Originally Posted by p911dad
Here's a few: National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, which we find more moving and much less touristy than the Arizona monument. Also called Punchbowl, it's just north of downtown Honolulu. free
Iolani Palace, in downtown, not far from Punchbowl. free
Bishop Museum, downtown area, large collection of Hawaiian objects. $15.00
Dole Plantation, kinda touristy, but it can take up some time, in the center of the Oahu. Good stop on a trip up to the North Shore. free
Saturday Farmers Market, at Kapiolani Community College out on Diamond Head Road, near downtown. Lots of local stuff, flowers, beignets (like in New Orleans), on the way to Diamond Head Crater (the Crater involves a lot of walking and can be really hot in there). The college has a really cool cactus collection ( I mean LARGE cactus, all varieties). free
Yokohama Beach, way up on the west or leeward shore at the end of Farrington Highway. A truly large and unspoiled beach, no development at all. Park at the lifeguard station. Kinda lonely up there, take a box lunch. You might see Navy Seals practicing assaults on the beach. Lots of whales, turtles and seals on the leeward shore. NASA has some kind of tracking station on the mountain above. free
Crouching Lion Restaurant, east shore, about half-way up. $$$ Nice spot. Old school.
Polynesian Cultural Center, on the east or windward shore, this takes most of a day. Admission fee, I think it was $20.00 There is a nice McDonalds right there if they have an urge.
Mormon Temple, in Hauula out on the Kamehameha highway (near Polynesian Center) on Leeward Shore. free
Kualoa Ranch (leeward side) is a tourist trap, don't stop there. Instead stop at the Macadamia Nut ranch near Kualoa. Lots of free samples, a nice, no pressure stop. In the shade of some big trees
Further up the leeward side, have lunch at Romy's Prawn stand. Very simple place, outdoor tables.
Turtle Bay resort, great restaurant on the shore. $$$
Making the corner onto the north shore, do not miss the shave ice store called Matsumotos, in Haliewa Village. This is near the surfing spots.
Waimea Botanical Garden, worth a stop, involves walking. Not far from Matsumotos Store. There is an admission fee here.
That's a few of our favorite spots, and when we are the tour guides for our visiting family is where we usually go. Perhaps they will see a few of these attractions. Since the Byodo-In Temple is on the east shore, a lot of the above attractions lie to the immediate north of there. My only suggestion-take a GPS, as some of the street names, etc., may be a little (or more than a little) confusing.
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