Also, we have the free use of one car from my BIL. We will mostly be staying around the condo (Ko Olina), but want to go to Diamonhead, PCC, North Shore, and Pearl Harbor. We could rent another small car, but then we would be separated for the touring days. Or we could take The Bus. Is that a reasonable idea? My DH wants to rent a large SUV for a couple days so we can do that, but I would prefer to save that money.
Any other tips or advice? DH used to live in Hawaii (25years ago), so he is familiar with the island, but I'm open to ideas of favorite places to eat or things to do. We will mostly eat at the condo, but would like to go out to fun places as a treat as well.
Thanks for any advice!!
25 years ago? Your spouse will not recognize anything between Waipahu and... Makaha. He won't recognize much between Pearl City and Wahiawa, either. He might recognize some of Waikiki. H-3... he's in for a pleasant surprise.
If you haven't already considered it then you need an airport transportation plan, and your best bet may be a passenger van to Ko'olina. I'm not sure that the bus is going to get you from the airport to where you want to be, let alone in any reasonable amount of time. Even by car it's 30-45 minutes.
The bus (known as "Da Bus") is possible but frustrating. With a party of eight... better have plenty of slack in the schedule and an alternate transportation plan. (Enterprise Car Rental probably has an office near your VRBO rental, and they deliver.) You can check routes & times here:
http://www.thebus.org/ and if you carry a smartphone then download the real-time bus locator app:
http://hea.thebus.org/I see you're adding hats to the packing list-- good call. Socks for the running shoes if you're doing any serious walking (like Diamond Head). Sunglasses? Batteries, chargers, USB cords, and earbuds for all the electronics? Inflatable neck pillows for the plane? Earplugs & eyeshades for the plane and the rental? Airplane snacks? Lip balm? Does the VRBO rental have a DVD player?
While you're picking up sunscreen and other toiletries, consider a small bottle of aloe. Someone (or something) always gets sunburned.
You could ask the VRBO owner whether they have spare rashguards, other beach gear, and styrofoam coolers. That stuff accumulates in closets & corners from departing renters. You can also ask them about the nearest grocery store in case you want to sign up for their loyalty/rewards discount card now. The Wal-Mart in Kapolei may also be competitive for food prices. Another option is the Costco in Waipio, but that's a 20-minute drive from Kapolei. Many of the VRBO rentals have community (or lanai) BBQ grills but you'll want to ask about supplies and grilling tools. The younger kids may want reef socks for the beach & tidepools, and if those aren't in the condo then Wal-Mart has them.
Check the PCC website (
http://www.polynesia.com/) for their scheduled events. If you can plan ahead then you can save a little. If you carry a smartphone then you can download the HulaCopter app for last-minute discounts. PCC has a good luau but it makes for a long day, especially the young 'uns. Germaine's and Paradise Cove are closer luau to you but the prices add up quickly.
You can also virtually fly around PCC (and many other Oahu areas) in 3D:
http://the-military-guide.com/3d-hawaii-hale-koa-hotel-in-waikiki/You know that you're staying right next to Disney's Aulani resort, right? (
http://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/) At the very least you'll need a contingency plan for when the kids find out. They
will find out.
The USS ARIZONA Memorial, the USS MISSOURI Memorial, the USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum, and the Pacific Aviation Museum could each be a full day. If you want to lock in a small boat date/time for the USS ARIZONA then reserve it online now:
http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm While you're in the vicinity (or on a separate day) you can do your souvenir shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday mornings). It's best to shop there before buying elsewhere. This area is probably your best bet for riding the bus from Ko'olina.
You can do quite a bit of local dining in Kapolei and Waipahu, but watch the time of day. Fort Weaver Road, H-1, Kam Hwy, and parts of Farrington Hwy are parking lots during weekday rush hours: 5:30-7 AM and 4-6 PM. North-South Road is now known as Kualakai Road, and that may be an alternate route to Fort Weaver.
Local dining spots that I enjoy around Kapolei & Ewa Beach include Loco Moco, Sushi Bay, L&L BBQ, and Zippy's. You may also want to try Thai Kitchen in Waipahu, but call ahead to let them know you're a party of eight:
http://www.thaikitchenhawaii.com/If you're spending the day at Ko'olina's lagoons then check for surfing or stand-up paddling lessons. If that's crowded then you can drive a few miles to White Plains Beach on Kalaeloa:
http://the-military-guide.com/3d-hawaii-white-plains-beach-at-kalaeloa-by-kapolei/ Let me know if any of you have a military (or DoD civilian ID) and I can suggest other options near Ko'olina.