Spent a month with stepson and his family. He was stationed on Oahu, but then DH, my son and I island hopped, via plane, and had rental cars for those islands. Very short trip on those planes.
But I saw in news their Aloha airlines had gone bankrupt.

DS and his bride honeymooned on Maui, and they rode horseback to the top of a mountain to see the sunrise. Said it was awesome.

it's Oahu!

I was wrong, I was wrong--not Maui.

All the Hawaiian islands are volcanoes; they are dormant except for the Big Island. The only active volcano is on the Big Island. And, last time I checked (several months ago), you could not see any flowing lava, if that's what you're asking. I can point you to web sites with current information about the eruption.

If you want to see a dormant volcano, I recommend Haleakala, on Maui. It's a pretty ride to the top, with great views of the crater and the ocean. But, you'd have to fly from Oahu to Maui and then rent a car or arrange a tour.

There are tons of photos available online at sites like WebShots. Just search on Haleakala or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can get more info from the National Parks web site.

Let me know if you want suggestions for things to do on Oahu. I was there a few years ago.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hawaii National Parks

I just saw that the national park is closed due to sulfurous gases--even if we wanted to spend the extra $, we might not be able to see the lava anyway.

oh, well.

Yes, I'd love suggestions for Oahu.

We'll be there over the 4th, and DB is Army, so we'll probably find ways to celebrate w/ some military pageantry.

But beyond Pearl Harbor, I don't really have anything on my list, so I'd love ideas.

I have 2 kids--14 and 10, not little but occasionally clearly un-adult. So ideas that incorporate them would be good.

My favorite thing to do on Oahu is to snorkel at Hanama Bay. There are things to see on the opposite side of the island also. We went on a glass bottom boat. If you can get to Maui by boat or air, there is a volcano called Haleakala National Park. We went up there to see the sunrise and it was very, very cold.

talley sue,
in the three years I've lived on Maui, this the first time the park has been closed. If you check the NPS website for Volcanoes National Park, they will have daily updates on volcanic activity and whether or not there is any lava flowing. Lately, the lava has been in rather difficult to reach spots, but when we went to the Big Island, it was possible to see it at night if you hiked out with a flashlight. Even if you can't see the lava flow, the caldera is pretty amazing. It's filled with active steam vents. If you have a current NP pass, bring it with you.
There is a pretty nice waterpark on Oahu, we took my 11-year old and three friends for his birthday and they had a blast. They also might enjoy a luau, although I can't recommend one on Oahu. Unfortunately, the recent demise of Aloha Airlines has and will affect interisland airfare. In the past, we have regularly been able to fly one-way to Oahu or the Big Island for $29. I don't know what it is now but it pays to check regularly if you have a little bit of flexibility.
Being in the military, your DB has access to discounted tickets to a lot of things (waterpark included) so be sure to ask him about that.
Some things we like to do here that you could probably do on Oahu: parasailing, snorkeling (ask somebody local where to go to see turtles), deep-sea fishing (some of them will prepare the fish for you, too), get a cheap bodyboard and find a decent beach, take surfing lessons. Definitely go see the North Shore, one of the great surfing meccas of the world. Find a farmer's market and buy a pineapple (if you buy one at the grocery store, you're buying one from the Philippines, not Hawaii). Go see Waikiki-the beach, the shops, the historic buildings, the fabulous hotels. Did I already mentions snorkeling? When you rent your gear, ask for a fish guide and make a game out of finding all the fish on the list. Don't forget that your DB has access to the Navy and AF bases, and make sure you check with the Tickets and Travel office before you pay for any activities.
I may be biased, but if it is at all possible for you to afford to come to Maui, I really recommend it. Oahu is still beautiful, and Honolulu has it's good points. But it is a very large city on a fairly small island and not exactly representative of "Hawaii". Kauai is also beautiful, but Maui has better beaches :)
Don't give up on Volcanoes yet, if you really want to see it, you might as well try to make it happen while you're out here.

