We started out on Oahu. We arrived at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and made our way to the Ali’i Tower, which has it’s own concierge and private pool.  The Hilton Hawaiian Village is ideally situated on a wide stretch of beach and is the last hotel on the beach just before the marina and the yacht club.  If you make the walk all the way back to Waikiki, you’ll notice how the beach gets smaller and smaller. There are even a few hotels that really have no direct beach access even though they are right on the water.  It really makes the Hilton stand out as a prime location.

We were fortunate enough to get there on a Friday around 6pm, and were told there would be a fireworks show at 7:45.  Since we were on the top floor of the tower, it gave us a commanding view and we decided to view the show from our balcony. This couldn’t have been a nicer way to unwind and relax from the plane ride.  The balconies on the Ali’i Tower are a great vantage point as they do the show directly in front of you. We also managed to view the evening show going on at the main pool before the fireworks. 

Oahu is one of the larger cities in Hawaii and has a vibrant nightlife, plenty of restaurants, and lots to do. Their shopping is top drawer and the Ala Moana Blvd has just about every major store represented throughout the rest of the world.  The Hilton was an excellent location and a great oasis to come back to after venturing out during the day.  There’s a lot to see on this island, we recommend getting a car and planning some day trips to several other spots.

 If you are a golfer, we highly recommend a trip to the Ko’Olau mountains. It’s like playing in Jurassic Park.  Incredibly beautiful while extremely challenging. This year we played at Luana Hills which was worth the trip.  It’s about an hour and a half from Waikiki. Give yourself plenty of time to get there.  Be on the lookout for dinosaurs!

After two nights we made our way to Volcano and stayed at a quaint bed and breakfast to end up close to the Kilauea volcano.  We spent some time at the national park and even returned around 10 pm to see the volcano when it was dark and quiet.  It’s an interesting area and worth the trip. It gets a little chilly there and can be misty at times.

The next morning we made our way to Ko’ Olina and the J.W. Marriot on the west side of the island. We hooked up with some friends who were vacationing at a timeshare there and enjoyed the pools and beaches for the next two days. The next day, we hopped on a small inter island plane and made our way to the Big Island of Hawaii.

 From the Kilo airport, we made our way up the northeast coast, stopping along the way for picture opportunities. One of the high points of the trip was a visit to the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens approximately 9 miles north of Hilo. I have to say, this was a spectacular place to visit. Their location right on the ocean is absolutely stunning. The gardens are meticulously cared for and there is beauty at your every turn. One of the best stress relieving activities I’ve done. Highly recommended. Don’t forget to bring your camera. There is an excellent place to stop for lunch or a smoothie called  What’s Shakin’ just five minutes drive further north.

We spent the day driving north, then cut across to the western side of the island to spend our last three days at the Fairmont Orchid.  This is one prime resort property.  Beautiful property with a great cove designed for snorkeling right off the beach.

We’ve snorkeled in a lot of locations. Even taken several trips out to see what we were able to do just walking out 30 yards from their beach. Amazing! We saw several large turtles and about every species of fish you are familiar with on a snorkeling excursion. I refused to leave until I saw my obligatory puffer, which didn’t take too terribly long. Better snorkeling is not to be had unless you are in Tahiti. The only difference was the ultra clear water there. We had one morning of overcast weather and decided to hop in the car and drive to the northernmost tip of the island. We stopped and toured an ancient Hawaiian village, and made our way through two local towns.

The next day we got to play Mauna Kea, one of the most photographed courses on the island. It was challenging and beautiful. We got to play golf with a couple who were members there. Third hole at Mauna Kea This is where you want to play to be both challenged and see one of the most beautiful courses on the island. It’s hard not to keep grabbing your camera at every hole. The most disappointing thing on this trip was having to say goodbye and return. Another terrific trip!