Advantages: This Island is beautiful.
Disadvantages: All the problems a tourist spot has.

...Honolulu is Hawaii's largest City, (about 400,00 people), but it is not the Capital City of the Hawaiian Islands, (Hilo on the Island of Hawaii is the Capital). We always stay on Waikkiki Beach. I have visited the Hawaiian Island of Oahu from 1956 when we Honeymooned here until the time my Nephew was killed in a car crash that was caused by a drunken driver. The first time we stayed at the Royal Hawaii, (a grand Hotel that is part of the Sheraton Chain), all the Towers in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and in our own Condo. On our Honeymoon we flew there on Pan Am with Ed Sullivan and his wife sitting across from us. We have flown on United and Canadian Airlines as well. There are six large Islands in this Chain and many small ones that aren't only have plants and animals on them or shown on a Map. Oahu is the 4th largest... Read review

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Advantages: great weather, great swimming, great place
Disadvantages: none to speak of

...Hubby and I took a Hawaiian vacation in May 2003 which was a nice break during the New Zealand winter months. The weather was fantastic and even though there was an occasional passing shower every now and then, overall the days were sunny and oh so very warm. The nights were lovely and balmy and just what you want when visiting a tropical island paradise. Now, calling Honolulu a tropical paradise is a bit of a stretch but it sure is a great place to have a holiday. ~ ARRIVAL ~ We landed at Honolulu International Airport around 10:30 pm local time. It seemed to take forever to get through the rigmarole of Immigration and Customs as usual … (damned visas) … but we made it out the other end eventually. Thankfully there was plenty of security present at Baggage Claim as our bags were looking mighty vulnerable all on their own... Read review

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Advantages: Lots to see
Disadvantages: be careful about the time of day you go to visit.

...I visited Honolulu Zoo in the summer whilst on Honeymoon in Waikiki. The Zoo is situated at the far end of Waikiki on the way towards Diamond Head. We happened across the zoo after finding adverts in one of the many brochures and fliers you can pick up from the hotels. The Zoo is within easy walking distance of Waikiki hotels and is worth the visit if you have nothing better planned. Unfortunately we chose to go around midday on our first day - jet lag hadn't quite hit us yet so we were wide awake and eager to explore Waikiki. It was a scorching hot day and the animals obviously had better things to do than stare at countless faces visiting them in the zoo. Safe to say they were tucked up in the shade having a nap. Still we were there so we headed off around the different areas. Honolulu Zoo is set into different continents... Read review

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Advantages: Close to the Waikiki Beach area, Great views from higher floors
Disadvantages: Standard size room a little small, parking quite expensive

...We stayed at the Ohana Maile Sky Court Hotel in Honolulu for 4 nights in September 2005 at the end of a three week holiday to the Hawaiian islands. The hotel has a large, airy reception area and lobby with plenty of comfortable seating. The staff were helpful, friendly and accomodating. We arrived about an hour before check-in time and they re-arranged the bookings so that we could have a room that was already available immediately. My 2-year old daughter was also very happy to be given a free beach ball by one of the check-in staff! Our room was on one of the highest floors and the view was spectacular - it felt as if you had just taken off in a plane! We could see the ocean and diamond head in the distance. The room itself - a standard size double was, however, a little on the small size, especially with a camp bed for our 2-year... Read review

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Advantages: Variety of Shops & Restaurants, Beautiful Setting
Disadvantages: None

...I love the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu - I have visited it twice now on both of my visits to the Hawaiian Islands. It is a large shopping centre, part of which is in the open air. It is lovely to walk around, browsing in the shops and feeling a nice cool breeze as you do so. There is a wide variety of shops, from department stores to supermarkets to clothing stores and bookshops to small, speciality stores selling gifts, cosmetics, etc. The locals tend to shop there, so it is not full of tacky tourist shops or shops with rip-off prices (as tends to be the case in much of Waikiki). There is a also a wide range of places to eat. My favourite place is the food court, where you have a wide variety of choices from traditional Hawaiian to contemporary American to Chinese. All of the food in the food court is very reasonably... Read review