Here are a few links:

Oahu:
Plantation tour, train ride, large maze

Water Adventure Park

Kualoa Ranch (ATVs, horseback riding)

Polynesian Cultural Center: luau, shows, tram tour, IMAX movie, canoe pageant

Sea Life Park, dolphins

All Oahu attractions

An alternative for interisland travel is the new ferry: Super Ferry

I'm a little out of touch with the latest hoopla about the Super Ferry, so if you decide to use it, do some research to see if it will be operating when you're there.

I agree with the previous post about Maui. It's beautiful! Try to get there for a day or so if you can.

Here is a link that might be useful: Go Hawaii

When we were on the Big Island in January, we drove to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with the intention of hiking one of the trails. We didn't hike because it was raining, so we just drove around Crater Rim Drive. We got out of the car to take photos of Keanakako`i Crater, and it was so cold and windy that I snapped two quick photos and got back in the car. We were going to get out at another spot, but the sulfur fumes were so bad it hurt our noses and eyes just coming through the car vents. If you have asthma or other respiratory ailments, you should not be near the sulfur fumes.

Copy/paste the link at the bottom of this post into your browser and read Dusty56438 extensive report of things to see and do. He lives on Oahu.

DH and I went to Oahu/Maui last July. I prefer Oahu over Maui.

I saw the "super ferry" while in Oahu; it was not operating.

Please let me know how the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center construction is coming along. We plan to return when the shopping center is ready to go!

~Carol~

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862-Things_not_to_miss_for_a_trip_of_a_lifetime-Oahu_Hawaii.html

A good, informational Oahu forum...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g29222-Oahu_Hawaii.html

Be sure and plan a whole day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Nite show is fabulous!

Yes, yes, yes....spend a day at the Polynesian cultural center. It is not to be missed.

No tips--just wanted to tell you how jealous I am!!!! I've loved everyone's ideas to make your trip fun.

Also, welcome Anthrogirl78. Come often and sit with us. We usually tell new folks to bring chocolate, but pineapple would be wonderful!!

Do you like to hike? You can hike inside the crater Diamond Head. There are about 100 steps, take a flashlight and water. Fabulous view at the top. Worth doing if you are up to it.

Sea Life Park is nice if you have never been to an ocean park like that. Polynesian Cultural Center is ok if you have an avid interest in the various Polynesian cultures. It's a long drive out there and back.

Pick up a "This Week in Oahu" brochure at the airport.

Have a wonderful trip. There really is a "spirit of Aloha."

Thanks, everybody!

Since the Army made my brother and his wife move to Hawaii, we've all been trying to make plans to travel there--to cheer him up, you know? Poor guy!

I'll welcome any other ideas, too.

My folks looked into visiting the volcanos, and decided it would cost them $500 more, and they didn't want to spend it. But depending what we find out, I might just be willing. I mean...a volcano! with lava!

But if we chicken out monetarily, I think that Diamond Head hike might be neat.

A couple photos to get you in the mood.

The view from the top of Diamond Head:

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The surfers on the north shore (surf may not be this high in July; I took this photo in February 2005):

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I thought of another volcanic crater you can check out--Koko Head crater which is very small but quite visible from the highway as you go towards Hanauma Bay. There is a botanical garden you can hike through there also. I think you can hike up the crater, but it looks like a tough hike.

We were stationed on Oahu for 3 years and yes it was a tough job but somebody had to do it...lol
Your brother can get tickets at MWR on Schofield which is probably the Army base he lives at.

When we were there last Oct. tickets to Polynesian Cultural Center was $64 a day (we didn't have any young kids). This included seeing all the villages which is fun for everyone, IMAX, the luau dinner with leis and show, plus the evening show which I think is the best show on the island. The park opens at noon and you don't get out of there until about 9pm. It will take about 45 minutes to drive back to your brothers. I think this is a must and your whole family will really enjoy it.

We also went to the National Cemetery of the Pacific and then drove to the top of Tantalus Drive from there. The views are beautiful with lots of lush plants. Lots of twists and turns on that drive.

