Stacy Pope - Explorers Guide Honolulu & Oahu: A Great Destination ()

This Explorers Guide offers a wide variety of information about Oahu, from local foods to the best beaches to political issues. Use it as a directory for the exact information you need, or read it from start to finish for a more comprehensive experience.

In the beginning of the book youll find Whats Where on Oahu, an alphabetical listing of highlights and important information that you may want to reference quickly. Its followed by comprehensive descriptions of Oahus history, culture, and recreational opportunities, plus a guide to traveling to and from Oahu.

The next six chapters zero in on specific island regions: Waikiki, Greater Honolulu, Windward Oahu, the North Shore, Central Oahu, and Leeward Oahu. Area-specific options for sightseeing, recreation, lodging, dining, and more are listed. The last chapter, Information, includes exactly that: supermarkets, recommended reading, banks, marriage license information, and so on.

Throughout this book and your travels in Hawaii youll encounter the Hawaiian language, which is written using five vowels ( a , e , i , o , u ) and seven consonants ( h , k , , m , n , p , w ). The letter w is sometimes pronounced like a v , and the second-to-last syllables of words are generally most stressed. The okina, or glottal stop (), indicates a throat pause in speaking, such as English speakers make in the middle of uh-oh. The kahak, or macron (), indicates a slight lengthening of the vowel sound it hovers above. These subtle sound differences can change the meaning of a word entirelyfor example, ina means land, aina means meal, and aina means sexual intercourse! Youll find a glossary of Hawaiian and other common Hawaii words in the Information chapter, along with a list of food terms in Culture.

No dogged fact checking can keep up with Hawaiis constant changes, especially after a book has gone to press and hit the shelves. And with the economic rise and fall of late, plenty has indeed changed almost overnight (its even changing as we write this sentence!). Weve done our best to present information accurately and to confirm details as close to the publication date as possible. Be sure to call your destination before heading out to prevent any surprises or disappointments.

LODGING PRICES

Accommodation prices skyrocketed several years ago in the wake of massive renovations and a boom economy, giving us the highest per-night rates in the nation. With the recession, weve seen astonishing price drops in hotel rack rates, as well as in condo and house rental fees. Value-added services and other special offers have helped keep occupancies stable.

Were giving you ranges on modest-sized room rack rates with a bit shaved off the top, since rack rates are usually not what you end up paying. As the economy improves and prices inch up, our calculations may be a little low.

Book as early as you can and employ the art of negotiation. Visit hotel Web sites directly for deals, as well as Hotels.com, Expedia.com, Kayak.com, and other online travel businesses. Most hotels also offer special AARP and AAA rates in addition to corporate, military, kamaina, and government rates. Hawaiis high season runs from about late November to early April and from June through August; during this time, as well as holidays, rates go up and availability goes down.

Hawaii transient accommodations must charge a 13.962 percent state tax, and even most unlicensed lodgings will add this to your bill.

Inexpensive: Up to $125

Moderate: $125250

Expensive: $250400

Very expensive: More than $400

DINING PRICES

Weve targeted a price range for each establishment that includes appetizer, entre, and dessert for the average person, but not drinks, taxes, or tips. In pricing, weve allowed breakfast and lunch service to temper higher dinner costs. Tipping is the usual 15 percent or more.

Inexpensive: Up to $20

Moderate: $2035

Expensive: $3555

Very expensive: $55 or more

KEY TO SYMBOLS

• Special Value. The blue ribbon symbol appears next to selected lodging and restaurants that combine quality and moderate prices.
• Child-friendly. The crayon symbol appears next to lodging, restaurants, activities, and shops of special interest or appeal to youngsters.
• Authors favorites. These are the places we think have the best to offer in each region, whether that means great value, exceptional food, outstanding rooms, beautiful scenery, or overall appeal.

The Hawaiian Islands

M ahalo to the many individuals and organizations, including the folks at Countryman Press, for your support of this guidebook. I hope your expectations will be met.

A special thanks to friends and family for joining me in adventuringand sometimes misadventuringacross Oahu in the spirit of building a personal, comprehensive collection of information. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Stacy Pope
Honolulu, Hawaii

H ow does one introduce what are perhaps the most renowned and enchanting isles in the world? For more than two centuries tales of the distant Hawaiian Islands have stirred imaginations. The call of Hawaii is so profound that it has almost become encoded in our collective DNAand millions of people answer each year with pilgrimages across the Pacific toward the promise of paradise.