Heading to Hawaii

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Lt Tanaka · #16 Post by **Lt Tanaka** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:46 am

Thanks for all the great tips. Totally depressed the Bears lost today but the consolation is I'll get to see those Chicago players at the Pro Bowl now.

steveadl · #17 Post by **steveadl** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:55 am

Some locations already mentioned, but:

- Estate and tidal pool (obviously)
- Makai Research Pier (Island Hoppers)
- Bally's Antiques (if you want your own red birds of paradise shirt)
- Pali Lookout
- Byodo In Temple
- Pearl Harbour
- Waikiki Beach
- Ala Moana Shopping Centre
- If you get a chance, I highly recommend doing the whole island tour that's on offer - thoroughly enjoyed it. 'Touristy' I know, but you get to see places you may not think of looking at yourself eg. remote surf beaches, rich neighbourhoods etc and hear facts/stories about them you wouldn't know even if you did drive past them yourself.
- Also perhaps look into the down town Honolulu tour. On that note, next time I go to Hawaii I'm going to go inside the buildings we saw on that tour ie. Iolani Palace, State Govt., Bishop Museum etc. You may be interested in them.
- May sound strange - but I also really enjoyed just driving around the local areas of Hawaii. You've got a car so should be no problem - I went around on buses including no. 57 which started on the winward side of the island (at Sea Life Park) and makes a huge loop all the way back around through local areas to Waikiki. You may need to stop a bit if you're driving to take it all in.
- US Army Museum in Waikiki was also really interesting and only a short walk from your hotel. http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org

Another place I didn't get a chance to visit this time, but definitley will next time - the Polynesian Cultural Centre on the North Shore.

Lt Tanaka · #18 Post by **Lt Tanaka** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:07 am

I've already bought the shirt in preparation.

How about the "Stairway to Heaven"? Anyone climbed that?

If Magnum can carry a drugged Higgins down it on his back, surely I can carry all this extra sumo weight up it.

steveadl · #19 Post by **steveadl** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:13 am

Oh man, I would dearly love to do that hike! Only two problems; I'm afraid of heights. Even if I weren't - though physically fit, I doubt I'd take the risk hearing about the state of disrepair they're in. There's not much room for error and a missing plank, or one that gives way while you're walking over it......

Having said that, if I have my own car next time I'll probably be going to the start of the steps located in a local neighbourhood, dodging the guard if there is one and climbing the fence to at least see the start of the steps. Worth a shot anyway, and they wouldn't have a guard there every day.

Lt Tanaka · #20 Post by **Lt Tanaka** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:23 am

I don't mind heights. I don't even mind falling from them. To quote the song below "it's only when I hit the ground it causes all the grief"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPLrqKrn ... re=related

zebra3 · #21 Post by **zebra3** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:11 am

Can I get a google earth address for this?

StarchedUndershirts · Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:38 am

steveadl wrote: Another place I didn't get a chance to visit this time, but definitley will next time - the Polynesian Cultural Centre on the North Shore.

What an experience. I highly recommend it. If you go, stay for dinner and the night show with fire dancing.

Edit: Here's a clip of the show on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz7R14CAEn0

steveadl · #23 Post by **steveadl** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:59 am

zebra3 wrote:Can I get a google earth address for this?

Do you mean the Haiku Stairs entrance Zebra?

If so, it's Puoni Pl, Kaneohe, here's the link:
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s ... 1&t=k&z=19

You can see the path from the street between the two houses, leading up into the hill, then heading under the freeway before the start of the stairs.

Here's the street view, you can see the gates half way up the walk:

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s ... .28,,0,1.1

Apparently there is sometimes a private guard hired by local residents there. Whether or not that's still the case, I don't know. You can read up on it more here:

http://wikimapia.org/1693283/Haiku-Stai ... -to-Heaven

steveadl · #24 Post by **steveadl** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:00 am

Turns out I was wrong about the condition of the Haiku Stairs. Apparently they were pretty much fully refurbished in 2003. Here's part of a good recount from someone who did it only 2 weeks ago:

My friend and I got up at about 3am this morning and made it over to Kaneohe, Hawaii by 4am. The gate guard gets there at 6:20am on the weekends and 8:20am on the weekdays (he told us and so did other hikers). He's a really nice guy and if you get there after he gets there you're prolly SOL. If he tells you not to go up and you go up he will come after you and call the cops. (We watched him do it to two people today actually.) He will talk to you and if you get lost on the way out either show you the way or have another hiker do it. At first we thought we were the only ones doing the hike since nobody else was around. As soon as we got to the Haiku Stairs we saw lights....flashlights. At first I thought it was a guard but soon realized the light was from other hikers. In fact there were about six other hikers at that point. When we looked up the stairs we saw multiple flashlights and realized we were not alone. Climbing up your legs will get tired and your arms will get sore if you use your arms to pull up. I was glad I ate pasta the night before so that I had energy. My friend was still drunk from the night before when we started the hike. LOL! There are 5-6 plateau's that you will come across until you are at the top. Once at the top put on your sweatshirt and wait for the sun to come up. Today the weather at the top was perfectly clear which was great. I do not recommend anyone doing the hike if it is supposed to rain though because the stairs and handrails are already slippery enough as it is. Wear shoes that have traction...you will need it.

You can find the rest of the blog here:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/haiku-stairs-kaneohe

Go on Lt Tanaka - give it a shot!!

steveadl · #25 Post by **steveadl** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:29 am

hmmm that first link gate I posted may not be the right one. The stairs beginning is a bit further north west, this gate may get you there, but the one below is apparently closer to the beginning:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... 02411&z=19

A couple streets away from the other entrance.

Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:16 am

Sure would be nice to have a pdf tour based on RC's locations. Better yet, an mp3 you could download and listen to in your car.

"On the right you'll see the alley where Magnum was shot..."

As if you haven't done enough for us already!

Steve · #27 Post by **Steve** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:23 pm

You can always climb Diamondhead if the stairway to heaven doesn't pan out. Great views from the top of it as well. Most of it is pathway and the stairs come in at the end to really challenge your stamina............

rubber chicken · #28 Post by **rubber chicken** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:04 pm

Interesting ideas Styles. Maybe when I retire in a few decades I'll have time to work on those too.

#29 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:35 pm

rubber chicken wrote:Interesting ideas Styles. Maybe when I retire in a few decades I'll have time to work on those too.

I'll be waiting to download and hop on a plane.

StarchedUndershirts · Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:42 am

Steve wrote:You can always climb Diamondhead if the stairway to heaven doesn't pan out. Great views from the top of it as well. Most of it is pathway and the stairs come in at the end to really challenge your stamina............

Ditto. Do it early in the morning before the sun is too hot. It takes about 1.5 hours total.
Afterwards, go to the Wailana Coffee House (1860 Ala Moana Blvd. across from the Hilton Village) and have some all-you-can-eat pancakes for under $6.00