Places in Hawaii

What are the best places to visit in Hawaii for a first time tourist?

I am going to be going to Hawaii for the first time early in the summer. What are some good places to check out and visit? Where should I stay, close to the beach or farther away? Any good places for nightlife? Should I rent a car or just take taxis and shuttles?

Public Comments

1. Duke's on Waikiki.
2. Aloha! Waikiki is the tourist mecca of Honolulu. Walking up Diamond Head, visiting the Arizona Memorial, Aloha Flea Market (Swap Meet) - a great place for souveniors, Pali lookout, Hanama Bay, and the Polynesian Cultural Center is a good start. Tour groups offer pkg deals (no driving for you). However, a car is easy to get around in, parking isn't too bad and you can take your time. Enjoy your stay!
3. You didn't say which island(s) you'll be visiting, but: Oahu: Dole Pineapple Plantation, Pearl Harbor Memorial, Waimea Valley, Hanalei, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hanauma Bay for snorkeling (closed on Tuesdays, I believe). Waikiki is good for nightlife. Royal Hawaiian for the best Mai Tai's. Maui: Old Lahaina Luau, road to Hana, aquarium Kauai: Hanalei, Waimea Valley, Olympic Cafe for mac nut pancakes - cheap, Queens Bath, my favorite island, but not much nightlife. Big Island: Volcana Nat'l Park, Painted church, Punaluu black sand beach, coffee plantation (any), town of Kona-Kailua is nice. I prefer to stay close to the ocean, but you pay a premium. Definitely rent a car. Good gift shop is Hilo Hattie - these are all over the islands. Great shop for sundries is ABC Stores - sometimes several on one block. Have fun!
4. The volcanoes are sooo cool
5. A couple pieces of advice: 1-Definitely go to the Polynesian Cultural Center in La'ie. You can experience all the different Polynesian cultures in one place. Everything there is very authentic too. Most other luau's in Hawaii cater to tourists, so while they are entertaining, they aren't very authentic at all. 2-Also, explore other areas besides Waikiki. Waikiki is not a good representation of Hawaii at all, since it caters to tourists and hardly anyone there is actually local. Please don't let that be your only idea of what Hawaii is like. We locals thank you.
6. Aloha, You'll likley not get this response from locals, but North Shore is the greatest place on O'ahu. Haleiva is a great little town and an even better beach. Within 10 miles are: Sunset Beach, Sharks Cove, Bansai & the Pipeline. All world famous surf areas. A word to the wise, unless you are a world class athelete, DO NOT get into the water in these areas. Waves frequently reach over 30 feet. Rent a car, take H1 west to H2 north. You'll see the signs. After your visit there, drive all the way around the island. Plan 4 or 5 hours (or more) and have fun! Have a great time & don't tell anyone I said this stuff. I'm a local boy & I'd never hear the end of it for telling tourists where our favorite beaches are. Mahalo!
7. beach
8. Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own personality and character. So, knowing what type of person you are and what you like to do will help you decide which of the islands you will like. If you like tourists and fishing you should like the Kona area of the “Big Island” of Hawaii. If you like solitude, a tropical feel, a rural atmosphere and you don’t mind rain, you should like the Hilo area of the Big Island. The west side of the Big Island has a few nice small beaches, including black sand beaches. Near Ka Lae, the southernmost point of the island you will find a green sand beach. Big beaches are not prevalent on the Big Island. If you enjoy scenery, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking or surfing and don’t yearn for “night life” then the oldest of the islands, Kauai is for you. If you are the kind of person who keep a bathing suit, snorkel gear or a surfboard in your car, then Maui is for you, because it has 120 miles of easily accessible and swimmable coastline, more than any other island. If you have an artistic temperament or perhaps you like to get away and write, then seek out the island of Lanai. If you love nature, hiking and solitude, then “the most Hawaiian” of the islands, Molokai is for you. You’ll enjoy Oahu if you like beaches, shopping, tourists, high-rises, traffic and don’t mind a lot of other people. Honolulu is like a tropical version of NYC, or LA as it was in the smog-free 1950's.
9. You should definitely visit the Polynesian Cultural Center out in the North Shore. It is a fun-filled experience that will inform you about all the islands of Polynesia. It employs people who are actually Polynesian and grew up in the Polynesian way, so they know what they are doing. Some other good places to visit would be the Dole Plantation it is in Kunia, it teaches about pineapples and how they are grown, and Hanauma Bay is a fun place to go snorkeling and see the sea animals. You should also get out to see the outer islands, not just O'ahu because Kaua'i is a beautiful island and every island has something different to offer. On the topic of where you should stay, you should stay in a hotel close to the beach because those hotels are usually the most beautiful. There are not many hotels which are farther away from the beach. Oh, and you should rent a car. There are not many taxis just driving around unless you call the taxi service, but it might cost a lot. There may be a shuttle service, depending on where you are going, but you shouldn't count on it. I know there is a shuttle service to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center though.
10. taxie u are going ot egt lost if u drive the roads dont go all the way around the island and most of the street names are in hawaiian so the taxie driver will be a big help stay in a holtel close to the beach so u dont get lost walking back there nightlife i cant help u there I live on the other side of oahu I havent stayed in hotel so sorry...
11. http://honolulu.craigslist.org/
12. Go to Wainae or Nanakuli and ask for the Ufa Kefe or the Mahu special!!!!
13. Aloha and welcome to Hawaii. I would stay at a Hotel on or near the beach. The ones further away tend to be small, however, stay close to the beach will cost more. Central locations would be Sheraton Hotels : Moana, Royal Hawaiian, and Sheraton Waikiki. Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. Those I would recommend. Dukes in the Outrigger is a great place to hang out. As for attractions, go the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor (The Arizona Memorial), Hanauma Bay (closed every Tues), Society of Seven show (very talented). Those four I recommend to guests who stay at our property for vacations (the Outrigger Waikiki, hint, hint). Taxis and shuttles are easily available thru your bell staff. Renting a car is good too, more convenient. Aloha.
14. Im local and the North Shore is spectacular... only during the winter time though. Thats when the waves are 10-30 feet. During the summer and most other times the surf is only 1-5 ft. Go hiking too like to Manoa falls... there are a lot others since there are so many valleys. Learn how to surf... i only went surfing once... and I have lived in Hawaii my entire life haha... im not very local. And just rent a car, Hawaii is a car culture.