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Advantages: EVERYTHING
Disadvantages: Long flight, however get a good airline and you won't notice :)

...To give you the angle, I'm a single parent and my daughter had her 7th birthday while we were there last year, and this is how it was for us. Arrived Honolulu airport early from Las Vegas, then was met by a very friendly hostess and the bus driver, we had fresh lei's (really made the day for my daughter - having just watch Lilo and Stitch at the time). and a warm welcome. The bus driver and hostess did a double act from the airport to the hotel - which was very funny! The trip only took about 40 minutes to get to the hotel (Outrigger Waikiki on the beach - see my other report) althought traffic was busy around honolulu - and seemed that way most of our stay. After settling in at the hotel, (that consisted of throwing the bags in the room, quick shower and change) we walked along waikiki beach - Beautiful, there is lots of content... Read review

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Advantages: Beauty, sites, cultural, beaches
Disadvantages: Too much to see and do in to little time, Crowded in some places

...Hawaii, fortunately, was one of our destinations on our honeymoon in 1984. I had written an opinion on the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand recently. This was one of the destinations, of our honeymoon, prior to Hawaii. From Bangkok we traveled to Hong Kong and then Tokyo. It was from Tokyo that we flew to Honolulu in the month of May 1984. We traveled on a Korean Airlines 747 which happened to my almost empty as one of their planes had just been shot down over Russia a few weeks earlier. Your love affair with Hawaii starts as soon as you look through the window of the aircraft upon landing at the airport. Just a mass of blue ocean and suddenly you see the island. When the plane is landing it’s as if you are landing on the water and suddenly the runway materializes. Honolulu is situated on Hawaii’s largest... Read review

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Advantages: The water and the amount of sea life you can see is amazing.
Disadvantages: It can get incredibly busy.

...The Bay was created by violent volcanic eruptions: first it was a large crater, then it was later flooded by sea water 32,000 years ago. It is now a wonderful large, reefed, shallow bay. The sheltered conditions have made this a perfect home to marine life and also a calm area of water whereby people can swim and explore. This is a great place for those interested in seeing marine life (including the famous sea turtles), beginners to snorkelling (as I was) or weaker swimmers (so for young children this is a great introduction to swimming in the ocean, particularly as the water is not too deep). The Bay itself is beautiful, with crystal clear waters, complete with a sandy beach to sun bathe in between those swims. Hanauma Bay is located in the island of Oahu and is a very short journey from Honolulu. We went by private vehicle... Read review

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Advantages: An amazing experience
Disadvantages: Not wanting to come home!

...Aloha! This was a fantastic holiday as soon as we stepped off the plane! We took 3 planes one from Leeds Bradford to London Heathrow, London Heathrow to San Francisco then from San Francisco to Honolulu probably a bad thing if you don't like flying but well worth it once your there. I went in April 2003 for my sisters wedding she got married in Olomana Gardens this isn't available for people who want to get married there anymore I think they've turned it into a farm but it was beautiful never the less. The holiday cost around £1000 each for 3weeks self catering but it was worth every penny, it's the best holiday I have had so far! We stayed at Ohana Waikiki Village which is being refurbished but it was gorgeous back in 2003 so I bet it will be even better once it's finished. The pool was gorgeous as when you dived in and went... Read review

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Advantages: Beach Front Location
Disadvantages: Expensive food

...The Marriott Waikiki Beach is in a prime location directly adjacent to Wakkiki Beach. Beautiful views and central to the Wakkiki life of Honolulu. If you want a true Hawaii experience then Wakkiki is not for you. Wakkiki is an excellent spot for surfing and lounging on the beach although avoid the sun aroun mid-day and if tehre are no locals surfing dont surf!!! The Marriot itself has spaceous rooms and many have views of the hillside of the sea. There are two places to eat in the Marriot, the restuarant which has a rather limitted menu and is quite expencive and the terrace cafe on the thrid floor. The cafe is next to one of the swimming pools so the fabric seats are often wet and the menu is also limited and again expensive. The cafe has live music which may not be to everyones taste but is a great atmosphere if you have... Read review

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