Oahu travel news
February 11th, 2010 by admin
Pearl Harbor is famous to visitors the world over as the site of the December 7, 1941 attack that pushed the United States into World War II. Not surprisingly, people most often think of the iconic U.S.S. Arizona memorial when they think of Pearl Harbor.
But another Battleship also resides there which represents the end of World War II. The U.S.S. Missouri was the site of the Japanese surrender in 1945 which finally ended the war. The ship sailed right into Tokyo Bay and the surrender proceedings where held on its deck. Some years ago I ask a veteran who had served on the Missouri what his thoughts were as the ship steamed into the Bay that day. “I thought were were going to be blown to Hell for sure,” he told me.
Thankfully his fears were not realized. And the ”Mighty Mo” is now docked not far from where the Arizona rests, and a fitting compliment to any visit to that hallowed spot.
The ship has just come off of 12 weeks and $18 million worth of maintenance and preservation work in Pearl Harbor’s largest dry dock facility. Visitors to touring the ship will get a feel for how the Missouri looked when she was first launched with a brand new coat of paint and a number of improvements to the overall visitor experience.
“We are grateful to have the expertise and resources to drydock the Missouri in Hawaii, thanks to BAE systems and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard,” said Michael A. Carr, president and chief operating officer of the non-profit USS Missouri Memorial Association, which owns and operates the ship as the Battleship Missouri Memorial. “We enlisted a dream team worthy of a national treasure like the Mighty Mo. Now, we look forward to doing what we do best as a memorial — welcoming visitors — beginning Jan. 30.”
The U.S.S. Missouri is included in the Go Oahu Card program, which gets visitors to Oahu into 30 museums, activities, and tours around the Island for one low price. For example, visitors to Pearl Harbor not only get access to the Missouri and an audio tour of the Arizona Memorial, but also receive included admission to the Pacific Aviation Museum and the U.S.S. Bowfin.
If you are headed to Oahu, be sure to visit the freshly restored U.S.S. Missouri.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
December 17th, 2009 by admin
Each year since 1986, if and when the conditions are just right, the Eddie Aikau surf meet is held at Waimea on Oahu’s North Shore.
Although famed for its big waves, only when there promises to be truly monster surf does the event come together and big wave surfers from all over join the locals in competing in this event. Unlike other big wave competition which allow for surfers to be towed into the waves, competitors here must paddle themselves out through the waves. The result is what many call the purest big wave surfing event around.
It can be hard for outsiders to catch this event — while regularly falling in January, the actual date is determined each year by wave conditions. The 2009/2010 event was held in mid-December and won by Greg Long. But visitors to Hawaii should probably always think about a visit to the North Shore as part of their itinerary. The big draw is the waves, but among other sites there is the North Shore Surf Museum and the pristine Waimea Valley. Both are included in the cost of a Go Oahu Card which is worth picking up no matter what part of Oahu you plan on visiting.
There are some amazing photos and video available of the most recent Eddie Aikau competitions and past events on Quicksilver site.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
June 17th, 2009 by admin
Head to downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown every first Friday of the month and dive deep into Oahu’s vibrant art scene. At each “First Friday” you can interact with local artists and artisans sharing their work.
From paintings to powerful cultural exhibits, you’ll get to see a diverse sampling of Hawaii’s artists. Art galleries open their doors with exhibits, free entertainment, and light refreshments. There are numerous restaurants and bars open offering great food and live music. Discover a buzz of activity in the streets of Chinatown where people from all over Oahu come to see what’s new on the local art scene.
First Friday runs from 5pm to 9pm, so its a perfect way to wind up your day using a Go Oahu Card. See the First Friday website for all the latest on what’s happening at the next First Friday.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
April 22nd, 2009 by admin
Over 1300 Smart Destinations customers were interviewed by a third party research firm (KRC Research) last Summer. They were asked about their experience with the company’s Go Cards and Explorer Passes.
