Lesson Two - Transportation

First off, I'm sorry I haven't blogged for a while.  Trust me, I won't forget my lessons.  But it might be a while before I add another.  We had a death in the family so blogging isn't top priority right now.

That said:

Transportation on O'ahu

If you decide that you want to rent a car and you're staying in Waikiki or Honolulu, know that parking at hotels runs anywhere from $7 / day for an unguaranteed outside lot to $18 - $20 / day for a spot in a parkade or a hotel parking lot.  Make sure you add that expense to your hotel stay and make sure that you inform the front desk that you have a car and will be parking it so they don't tow it away like they did a poor couple at our hotel. 

 The same day we met with the officer  that was taking care of our claim, there was a couple in the lobby who barely spoke English, wondering why their vehicle had been towed and where could they get it.  The clerk explained to them the parking policy and told them they'd have to spend another $150 to get it out of the impound.  It was then that I realized that something always goes wrong on O'ahu.  Now I understand the premise of LOST so much better.  The "Island" is trying to tell you something...

There are loads of possibilities for transportation throughout the island.  If 

you're planning on sticking to Honolulu or Waikiki, you can rent bicycles or mopeds, or even motorcycles everywhere.   Another option is to get a 3 day bus pass that will take you to the majority of the tourist spots that are closer around town that  you want to go.  Then if you want to travel to North Shore or someplace a little off the beaten path, you can get a car for a day or two and save yourself a few hundred bucks.   You can also foot it if you're planning on staying in Waikiki for your entire stay (though I wouldn't recommend it).  

Another great option for sight seeing is to sign up with a tourist group.  We saw loads of these on our way to

 North Shore area.  They truck you around in a limo or a large bus and show you all the main shopping and viewing and tourist spots along with a brief explanation of what you're seeing.   Eventually we caught on and stopped when we saw a bus of people knowing it was a great place to stop and enjoy the view.

  

Lastly, parking around Waikiki is horrendous.  Driving in Waikiki is horrendous.  Driving during rush hour on O'ahu to Honolulu is worse than horrendous.   If you rent a car, plan your day so that you know you will be able to park without fees.  

And just a word to the wise, don't, I repeat DON'T leave your valuables, purse, camera, phone, iPod, wallet anything in your car.  The locals search cars-not beaches-for valuables while non expectant tourists enjoy their day at the beach.  That said, leave your wallet and anything you DON'T NEED in the hotel lockbox when you go to the beach.  I ended up with a swimsuit bra pad full of credit cards, drivers licenses and hotel room keys while at the beach because my husband brought his wallet.  But that's for another blog entry.   :)

Lesson One. Cameras, Bags and Other Valuables

This was the hardest lesson for us when we got to O'ahu.  We left our bag with camera equipment, books, an iPod and some other miscellaneous but necessary items in a backpack in one of the rental cars.  Unfortunately, I had to have a big mouth and tell the guy that there was over $1000 worth of equipment in that bag during a heated argument asking him to please just go out and look to see if the bag was still there in the other rental car.  To make a long (VERY LONG) story short, he told me that they'd found a backpack but it only had books in it and a memory card.  Then the bag mysteriously disappeared when we called back again about it.  He also kept telling me that if I had the license plate number of the car we'd left the bag in, that they could trace it to whomever rented the car to see if it was there.  We got him the number, he confirmed that it was one of their cars, and I never heard from him again.  By the way, this was at Alamo, and not only do I think this kid ripped me off, I also wrote a note to Alamo customer service about how horribly he treated me on the phone.  I haven't gotten their "response within 24 hours" yet and that was last Wednesday.  

So here are my lessons when it comes to Honolulu's Airports and Car rentals and frankly anywhere else in Honolulu.

Keep in mind that Honolulu is not a rich area.  These are working class people that really don't care for tourists, especially mainlanders.  So there are a few that just will not go out of their way to help you.  When you get to this part of Hawaii, you are on your own, so you need to be smart.

A. Never Never NEVER leave your baggage unattended ANYWHERE EVER!

B. If you DO leave a bag unattended and it gets lost, you are under no circumstances obligated to reveal the contents of the bag and it is illegal for the employees to look inside of it regardless of what you tell them.  

C. If you DO "lose" a bag, make sure you create a police report quickly so that you can at least attempt to document and then file it on your home owners insurance.

D. Most important rule:  remember that Honolulu is a Big City.  Think New York, Chicago.  Don't trust that people will be honest and care if you lose $1500 worth of electronics.  They will take it just as easily as if you handed it to them.  That's not to say that everyone in Hawaii is like this, surely they aren't.  We met a lot of very nice and generous people there.  But there are some who really literally just see you as a big fat American dollar sign.

Don't be stupid.  There is a reason that every sign in every parking lot and every hotel says "do not leave valuables unattended"  Be aware, be serious and no matter how tired you are, if you need to chain your items to your waist, do it.  Or Just bring something that you're not that fond of.  Leave the $1200 digital camera at home and pick up a digital disposable camera.  They are made pretty well these days and if someone steals it, you may be out twenty bucks and some good photos.  Leave your valuables at home - this includes your video camera.  You won't need it.

Introductions

Hi.  I'm Marcy and I've been to O'ahu.

"Welcome Marcy"

I feel like there should be some kind of support group for people who come to a place like O'ahu, Honolulu especially, and are totally culture shocked and, well frankly, naive.  

That was us coming to Hawaii.  Hawaii is big.  Bigger than you can even imagine.  I don't mean big in area though it's big that way too.  I mean it's BIG in spirit.  You have locals and you have tourists.  You are one or the other, and chances are if you're looking at this blog, you're a tourist.

I decided to create this blog because on our 7 days and 6 nights here, we got a very very serious and immediate schooling on O'ahu.   I wanted to share the information that we wish we would have known before we left Iowa soil.  So in this blog, you will find things from where to eat, when to go, where to go and of course things to avoid.  DISCLAIMER (of sorts):  Keep in mind that we only came to O'ahu, and we spent most of our time in Honolulu, Waikiki (one of the things I'll tell you to avoid).  So I am sure there are so so many things that we didn't do that obviously I can't include.  I will however, allow comments so if you have a place to visit or something you'd like to add to this blog, please comment!  People will be counting on you!!!   That said, I don't apologize for how I feel about Hawaii or O'ahu or our trip in general, so if you plan to comment and razz me about being a stupid tourist etc etc, though you're probably right about the latter, I will most likely delete your comment if you are rude, profane or otherwise inappropriate.  So just be nice.  I'm not blind to the wonders of Hawaii.  If you disagree with me, just be nice about it, eh?

 For those of you who don't know us, here is the quick 411 on Andrew and I.

Andrew:  

Andrew is a 33 year old Process Engineer from a small company based in the UK and East Coast.  He lives and works in and around Cedar Rapids, Iowa with his wife (me) and our son and two dogs and cat.   He grew up in a small midwestern town, has great work ethic, is a trusting and moral individual who has more faith in people than, say, I do.  

Marcy:

Marcy is a 33 year old entrepreneur and owner of a pet grooming business.  I generally trust that people are good inherently but don't generally choose to socialize unless provoked.  I am a mom and wife, have a so-so work ethic and am a morally sound person who generally assumes everyone else is as well.  I am a self-proclaimed control freak and hot head.  

There.  You know a little about us.  Now, on with the show.