My partner John and I decided to head to Hawaii for our very first trip overseas. Neither of us having travelled before, we were both very excited though quite nervous too at the thought of going through the daily routines of a frequent traveller at the airport and being in a new country. 

We departed at 1715 for Sydney on Virgin Blue flight DJ862 arriving 1830. I had previously called Virgin Blue reservations to inquire on how frequent Sydney's domestic shuttle buses were to pick up all passengers from the shuttle bus designated area and take them free of charge, to Sydney's International Airport. I was told they came every 10 minutes. Due to poor signage, it took us over 20 minutes to find the shuttle pick up area and a further 50 minutes and still no sign of a shuttle bus. So we opted for a taxi. Unfortunately the Virgin blue transfers are not reliable at the moment but our Virgin Blue sales rep has assured us, that the regularity of the buses is going to improve. We boarded our Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu at 2120 and arrived 40 minutes earlier than expected at 1100.

Hawaiian Airlines fly direct to Honolulu 4 times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The food presented by Hawaiian Airlines was so yummy. Hot chocolate cookie with melted chocolate in the middle, bbq chicken with rice, tomato tortellini pasta, yogurt, muffins and fruit for breakfast.  We felt the plane food was one of the best meals we had whilst on our holiday.

In Honolulu, shuttle buses were very reliable and easily to find. We didn't have to prepay for these transfers in Australia as I was told that it wasn't necessary. John and I were able to board a coach, which took us to our hotel in Waikiki and paid for a return ticket for 14USD each. For a return pickup from hotel to airport, you need to contact them 48 hours before departure.

John and I decided to stay at the 2.5 star Aston Waikiki Circle hotel found on Kalakaua Avenue, the main street of Waikiki. It was in the best location with the beach right across the road. This was the reason why the hotel had no pool facilities which we felt may have been needed sometimes due to the fact the beach was constantly crowded and with the beach itself being so narrow. We stayed in a beachfront room with a balcony located on the 12th floor.  We had absolutely fantastic views of Waikiki beach and the day and nightlife. We found the need to stay in a condominium because we didn't want to eat out every night. The room was clean and serviced daily. The staff were friendly and quite helpful in suggesting ideas of restaurants where to eat.

The hotel provides their own tour shop 'Aloha Express', which was reliable in booking all our four tours. 'Polynesian Adventure Tours' who pick you up from the front of your hotel provided our tours. Each excursion includes round trip air transportation, the comfortable deluxe coaches and the delightful narration from their professional driver/guides.
Our first tour was to 'Pearl Harbour', which included the USS Arizona memorial and the USS Missouri. When we arrived it was surprising to see winding lines full of people lining up for entry into the memorial. Though we waited an hour, we didn't feel that we had waited a long time. The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. Oil droplets still bubble to the surface of Pearl Harbor above the USS Arizona, creating a vivid link to the past. The USS Missouri was incredible to see. John and I boarded the ship and were given tour of every deck. We stood in the very same place where the Japanese surrendered to the Americans. We were able to purchase lunch on board and spend at least an hour having a good look around.

The next day we got up at 0430 and headed off to Honolulu airport to board Island Air, which were flying to Hilo on 'The Big Island'. Here we were to commence our whole day tour of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano. I strongly recommended the need to wear sturdy shoes or runners and to take sunscreen and a hat. Very young children are discouraged from this tour. We started our tour by seeing the highlights of Hilo Town, Rainbow waterfalls and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Then we were lead into 'Thurston lava Tube'. A tube occurs when lava has been forming under the ground and then suddenly exposed to air it drains leaving behind a hollow tube, which looks like a cave. Then we headed to the base of the volcano. Kilauea volcano, on the southernmost Island of Hawaii, is one of the most active on Earth. Kilauea sits on the south eastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii. I couldn't wait to see the molten rock. The last eruption was in 2003 and had partially covered part of the highway once also used by tour groups. We were then dropped off the side of the road and walked a mile over the rough uneven lava surfaces to see if there was any lava flow. Lava viewing conditions change daily. On our way back to the airport we dropped into the Macadamia Nut Factory.  There are free taste testing and I recommend the choc chip macadamia nut biscuits…..YUMMY

The next couple of days we decided to do some shopping.  We were told by a local that the best place to find some cheap bargins was at the 'Ala Moana Shopping Centre, which is located 5 minutes out of Waikiki. Transportation to the shopping Centre is very accessible either by bus or shuttle. Both cost $2 each way and they run every 10-15 minutes. Correct change in notes only is accepted.  We were able to catch the shuttle bus right outside our hotel.

Our third tour was to visit the 'Polynesian Cultural Centre' also combining a 'Grand Circle Island Tour'. The centre represents the island people and the nations of Hawaii, Somoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Easter Island and French Polynesia. We were first presented with a buffet lunch and then a guided tour into each nations village, showing the types of housing, clothing, weapons for hunting and defence. All the representatives from each nation individually boarded a boat, and performed their national dance. We also had a canoe tour around the centre.

On our last night John and I went on a dinner cruise called the 'Starlet Dinner Cruise'.
The Starlet offers a journey through time, celebrating the changes of Hawaii, and the constant "Spirit of Aloha" during the contemporary Polynesian revue, "These Islands." The tour included one standard drink and a 3-course table service dinner and free pick up and drop off at most hotels in Waikiki so you don't have to worry about expensive parking and / or drinking and driving. Children under 3 are free.
John and I were a little disappointed when we boarded the cruise as we thought that we would have a table by ourselves. Everyone was already allocated to a seat and we had to be seated a table with other people we did not know. We found it uncomfortable when you're with people who find it hard to make conversation. We had a set menu that I found to be very basic and this had put more of a downer on the cruise. The cruise went for 2.5 hours.

John and I had a fantastic time and now have got the bug to travel more. We cannot wait to plan out next trip!

Shelley...