Things To Do (on Oahu)

KAYAKING

Kailua Sailboards & Kayaks

130 Kailua Road Kailua, Hawaii 96734

808.262.2555

Kayaking in Kailua is one of my favorite things to do.  You can rent a double kayak (half day = $49, full day = $59), get some sun and exercise while you paddle out toward the Mokulua Islands.  If you get lucky you may see some sea turtles along the way but remember not to touch them, it's illegal!  

SNORKELING

Hanauma Bay 

Yes, it's a tourist attraction and you'll need to pay to get in but if you've made it to Hawaii you should definitely check it out.  The fish are beautiful and don't worry they don't bite.  The closest place I've found that's similar to Hanauma Bay is in Australia so I'd take advantage of this opportunity.  You can always go on your own but they also arrange hotel pick-ups from Waikiki and for a reasonable price ($17/person).  

SHOPPING

Ala Moana
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Honolulu, HI 96814
Mon – Sat 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
This is the biggest shopping center in Hawaii, you’ll probably want to spend a few hours here (or at least the ladies will but not to worry, there’s a couple bars on the 3rd floor and a beach across the street for the men). Visit Shirokiya (Japanese Department Store) just for the experience...make sure to explore the Saint Germain bakery downstairs and their “deli” upstairs for tasty unique treats. A few other shops only in Hawaii are Cinnamon Girl (women’s apparel), HIC Surf, T&C Surf and Martin & MacArthur (great gift shop!)

Ward Center and Ward Warehouse
Just down the street from Ala Moana on Ala Moana Boulevard that has a lot of great local botiques.
Mon – Sat 10am – 9 pm
Sun 10am – 6pm

Waikele Premium Outlet (about 15 miles west of Honolulu)
94.790 Lumiaina St, Waipahu HI 96797
Mon – Sat 9am – 9pm
Sun 10am – 6pm
A bit out of the way, but definitely worth the trip if you’re a big outlet fan.

LUAU
Polynesian Cultural Center (North Shore):
The most expensive and farthest away but also offers the most to do; they have 7 Polynesian villages, a canoe pageant, IMAX show, luau and night show. $83/adult and $59/child.

Paradise Cove (West Shore)
This is right next door to our wedding location but also one of the most popular luaus. $75/adult, $55/child = includes transportation to and from Waikiki
Daily 5:00 – 9:00 pm

Germaine’s Luau (West Shore)
Probably the best deal if you’re just looking for a traditional Hawaiian Luau. $69/adult, $49/child = includes transportation to and from Waikiki
Daily 6:00 – 8:45 pm

The Wyland Waikiki

If you haven't found accommodations yet, we ended up getting a group rate at The Wyland Waikiki. Monte & I checked it out ourselves and it's nice for the price (the one down fall is that the rooms are a bit small - you either get two twins or one queen). The group rate is $129/night and if 10 rooms get booked you will automatically be upgraded to a room with a kitchenette. Just mention that you're with the Calderon/Toyama wedding.

Where to stay?

We've been hearing rumblings of people wanting to rent beach homes/condos and we encourage you to comment on our blog if you'd like to get a group of people together. Of course, there's always craigslist just make sure you are looking at accommodations on Oahu. A few other suggestions are provided below:

Budget Friendly
Hawaiian Air has a few hotels starting at $89/night (plus tax), they also have "fall specials" that you can check out. Not sure about the quality? Look them up on Trip Advisor. If you're really looking for a bargain and willing to gamble, place a bid on Priceline.

Paradise Found (Luxury Hotels)
Moana Surfrider - Hands down, my favorite hotel in Waikiki.
The Kahala - This resort has it all, including dolphins and penguins. Plus it has an amazing (very romantic) path out into the sea. Even if you don't stay here, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.
Ihilani - The Ihilani is right next door to our wedding location (Lanikuhonua). This is the perfect place to stay if you enjoy golfing or don't want to stay in Waikiki.

Not Quite Engagement Photos (but very sneaky!)

One of Monte's best friends from high school, Keith Mackert, came out to visit us last September. No, Monte and I were not engaged at the time nor did I even think he was thinking of proposing. And yes, Keith knew Monte would be soon proposing. Sneaky sneaky! Keith's main hobby is photography and he had generously offered to take pictures of us while visiting. That day I had come down with a pretty bad cold but narcissism took over and told me to smile for the camera. All of these pictures were taken right outside our house in Los Angeles. We had so much fun (fever and all)! Thank you Keith for sharing such an amazing talent and giving us a gift that will last a lifetime!

Lanikuhonua

The big question was Los Angeles or Hawaii? After a lot of contemplation between the two locations, we decided to have the wedding in Hawaii at Lanikuhonua which translates to "Where Heaven Meets the Earth." I sent my mom to scout out the location and as you'll see from the pictures below - it seems to be fairly decent...okay, actually pretty breathtaking. We've never been there ourselves but based on the feedback and pictures we've reviewed it seems to be the perfect place for us. Now, we'll just need to pray for that perfect sunny Hawaiian day.

Transportation

You'll need to fly into Honolulu International Airport (HNL), we encourage everyone to book their flights as early as possible due to the event being close to a holiday. Our favorite airline is, of course, Hawaiian Air (where my dad spent almost 40 years of his career). Other great deals can be found on Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline. There's also a company, Yapta, that allows you to "tag" trips when researching online and will alert you if/when prices drop. They'll also alert you if you're eligible for a refund (of the difference), if you already purchased a ticket and the airfare goes on sale the following week...but you have to have booked via the airline's site (not an online travel agent) to get the credit back. We are looking into affordable accommodations for everyone coming in from out of town and we'll keep you posted on the progress.

A Thanksgiving Feast

People in Hawaii really know how to eat, it's a culture that loves food and loves to celebrate. Apparently, in Texas, (where Monte is from) they enjoy the same. Monte thought everything was bigger in Texas until he went to Hawaii, saw our family dining table, and realized we don't mess around! It was after this trip that Monte claimed he has never been so rotund in his life. (Don't laugh too hard, he's a bit of a sensitive soul.) Anyway, after an afternoon of dress shopping with Miki and Grace, we came up with a Thanksgiving theme for the wedding. My dad smokes amazing turkeys on his "farm" each year and we'd love for all of you to enjoy them as well this year. We thought a Thanksgiving feast (with a little Hawaiian twist) would be the perfect way to celebrate life, love and food!