You don't want to miss taking your family to see the USS Arizona. Then go and see the submarine which you can go inside. They had a an audio thing you carried around that told you all about the sub. You can also go onto the USS Missouri. Both of these had a fee charged.

You don't want to miss going to Hanauma Bay and be sure to take snorkels and fins along. It costs I think $5 to park and you need to be there bright and early to get in. This is one of the most popular beaches on the island. It will also cost to get in but it is very little. We packed a picnic lunch and ate when we left. They had a very nice picnic area at the top. You don't want to carry everything down to the bottom a it is quite a hike. They do have a tram for a price. I think it was 50 cents down and $1.50 back up.

There is also a beautiful temple (Bydoin Temple)with a Buda to see and stop at the Pali Lookout on your way over there.

There is also the largest exchange (military store) at Pearl Harbor which is wonderful. We bought lots of stuff there and the prices were really good. If you like swap meets there is a huge one at Aloha Stadium.

The Dole Pineapple Plantation to me was a rip off. It is mainly a tourist stop to sell you souveniors and food. There is a train ride through the pineapple field which cost you I think $5 a person.

The North Shore won't have big surf in the summer it is pretty flat. The larger waves will be in the Waikiki area. We always took our company to Waikiki at least once. It is a crowded area with lots of expensive shops. Your brother can take you to Ft. DeRusey which is next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The military has 2 huge hotels there. You can use their beach to swim in if you want to say you went to Waikiki.

You can hike up into Diamond Head Crater which my family did while we were there in Oct. They also went to the acquarium which isn't far from there.

If you want to do a dinner cruise in Waikiki your brother can get tickets to that also through MWR. I believe it is around $59 a person.

When we lived there we spent alot of time at the military beach in Waianae. It is very relaxing and just a short half hour drive through Kole Kole Pass to get there. This is where we stayed in a cabin while we were there last Oct.

Enjoy your trip and remember to take some time to relax. There are lots of things to do there but don't run your legs off the whole time. Enjoy the scenery and the beaches.

I am going back again in June for a week and am so looking forward to it. I will also be meeting up with Dorothy who posts here.

Be sure to take beach (or swim) shoes. They have a rubber sole, but the tops are mesh. Their beaches are NOT soft sand...they are pretty rocky and it hurts the bottom of your feet. Although Oahu is not my favorite, I do believe it has a lot of beauty once you get away from the crowds of Waikiki/Honolulu. A one-day island trip is very, very possible to any island in the chain. I believe the Big Island is about a half hour flight from Oahu. They often sell fly/drive deals for the day. You won't be able to get anywhere near the lava. We thought on our first trip we were going to be seeing orange molten lava. NOT..!! We DID see a lot of smoke through our binoculars and smelled the rotten egg smell of sulphur. Incidentally, we've been there at least a dozen times but I think the last time was about 7 years ago, so things may be different. Inter-island flights back then were about $39.

this is really helpful, everyone! Thanks.

Nita, my sympathies on your time in Hawaii--I bet you're suffering post-traumatic stress, aren't you?

last time we visited my brother, he was stationed at Fort Huachuca in AZ. That was a good excuse to visit a section of the country we might not otherwise have gone to, as well.

Redcurls, thanks for the info on the lava.

Interisland flights are $59 each way, right now. Times 4. We'll see. I haven't really thought too hard about what we can spend $ on.

I wish I had known when you were visiting at Ft Huachuca since that is where we live. We have been here since 1984 and love it. Well it doesn't come close to Hawaii but still it is really nice.

I agree with the wearing of water shoes especially in Hanauma Bay. I was surprised at how rocky it was swimming at Waikiki.

If you get to go to another of the islands plan to be there a couple of days so you can enjoy your time there. One day is not enough especially with the cost of flying of 4 people.

Have your brother check with MWR about Kilauea Military Camp. We stayed there and it is really nice and as close to the vocanoes as you can get a place to stay. It looks like he would have to go also to get accommdations. They have cabins with lots of sleeping space so having an extra person or two wouldn't be a problem.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kilauea Military Camp