Hawaii Here I Come! TR July/Aug 2011 UPDATED 8/23 - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The pool area sounds amazing! You may try to do a search on flickr for some pics of the pool.... when I can't find adequate pics on a website, I can often find some on flickr.....
Before I leave the Big Island, I thought I'd add a few restaurants that I really want to try while here:
U-Top-It in Kona
It's described as a creperie and Hawaiian food place. It gets really good reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor. I think I want to go more for breakfast than lunch or dinner.
Roy's Waikoloa Bar and Grill at Kings' Shops in Waikoloa. This is a restaurant I've wanted to try ever since my first visit to the Big Island. It's so convenient to where we're staying, so I really have no excuse. I hope this is the time!
I already mentioned Da Poke Shack earlier, so you all know about that.
Finally, I'd like to try Hawaiian Style Cafe in Kamuela (about 30 minutes from Waikoloa, if that). This is another one that gets good reviews on Yelp, Trip Advisor and Urban Spoon. Breakfast again sounds like the best meal there.
I LOVE breakfast, but it's hard to find a good breakfast place. I'm hoping I get some good Hawaiian style breakfasts on this trip!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
These are the two full days we have on Oahu. My plans are really going to depend on Baby To Be Named, so these are just rough ideas of what I'd like to do.
If one of these mornings is free, I'd like to drive out to Ko Olina to check out the progress at Aulani. To be honest, it's not looking like I'll have the chance, but you never know. I mentioned earlier about the need to get there first thing in the morning, and I wasn't kidding. I think once we arrived around 10am and already had to wait for the next available parking spot in the tiny lot...thankfully, someone left about 10 minutes after we got there (Perri stayed with the car, and the rest of us walked down to one of the coves). I won't have the luxury this time since it'll likely be just me and the kids.
Another thing we'd like to try relatively early is the World's Largest Maze at the Dole Pineapple Plantation in central Oahu. World's Largest Maze We drove past this the last time we visited Oahu, and it was too late to get started (the place closes at 5pm, and the maze takes 1-2 hours on average). And, according to their website, they sell Dole Whips there! I promised Sophia that the next time we were in town, we'd try it, so this is one that we are definitely going to visit!
Finally, planning for me is not complete without identifying a few restaurants and/or food items to try!
Eggs 'N Things is walking distance from our hotel. It's recommended that you arrive for breakfast by 8am to avoid the longest waits. If I can get the kids up and going early enough, I'd love to try this. The breakfast selections sound amazing! EGGS 'N THINGS specializes in pancakes, omelets and crepes., Eggs'n Things
Leonard's Bakery for malasadas. I've actually had this before, and they are super delicious! They're a combination of a donut and a beignet...I'm not sure how else to describe it. I'm tempted to go on our last day so I can carry on some extras for munching on the plane! Leonard's Bakery - Quality Baked Goods Since 1952
I doubt we'll have time to try much more than that. I'm sure we'll be spending time with Perri & Co, so that will be the determining factor on what we'll be doing.
As for the trip home, well that's gonna be a red-eye flight. I chose the 3 center section seats (the configuration is 2-3-2) so that we can sit together and lean on each other to sleep. The flight leaves Honolulu around 9:30pm and gets us back to LAX around 6am. Patrick will pick us up.
And that's about it. I know this isn't the most exciting of trips, but I am SO looking forward to relaxing, you have no idea! Sometimes I'm in the mood for adventurous trips full of content, but this time I'm really in the mood for pretty much doing nothing except sleeping and eating!
I've tested out posting pictures taken with my phone, so I know I'll at least be able to post a few pics while I attempt a live trip report! I'm so excited! I just hope I'll be able to get a few quiet moments each day to update you all on what's going on. I really look forward to reading everyone's TRs, so my goal is to start returning the favor!
The countdown is at 3 weeks now! What am I going to share with you guys between now and then?! I'm sure I'll come up with something!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Sounds like an amazing trip to me! Beautiful destinations, fantastic hotels and pools, and some really yummy restaurants! Looking forward to reading how it all turns out.
Sounds like an exciting trip to me! I had the best breakfast ever on our trip to Hawaii some years ago. If I recall right it was macadamia pancakes with some kind of coconut syrup.
Sounds like an amazing trip to me! Beautiful destinations, fantastic hotels and pools, and some really yummy restaurants! Looking forward to reading how it all turns out.
You're one of the ones who inspired me to attempt a live TR, so I hope I don't let you down! I'll be taking as many pics as I can!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Sounds like an exciting trip to me! I had the best breakfast ever on our trip to Hawaii some years ago. If I recall right it was macadamia pancakes with some kind of coconut syrup.
Aren't Hawaiian breakfasts amazing? I'm partial to Loco Moco, Portuguese sausage, and spam misubi! I've also had some great mac nut pancakes with lilikoi syrup (I'm not a huge fan of coconut). On our last trip to Honolulu, we ate at Mac 24/7 in Waikiki. Sophia and I saw a Man v. Food episode where Adam did the pancake challenge there, so we wanted to go try it out. MAC 24-7 BAR + RESTAURANT We ordered the giant pancakes, but there were about 10 of us there (Minnie's family joined us). Granted we ordered plenty of other stuff, but even with 10 people having some of the pancake, we still couldn't polish it off!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I can't believe I was worried I wouldn't have enough to share with you all between now and the trip. I haven't told you about my browsing/shopping plans for Oahu!
These are two things I've done before, but I'm definitely doing them both again! The first is the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet that happens 3 times a week. Aloha stadium swap meet is one of the largest Swap meets in Hawaii. Experience the great shopping at Aloha Hawaii swap meet and Flea Market at Honalulu regionI've only been here once before and only saw maybe 1/5th of it before having to leave (grouchy people with me ). Sophia wants to do this as much as I do. There's so much to see here, from kitschy touristy stuff to really beautiful Hawaiian art. There's also food, but we never even got to that last time, so I'm hoping to rectify that this time!
The other thing I must do is visit the Island Slipper store. Island Slipper . Island Pro . Island Hawaii - Hand Made Slippers, Sandals Made in Hawaii My best friend turned me on to these incredibly comfortable sandals. She got married on Maui, and the day before her wedding I saw her wearing these really cute sandals with a cute red Hawaiian print on the straps. She told me she found it in a general store while shopping the day before and absolutely loved them. She let me try them on, and I was in LOVE! I immediately went looking for a pair for myself. Well, I told my brother about it (who lives on Oahu), and he said the factory was near where he lived. So, for several years thereafter, my brother sent me sandals every Christmas! Anyhow, now I just visit the store that's not too far from where we'll be staying this time...just a short 10 minute drive. The sandals are great, but pricey. However, if you can be flexible with styles, they usually have a section of heavily discounted styles, and I usually find a pair or two there that I am happy to own (especially at half off!).
Between those two stops, I think I'll get my fill of shopping for myself and for friends and family. I'm sure I'll find more knick knacks along the way, but those are our two must-dos this time!
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Sounds like fun-- a day of shopping with a like-minded friend! Leave those grouchy people at home and take your time. It looks like you can find everything and more at that swap meet.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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). Sophia wants to do this as much as I do. There's so much to see here, from kitschy touristy stuff to really beautiful Hawaiian art. There's also food, but we never even got to that last time, so I'm hoping to rectify that this time!
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