Family Vacation Oahu Hawaii

Family vacations are a mix of stress, excitement, fun and release. We all have that built up stress from weeks and months of school or work or worrying about this topic or that crisis. This all adds up to a big ball of stress. Family vacations are a mixed bag of all. The build up and planning. The choices on where to go and what the budget will afford. Then the choice is made and second guessing begins.

Today we have the added stress of the Economy. Our President is working hard in the USA to calm the nerves of the non-buying public yet the world is a drift in waters not seen for decades. The end is in sight so they the experts say but to date we continue to see the jobless numbers way too high and consumer spending flat to down. Not that I blame anyone.

We decided to cash in those United Airlines frequent flyer miles and head to our Timeshare vacation in Hawaii. Well we actually traded our Maui Timeshare for Oahu. We stayed at the Imperial Timeshare in Waikiki. Not the best facility as far as Timeshares go but a great location if you want to be in the heartbeat of the city. Which we did not. Our trip was all about hiking with the kids, now 23, 20 and 16 and getting out to the North Shore and seeing Oahu for the first time with the whole family. We took in all of the island over 7 days and had a very good time.

From the somber Memorial visit of the Arizona and paying our respects to those that gave their lives back on December 7th 1941 to the incredible rain forests of this beautiful island. We had our share of weather all week with the heavy rains from a developing hurricane 700 miles off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands. For the most part the rain felt great. Until you were on a muddy trail at high altitudes then it was a bit of a pest.

The snorkleing was good at Oahu. Not great but good. We were able to follow Sea Turtles and the infamous HummaHumma (can never spell the full name). No sharks but the boys ventured out to see a few Ahi which were about as big a fish as you want to see snorkeling. We also took in the Ko-Olina resort on the dry West side of Oahu. Now this is the place to stay. A beautiful resort built and managed by the Marriott Hotel chain consisting of Timeshare Units and a Hotel property. This is as good as it gets with their incredible lagoons and sandy (NO Rocks) beach. Unfortunately no corral so very few exotic fish to see here. But if it's a day in the sun with an incredible Sunset this is the best bet on the island.

North Shore and Aoki's Shaved Ice. Its even better than the infamous Massimotos up the street with the 45 minute line. The locals told us to go here and we did TWICE in three days. Great way to end the day and the line was only 15 minutes here. Stick with the locals we say. North Shore as a ton of scenic coves and we visited Three Tables, Sharks Cove, The Tide Pools and Turtle Bay. Wound up the sixth day at Waimea Valley for a 2 mile hike to a 140 foot water fall. It was flowing good with all the rain. We got soaked on the trail but you dry off quick and it was a great time with the kids.

After the swim in the 30 ft. deep pond fed by the Falls we went to Waimea Cove to finish off our snorkeling. It was a good day had by the boys as they enjoyed the white sandy beach and deep cove drop off.

Today we head to Diamond Head for our last hike and then off to the airport and our return home on the United red-eye. By the way, if you have a choice of airlines United has gone down hill. On a five hour flight in coach not even peanuts or pretzels are served. Next thing you know UAL will be charging for the bathroom flushes! Try Hawaiian Airlines if you can....

Mahalo

We look forward to your comments.

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