Waikiki! Just the word brings to mind images of palm trees, hula dancers & beautiful beaches, am I right? Long considered a “go-to” honeymoon destination, it’s also perfect for a family vacation.
If you’ve never been to Hawaii, I suggest starting off on Oahu. You can purchase non-stop tickets to Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, from most major cities.
Once you land, head into Downtown Honolulu & Waikiki. We booked a shuttle that picked us up at the airport & drove us to our hotel. There’s plenty to do & see in Waikiki. You may not even need a rental car. We stayed in Waikiki the entire week we were there-no car needed; we walked everywhere. If you do need to leave the city, the public transportation system (The Bus) can take you anywhere you want to go.
You may be wondering if your kids will have a good time in Waikiki. I’m here to tell you they’ll have a blast! While it’s true there are many things to see on the island – Pearl Harbor Memorial, Hanauma Bay, the North Shore … don’t feel pressured to visit them all. If you have time to see everything, cool. If not, that’s cool too. You can have an amazing vacation and never leave Waikiki.
At our son’s request, we stayed in Waikiki; the result was a fun & relaxing vacation!
WHAT KIDS LOVE:
- Waikiki Beach – OMG! Our guy did not want to leave the beach. The waves are gentle enough for little kids, but large enough that older ones will still play in the water. There are catamaran cruises & outrigger canoes you can rent for a small fee. And the view! With Diamond Head in the background, you really can’t take a bad photo. TIP: We purchased a boogie board, across the street from the beach, at one of the ABC Stores-best $20 we’ve ever spent! Check with your hotel too, they may have one you can borrow.
- Shave Ice – Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to go to the North Shore for shave ice. You can find great shave ice at Lawson Station, on Kalakaua Ave-by Moana Surfrider Hotel. Be sure to watch as your shave ice (snow cone) is being made. The process is fascinating & takes a full three minutes to complete! Be sure to check out the souvenirs & local snacks.
- Banyan Trees – Our son was fascinated by the banyan trees and their long aerial roots that hang down like ropes. He pretended to be Tarzan & climbed up the roots. I gotta say, he was pretty good at it, then again, he’s extremely athletic. I had to tell him to stop climbing and come down- he was getting a bit too high for my liking.
- The Food – We had one terrific meal after another while in Waikiki. We had breakfast with a view of the ocean, amazing udon noodles, fantastic Korean food & some local food-all ono (delicious). I’ll be posting the restaurants we ate at individually in future posts.
- The Waikiki Trolley – For just $2 per person, you can hop on the trolley & take a tour of the island. There are five different lines, each going to a different part of the island. They pass by every 15-20 minutes, and even have a double-decker bus…that one was our favorite!
- Hula Dancers – Every Tues, Thurs & Saturday, there’s a FREE Hula Show on Waikiki Beach. It’s near the statue of Duke Kahanamoku. Get there early, show starts around 6pm. The kids in the audience were fascinated by the music & dancing, and loved watching the keiki hula dancers.
These are just a few of the many things our son loved about Waikiki. We were able to enjoy the sights in the city and explore some places we probably wouldn’t have seen if we’d been driving around the island all day. We loved our beach time, and can’t wait to go back! ~If you’d like to visit Hawaii, please email me at rthorn@archerluxurytravel.com -I’d love to help you plan the vacation of your dreams & find a travel package that fits your budget. *This post is not sponsored.*
