After a full day of sightseeing with your Go Oahu Card, head to downtown Honolulu for a performance of the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song at the Diamond Head Theatre.
The show, playing until April 6, focuses on the struggles of immigrants in San Francisco’s Chinatown trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Written by Rogers and Hammerstein, the show is based on the novel of the same name by C.Y. Lee, and features beloved songs like “I Enjoy Being a Girl” and “My Best Love.”
As a recipient of 6 Tony Award nominations and the inspiration for a 1961 musical film, this show is a piece of theatre history that’s not to be missed!
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On Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, the Honolulu Symphony will present a concert to celebrate the Golden Age of Hawaiian Music at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. This sounds like a great way for visitors to the islands to discover the music that made Hawaii famous during the 1930s to the 1960s. The evening’s program features the music of R. Alex Anderson and Charles E. King, Alfred Apaca, Kaiser’s Hawaiian Village, and others, and it promises a memorable evening of entertainment.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
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File this under creative fundraising ideas: United Cerebral Palsy of Hawaii is planning their 21st annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race and Festival on Saturday, March 29. Pre-race festivities start at 9 am in the McCully Shopping Center, and the race starts at 1:21 pm at Ala Wai Canal. Sounds like a great family activity!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
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Hawaii is a notoriously expensive place to vacation. All of those Mai Tais and stays at fancy resorts certainly add up, but I managed to spend 10 days in Hawaii for less than $1,500, including airfare, hotels, and food. Here’s how I did it:
Hotel. My boyfriend and I landed a room for $90/night at the Royal Gardens Waikiki using Priceline. Don’t be afraid to low ball your bids, because we discovered that they had even cheaper (but not quite as nice) rooms available, too. We also stayed at some modest, but very hospitable bed and breakfasts on the Big Island. If you’re willing to do a little digging and stay somewhere that’s slightly off the beaten path, there are lots of deals in Hawaii.
Food. We set a budget of $40 per day for each of us, but we didn’t use up all that money on several occasions. It helped that some of our hotels and B&Bs had breakfast included. The quality of breakfast varied, but one place had an especially impressive spread with fresh guava juice, coconut muffins, Kona coffee, and other Hawaiian specialties. On days when breakfast was not included, we had an inexpensive breakfast right in Waikiki at Seaside Bar & Grill or Eggs’n Things. Some of our activities, like the Makani Catamaran afternoon sail, also included food or drinks.
Transportation. I had a travel voucher with Delta Airlines and they had the deal on airfare from Boston to Honolulu, so we flew Delta. We had originally planned to rent a car on Oahu, but we actually discovered that you can get around pretty well using TheBus. We took the Roberts Hawaii shuttle from the Honolulu Airport to our hotel, but our return trip was so early that we opted for a cab on the way back. The hotel concierge surprised us with a limo, which turned out to be the same price as a cab!
Having just returned from a trip to Hawaii, I thought I’d share some of the tips I picked up on the road. Some of these are items that I actually brought and others are items that I wish I’d brought!
Sunscreen. This sounds obvious, but if you’re as fair as I am, then you’ll definitely need it. Remember to reapply every few hours, especially if you’re going in the water.
Camera (and extra batteries). With all the beaches, sunsets, and other gorgeous views, you’ll want to take tons of photos to remember you vacation. If you’re curious, you can check out my Hawaii vacation photos on flickr.
Extra cash. We discovered that Bank of America doesn’t have a single ATM on the island of Oahu! Fortunately, I’d brought a little extra money and was able to get cash back with my debit card at a grocery store to avoid paying a transaction fee with another bank.
Sturdy walking shoes. Hawaii has excellent hiking, but you’ll need good quality shoes so you can get the most of out of your trip. I brought sneakers and hiking boots, but I actually saw women trying to climb up to the top of Diamond Head Crater wearing flip flops or platform sandals!
Bathing suit. Another obvious item to bring to Hawaii, but I’d recommend bringing two so that you can alternate days. Wear bathing suit #1 snorkeling and let it dry the next day when you visit Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.
Extra duffel bag or backpack. A little travel trick is to pack a lightweight bag in your suitcase so that you’ll have extra luggage space for souvenirs on your return trip (or if you’re overweight). My boyfriend bought a case of chocolate-cover macadamia nuts, which he had to carry through the airport, because it didn’t fit in his suitcase!
