• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Need Oahu Hotel Info

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
44
Points
258
Location
Las Vegas, NV
My friends and I have booked rooms at the Ohana Waikiki East Hotel on Oahu for 3 nights prior to our 2 week stay on the Big Island. We booked this hotel based on location, price and reviews on TripAdvisor. Has anyone stayed here that can tell me if it is a good place to stay? Our main concern is clean and no bugs. We are not going to rent a car so need to know what restaurants are within walking distance that Tuggers recommend. We like reasonably priced seafood places.

Suzanne
 

alwysonvac

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
15,915
Reaction score
3,744
Points
848
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
WORLDMARK, HGVC, VISTANA

SOLD (DVC, FSRC)
...We are not going to rent a car so need to know what restaurants are within walking distance that Tuggers recommend. We like reasonably priced seafood places.

The nice thing about Honolulu is the option of walking, taxis or bus. Don't forget Uber too.

You can use TripAdvisor filters to locate seafood restaurants in Waikiki.
I just did a filter for Restaurants, Seafood, Cheap Eats & Mid-Range. Next I chose Ranking from the tabs at the top. I would look at the menus and decide which fits your party.

Here's the top five Seafood rankings for Waikiki
(1) Hula Grill Waikiki $$ - $$$
(2) Doraku Sushi Waikiki $$ - $$$
(3) Sansei Seafood Restaurant $$ - $$$
(4) Tiki's Grill & Bar $$ - $$$
(5) Chart House $$ - $$$

Here's the top ranked five Seafood rankings when I include all of Honolulu (you can use TripAdvisor's map view to see how far).
(1) Ono Seafood $
(2) Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar and Grill $$ - $$$
(3) Hula Grill Waikiki $$ - $$$
(4) Duke's Waikiki $$ - $$$
(5) Nico's Pier 38 $$ - $$$

Nico's Pier has been mentioned on TUG but it's not within walking distance.
I always visit Sansei Seafood Restaurant when we're in town. It's located in the Marriott on the main shopping strip in Waikiki. It's Asian Pacific Rim cuisine. We always get the Miso Butterfish and Shrimp Dynamite appetizers. Their fried calamari and ahi poke appetizers are good too. They also have an early bird special on Sunday and Monday 5:30pm – 6:00pm (50% OFF FOOD AND SUSHI)
http://www.waikikimenus.com/happy-hours
http://sanseihawaii.com/waikiki/
 

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
44
Points
258
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Thank you so much. I am going to print off your list and take it with us.

Suzanne

The nice thing about Honolulu is the option of walking, taxis or bus. Don't forget Uber too.

You can use TripAdvisor filters to locate seafood restaurants in Waikiki.
I just did a filter for Restaurants, Seafood, Cheap Eats & Mid-Range. Next I chose Ranking from the tabs at the top. I would look at the menus and decide which fits your party.

Here's the top five Seafood rankings for Waikiki
(1) Hula Grill Waikiki $$ - $$$
(2) Doraku Sushi Waikiki $$ - $$$
(3) Sansei Seafood Restaurant $$ - $$$
(4) Tiki's Grill & Bar $$ - $$$
(5) Chart House $$ - $$$

Here's the top ranked five Seafood rankings when I include all of Honolulu (you can use TripAdvisor's map view to see how far).
(1) Ono Seafood $
(2) Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar and Grill $$ - $$$
(3) Hula Grill Waikiki $$ - $$$
(4) Duke's Waikiki $$ - $$$
(5) Nico's Pier 38 $$ - $$$

Nico's Pier has been mentioned on TUG but it's not within walking distance.
I always visit Sansei Seafood Restaurant when we're in town. It's located in the Marriott on the main shopping strip in Waikiki. It's Asian Pacific Rim cuisine. We always get the Miso Butterfish and Shrimp Dynamite appetizers. Their fried calamari and ahi poke appetizers are good too. They also have an early bird special on Sunday and Monday 5:30pm – 6:00pm (50% OFF FOOD AND SUSHI)
http://www.waikikimenus.com/happy-hours
http://sanseihawaii.com/waikiki/
 

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
22,003
Reaction score
29,217
Points
1,348
Location
Mesquite, Nevada
Resorts Owned
Free Agent
+1 for Nico's on Pier 38. It's downtown, certainly not walking distance from Waikiki, but the food is EXCELLENT. If you arrive around 5:00PM you get Happy Hour pricing on dinner hour entrees. We eat there each time we're on Oahu. It's worth the cab/Uber ride. http://nicospier38.com

Dave
 
Last edited:

tompalm

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
2,073
Reaction score
347
Points
293
Location
Honolulu, Hawaii
That is a very central location, but very noisy. Actually, most hotels in Waikiki get lots of noise, but some get a little more because it is on a busy street and you hear service trucks as well as buses. It will be fine for three days, but not great if you are a light sleeper.
 

alwysonvac

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
15,915
Reaction score
3,744
Points
848
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
WORLDMARK, HGVC, VISTANA

SOLD (DVC, FSRC)
+1 for Nico's on Pier 38. It's downtown, certainly not walking distance from Waikiki, but the food is EXCELLENT. If you arrive around 5:00PM you get Happy Hour pricing on dinner hour entrees. We eat there each time we're on Oahu. It's worth the cab/Uber ride. http://nicospier38.com

Dave

We're planning to try Nico's during our visit this year. I wasn't aware of the happy hour pricing for dinner. Is it only select dinner entrees?
Their website only mentions Daily Happy Hour drinks (Draft Beer $4 & Wells & Mixers $4) between 4pm to 6pm - http://nicospier38.com/bar/
I was going to visit for lunch but if there's an early bird dinner discount we might try that instead.

