Why not take a trip under the sea?

Features

March 14, 2009

By Joy Crutchfield The McAlester News-Capital Sat Mar 14, 2009, 01:04 PM CDT

When you land in Oahu, smack dab in the middle of the airport walkways are racks and racks of tourist information. Pick up a copy of “101 Things to Do-Oahu” as well as “Oahu Maps, Places to Go, Things to Do” and your vacation planning will be well on its way.

I have always wanted to experience a ride in a submarine. Atlantis submarines pick you up right at the dock at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. They actually have two sizes of submarines. The larger sub has larger windows, so we went with that one.

The Coast Guard approved submarine submerges to about 100 feet deep, and gives you a wonderful view of the marine life and the underwater reef systems off Waikiki. We saw a giant sea turtle basking on the deck of a sunken fishing vessel. We also saw my very first shark, a white tip, lying on the ocean floor. There were stingrays and hundreds of multi-colored fish of various sizes. It was a mesmerizing experience.

Another adventure you won’t want to miss is the Ala Moana Mall. Once the largest mall in the world Ala Moana has shops ranging from Sears to Neiman Marcus. My favorite shop in the mall isn’t a shop at all, it’s Bubba Gump’s Restaurant. Don’t miss out on a meal at Bubba Gump’s (the coconut shrimp is awesome). And buy the T shirt, too. Ala Moana Mall is located just blocks from Waikiki on Ala Moana Blvd.

The only royal palace on America soil is located on Oahu. The Iolani Palace is located in the heart of Honolulu, and has been lovingly restored and protected. Watch the video for a great historical overview before you enter into the palace. You’ll also want to be certain to obtain the audio headsets before beginning your tour of the palace. The history of Hawaii’s royal family is fascinating, and the United States has had a particularly powerful influence. Ask your concierge for directions as there are many one way streets surrounding the palace making it a bit complicated to locate.

The Bishop Museum is one of the coolest museums I’ve ever experienced for children. There’s an erupting volcano that’s two stories high, and if that’s not exciting enough the kids can pilot an underwater camera like the one used to investigate the wreckage of the Titanic. There’s also a Hawaiian Hall and a Polynesian Hall with incredible artifacts from these cultures. It won’t take up a lot of your vacation time, but if you have kids you’ll be glad you visited the Bishop Museum right off Hwy 1 in Honolulu.

The Dole Plantation is loads of fun. From Honolulu take Highway 1 West to Highway 2, drive North through the wonderful village of Wahiawa (lots of fast food options here) and continue North on Highway 99 to the beautiful Dole Plantation. You’ll want to arrive early and eat in Wahiawa as food at the plantation is grossly overpriced.

The World’s Largest Maze (located inside the plantation) has over 2 miles of paths and 14,000 Hawaiian plants. The record for completing the maze is about 10 minutes without a map, it took us 40 minutes with a map and I cheated.

The Pineapple Express is a fun 20 minute train ride through the Dole pineapple fields with a live tour guide explaining the history of the pineapple crop in Hawaii, as well as the growth patterns, harvesting techniques, and financial and political impact, etc. It’s a fun tour and you’re guaranteed to learn something interesting.

The Honolulu Zoo brings to mind two words: Don’t bother. Ditto with the Honolulu Aquarium. There is a better zoo and aquarium in Fort Worth, Texas.

How long are you planning to stay on Oahu? Next week there’s more to tell about our exciting week on this wonderful island.

Joy Gawf Crutchfield owns The Joy of Travel. Contact her at www.thejoyoftravel.us or 918-339-4805.

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