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During your Honolulu vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Polynesian Cultural Center
Even if you never leave Hawaii, you can still experience the natural beauty and culture of the vast Pacific in a single day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, a kind of living museum of Polynesia. Here, you can see first-hand the lifestyles, songs, dance, costumes, and architecture of seven Pacific islands -- Fiji, New Zealand, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Hawaii -- in the re-created villages scattered throughout the 42-acre lagoon park. A new $1.1 million renovation project has re-done the front entrance and added an exhibit on the story of the Polynesian migration.You "travel" through this museum by foot or in a canoe on a man-made freshwater lagoon. Each village is "inhabited" by native students from Polynesia who attend Hawaii's Brigham Young University. The park, which is operated by the Mormon Church, also features a variety of stage shows celebrating the music, dance, history, and culture of Polynesia. There's a luau every evening. Because a visit can take up to 8 hours, it's a good idea to arrive before 2pm.Just beyond the center is the Hawaii Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is built of volcanic rock and concrete in the form of a Greek cross and includes reflecting pools, formal gardens, and royal palms. Completed in 1919, it was the first Mormon temple built outside the continental United States. An optional tour of the Temple Visitors Center, as well as neighboring Brigham Young University, Hawaii, is included in the package admission prices.
Navatek I
You've never been on a boat, you don't want to be on a boat, but here you are being dragged aboard one. Why are you boarding this weird-looking vessel? It guarantees that you'll be "seasick-free," that's why. The 140-foot-long Navatek I isn't even called a boat; it's actually a SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) vessel. That means the ship's superstructure -- the part you ride on -- rests on twin torpedo-like hulls that cut through the water so you don't bob like a cork and spill your mai tai. It's the smoothest ride on Mamala Bay. In fact, Navatek I is the only dinner cruise ship to receive U.S. Coast Guard certification to travel beyond Diamond Head.Sunset dinner cruises leave Pier 6 (across from the Hawaii Maritime Museum) nightly. If you have your heart set on seeing the city lights, take the royal Sunset Dinner Cruise, which runs from 5:15 to 7:15pm. The best deal is the lunch cruise, with full buffet lunch and a great view of Oahu offshore. During the whale season (roughly Dec-Apr), you get whales to boot. The lunch cruise lasts from 11:30am to 2pm. Both cruises include live Hawaiian music.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Gale-force winds sometimes howl through the mountain pass at this 1,186-foot-high perch guarded by 3,000-foot peaks, so hold on to your hat -- and small children. But if you walk up from the parking lot to the precipice, you'll be rewarded with a view that'll blow you away. At the edge, the dizzying panorama of Oahu's windward side is breathtaking: Clouds low enough to pinch scoot by on trade winds; pinnacles of the pali (cliffs), green with ferns, often disappear in the mist, the vertical slopes of the Koolaus end in lush green valleys that become the town of Kaneohe; and the Pacific, a magnificent blue, dotted with whitecaps, beckons in the distance. Definitely take a jacket with you; it can be quite misty at the lookout. On very windy days, you'll notice that the waterfalls look as though they are flowing up rather than down.In 1898, John Wilson built the road up to the lookout using 200 laborers. Even before the road existed, the Nuuanu Pali (which translates as "cool heights") was infamous because legend claims it was the location of Kamehameha the Great's last battle. Although some academic scholars scoff at this, the story alleges that in 1795, Kamehameha pursued Oahu's warriors up Nuuanu to these cliffs and waged a battle in his attempt to unite the Hawaiian islands. Supposedly, the Oahu warriors were driven over the cliffs by Kamehameha's men. Some say the battle never happened, some say it happened but there were only a few men fighting, and some say thousands were forced over the cliff, plunging to their deaths. Others say at night you can still hear the cries of these long-dead warriors coming from the valley below.From on high, the tropical palette of green and blue runs down to the sea. Combine this 10-minute stop with a trip over the Pali to the windward side.
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
A century ago, Hawaii's last and most beloved princess lived in the heart of Waikiki. Her story unfolds at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, which today graces the former royal estate of 'Ainahau. In the land of cool breezes, we are just a short crosswalk away from Waikiki Beach.Most of our 1,152 rooms feature lanais with ocean and mountain views.Dive into the freshwater swimming pool, or take a stroll over to the world-famous Waikiki Beach. We can arrange surf lessons, catamaran rides, as well ...
Outrigger Waikiki Shore
Deluxe oceanfront condominium resort ideally located on world-famous Waikiki Beach. Each of its spacious, air conditioned, fully furnished studio, one- and two-bedroom units are open to ocean views with large lanais and offer all the comforts of home. Studios come with kitchenetttes, and one- and two-bedroom units include a living room and a kitchen with dishwasher, coffeemaker, microwave oven, range and refrigerator. Next door is the Outrigger Reef hotel where Outrigger ...
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