Thanks
 

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
44
Points
258
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Thank you all for your help. I will check out Nico's. Is there a bus that goes to the North Shore from Waikiki and to the Cultural Center? Is the Luau there worth the time and price given that we only have 3 days on Oahu?
Suzanne
 

SmithOp

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
7,609
Reaction score
3,403
Points
499
Location
Huntington Beach, CA
Resorts Owned
HGVC King's Land 2BR Premier 23.040K Points.
I wouldn't rent for a 3 day, the parking rates in Waikiki are sky high. You could do a circle island tour or book the luau at Cultural Center that includes transport from Waikiki.

Sent from my BLU R1 HD using Tapatalk
 

taffy19

newbie
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
5,723
Reaction score
593
Points
398
They quoted us $35.00 a day yesterday. I agree with Dave as that is much more relaxing.
 

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
22,003
Reaction score
29,217
Points
1,348
Location
Mesquite, Nevada
Resorts Owned
Free Agent
We're planning to try Nico's during our visit this year. I wasn't aware of the happy hour pricing for dinner. Is it only select dinner entrees?
Their website only mentions Daily Happy Hour drinks (Draft Beer $4 & Wells & Mixers $4) between 4pm to 6pm - http://nicospier38.com/bar/
I was going to visit for lunch but if there's an early bird dinner discount we might try that instead.

Thanks

I'd definitely call Nico's and check on things before counting on HH pricing. Things may have changed since we last ate there. The biggest thing I recall is they fill up fast, so get there early for dinner. ;)

Dave
 

alwysonvac

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
15,915
Reaction score
3,744
Points
848
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
WORLDMARK, HGVC, VISTANA

SOLD (DVC, FSRC)
Thank you all for your help. I will check out Nico's. Is there a bus that goes to the North Shore from Waikiki and to the Cultural Center? Is the Luau there worth the time and price given that we only have 3 days on Oahu?
Suzanne

There are public buses however with only 3 days on Oahu, you might waste too much time traveling on the public buses with all of the frequent local stops.
NOTE: I don't know if they also offer express buses to the North Shore.

Waikiki Bus Guide - http://www.thebus.org/pop/Visitor_WaikikiGuide.pdf
Routes & Timetables - http://www.thebus.org/Route/Routes.asp
Ground transportation from Honolulu airport - http://hawaii.gov/hnl/ground-transportation

I agree with the others if you're planning to do the Polynesian Cultural Center book the PCC package that includes transportation from Waikiki.

There are also plenty of tour options for exploring Oahu (group tour and private tours). Also some folks rent a car for the day returning it back before the rental place closes to avoid the parking rate. Others just bite the bullet and pay the high daily parking rate for a few days to explore the areas outside of Honolulu.
 

suzanne

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
44
Points
258
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Thank you all so much. I will check out the PCC package, it sounds like just what we need. How much time does it take to tour the Cultural Center then do the Luau? This is on my must do list. I also want to see the North Shore and have lunch at the much talked about Shrimp Trucks. I am not a shopper so I am not interested in that aspect of Oahu. Is there anything that you all can recommend that we not miss? Does the Hilton still do the nighty fireworks on the beach? I would like to see that if they still do it. If my friends want to rent a car for a day then we could drive to the North Shore. I will talk to them and see what they want to do. I understand that there is a rental car place across the street from the hotel. It may be cheaper since there is 3 of us to rent a car for a day to drive to the North Shore.

Suzanne
 

linsj

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
2,208
Reaction score
440
Points
443
Location
Chicagoland
Resorts Owned
HGVC
Thank you all so much. I will check out the PCC package, it sounds like just what we need. How much time does it take to tour the Cultural Center then do the Luau? This is on my must do list. I also want to see the North Shore and have lunch at the much talked about Shrimp Trucks. I am not a shopper so I am not interested in that aspect of Oahu. Is there anything that you all can recommend that we not miss? Does the Hilton still do the nighty fireworks on the beach? I would like to see that if they still do it. If my friends want to rent a car for a day then we could drive to the North Shore. I will talk to them and see what they want to do. I understand that there is a rental car place across the street from the hotel. It may be cheaper since there is 3 of us to rent a car for a day to drive to the North Shore.

Suzanne

Plan on a full day for PCC. It's been years since I went there but I think the bus picked us up midmorning; it doesn't open until noon. I stayed for the show after the luau (excellent show), so got back late. The website might have a bus schedule.

Hilton Hawaiian Village does fireworks only on Friday nights. Lasts about 5 min.
 

alwysonvac

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
15,915
Reaction score
3,744
Points
848
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
WORLDMARK, HGVC, VISTANA

SOLD (DVC, FSRC)

cissy

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2006
Messages
546
Reaction score
97
Points
388
Location
New England
Plan on a full day for PCC. It's been years since I went there but I think the bus picked us up midmorning; it doesn't open until noon. I stayed for the show after the luau (excellent show), so got back late. The website might have a bus schedule.

Hilton Hawaiian Village does fireworks only on Friday nights. Lasts about 5 min.

If there are two options for times, make sure to take the early package. We opted for the later one, and were disappointed that the PCC closed for touring 1/2 hour after we got there. We did stay for the luau (just okay), and the show afterwards.
 
Top