Fun in Oahu, Hawaii
Joy Kennelly
Torrance, CA
Cruise, Tours & Group Travel Specialist
I love introducing clients to the latest travel and lifestyle recommendations while finding the perfect cruise or tour for their interests. As an avid traveler myself, I have lived and traveled all over the United States, 27 countries and 4 contin...
I love introducing clients to the latest travel and lifestyle recommendations while finding the perfect cruise or tour for their interests. As an avid traveler myself, I have lived and traveled all over the United States, 27 countries and 4 continents. I have also worked for Alaska and Delta Airlines, Wyndham Bel Age Hotel and the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Casino. I also enjoy earning travel certifications to enhance my personal experience and broaden my expertise. In addition, I have been a travel writer and host reviewing restaurants, hotels and destinations in print and video.
This gives me a professional perspective from many different levels. Now, as a travel agent working with a team of travel professionals, I'm ready to assist you with your cruise travel plans, destination wedding plans, or any tour you're interested in taking.
Can Be Reached At
1-512-820-0749
By Joy A. Kennelly
I recently flew to Oahu, HI on Hawaiian Airlines to enjoy a week-long vacation I desperately needed. I visited Maui years back and after certifying as a Hawaii Destination Specialist, decided it was time to see what I have been learning about.
I stayed a budget hotel named Coconut Waikiki and enjoyed access to numerous beach supplies including towels, a boogie board, snorkeling equipment, beach chairs and umbrellas. In addition, they very generously supplied a free ticket to explore the amazing Bishop Museum, which in my opinion, is a definite must-see if you travel to Honolulu.
There are multiple buildings on the campus which provide a broad overview of the history, art and marine culture with amazing displays and interactive exhibits your children and you will enjoy.
I also made a point to visit the Iolani Palace to see the royal King and ueen's domain which was more self-guided with an audio guide available which really brought to life what it must have been like while they were alive. The King and Queen were definitely ahead of their time.
I enjoyed visiting numerous resorts and tasting the local cuisine. The Coconut Waikiki is centrally located right in the heart of Waikiki and I was able to walk around the city very easily. I always felt safe even at night too. The balmy air and friendly people made it a very enjoyable experience.
I also signed up for a round the island tour which was very helpful to understand the layout and see points of interest as highlights with a very informative local guide providing more color than if I traveled alone by bus or rental car.
We snorkeled at Turtle Bay Resort, created a fun drone video of our entire tour group showcasing one of the popular beaches, visited the local coffee farm, macadamia farm, the Dole Plantation, drove by the popular North Shore, and saw many beautiful beaches. I highly recommend doing this if you've never been.
I also rented a car for a day to go back and visit certain areas I wanted to see more and swim in. The water is perfectly clear and very nice - not too warm, not too cold, just right.
I also thoroughly enjoyed my family run luau experience. There are quite a few to choose from, but I decided on a smaller luau which I'm glad I did. They took us on a journey through dance among all the South Pacific and rounded it off with a spectacular fire dance exhibition. The food was delicious, the host very fun, and everyone who attended had a great time.
I decided to take a tour to the Hanauma Bay for snorkeling because I heard it is very difficult to find parking. I ended making friends with one of my tour group and we snorkeled, relaxed and swam for 4 hours before returning to catch the van back. It was a great experience as they provide all the equipment and you arrive so early it's beautiful to experience the bay with hardly anyone there.
I missed some other highlights like hiking Diamond Head and visiting Pearl Harbor, but sometimes you need to leave a few things to visit to encourage you to go back.