SUDDENLY--HAWAII (OAHU)

[john&kelly]

Hi All
We were booked on Brilliance 8/6/04 12 night Mediterranean sailing.We had to cancel [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Fortunately, it was early enough to get full refunds on deposit & excursions.We now have freed up the time again, & have booked the Hilton Hawaiian Village. we have never been to Hawaii, & have always wanted to visit. We had also thought that the long trip from New York made it a must to have a fairly long, leisurely visit, and this fills the bill. I know that the HHV probably doesn't come close to capturing any of the "essence of Hawaii", but it looks like fun, and we plan to get around as much as possible. Even with the cost of the hotel, we managed to book 1st class airfare, & it's still less than the cruise, which we'll plan again. Sorry if I'm raving, but now I'm just as pumped up about visiting Hawaii. I've been tremendously interested in Spleen's comments, along with all the other Hawaii "old salts", and can't wait for our trip!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
John

Brilliance- Mediterranean- Venice
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[daWoods]

You don't say how long you'll be there, but if it's long enough you can still see a lot of "Hawaii" on Oahu. All the touristy things will jump out at you and clamour for attention. It's your first visit...go for it.
But there's much more to the island than just Waikiki and area. Rent a car and explore. It's beautiful on the north shore and in the Makaha area, with lots of interesting things to see in between. If you have the time, fly to one of the other islands for a day and look around. They're beautiful.

Enjoy your vacation.

Island Princess Feb. 2004
Grand Princess Feb. 2002
Norwegian Sky Feb. 2001

[kden]

Actully, the Hilton has a very nice tropical feel to it. You should enjoy it very much.It,s true, once you get out of Honolulu, the rest of Oahu is beautiful.If you have enough time, you might want to look into a pass from Hawaiian Air that will allow you unlimited outer island flying for a specified time(I think they have a 4 day and a 7 day pass). That way you could still see the other islands.
Also, don't forget to go to Dukes for dinner!

[spleen93]

The HHV is a great place for a person who's new to Hawaii to stay. A lot of attractions and things to do within the property. Just avoid eating on property as much as possible since it's expensive. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] How long are you going to be on Oahu? Were you planning on going to other islands as well? kden brings up an option that may be worthwhile if you're going to be here for a while - buying an island hopper pass (available from both Hawaiian Air and Aloha Airlines, I believe) and doing day trips to some of the other islands. Which tower are you staying in at the HHV?

kden - just out of curiosity, where does your name come from?

Spleen

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Carnival Conquest - W. Caribbean - 10/03, Celebrity Infinity - Alaska - 6/03, Ocean Princess - Alaska - 7/02

[john&kelly]

SPLEEN, dAWOODS, kDEN
Thanks for the encouragement! We are booked into HHV for 12 nights, in the Ali'i tower (8/5-8/17). We definitely want to visit other islands,and see as much of this paradise as we can. At the same time, we don't want to get into the tourist frenzy with a checklist.We decided to stay for 12 nights because it gives us enough time to hopefully get a sense of this beautiful place.That's why this board, with the wonderful folks posting on it, have already been so helpful.I'm already starting to get a feel for the geography, etc. I am really looking forward, for example,to Pearl Harbor, since my Dad is a WW2 Navy vet who fought in the Pacific, and was briefly stationed there.
Anyway,I'll be visiting the board often, and enjoying it till we get to actually be there!
John

[daWoods]

John, a word of warning! Hawaii has a tendency to be addictive. I've just booked our fifth visit for next year. We're hooked and loving every minute.

Island Princess Feb. 2004
Grand Princess Feb. 2002
Norwegian Sky Feb. 2001

[bambam]

12 DAYS....gosh, I'd think I had gone to Heaven - wouldn't want to go back..no wy, no how..... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Stop, smell the ...Kona coffee??? In other words, be flexible and enjoy. Definitely get the rental car and pick your spots. If you go to the other islands, go early and spend the day, and there isn't enough film or memory produced for all of the images and visuals your brain will import.

12 DAYS???? What a problem to have.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Aloha, and enjoy!!

BAMnJAM
Carnival Imagingation '96
RCC Majesty '98
Sun Princess '00
NCL Star '04

Cruisin's not just an adventure, it's an Attitude!!
Proud member (x2) of the PPS - yeah!!

[GottaLuvCruising]

We vacationed on Oahu twice, and stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village both times. We absolutely loved it and wouldn't hesitate to return. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[john&kelly]

daWoods,bambam,Gottaluvcruising
Poor me, I had to divert my cruise $ into an extended Hawaii visit [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] I think, especially after u guys told me what a hellhole HHV is, that I'M GOING TO HAVE THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!!!
John [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[spleen93]

The Ali'i Tower is nice ... you'll have a good time. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Let us know if you have other questions come up!

Spleen

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Carnival Conquest - W. Caribbean - 10/03, Celebrity Infinity - Alaska - 6/03, Ocean Princess - Alaska - 7/02

[john&kelly]

daWOODS- I have to believe you about Hawaii addiction!- I feel it already, & it's still 3 months away!

bambam- good advice- we're definitely going to relax & enjoy!

