Shopping
For the casual shopper or sophisticated consumer, Oahu is a virtual shoppers’ paradise. From world-class brand names to handmade gifts, from boutiques to shopping centers, Oahu satisfies all shoppers. Below are a few highlights:
- Lanakila, a private nonprofit organization, is a hidden treasure and a great place to shop with heart while helping individuals with disabilities discover an independent way of living. The clients of Lanakila create a variety of gifts including aloha shirts and dresses, raffia skirts, pillows, placemats, dolls and more, with proceeds from the sale going to the center’s programs and services.
- Na Mea offers an extensive array of Hawaii books, music, software, island-made gifts, clothing, art and jewelry. With three locations including Fort Street Mall downtown Honolulu, the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki and Na Mea/Native Books at Ward Warehouse (formerly Native Books & Beautiful Things), the store is fast becoming not only a place to shop but also a gathering place for visitors and locals alike.
- Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) recently opened a new retail store in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. The new store, Polynesian Cultural Center Treasures, features souvenir items from the No. 1 paid visitor attraction in Hawaii. Visitors who have purchased PCC tickets by calling the reservations hotline or from other locations can pick up their tickets from the store.
Activities, Attractions and Tours
The island of Oahu offers a wide range of activities for every interest, every age and every budget.
- The Alii Tour is a personalized Polynesian adventure conducted by Chief Sielu Avela who will give you a glimpse of Polynesia through music, fire, song and dance. The 45-minute tour is offered daily from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m at Kualoa Ranch. Hawaii Tourist Network Babysitting Program, a safe, creative and educational service, helps Hawaii tourists get the most from their vacation. Certified babysitters will watch their children from a minimum of 3 hours to a full day while the parents can enjoy day tours and activities.
- Aloha Joe’s Club Waikiki opened at the Miramar Waikiki Hotel in mid-September. The club features live performances every Saturday by some of the Hawaii’s popular Hawaiian and contemporary artists. Club Waikiki was developed by Aloha Joe, producer of the world’s most listened-to Hawaiian musical programming, The Aloha Radio Network, broadcast exclusively on www.alohajoe.com.
- The Battleship Missouri can now be found at the Honolulu International Airport where a 223-inch long, 28-inch wide, 450-pound brass model replica of the USS Missouri and its sister Iowa-class battleships makes its new home.
- Foods of Hawaii is a new activity being offered by Lyon Arboretum every Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting on October 7. Upon arrival, visitors will proceed on a tour of the Arboretum, followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch.
- Honolulu Academy of Arts unveiled "The George and Nancy Ellis Gallery of Filipino Arts" on September 24, 2003. The gallery is divided into three areas of study and was named after former Academy Director, George R. Ellis, and his wife, Nancy.
- Outrigger Hotels and Resorts welcomed a 90-year-old koa sailing canoe called "Hoaloha" on June 24, 2003. "Hoaloha" will make its home on the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. A traditional Hawaiian canoe blessing ceremony took place in September, marking the completion of the canoe’s two-year restoration.
- Outrigger Reef on the Beach invites couples to fall in love all over again with a new complimentary vow renewal ceremony performed in a distinctly Hawaiian setting on the beach at Waikiki. The ceremony is held every Friday morning throughout the year as the sun rises over Diamond Head.
- Royal Kunia Golf Course opened to the public in April 2003. Originally completed in 1994, the course delayed its opening due to the owner’s failure to pay community impact fees. The course features spectacular views of Pearl Harbor.
- Saturday Farmer’s Market started in September at Kapiolani Community College every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Featuring Hawaii grown and produced foods, the market is becoming THE place to be on Saturday morning to shop, meet friends and have breakfast.
- Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa opened Spa Olakino Salon in November 2003. The spa is created, owned and managed by world-renowned hairstylist Paul Brown and associates.
- Waikiki Historic Trail’s Queen Surf Tour is back in business after a month-long hiatus in August. The trail visits 23 sites along Kalakaua Avenue and Beach Walk.
- The Waimea Valley Audobon Center is located on Oahu’s scenic North Shore. Formerly Waimea Falls Adventure Park, the 1,800-acre Audubon Center features botanical gardens, wandering peafowl and a 60-foot waterfall, giving visitors direct interaction with the natural environment.
