Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu 8th Edition by Jeanette Foster Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s: “Amazingly easy to use. Very portable, very complete.” —Booklist “Detailed, accurate, and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.” —Glamour Magazine “Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.” —Des Moines Sunday Register “Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.” —Knight Ridder Newspapers About the Author A resident of the Big Island, Jeanette Foster has skied the slopes of Mauna Kea— during a Fourth of July ski meet, no less––and has gone scuba diving with manta rays off the Kona Coast. A prolific writer widely published in travel, sports, and adventure magazines, she’s the author of Frommer’s Hawaii, Frommer’s Maui, Frommer’s Hawaii from $80 a Day, and Frommer’s Kauai. She’s also a contributing editor to Hawaii magazine and the editor of Zagat’s Survey to Hawaii’s Top Restaurants. 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Manufactured in the United States of America 54321 Contents List of Maps vi What’s New in Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu 1 1 The Best of Oahu 3 1 The Best Oahu Experiences . .3 9 The Best Luxury Hotels & 2 The Best Beaches . .4 Resorts . .13 3 The Best Snorkeling & 10 The Best Bargain Diving Sites . .8 Accommodations . .14 4 The Best Golf Courses . .9 11 The Best Resort Spas . .16 5 The Best Walks . .10 Pampering in Paradise . .17 6 The Best Views . .11 12 The Best Restaurants . .18 7 The Best Adventures for 13 The Best Shopping . .19 Thrill-Seekers . .11 14 The Best Spots for Sunset 8 The Best Places to Discover Cocktails . .20 the Real Oahu . .12 15 The Best Oahu Websites . .21 2 Planning Your Trip to Oahu 22 1 The Island in Brief . .22 6 Tips for Travelers with Frommers.com: The Complete Special Needs . .44 Travel Resource . .30 7 Getting Married on Oahu . .46 2 Visitor Information . .31 8 Money-Saving Package Deals . .48 3 Money . .32 9 Getting There . .49 4 When to Go . .32 Flying with Film & Video . .53 Oahu Calendar of Events . .34 10 Getting Around . .53 The Welcoming Lei . .38 11 The 21st-Century Traveler . .59 5 Health & Insurance . .39 12 Recommended Reading . .60 Don’t Get Burned: Smart Fast Facts: Oahu . .62 Tanning Tips . .41 3 For International Visitors 64 1 Preparing for Your Trip . .64 Fast Facts: For the Foreign 2 Getting to the U.S. .70 Traveler . .71 4 Where to Stay 75 1 Waikiki . .78 Family-Friendly Hotels . .88 What to Do If Your Dream Take a Healthy Vacation: Hotel Turns Out to Be a Have Your Next Medical Nightmare . .84 Checkup in Waikiki . .97 iv CONTENTS 2 Honolulu Beyond Waikiki . .102 5 Leeward Oahu: The Waianae 3 The Windward Coast . .106 Coast . .110 4 The North Shore . .107 6 Oahu’s Campgrounds & Wilderness Cabins . .111 5 Where to Dine 115 1 Waikiki . .115 3 East of Waikiki: Kahala . .141 Sunday Brunch at the Waikiki 4 East Oahu . .142 Block Party . .120 5 The Windward Coast . .143 2 Honolulu Beyond Waikiki . .123 6 The North Shore . .145 Family-Friendly Restaurants . .131 Local Chains & Familiar Names . .136 6 Fun in the Surf & Sun 147 1 Beaches . .147 3 Nature Hikes . .164 Frommer’s Favorite Oahu 4 Great Golf . .171 Experiences . .152 5 Other Outdoor Activities . .176 2 Watersports . .158 6 From the Sidelines: Spectator Experiencing Jaws: Up Close Sports . .177 and Personal . .162 7 Exploring Oahu 179 Suggested Itineraries . .179 Walking Tour 2: Honolulu 1 Guided Tours . .180 Waterfront . .201 2 Historic Honolulu . .182 Walking Tour 3: Historic Honolulu . .203 3 Fish, Flora & Fauna . .190 Walking Tour 4: Kapiolani Especially for Kids . .190 Park . .208 4 Spectacular Views . .193 6 Beyond Honolulu: Exploring 5 More Museums . .195 the Island . .212 Walking Tour 1: Historic Chinatown . .196 8 Shopping 223 1 In & Around Honolulu & 2 Windward Oahu . .239 Waikiki . .223 3 The North Shore: Haleiwa . .240 Oahu’s Vibrant Gallery Scene . .224 9 Oahu After Dark 243 1 The Bar Scene . .243 3 The Performing Arts . .247 2 The Club Scene . .245 4 More Entertainment . .249 CONTENTS v Appendix: Honolulu & Oahu in Depth 250 1 History 101 . .250 5 The Natural World: An 2 Hawaii Today . .253 Environmental Guide to the Islands . .259 3 Life & Language . .254 4 A Taste of Hawaii . .256 Index 262 General Index . .262 Restaurant Index . .270 Accommodations Index . .270 List of Maps The Hawaiian Islands 5 Honolulu Attractions 184 Oahu 6 Walking Tour—Historic Honolulu Neighborhoods in Chinatown 197 Brief 24 Walking Tour—Honolulu Waikiki Orientation 26 Waterfront 203 Downtown Honolulu 28 Walking Tour—Historic Honolulu 205 TheBus 56 Walking Tour—Kapiolani Park 209 Waikiki Accommodations 80 Eastern Oahu & the Windward Waikiki Dining 116 Coast 213 Honolulu Dining Beyond Central & Leeward Oahu 219 Waikiki 124 Oahu’s North Shore 221 Beaches & Outdoor Pursuits on Oahu 148 An Invitation to the Reader In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful places—hotels, restaurants, shops, and more. We’re sure you’ll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, we’d love to know that, too. Please write to: Frommer’s Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu, 8th Edition Wiley Publishing, Inc. • 111 River St. • Hoboken, NJ 07030 An Additional Note Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any time—and this is especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call ahead for confirma- tion when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held responsible for the experiences of readers while traveling. Your safety is important to us, however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a close eye on cameras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets. Other Great Guides for Your Trip: Frommer’s Hawaii Frommer’s Hawaii from $80 A Day Frommer’s Kauai Frommer’s Maui Frommer’s Portable Maui Frommer’s Portable Big Island Frommer’s Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (rec- ommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see). In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for: Finds Special finds—those places only insiders know about Fun Fact Fun facts—details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun Kids Best bets for kids, and advice for the whole family Moments Special moments—those experiences that memories are made of Overrated Places or experiences not worth your time or money Tips Insider tips—great ways to save time and money Value Great values—where to get the best deals The following abbreviations are used for credit cards: AE American Express DISC Discover V Visa DC Diners Club MC MasterCard Frommers.com Now that you have the guidebook to a great trip, visit our website at www.frommers.com for travel information on more than 3,000 destinations. With features updated regularly, the site gives you instant access to the most current trip-planning information available. At Frommers.com, you’ll also find the best prices on airfares, accommodations, and car rentals—and you can even book travel online through our travel-booking partners.