Our trip to Hawaii

Hilton Lagoon: We enjoyed swimming in the lagoon with the kids, as there were no waves, making it perfect for a relaxing family swim. The water is calm and clear, providing a safe and enjoyable experience. You can also hire water bikes to ride around on the lagoon, adding an extra element of fun and adventure. 

Diamond Head Lookout: We took a hike up Diamond Head. The trail can be a bit challenging but absolutely worth it so see the panoramic views of Honolulu.

International Market Place: For shopping enthusiasts, the International Market Place offers a mix of high-end and local shops. It’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs and enjoy some delicious food. They also do a free Polynesian song and dance, three nights a week from 6:30 pm.

Swim with Turtles: Swimming with the sea turtles is a must-do whilst in Hawaii. It can get crowded though in the mornings and reservations are required.

Boat Cruise: We opted for a day catamaran cruise, and it was breathtaking. But the sunset cruises look amazing too! For those who love fishing, there are plenty of boat fishing tours available too.

Honolulu Zoo: We visited the Honolulu Zoo, which was reasonably priced and took us about half a day to explore. Some animals weren’t out for public viewing initially, as the staff carefully brings them out, so we revisited some enclosures later to catch a glimpse. We also brought a backpack with snacks and enjoyed a morning tea picnic on the grassy area.

Free Friday Night Fireworks at the Hilton: Cap off your week with a bang! The Friday night fireworks at the Hilton are a spectacular display from 7:45 pm. Depending on what time you want dinner there are nearby restaurants such as the Tropics bar and grill, where you could eat and watch the fireworks.

Pearl Harbor: A visit to Pearl Harbor is a moving experience. It was very informative and took us about 3 hours. It’s a sombre reminder of history and a place of reflection and respect.

Accommodation: Prince Waikiki: We stayed at Prince Waikiki, which has a great pool area on level 5, however it was quite windy. Our room was great and pretty quiet but I can imagine being on a lower level would be noiser.

Shopping at Ala Moana: Ala Moana Shopping Center is a shopper’s paradise with a variety of stores and dining options. Don’t miss it if you love to shop! There is an amazing array of both high end and bargain shops. We love Aesop, Hoka, Lids, Luluemon, then for bargains, Ross and Marshells. Food wise there is LA Brisket and Panda Express.

Cultural Spots: Prince Kuhio Statue & Surfer Statue, These iconic statues are great for a photo op and to soak in a bit of Hawaiian history.

– Tropics Bar and Grill: Great food with a kid-friendly menu. Its right on the beach and near the Hilton Lagoon area where the fireworks are on Friday night.

– LA Brisket: A must-try for BBQ lovers.

– Waikiki Market Place: 2380 Kūhiō Ave. 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States. They have great hot chickens, sushi, fruit and regular grocery items.

– Dave’s Ice Cream at Ilikai: A sweet treat to cool down after a day in the sun. The staff here were lovely.

– ABC Stores: These are everywhere and perfect a quick and easy lunch like a salad or sandwich, alcohol or a dinner that you can heat and eat like pasta.

– The pineapple is amazing. We kept buying this to snack on from the AC stores.

– We went to Denny’s one morning for breakfast as a treat and the kids were stoked with choc chip pancakes for breakfast!

Flights: We find that entering the US through Hawaii can make customs a bit less intense compared to LA. We then took a domestic flight from Hawaii to LA and returned at the end of our trip.

Dress Code: Embrace the aloha spirit with resort wear. Don’t forget to pack a Hawaiian shirt or dress!

Travelling with young children can be a bit of a challenge, but we found that being well-prepared made it much easier. For our overseas flights, we brought along plenty of toys like fidget spinners, squishy toys, stickers, colouring books, and crayons. We also created a sensory pack with playdough and wax paper for the tray table, along with some small plastic toys to add to the playdough scene. Snacks were a must-have, and we brought empty water bottles to fill up after going through security. We packed spare clothes and plastic bags for any wet items, which unfortunately came in handy. We also ensured to bring nappies, wipes, hand sanitiser, eye masks, pyjamas, socks, iPads, and headphones.

– Trolley: Four routes with 30 stops make it easy to get around. Its convenient to get on the trolley for US $5.50 per person to get to the Ala Moana Center.

– Rent a Car: Ideal for exploring the island at your own pace and to make your way to the other side of the island to find some places less touched by tourists.

– Uber: Convenient for quick trips.

– Scooter/Bike: We noticed that helmets aren’t mandatory, but there a lots of bikes and scooters for hire around the place to quickly jump on a get to where you need to go.

– Limousine: We treated ourselves to a limousine ride from the airport to the hotel for a bit of fun.

Challenges:

Like any destination, Hawaii has its challenges:

-Homelessness: Be prepared to see some homeless individuals, especially in urban areas. I went for early morning runs and there were a lot of homeless around. I just mention this as it can be confronting.

– Smell: Certain areas have an unpleasant smell and near the boat marina the rubbish in the water was disgusting and had a terrible odour. We walked past the marina to get to the beach and restaurants and it was sad to see and smell.