What??!? You wouldn't turn your ankles, shred your knees, die of heat exhaustion, and sweat like a pig again??!? Well gosh, I can't imagine why!! LOL Glad I did it once, and have some amazing pics, but unless I knew I'd be the only one (or one of just a few) up there, I totally agree.I wouldn't do Diamond Head or Pearl Harbor a second time.
What??!? You wouldn't turn your ankles, shred your knees, die of heat exhaustion, and sweat like a pig again??!? Well gosh, I can't imagine why!! LOL Glad I did it once, and have some amazing pics, but unless I knew I'd be the only one (or one of just a few) up there, I totally agree.
My advice to anyone that hasn't done it would be to go first thing in the morning on a weekday. We got there around 7 AM and occasionally we would pass a group or we would get passed but for the most part there was hardly anyone around us until we got to the top. It's not too hot at that time of the day, and there are a bunch of spots to step aside for a quick break and take some pictures if you get tired. Definitely more difficult than I thought it would be, but certainly manageable for most people.LOL!!! I don't hike regularly but consider myself in average shape at age 30, and I was shocked at how hard it was! I underestimated it, considering what a popular tourist attraction it is and the number of reviews I read talking about how easy the hike is. Its a crowded stop and go pathway that's entirely uphill in direct sunlight with a bunch of stairs when you get towards the top. Pretty photos and views, yes, but never again!
My advice to anyone that hasn't done it would be to go first thing in the morning on a weekday. We got there around 7 AM and occasionally we would pass a group or we would get passed but for the most part there was hardly anyone around us until we got to the top. It's not too hot at that time of the day, and there are a bunch of spots to step aside for a quick break and take some pictures if you get tired. Definitely more difficult than I thought it would be, but certainly manageable for most people.
I'm not sure we were even on the plane coming home when I said to my wife we need to come back here! We rented a car on all 4 islands and felt like we saw a lot, but we know there is much more to see, though if we get a chance to come back I think it will be more laid back and not quite so gung ho where we were feeling like we didn't want to miss anything.Do you still think you are 1 and done for Hawaii?
We visited Oahu a few years ago and split our time between Aulani for 6 nights and the Hilton Hawaiian Village for 6 nights. I would save your sightseeing for the Waikiki time, since you'd mostly be opposite the traffic. Aulani is so much more expensive than Waikiki, I hated leaving the resort. We actually live here now and the North Shore and Dole Plantation would be easier from Aulani, should you want to sightsee (just wait and leave around 9am). Pearl Harbor takes about the same time coming from Waikiki as it does from Kapolei (traffic not considered), but if you are doing Pearl early in the day, you will have lots of traffic all the way into the Harbor. If you do Pearl late in the day, you will be fighting traffic all the way back into Kapolei. Southbound H1 stays backed up until about 830. Northbound starts getting congested around 230-3. We plan everything around the traffic. I go to one Costco in the morning and the other one if it's the afternoon. I would suggest doing Waikiki first and then enjoying a retreat at Aulani after the hectic pace of Waikiki. A lot of people don't realize how urban Waikiki is. We did the opposite and found ourselves missing Aulani the whole time we were in Waikiki because it was so crazy down there. Don't get me wrong, Waikiki is fun and there's lots to do, but it's not particularly relaxing. Some of the hotels down closer to Diamond Head are a little more chill, but especially around Royal Hawaiian/Outrigger/Sheraton it's nutty. Hilton Hawaiian Village is fun, but it's also covered up in people. Do take time to travel to the Windward side, if even to just drive and come back. The view coming over H1 through the tunnel is still amazing to me and I do it all the time. You might think about staying in Waikiki for a bit, staying on the Windward side in an airbnb and then moving to Aulani. It would be easier to do Kualoa, PCC and some of the east side hikes from Kailua/Kaneohe. We did a staycation at a little boutique place called Paradise Bay north of Kaneohe and it was lovely and the exact opposite of Waikiki.
Thanks for the great info! We will be doing Waikiki for New Years.....any suggestions for 2- 50 something and 4- early 20 year olds?!?All of you going to Oahu and considering splitting your time between Waikiki and Aulani, read this post-very true, extremely insightful, especially gearing your movement around traffic timing.