Surge protector. Between my laptop, camera charger, hair dryer, cell phone charger, and all my boyfriend’s electronics, we found ourselves fighting over electrical outlets, because some of the places we stayed only had one or two outlets. If you travel with lots of tech toys, this one is a good idea regardless of your destination.
Anything I’ve missed? Leave a comment and let us know!
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This is part 2 in a series of blog posts recounting my recent trip to Oahu. Catch up on part 1 here.
Relaxed and rejuvenated after a romantic Valentine’s dinner the previous night, the boyfriend and I headed to Iolani Palace and took the grand tour in the morning. Our volunteer tour guide Leilani was the perfect example of Hawaiian hospitality. She took tremendous pride in taking us around the palace and shared stories from Hawaii’s history (she even had some ancestors who worked in the palace).
Next we walked over to Makani Catamaran for their afternoon sail (note that this was a rather long walk, but we enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air). The crew served us lunch and drinks as we coasted along the coast of Oahu. We saw several dolphins and whales, but they moved too quickly for us to get a good photo! The best part was lying on the deck and feeling the sun and ocean breezes against my skin. They even had one part of the deck that is open netting so you can see (and feel) the water beneath.
Next we took TheBus back to our hotel to get ready for Germaine’s Luau. Our guide played the ukulele on the bus ride over, and the sunset was one of the best we saw on the entire trip. I also have to say that I enjoyed the vast selection of tropical drinks! All in all, a fun way to experience a Hawaiian luau.
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View from the top of Diamond Head Crater Photo uploaded by Go Card USA
I’ve just returned from 10 glorious, relaxing days in Hawaii, and I’m thrilled to share some travel photos and a few tips from my trip to Oahu. You’ll be reading more about my trip once I get settled in, but here’s a little sneak peak at my first day on Oahu.
After fourteen hours of flying, the boyfriend and I collapsed into bed as soon as we arrived at the Royal Gardens Waikiki (tip: we got a good deal through Priceline, but they often post specials on their website, so I’d check that first). The hotel lacks some of the fancy amenities found at pricier places, but it’s quite elegant for its low price and offers clean, basic accommodations.
The next morning, since our bodies were still on Eastern time, we awoke at some ungodly hour (I’m guessing 5 am, which is 10 am EST) and set out in search of breakfast. Since many travelers to Hawaii are also dealing with drastic time changes, the restaurants in Oahu are prepared for early risers. We chose the Seaside Bar & Grill, since they offer a $2.99 breakfast special, including 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 strips of bacon. The breakfast burrito ($3.99) is also tasty and generously portioned.
Next, we set off for snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. I had Lasik back in January, so I was thrilled when my doctor cleared me for swimming in time for Hawaii! I’ve always wanted to try snorkeling, but obviously it’s no fun if you’re worrying about contact lenses or if you can’t see because you’ve gone without them. I’m amazed by how blue and clear the water was, and we saw some tropical fish that looked like they were straight out of Finding Nemo. (more…)
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Honolulu Festival 2007 Photo uploaded by miszbabykiss
Planning a trip to Oahu this spring? If you’ll be in the Honolulu area during the weekend of March 14-16, then I’d definitely plan to check out the 14th Annual Honolulu Festival. This annual event celebrates the cultures of Asia, Pacific, and Hawaii and features dance performances and art demonstrations from Japan, Australia, Tahiti, Philippines, Republic of China, Korea, Hawaii and the mainland United States.
The festival culminates on Sunday, March 16 with the Grand Parade, which starts at Lewers Street and continues along Kalakuau Avenue. Highlights of the parade include appearances by hula dancers, dance troupes from across the Pacific, Miss Hawaii, and others. There is also a craft fair showcasing crafts from around the Pacific Rim and educational programs for kids.
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If you’re a traveler who’s got their camera around their neck at all times, Budget Travel has a great article for you!
Entitled “How to Take Better Sunset Photos,” the article offers tips for making your photos of memorable sunsets as great as they were in person. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur photographer, the article outlines everything from resolution settings to elements of a great composition.
Do you have any photography tips for traveling to Hawaii? We’d love to hear where you think visitors should go to obtain the best sunset photographs. Leave us a comment!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
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I visited the Makani Catamaran on my trip to Oahu last February and absolutely loved it! The whale sightings, the wind blowing against our skin (not to mention that drinks are included)… This video does a nice job of capturing the experience.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
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Ducks in a row Photo uploaded by 
View from the top of Diamond Head Crater Photo uploaded by 
Honolulu Festival 2007 Photo uploaded by 