GottaLuvCruising- great to hear from someone wh has stayed At HHV & enjoyed- Thanks!


Spleen- Glad to hear from you about Ali'i tower- we are really looking forward to all the amenities!
THANKS ALL!!- talk soon!
John [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[bambam]

john&kelly,
ya know, I work with a guy name john kelly...hmmm I won't hold it against you [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Just want to clear up the "hellhole HHV" thingy - EXCEPT for the pitiful steak and lobster restaurant, the HHV is nothing short of a resort. Having walked thru a couple of the other hotels in Waikiki, thats what they are, hotels. The HHV is really in a class by itself - it encompasses 90(?)acres, 5 pools, mini-malls and 7 towers. It is so large, that yes, IMHO, it is somewhat impersonal.

or were you kidding about the hellhole...I can be so dense... D.C. air does that to folks here (now you know the real reason politicians act the way they do...).

Gosh, you are going to have sooooo much fun!!

BAMnJAM
Carnival Imagingation '96
RCC Majesty '98
Sun Princess '00
NCL Star '04

Cruisin's not just an adventure, it's an Attitude!!
Proud member (x2) of the PPS - yeah!!

[john&kelly]

bambam
I POSITIVELY was just kidding about the "hellhole" thing. HHV sounds like it's going to be terrific! Don't mix us up with your co-worker John Kelly. We've got that "&" between the names. I spend more time on the board than Kelly. She spends more time planning the vacations, which is great with me! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Good talking with you.
John

[bambam]

Hey J&K,
Thanks for clearing the air..ahem...

BTW, don'tcha just love the Miller Lite commercials from the NYC bars:

How ya doin?

hey, how ya doing?

how ya doing??

How ya doing??

badda bing.....

Pardon me, I worked in the south-Bronx for 5 years (Hunts Point, if that helps...)

ALOHA!!!!

BAMnJAM
Carnival Imagingation '96
RCC Majesty '98
Sun Princess '00
NCL Star '04

Cruisin's not just an adventure, it's an Attitude!!
Proud member (x2) of the PPS - yeah!!

[john&kelly]

Hey Bambam
I think that Miller commercial is great too-you can actually hear that "conversation" in lots of bars here! I'm very familiar with Hunts Point in da Bronx! Talk soon!
John

[bambam]

Hey John,
Does Kelly know you know about Hunts Point?? HBO did a special on HP a couple of years ago... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

BAMnJAM
Carnival Imagingation '96
RCC Majesty '98
Sun Princess '00
NCL Star '04

Cruisin's not just an adventure, it's an Attitude!!
Proud member (x2) of the PPS - yeah!!

[Serious Cruisers]

Hey John&Kelly

We too are doing Hawaii for two weeks starting May 5th, then boarding the Serenade for an 11 day cruise.

Have fun.

[john&kelly]

Hey Serious
WOW!!!! You are getting into the best ofboth worlds! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] 2 weeks in Hawaii, AND a cruise. Fabulous! Let me know about Hawaii when you're recuperating. Have a great trip! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
John

[Serious Cruisers]

Thanks John, I think we might be 'locals' after all that time.

Enjoy your holiday too!

[john&kelly]

Hey BAMnJam
Speaking of Hunts Point- I am a New York police Captain- many years ago, as a young cop, I was assigned there in the 41st precinct- known in cop-ese as the four-one. Most precincts have nicknames, and the four-one was known as "Fort Apache", because in those days, cops assigned to the area felt that they were under siege, and in fact, the precinct house was stormed a couple of times by angry area residents. Once, an elderly cop assigned to station-house duty had to hide in a closet and call for reinforcements by radio. Anyway, landlords who owned tenements in the area began to bail out, and when they did, the buildings around the area began to burn down in "insurance fires". Soon, about the only building left standing on the block was the stationhouse, and a new nickname was bestowed- "Little House on The Prairie". By the way, the area has been redeveloped, it's beautiful, lovely homes, great people, and a real example of an occasional success in urban planning! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
John

[john&kelly]

BAMnJAM
This thread got lost, and I wanted to bump it back to tell you the Hunts Point story!
John

[bambam]

John,
Its been a while since I've been back - I was a USDA inspector at the market - man, do I have some tails (ha) to talk about. I used to work the 2am-11am shift, only time I saw any blue&white was at the Wedge [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]..... had to sooth many a truck driver after having their load get ransacked as they came down the hill towards the market...so I know about the mob effect...Ahhh, the good-ol days....

and yes, I knew the "fab-9" that got their hands caught in the cookie jar in '99 - I trained half of 'em, and made me mad as hell to see the reputations of the rest of us get destroyed because of $50 or whatever they were taking....

Glad to see you've survived the 41st... Have a great weekend!!

BAMnJAM
Carnival Imagingation '96
RCC Majesty '98
Sun Princess '00
NCL Star '04

Cruisin's not just an adventure, it's an Attitude!!
Proud member (x2) of the PPS - yeah!!