"Going to Hawaii in Feb any suggestions?" Topic

Heading to Hawaii in February for 10 days and wanted to see if anyone had and suggestions on things to see and doing Pearl Harbor.
Thanks guys.

Pearl Harbour as you have already stated.

THe botonical gardens on the NOrth shore – worth a visit (very jurassic park) – Also you can swim in a natural water pool (very cold and deep but gloriously refreshing)

The Zoo is fantastic

THere is a superb little musuem in waikiki

MH
:-)

Suggestion: Take me with you!

Big Island, Volcano National Park, standing on brand new earth watching the lava hit the sea.

Suggestions about enjoying Hawaii in February… Heck, I'd be pretty stoked just getting off the plane.

Two definites are Pearl Harbor and VNP. Waipio Valley Lookout and the Haleakala Volcano Crater are pretty cool. Then there's Waikiki Beach just so you can say you were there.

Pearl Harbor, go as early as possible in the morning. It can be busy.

What Island are you going to? I'm going to assume Oahu, since that's most common. Since you are on TMP, I'll assume interest in military history…

Pearl Harbor. Visit the Arizona Memorial and the USS Bowfin (a WWII submarine). The Utah memorial is there as well.

Hike Diamond Head, part of the hike is through WWI – WWII bunkers and it has great views of Wakki.

The Bishop museum has a lot of info on pre-contact Hawaian culture, including a decent section about their military history/culture.

The US Army museum at Fort Derusy is decent but fairly small.

Waimia Falls hike has a reconstruction of a historic Hawaiian village. The "botanical gardens on the north shore" mentioned above, I believe are the same thing.

Hanama bay. Great for snorkeling and seeing fish. I'm sure there are better places, but it's not too far from Honolulu, and there are lots of tour guide vans that will drive you out there and give you snorkels and flippers. The parking lot for the bay is small and fills up very early. Also, there's really no shade and little if any food service, so plan accordingly.

If you see aircraft diving from the skies with big red "meatballs" painted on the wings … Duck !!!!!

Take time to get to the Big Island. Black sand beaches with fresh water springs

The ruins of the Imperial Russian fort built in 1817 on the island of Kaua'i are also pretty interesting.

link

All the above, plus: Rent a car and drive around the island and across the middle. I know this has nothing to do with Pearl Harbor, but it's worth mentioning. Each island is basically a miniature self-contained continent, and just driving around looking at the rapid changes in terrain and ecosystems will appeal more to a miniatures gamer than most people.

You only asked about Pearl Harbor, so I'll keep my other non-military-tourism suggestions to myself, but I have LOTS of them. Hawaii may be the most exotic, foreign place within US borders, and you can depart as far from normal mainland life as if you flew to the Far East if you put your mind to it.

- Ix

Thanks guys!

I'd probably try and hire a 4x4 and visit the Mauna kea observatories link

I'd imagine the views are stunning.

John T

If you are on Kanapali Beach on Maui, take an early morning walk on the beach. I swear you can almost hear the song Bali Hi as you see the islands in the early morning mist across the water! If you do not know what song I am talking about, then I am too old to advise people on how to enjoy Hawaii. (Everyone should do some snorkling, though. The Road to Hanna is great, too, but let someone else drive or you miss too much.)

USS Missouri…

If you are going to the Big Island. You will want to go to the Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park that used to be called the city of refuge. Captain Cook called there before he got the chop and it was a very important Hawaiian religious center. If you have time Kaloko-Honakohau National Park is another great place. If they have the vegetation cleaned back there are extensive petroglyph fields including incredible petroglyphs of ships, cannons, guns, caronades, etc. often named,
LB

Yea, Hanama Bay for sunning and snorkeling.

If you rent a car, and get away from the downtown area of Honolulu, meals are a lot less expensive. Helps to defray the cost of the rental.

Wow this helps me out too. I am going in 3 weeks Big Island for most of the trip then 2-3 days in Honolulu. Pearl is a definite for me.

Love the Big Island.

Great snorkeling at various points on the West Coast there.

The tiny little protected reef/swimming area just south of Kailua is not to be missed. It's crowded, but lots of stuff to see in very shallow water there, so is great, even for novices and non-swimmers.

Punch Bowl. the National Cemetery of the Pacific also on Oahu.

Up to the Royal Palace, then ALL the way up to the Pali, site of Kamehameha's triumph and an astounding location and view. If you're brave and there aren't many people around, down the off-limits old highway until you can see exactly why they closed it …

If you're a chowhound eat at Zippys.