and absolutely love that whole side of the island from Lanikai up to the north shore which is considered "country." Mojo is right about the big waves on the north shore, they're gone now. In fact, I prefer snorkeling on the north shore during the summer to snorkeling most other places on the island. Sunset Beach, for example, has reefs as good or better then Hanauma Bay, many fish, the beach isn't normailly that crowded and hey, it's the famous north shore, waves flat as a pancake just a few months removed from being 30 feet!!!

As for Kailua beach, it's miles long, white, calm and relatively waveless. And...
Dr. Beach retired it as the best beach in the world in 1998 (his pick as the #1 beach in the world each year is ineligible from making his annual lists anymore, Lanikai was out for good in 1996). There are little islands offshore that are easy to get to by kayak from Kailua Beach and you don't have to worry about crowds. Want to relax? This is the place. Everything is very laid back and on Hawaiian Time.

Rough parts of the island? It's still true in the same way that there are parts of every city/town/state that you wouldn't want to visit on vacation. Other then that, not really. The "leeward" side is not a place to necessarily stay away from.
24ksoze
      Leader
      ID: 04619323
      Sat, Mar 25, 2006, 18:14
By the way, the picture at the bottom of the Dr. Beach link is of "the mokes," a pair of islands about 3/4 of a mile off Lanikai beach, right around the corner from Kailua. I was on the left island Monday and caught some nice wrap around wave rides. Small waves wrap around the front of the island in both directions... you ride one going one way across the front of the island and jump the ones coming back at you. Caught some nice air a few times :-).
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