Tag: itinerary

HAWAII: Travel Guide

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We stayed 6 nights at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa for our honeymoon in the spring of 2021. It is located in Ko Olina, a quiet gated area on the southwestern shore of Oahu. It’s 30 minutes outside of Honolulu and has spectacular beach sunsets. In Ko Olina, there are other resorts and beach houses, an ABC Store, souvenir shops, a golf course, local restaurants…everything you’d ever need for a relaxing beach vacation, nestled away from the hustle and bustle of crowded touristy areas.

Unless you are me. While my husband would be perfectly content napping in a beach chair all day, I am the exact opposite. I am that crazy tourist with a backpack on and a map in hand, stopping to take a picture of almost everything I see. But, because I love my husband, you will notice this travel guide has the best of both worlds. Times where we did not leave the resort all day for him, and times where we were gone from sun up to sun down for me.

If you are planning a Hawaiian vacation and do not know where to start, this is the guide for you. I did endless research into the island (besides just watching Lilo & Stitch), and I can confidently say there is something for everyone in this breathtaking state.

DAY ONE

  • Arrive in Honolulu and travel to Ko Olina to check-in at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa.
  • Explore the resort and Ko Olina by walking out to look-out points on the beachside, snacking on spam masubi from the ABC Store, and visiting Monkeypod Kitchen for happy hour (Mai Tai with their Garlic Truffle Oil Fries is a must!)

DAY TWO

  • Walk to the Marriott Beach Club to pick up your Enterprise car rental from the kiosk in their lobby.
  • Head to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. Make sure to get there for 10:30am (any later and the line is down the street!) and order the shrimp scampi plate. You won’t regret it!
  • Travel to Laniakea Beach to see magnificent sea turtles laying on the beach and playing in the ocean waves (make sure to head there during lunchtime as it is supposedly when the turtles are most active!)
  • Drive to Dole Plantation, where you can ride the Pineapple Express Train Tour, explore the Plantation Garden, and walk through the Pineapple Garden Maze. Stop at the Plantation Grille for an afternoon snack of Dole Whip and fresh pineapple.
  • Lastly, make your way to downtown Honolulu to visit local breweries, such as Honolulu Beerworks, Hana Koa Brewing Company, or Aloha Beer Company.
  • End your day at Waikiki Brewing Company, which has a full dinner menu and a fun and lively atmosphere!

DAY THREE

  • Get back in your rental car and spend your day at Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Here you can visit the USS Arizona Memorial, walk through exhibit galleries on the Road to War and the Attack, explore the USS Bowfin, Battleship Missouri Memorial, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and take a walk through the Remembrance Circle. I highly recommend purchasing the narrated walking tour, which can be used throughout the area for more in depth knowledge .
  • After, head to the Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian Resort in Waikiki for a pre-dinner cocktail, followed by a short sunset walk on Waikiki Beach to dinner at Duke’s, located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.

DAY FOUR

  • Wake up before dawn and head to Kaiwai State Park on the east side of the island. Hike the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail at sunrise and take in the fantastic views of the island and ocean. If you are there from December through April, you may even get to see humpback whales migrating from Alaska to Hawaii!
  • Stop at Leonard’s Bakery for delicious malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts without the hole). They are stuffed with a wide variety of flavor options, including our favorites – Macadamia Nut and Custard.
  • Drop off your rental car at a local Enterprise office in downtown Honolulu and catch a ride share back to the resort (unfortunately you cannot return rental cars to their Ko Olina location).
  • Spend the afternoon relaxing before heading to dinner at KA WA’A, Aulani’s own Luau! The Luau starts with a pre-show demonstration, including traditional flower arranging and taro pounding. You are served a three-course plated bento dinner, followed by the Luau performance!

DAY FIVE AND SIX

  • Spend the rest of your trip enjoying all Aulani has to offer!
  • At Ko Olina Beach, you are able to rent snorkels, boogie boards, and paddle boards for use or even a private casabella (2-seat lounger with awning) or cabana. You can take a swim in the Ka Maka Grotto, the infinity-edge pool overlooking Ko Olina Beach, or go snorkeling in the Rainbow Reef, their 3,800-square-foot saltwater private snorkeling lagoon. There is also a lazy river and two rapid water adventures: Volcanic Vertical and Tubestone Curl.
  • Aulani also offers multiple dining services, including poolside and beachside service, grab-and-go selections, shaved ice, and casual sit-down restaurants. In addition, they offer character experiences, with Mickey Mouse and friends dressed in their best Hawaiian gear, photography services for beachside photos, spa and salon services, and so much more!

And just like all the best vacations, they sadly come to an end, but I hope this guide can help you in planning a magical Hawaiian vacation like ours was. Mahola!

-Rebecca

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