1 Strategies for Seeing Oahu

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Strategies for Seeing Oahu

Previous page: Waimea Canyon.

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Rule #1. Go in the off season. Not only will you save a bundle, butthere will be fewer people, you’ll getbetter service, the beaches will beless crowded, and you’ll be able toget into your favorite restaurants.The “off season,” September 1 tomid-December and March to June 1,is also when the weather is at itsbest (not too hot, not too rainy).

Rule #2. To get the bestdeals, do some research. In this book, I’ll give you my favoritepicks of hotels, restaurants, activi-ties, and airlines, but use that as astarting point. Go online and checkout airfares, hotels, and packagedeals (airfare plus accommodationsand sometimes car rental). Find outwhat prices are being offered beforeyou book.

Rule #3. Think about how youwant to spend your vacation. Is this a lie-on-the-beach vacation ora get-up-early-and-do-an-adventure-every-day vacation? Or a combina-tion? If you are traveling with yoursweetie, be sure you have a planthat makes both parties happy (suchas plenty of golfing plus lots of shop-ping). If you’re bringing your family,make sure that everyone gets in onthe planning—it makes for a vaca-tion that everyone can enjoy.

Rule #4. Don’t over-schedule.Don’t make your days jam-packedfrom the time you get up until youdrop off to sleep at night. This isHawaii: Stop and smell the plumeria.Allow time to just relax. And don’t

forget that you will most likely arrive jet lagged, so ease into yourvacation. Exposure to sunlight canhelp reset your internal clock, so hitthe beach on your first day (andbring your suntan lotion).

Rule #5. Allow plenty of timeto get around the island. If you glance at a map, Oahu looksdeceptively small—like you couldjust zip from one side of the islandto the other. But you have to taketraffic into consideration; from 6 to9am and 3 to 6pm the main roadswill be bumper-to-bumper withrush-hour traffic. Plan accordingly:Sleep in late and get on the roadafter the traffic has cleared out.

I highly recommend that yourent a car, but don’t just “view” theisland from the car window. Plan to get out as much as possible tobreathe in the tropical aroma, fill up on those views, and listen to the sounds of the tropics.

Strategies for Seeing Oah

u9

Oahu may be an island, but it’s a good-sized island, and yourvacation time is precious. There really is just one cardinal rule:

relax. Don’t run yourself ragged trying to see absolutely everything—take the time to experience the magic of the island. In this chapter Ihave several suggestions for making the most out of your time.

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Rule #6. If your visit is short,stay in one place.Most places on Oahu are withineasy driving distance of each other,and checking in and out of severalhotels isn’t easy. There’s the schlep-ping of the luggage, the waiting inline to check in, the unpacking, andmore . . . only to repeat the entireprocess a few days later. Your vaca-tion time is too dear.

Rule #7. Pick the key activity of the day and planaccordingly.To maximize your time, decide whatyou really want to do that day, thenplan all other activities in the samegeographical area. That way youwon’t have to track back and forthacross the island.

Rule #8. Remember you areon the island of aloha.Honolulu is not the U.S. mainland.The islanders’ way of life is very dif-ferent. Slow down. Smile and say“aloha”; it’s what the local residentsdo. Ask them: “Howzit?” (the localexpression for “how are you?”).When they ask you tell ’em “Couldn’tbe better—I’m in Hawaii!” Wave ateveryone. Laugh a lot, even if things

aren’t going as planned (hey, you’rein paradise, how bad can it be?).

Rule #9. Use this book as areference, not a concrete plan.You will not hurt my feelings if youdon’t follow every single tour anddo absolutely everything I suggestin the itinerary. Pick and chooseaccording to your interests—don’tfeel like you have to follow all mysuggestions to the letter.

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A relaxed drive along a winding coastal road may be a highlight of your trip.

Attending a Hula competition is a greatway to experience Hawaiian culture.

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