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.

Text Only

Features

Alexix Futisha is named Little Miss Choctaw
McAlester’s Alexis Futisha has been named Little Miss Choctaw for District 11.

May 28, 2012 1 Photo
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
2. FINANCIAL REGULATORS PROBING FACEBOOK IPO
They want to find out whether the bank that handled the sale, Morgan Stanley, selectively informed clients of an analyst’s negative report on the company before the stock started trading. Facebook stock has since dropped 18 percent.

May 23, 2012 4 Stories
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
3. JOPLIN, MO., MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF TORNADO THAT KILLED 161
Obama’s speech praising residents for their “bigness of spirit” precedes events today that include a community walk through the path of the twister and a moment of silence at 6:41 p.m., the precise time it hit.

May 22, 2012 3 Stories
What the dog said
May 19, 2012
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
1. NATION’S NUCLEAR REGULATORS SCALE BACK EMERGENCY READINESS
An overhaul of emergency planning near U.S. reactors requires fewer exercises for accidents and recommends fewer people be evacuated right away.

May 16, 2012 3 Stories
Poll: Half of Americans call Facebook a fad
Half of Americans think Facebook is a passing fad, according to the results of a new Associated Press-CNBC poll. And, in the run-up to the social network’s initial public offering of stock, half of Americans also say the social network’s expected asking price is too high.

May 15, 2012 2 Photos
Study: Phone co customer satisfaction evens out
Improvements in customer satisfaction at Sprint Nextel Corp. and AT&T Inc. have narrowed differences among the Big 4 wireless carriers to the point that they’re basically even in terms of pleasing their subscribers, according to a study released Tuesday.

May 15, 2012
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
1. U.S. ADOPTS STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING ALZHEIMER’S
The Obama administration today sets a 2025 deadline to find effective treatments and perhaps even a way to prevent the mind-destroying disease that afflicts 5.4 million Americans.

May 15, 2012
At the movies
Showing at McAlester's Cinema 69 Movie Theatre, according to www.mcalestercinema.readyhosting.com: "The Avengers," "The Pirates: Band of Misfits," "The Raven" and more.

May 9, 2012 3 Photos 1 Story
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
4. North Carolina voters approve amendment that slams door shut on gay marriage
More than 60 percent of voters approve the measure defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman.

May 9, 2012 4 Stories
More Features Headlines

A recent study of southern tornadoes has found that storm shelters did not protect them. Where do you take shelter when tornadoes threaten?

Features

Search Results

Why not take a trip under the sea?

A recent study of southern tornadoes has found that storm shelters did not protect them. Where do you take shelter when tornadoes threaten?

Site Map

Contact Us