Things to do on a day with free time?

[Amati]

What are some of your favorite things to do in Hawaii when you've got a day to roam? Not the usual things you do when you have visitors to entertain, but those other places and things you like to do or have enjoyed, they things that you call a friend to go do with you? Here are three of mine:

1. http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/
"Shangri La is the Honolulu home of Doris Duke. Built in 1937, Shangri La houses an impressive collection of Islamic art and is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes." (You'll need to plan this one in advance.)

2. Picture taking (photos) in Chinatown in the morning, when the sun casts great shadows and the streets are filled with colorful food displays and shoppers of all sorts.

3. Checking out the Antique stores in Kailua for a journey back into time (old Hawaii postcards, yesteryear’s souvenirs, old sheet music).

[alohacandy]

What are some of your favorite things to do in Hawaii when you've got a day to roam? Not the usual things you do when you have visitors to entertain, but those other places and things you like to do or have enjoyed, they things that you call a friend to go do with you? Here are three of mine:

1. http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/
"Shangri La is the Honolulu home of Doris Duke. Built in 1937, Shangri La houses an impressive collection of Islamic art and is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes." (You'll need to plan this one in advance.)

2. Picture taking (photos) in Chinatown in the morning, when the sun casts great shadows and the streets are filled with colorful food displays and shoppers of all sorts.

3. Checking out the Antique stores in Kailua for a journey back into time (old Hawaii postcards, yesteryear’s souvenirs, old sheet music).

When I have free time on a weekend, I like to get up early and go to yard sales and craft fairs. This a.m. at the yard sale at Castle High School, I picked up a food dehydrator for $3 and a "fill up a bag for $2.50" and scored a halloween costume for me (flapper girl dress and boa), a book, an unopened bottle of Orange Glo, and a stuffed parrot on a perch that repeats everything you say (which will keep my real African Grey entertained). Not bad for $5.50 total.

[Nords]

What are some of your favorite things to do in Hawaii when you've got a day to roam? Not the usual things you do when you have visitors to entertain, but those other places and things you like to do or have enjoyed, they things that you call a friend to go do with you?
I wouldn't tackle it all in one day, but:
Breakfast at Café Haleiwa. Surfing. Lunch at Thai Kitchen (Waipahu) or La Mariana. Check out new model homes in Ewa Beach or browse Goodwill's clothes & books. Maybe look at realtor's open houses (Wednesday mornings). Go around the fence at the bottom of Anania Drive and walk Kipapa Gulch. Drive H-3 after a big rain and take pictures of the Ko'olau waterfalls. Watch the kitesurfers at Mokuleia, along with the parachutists & gliders. Dinner at Bravo's.

(You'll need to plan this one in advance.)
Way, way in advance. Like a couple months. The house is way better than some of the tour guides, especially the one who keeps expecting you to answer all her "thought-provoking" questions instead of being left alone to look around. But I enjoyed the Academy of Art more than I expected to.

[tutusue]

1. Beach
2. Beach
3. Beach
:D
4. play tourist and walk along Kalakaua Ave. one way and the beach the other way.
5. hike Diamond Head altho' I haven't done it in years!
6. walk around Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head Rd.
7. drive around the island
8. lunch with friends at La Mariana
9. grab breakfast and a Sunday paper at McDonald's Waianae then head up the road to Makaha...BEACH!...for the morning...while listening to tiki-style ;) music on my iPod!

Hmmm...I think #9 should be #1!

[acousticlady]

1. Beach
2. Beach
3. Beach
:D
4. play tourist and walk along Kalakaua Ave. one way and the beach the other way.
5. hike Diamond Head altho' I haven't done it in years!
6. walk around Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head Rd.
7. drive around the island
8. lunch with friends at La Mariana
9. grab breakfast and a Sunday paper at McDonald's Waianae then head up the road to Makaha...BEACH!...for the morning...while listening to tiki-style ;) music on my iPod!

Hmmm...I think #9 should be #1!

You and I really have way too much in common ;)

[tutusue]

You and I really have way too much in common ;)
I just read the filmmaker thread and noticed you like producing. I was a producer during the 1980s!

[Amati]

Lunch at ... La Mariana.

lunch with friends at La Mariana


That is going to make at least 3 of us who will miss that place. :(

[LikaNui]

That is going to make at least 3 of us who will miss that place. :(
Miss it? Did it close? :eek:
I never heard it closed!

[tutusue]

That is going to make at least 3 of us who will miss that place. :(
Miss it? Did it close? :eek:
I never heard it closed!
Me either. DETAILS...someone, anyone!

[LikaNui]

Me either. DETAILS...someone, anyone! I just did what I shoulda done did earlier, except that the ocean was calling out to me. Anyway, I just now called La Mariana (848-2800) and spoke to the manager, who says they are not only still open for business but added that they have absolutely no plans to close or to sell and that they intend to stay just as they are for a long time.
WHEW! And HOORAY!!! :)

[tutusue]

I just did what I shoulda done did earlier, except that the ocean was calling out to me. Anyway, I just now called La Mariana (848-2800) and spoke to the manager, who says they are not only still open for business but added that they have absolutely no plans to close or to sell and that they intend to stay just as they are for a long time.
WHEW! And HOORAY!!! :)
I was way too lazy to walk over to the phone ( :o ) but I did google the subject and came up with nothing indicating a closure.

[Amati]

I was way too lazy to walk over to the phone ( :o ) but I did google the subject and came up with nothing indicating a closure.

Oh, sorry, I did not mean to cause a sudden panic. I was just projecting ahead to what I see possibly developing from quite a problem about the claimed "ownership" of the establishment.
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/07/21/story15.html?jst=s_cn_hl

Especially now that Ms. Annette has died.
http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/05/news/story14.html

[Nords]

5. hike Diamond Head altho' I haven't done it in years!
I've heard that the tunnel is lighted now?

[tutusue]

I've heard that the tunnel is lighted now?
Well, that's no fun! Dunno if that's a fact but I imagine liability might've been a factor. Still, there was something so eerily fun about that tunnel.

[D'Alani]

Well, that's no fun! Dunno if that's a fact but I imagine liability might've been a factor. Still, there was something so eerily fun about that tunnel.

Yup, that's a fact, but one still have to be careful exiting that last bunker, I've seen enough people bump their heads and exit bleeding. But the view really eases the pain I would think.

[bittersweet]

My favorite places:

- Ko'Olina Lagoons (Man made yes! But I don't have to worry about too many people blasting their radios and getting sick over the smell of burned kalbi)

- Drive around the island...start from kaneohe side because definitely gotta stop off at Giovanni's Shrimp shack for lunch...matsumotos for shave ice!

- Kam swap meet - Grab a bag full of veggies for dinner & look at the interesting items people have for sale!

- Since I'm from town, just keep driving & get off at any exit. Look around the neighborhoods i'm not familiar with. Stop off at some hole in the wall for lunch. It's a gamble! lol

- Have brunch! I'm still on the lookout for the ultimate brunch! Halekulani is still on the top of my list...

- Sit on a bench near Waikiki Beach with a cooler full of water & soda. Watch the tourist go by....

- Have a quiet lunch at the Contemporary Cafe & walk it off afterwards looking at art at the Contemporary Museum.

- Walk around Chinatown

- Look around in Jelly's...."OMG! That was my favorite album back in the day!" lol

- Watch a double feature at the movie theatre

- Go to the market, make an incredible dinner (Something that I've been craving, but it just takes too darn long to make) & enjoy it with great friends.