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ABC stores can be somewhat expensive and really overpriced but hey if you're willing to pay those prices.... ABC stores are worth going into though. And they're literally like Starbucks... ABC stores are on every corner! hehe But the free mugs are always pretty awesome too. ;-]
The Costco that we always shopped at is off of Alakawa Street downtown. You can take Nimitz Hwy or Dillingham Blvd.
ABC stores can be somewhat expensive and really overpriced but hey if you're willing to pay those prices.... ABC stores are worth going into though. And they're literally like Starbucks... ABC stores are on every corner! hehe But the free mugs are always pretty awesome too.
They're great places to buy inexpensive gifts to take home... like shell necklaces for $1. And in some places, they are the easiest place to find that sells alcohol.
The bus is pretty slow, but it will get you places. Going from Waikiki into town is really really easy though and is only about a 20 min ride, so if you do decide to spend a day shopping around the Ala Moana area, visiting the downtown, you can definitely take the bus. If you're going further than that, renting a car and driving definitely saves some time.
I have to disagree for the flip-flops. The first time we went to Oahu, my guy bought a pair of flip-flops there and they disentagrated within a day, ABC did replace them, but those also broke. We went to surf shop and coughed up the money for some reefs. he's been wearing them for three years now!
as far as cheap trinkets, yes, you can do abc but if you really want to save money, go to the swap meet at the aloha bowl on wednesday or on the weekend (not sure which day, saturday or sunday) you can get way better deals there and also find some of the fun foods. one of the things we got there - beach towels! what a great souvenir - and you can get em for about ten bucks - the big ones - we also had to buy a bag to take all our goodies home in, but again, it was about ten bucks
i'm not a hawaii expert by any means, but i have been on vacation to oahu twice, and YAY! am going back again in November for another ten days (can't wait!). we always rent a car but i'm lucky in that i have free parking where i stay.
Thanks and reps to everybody who has replied. I appreciate all the insight.
OpenD - thanks for the moon info; also I am SO looking forward to the more equal day/night thing as we're in Oregon where our days feel really short right now. I'm a Texas girl originally and just the difference between the daylight hours in TX vs OR affeccts me.
Dthraco - thanks for the ABC tips, I'm really not interested in shopping for CPC (cheap plastic crap) but we might pop into an ABC just to see what they're like.
Kixette - that's too bad about the flip-flops. I definitely go for quality. I've had havaianas flip flops for 5+ years that still seem like new!
Also, and update: We're now staying at Turtle Bay on the norhtern part of the island. I'm not sure if it's technically part of the "north shore" or what... but I love that it's in a less busy, less populated area of Oahu! The kids are happy because it looks like Turtle Bay still offers lots of fun things to do (horseback riding, surfing lessons, etc.). There are also some geocaches within walking distance of the hotel, so we're excited about geocaching in a new state!
There's a bus (#55 I think...) that takes the Kam hwy (Kamehamewa hwy) to Ted's Bakery (takes about 15 minutes, I think) and we plan to do that, and then walk over to the South Beach area, then maybe take the bus down the Kam hwy a little further to Waimea Valley (botanical garden) and explore that area as well. That'll be how we spend one of our days.
Keep the advice/insight/wisdom coming, I'm totally appreciating it! Thank you!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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When we went the travel agent said to take the bus, parking is very expensive. We tried that and there were just too many weird people
on the bus. We ended up walking a lot, from Waikiki as far as the zoo
and back, then rented a car for a few days to go farther away such as Pearl Harbor, Sunset beach, Dole and Snorkeling.
When we went the travel agent said to take the bus, parking is very expensive. We tried that and there were just too many weird people
on the bus. We ended up walking a lot, from Waikiki as far as the zoo
and back, then rented a car for a few days to go farther away such as Pearl Harbor, Sunset beach, Dole and Snorkeling.
Yep, OpenD pretty much has said it all. Nicely put.
Oh and to add to da slippahz... I got mine at Kapolei Kmart for $15. Not a big difference but still...
Weird = Kama'aina brah! Just be careful K? some of the homeless people can be a bit scary lol
Then you got those high sku kids that don't know any bettah.
Turtle Bay is really nice and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself. I used to work at the restaurant there as a buss girl... But the food is ono!!! You should try it. You'll love it.
Happy travels.
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