The Plan
During the month of April, the Robinsons spent two weeks in Honolulu and Kailua on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. They flew to Honolulu International Airport via All Nippon Airways (ANA). They stayed for seven days at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel (www.hiltonwaikikibeach.com) in Honolulu and at the Makai in Kailua for eight days. Hayley organized the whole trip using Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com).
The Cost
Roundtrip flights for two adults and one child cost approximately RMB 25,988. Accommodations in Honolulu cost RMB 8,000 for seven days, while the rental home in Kailua cost RMB 7,000 for eight days. A rental car came up to about RMB 1,000 per day (including gas), while bus fare was USD 2.50 per person each way. The cost of food was comparable to eating out in Beijing’s Sanlitun Village.
The Best Part
The best part was renting a car and going to Sharks Cove at Pupukea Beach Park – where David swam with a sea turtle – and Turtle Bay, both located on Oahu’s North Shore. At Turtle Bay, the family got to see turtles sleeping on the beach. It was beautiful to drive along the island’s east coast (the less touristy side of Hawaii), and see some natural beauty.
The Worst Part
Hayley couldn’t think of any downsides to the trip – apart from getting jet lag on the way back to Beijing! It has been one of her favorite destinations so far.
Unexpected Moments
Every Friday, the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel has a live show on the seaside and a fireworks display. The show features dancers and singers, as well as a Hawaiian band. William enjoyed dancing along to the music.
Family-Friendly Factors
There are no play areas at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, but there is lots of space in the lobby and a lagoon next door – which William loved, as it was less scary than the sea. The rental home in Kailua was “awesome,” with lots of outdoor space. William enjoyed bathing outside in a cooler first thing in the morning. The Robinsons self-catered while staying in the rental home and took advantage of the island’s American-style food when they went out.
Travel Tips
Book a holiday home instead of a hotel room. You have much more space to play; one parent can sleep while the other spends time outside with the kids.
Rent a car. It’s a great way to travel around the island and it’s worth every penny. The buses aren’t very kid-friendly because there is no storage area for strollers. The Robinsons had to collapse theirs and tuck it underneath their legs, which tripped up other passengers.
The weather is very hot in April; William needed to apply SPF 50 sunscreen throughout the trip. It rained the second week the family was there, but it was still quite warm.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids September 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