They found that 94% of the customers surveyed said they were either “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied.” And most of those customers said they were “extremely satisfied.”
The customers were also asked what they valued most about the product. Three answers were the most commonly given:
- The quality and quantity of the attractions that accept the card for admission
- The fact that it saved them money compared to having to buy separate tickets at each attraction
- The fact they card was easy to use
In addition 91% of the customers said they would recommend a Go Card or Explorer Pass to someone else.
So if you are looking into buying a Go Oahu Card, it is nice to know that existing customers gave such positive reviews of the product. To see the Frugal Travel Guy’s review of the Go Oahu Card where you can read one customer’s experience using the card in detail, go here. Or for another point of view, please read Lisa Weber’s review of the Go Oahu Card and the Go Maui Card.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
April 14th, 2008 by susan j
Japanese garden at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu Photo uploaded by
Even if you’ve already been to Oahu and think you know the island inside and out, then think again. reports that changes are afoot at many of the major hotels, shopping centers, and resorts on the island. Among these changes are additions to the Ala Moana Center and Hilton Hawaiian Village (pictured above) and renovations to the Royal Hawaiian, which reopens in mid-December.
What’s your favorite spot in Oahu? Leave a comment and let us know!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
April 4th, 2008 by susan j
Aloha Airlines photo uploaded by
This past Monday, Aloha Airlines touched down in Honolulu International Airport for the last time. The airline has been around since 1947 and filed for bankruptcy in mid-March. According to an article in the , roughly 100 former Aloha Airlines employees greeted Flight 251 when it arrived from Maui at 10:32 pm. Over half of the passengers on board were also employees.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
March 19th, 2008 by susan j
Ducks in a row Photo uploaded by
File this under creative fundraising ideas: United Cerebral Palsy of Hawaii is planning their 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?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 28th, 2008 by susan j
This week on Oahu, travelers can look forward to sun and highs consistently in the low 80s. Check out the weather on Oahu, courtesy of :
Friday, February 29
Mostly sunny with a high of 81, low of 69
Saturday, March 1
Mostly sunny with a high of 81, low of 70
Sunday, March 2
Mostly sunny with a high of 80, low of 70
Monday, March 3
Mostly sunny with a high of 81, low of 70
Tuesday, March 4
Mostly sunny with a high of 81, low of 70
Wednesday, March 5
Sunny with a high of 81, low of 71
Thursday, March 6
Sunny with a high of 80, low of 70
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 27th, 2008 by jamie a
Anthony Bourdain Photo uploaded by
Anthony Bourdrain, the bad boy of the culinary world, has just filmed an episode of “No Reservations,” his hit show from the Travel Channel, in Hawaii!
, the episode will air on March 3, much to the delight and perhaps dismay of Hawaiian residents. Bourdain is known for seeking out the most unique local cuisine he can find, from the fanciest of bistros to the cheapest of street vendors. He’s eaten everything from foie gras at The French Laundry to a still-beating cobra heart in Vietnam. He’s respected for his honesty and his own culinary talent, but is also known for his scathing reviews.
Let’s just hope that he finds something to love about the cuisine of the Hawaiian islands…and, let’s be honest, how could he not?
If you’ve got a favorite Hawaiian dish to recommend, let us know in the comments!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 21st, 2008 by jamie a
This week on Oahu is going to be a little cloudy with a bit of rain, but mostly sunny. Here’s the scoop on next week’s weather on Oahu, courtesy of Weather.com:
Friday, February 22
Sunny with a high of 81, low of 70
Saturday, February 23
Sunny with a high of 79, low of 70
Sunday, February 24
Scattered showers with a high of 78, low of 68
Monday, February 25
Sunny with a high of 79, low of 67
Tuesday, February 26
Mostly sunny with a high of 79, low of 69
Wednesday, February 27
Partly cloudy with a high of 80, low of 69
Thursday, February 28
Partly cloudy with a high of 80, low of 70
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
