Honolulu Travel Forum

We are a party of 4 (from the UK) one of whom will celebrate her 60th birthday during our visit in January 2009. We are taking a trip to visit relatives in New zealand and hope to use Oahu for a relaxing week after hectic time getting around all the family. We would like somewhere not to commercialised but not to far away from civilization either. We fly into Honolulu International airport. Any suggestions as to which area we should be looking at to book accomodation. The only must see is the Arizona Memorial. We can hire a car but don't want to be driving long distances. As you can probably gather we know absolutely nothing about the area and will be grateful for any advice.

Many Thanks

The JW Marriott Ko'olina Resort is one possibility as is the Kahala Hotel these are in the $300-400 a night range.
For a little friendlier budget the New Otani Hotel is on the far end of Waikiki towards Diamond Head and close to the aquqrium and the zoo and close enough to walk to the shopping and restaurants in Waikiki.

There is no place along Waikiki that isn't busy and crowded. Once we spent a few nights just over the hills near the town of Kailua. It is completely different there. You could also consider the north shore. There aren't a lot of places to stay, however. But both destinations are great day trips.

I think I would take it a step further and travel on to one of the other islands for a few days. There are relatively inexpensive island hops. Oahu is fairly hectic and crowded- I'd try Maui, Lanai or even one of the smaller, less touristy of the Hawaaian Isles.

I should have added that neither the Ko'olina Resort nor the Kahala Hotel or in Waikiki.
The Kahala is in a quiet upscale neighborhood and about twenty minutes from Waikiki the Ko'olina is to the Ewa ( westside ) of the airport opposite of Waikiki and is as the name says more of a resort area and is about 30-45 minutes from Waikiki.
The Marriott Ko'olina would be closer to Pearl Harbor for your visit to the Arizona Memorial.

The Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel ....(808) 836-0661 ..is about a half mile from the Airport and about five to eight miles from both Downtown and Waikiki BUT only about seven minutes from the Arizona Memorial.. You can also check out hotels in the Aiea area which is in that location nearer to the Arizona Memorial and Pearlrige Shopping Center.

I would say look in to a timeshare or rental on the windward side of the island. Places like Ka Olina are very nice but way too far away from Waikiki. Around work times and even some times on weekend there is a fairly good amount of traffic on the roads. I prefer the Windward side because the landscape is lush and the windward side still is close enough to Waikiki to not be too much of a burden to travel back and forth. Though if you stay away from Waikiki the lodging on the Windward side say in Lanikai or Kailua will probably much more expensive then Waikiki.