9th birthday on Oahu?
September 18th, 2009 | 
Author: My son will be 9 in a couple of months and we will be on Oahu right around that time. I have been to Oahu many, many times and I feel like we’ve done/seen a lot of what the island has to offer. Any suggestions for fun things to do for my son’s birthday? He has been to the zoo and aquarium, gone snorkeling, taken a catamaran ride, and hiked Diamond Head, so although these things are fun, please don’t suggest any of them. Been there, done that. Thanks!
ETA: We live on Kauai. We are going to Oahu for New Year’s Eve as a family (staying for 2 nights). Like I said, we’ve been snorkeling and we’ve even been to Maui (the active volcano is on the Big Island, which he has seen, btw). PCC might work but I don’t know if my son would be interested in an entire day of Polynesian dance. Since we live in Hawaii, he has seen quite a bit of that. Thanks for your input so far!
Here’s a couple of things I can think of:
* There are the "Dolphin Encounter" experiences to swim with the dolphins, both at the Kahala Resort as well as the Sea Life Park.
http://www.dolphinquest.org/destinations/oahu/index.php?aID=1z4
* There are the Atlantis Submarines which are really cool..but again a bit pricey. I don’t think you have them on Kauai!
http://www.atlantisadventures.com/hawaii/oahu/oahu-activities.cfm
* Go to North Shore to watch the professionals prepare for the world tours at Waimea, Sunset, Banzai, although I don’t know how much action there will be if you are going on New Year’s Eve… a lot of places may be closed or quiet for the long weekend!
* Have you taken your son horseback riding? You can go to Kualoa Ranch on the windward side, past Kaneohe for horseback riding lessons. They do a trail ride as well. I don’t know where you are staying but I believe the Turtle Bay Resort has horseback riding lessons as well.
http://www.kualoa.com/
* Downtown Honolulu does a good job with thousands of Christmas lights, so it is fun to drive and see them this time of year. Also they have a great display around the Civic center areas.
* You have been to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, but have you seen the battleship USS Missouri or the aviation museum? I’m sure you’ve seen the WWII submarine Bowfin but if you haven’t kids really love it.
* Have you done the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail? This is a popular trail I like MUCH better than Diamond Head.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/hiking_and_camping/makapuu_lighthouse.htm
* The Oahu Ghost Tour is supposed to be one of the best they do.
http://www.oahughosttours.com/
* Have you been to the Byodo-in Japanese Temple next to the mountains in Kaneohe? Kids love to ring the bell for luck, and then feed the thousands of koi in the lake fronting the temple.
http://gohawaii.about.com/od/oahusights/ss/byodo_in_temple.htm
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6 Responses to “9th birthday on Oahu?”
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While you’re there, maybe take some time to explore the other islands. Would that be possible?
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Try going to Maui and go to the volcano.
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It sounds like you have just done things that are right around the Waikiki area within walking distance. If you get a rental car, you can check out the Polynesian Cultural Center, Waimea Falls, and Hanauma Bay. You can also go to the Dole Pineapple place and they have a little train ride there.
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Aloha Chica! My keiki LOVED walking up and down Kalakaua trying to figure out which of the supposed female hookers were actually men…especially that boy of mine…is that surprising? LOL… Take him to the Gun Club and let him shoot an AK-47 Assault Rifle (E loved that) or the Water Park…what about the Dolphin Encounter at Sea Life Park…Ziplining…I Miss HAWAII and You!
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take him to Wet n’ Wild Hawaii for the day! he would have a blast. there’s this new ride called the Tornado, as well as awesome slides like the Big Kahuna, Wainae Coaster, Island Racer (my 10-year-old sister’s favorite), Shaka and the wave pool Hurricane Bay.
has he been to the Bishop Museum? they have a planetarium and cool Science Adventure Center as well as a recently renovated Hawaiian Hall and a traveling dinosaur exhibit that will be there until late January 2010.
maybe take him to the beach? ala moana and kailua are great swimming beaches, and he can bodysurf at waikiki beach. and even if you already went snorkeling at hanauma bay, have you ever gone at night? it’s a whole different experience!
there’s soooooo many things to do here…hope your son had a great birthday! XD
References :
local in Oahu
Here’s a couple of things I can think of:
* There are the "Dolphin Encounter" experiences to swim with the dolphins, both at the Kahala Resort as well as the Sea Life Park.
http://www.dolphinquest.org/destinations/oahu/index.php?aID=1z4
* There are the Atlantis Submarines which are really cool..but again a bit pricey. I don’t think you have them on Kauai!
http://www.atlantisadventures.com/hawaii/oahu/oahu-activities.cfm
* Go to North Shore to watch the professionals prepare for the world tours at Waimea, Sunset, Banzai, although I don’t know how much action there will be if you are going on New Year’s Eve… a lot of places may be closed or quiet for the long weekend!
* Have you taken your son horseback riding? You can go to Kualoa Ranch on the windward side, past Kaneohe for horseback riding lessons. They do a trail ride as well. I don’t know where you are staying but I believe the Turtle Bay Resort has horseback riding lessons as well.
http://www.kualoa.com/
* Downtown Honolulu does a good job with thousands of Christmas lights, so it is fun to drive and see them this time of year. Also they have a great display around the Civic center areas.
* You have been to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, but have you seen the battleship USS Missouri or the aviation museum? I’m sure you’ve seen the WWII submarine Bowfin but if you haven’t kids really love it.
* Have you done the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail? This is a popular trail I like MUCH better than Diamond Head.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/hiking_and_camping/makapuu_lighthouse.htm
* The Oahu Ghost Tour is supposed to be one of the best they do.
http://www.oahughosttours.com/
* Have you been to the Byodo-in Japanese Temple next to the mountains in Kaneohe? Kids love to ring the bell for luck, and then feed the thousands of koi in the lake fronting the temple.
http://gohawaii.about.com/od/oahusights/ss/byodo_in_temple.htm
References :
2nd home in Honolulu