Kalakaua Ave. – THE Street of Waikiki!
Kalakaua is the main “drag” of Waikiki (the other big street is Kuhio – out the front of the hotel, across Kalakaua, through the little park and you are on Kuhio – turn right to walk to the main part of Waikiki – but, again, the main drag is Kalakaua – Kuhio is secondary, but has some good restaurants).
Waikiki is small enough that you don’t ever need to use a taxi or bus – outside of Waikiki (Downtown, Diamondhead, Pearl Harbor) the bus system is great. (See Getting Around page)
You don’t want to rent a car, except in special cases, because the hotel parking rate is $30 or so a day. If you want a car for a day check across the street (or at the service station next to the hotel), rent it for the day and return at night.
We have also been told there are good weekend rates ($10 a day) at Enterprise – we are guessing you can leave it on the street overnight (it is a rental car after all) in the park across from the Ala Moana and walk the short way back to the hotel – but check the signs to make sure.
If you walk out the front of the hotel and turn right you walk down Kalakaua. The 1st street on the R is Saratoga, cross Saratoga turn right and go about 100 feet and you will see Eggs and Things – excellent breakfast.
If you walk straight on Kalakaua you will see the Royal Hawaiian Center on the right – it is about 2 blocks long and in the middle, on the 2nd floor, is a large, nice, food court.
A little further down Kalakaua – at the far end of the Royal Hawaiian Center is the Cheesecake Factory – also good.
Behind the Royal Hawaiian Center is the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the Grande Dame of Hawaiian hotels – if you look at old classic Hawaiian movies they are often set there. MAKE SURE you walk through it.
For example, watch to prepare for your visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwkTewuR_HM
or, if you are really interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IZpIeaC2p4&list=PL05B40FA6467A3601
They even have their own song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgKQdxBSy9I
Church
Army chapel – RIGHT behind hotel in little white building – I think 9:30 Sunday (the time is on the sign out front).
Grocery Stores – Waikiki
Conveniently located at both ends of Waikiki, are two Food Pantry markets (Food Pantry Kuhio and Villa Pantry) – Google for walking directions:
Food Pantry – larger of the 2 Villa Pantry – smaller, but a little closer
2370 Kuhio Avenue 438 Hobron Ln
Honolulu, HI 96815 Honolulu, HI 96815
6:00am – 1:00am daily 6:00am – 11:30pm daily
Other
From your room balcony if you look across the park, a little to the right, the tall tower is the Trump International – across the street from the Trump, down a block, is an A-Frame Hotel (Outrigger Reef), they usually have (at night) live Hawaiian music – some of the best artists in Hawaii – from 6 until probably 9 or so. Kani Ka Pila Grill
http://www.outriggerreef-onthebeach.com/dining-music.aspx
Across from the front of this hotel is a very nice Denny’s
Prepare for your visit by listening to Hawaii radio: http://player.tritondigital.com/embed.php?embedid=14571
Friday night – MUST see: Hilton Hawaiian Village – out back of hotel across the park – official fireworks music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I
http://www.latimes.com/travel/california/la-trb-honolulu-free-fireworks-waikiki-beach-20160212-story.html
After the fireworks have ended, walking back through the Hilton you should be an open-air area for drinks and light food where they have GREAT Hawaiian music – you don’t even have to have a drink or anything to sit on the ledge and listen. Tapa Bar http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/dining
Diamondhead – a nice visit – the crater around the bottom is a nice park – you can take a bus close and walk the rest of the way in (via a road tunnel). If you decide to climb to the top it is an arduous climb – if you walk up about ¼ of the way there is a nice lookout where the views will be just about as good as if you climb to the top.
Good Burgers: http://www.teddysbb.com/list-of-locations
Of course, you must also go to the Ala Moana Center – the world’s nicest mall – who likes malls? But this is an exception: http://www.alamoanacenter.com/