π Dole Plantation Β· 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786
π ΏοΈ Parking
FREE on-site parking for all cars. Arrive as a convoy so no one gets separated in the lot.
ποΈ Admission
FREE to enter the grounds. Activities cost extra β train, maze, and garden tours purchased on-site at ticket booths. No reservations needed.
π Hours
Open daily 9:30am β 5:30pm. Ticket sales end 30 min before closing. You'll arrive ~3:30pm β comfortable time with 2 hours before close.
π Pineapple Express Train
~$15/adult Β· Kids 3 and under free with paying adult. 20-min narrated ride through pineapple fields. Great for kids!
π Pineapple Garden Maze
~$8.50/adult Β· World's largest maze. Fun for all ages β allow 30-45 min. Tickets at on-site booth only.
π Free Activities
Pineapple cutting demo, chocolate making demo, fish feeding pond, gift shop, Plantation Grille restaurant on-site. Dole Whip is dairy-free β β safe for Venya!
| Time | Stop | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:45 am | π¨ | Hotel Breakfast Holiday Inn Express Waikiki |
Quick hotel breakfast. Leave by 7:30am for the 12-min walk to Avis. Vivi and the kids will split off to grab musubi at the ABC Store on the way. |
| 7:30 am | π | Avis Car Rental + Musubi Pickup Sheraton Waikiki Β· 2255 KalΔkaua Ave Β· Opens 8:00am |
Andre β queue at Avis early, Thanksgiving week lines get long. Opens 8am sharp. Vivi + kids β grab musubi from ABC Store nearby while Andre waits in line. Spam musubi, onigiri, grab-and-go snacks for the car ride. On the road by 8:15am. π (808) 922-1018 |
| 8:45 am | π | Nu'uanu Pali Lookout Pali Highway (Route 61) Β· Zero detour, directly on route $7 Parking (QR Code) |
Breathtaking 1,186-ft viewpoint β panoramic views of Kaneohe Bay, Kailua, and the Ko'olau Mountains. Historic 1795 battle site. Take the Pali Lookout exit off Route 61 β just a quarter mile off the main road. Allow 20-30 min. β οΈ VERY windy β hold kids tight, secure hats and loose items! β οΈ Leave NOTHING visible in the car β break-ins reported here |
| 9:20 am | π£οΈ | Scenic Coastal Drive H-3 β Kamehameha Highway Β· Windward Coast |
Continue via H-3 through the Ko'olau Mountain tunnels β one of the most dramatic drives on Oahu. Then down Kamehameha Highway along the windward coast. Ocean and mountain views the whole way. Arrive Kualoa area by 10:00am β use any extra time to grab drinks at a nearby convenience store. |
| 10:15 am | π¦ | Kualoa Ranch β Check-In 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe Free Parking |
Required check-in 45 min before tour. Each person signs a waiver, attends safety briefing, and gets fitted for a helmet. Browse the visitor center, History Hall, pet the horses while you wait. Use the restroom before the tour β no stops mid-trail! π (808) 237-7321 |
| 11:00 am β 1:00 pm |
ποΈ | 2-Hour UTV Raptor Tour Jurassic Valley Β· Skull Island Β· Ko'olau Mountain Views |
The main event! Side-by-side UTV Raptor β you drive with a steering wheel and roll cage. Jurassic World bunker, Kong: Skull Island filming locations, and sweeping mountain panoramas. 2 people per UTV β your family of 4 needs 2 vehicles. Tour wraps ~1:00pm. One adult then drives 5 min to pick up Huli Huli Chicken while everyone else relaxes at the ranch. |
| 1:00 pm | π | Huli Huli Chicken Picnic Lunch Yummy Huli Huli Chicken Β· 49-132 Kamehameha Hwy (5 min away) Free Picnic AreaKualoa Regional Park β across the road, free picnic tables |
One adult drives 5 min to Huli Huli Chicken, orders whole chicken + garlic shrimp to go for the family, drives back in ~25-30 min. Everyone else walks across Kamehameha Hwy to Kualoa Regional Park β free public park with picnic tables and gorgeous views of Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat). Reviewers consistently call this the best lunch experience near Kualoa. Allergy note for Venya: traditional Huli Huli has no dairy, eggs, or nuts β β her parents should still confirm. π (808) 376-4110 |
| 2:15 pm | β©οΈ | Byodo-In Temple 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe Β· ~15 min from Kualoa |
Just 15 min south of Kualoa β perfect timing right after lunch. Closes at 4:30pm but you're arriving at 2:15pm giving you a comfortable full 2 hours. Beautiful Japanese Buddhist temple replica at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains. Afternoon light is stunning for photos. Feed the koi π, ring the giant bell π, remove shoes inside. Small entrance fee per person. π (808) 239-8811 |
| 3:30 pm β 4:30 pm |
π | Dole Plantation 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa Β· ~25 min from Byodo-In Free Entry + Free Parking π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ All 6 Families |
Free entry and free parking for all 6 families. The famous Dole Whip soft serve is the main event! Activities extra on-site: Pineapple Express Train (~$15/adult, kids 3 and under free) and Pineapple Maze (~$8.50/adult). Free: pineapple cutting demo, chocolate making, fish feeding. No reservations, tickets at booths on arrival. Allow 1 hour. Closes 5:30pm β you'll be there with comfortable time. Dole Whip is dairy-free β β safe for Venya! |
| 5:15 pm | π± | Kaimuki Shokudo β Dinner 1127 11th Ave, Honolulu Β· On your way back to Waikiki |
Japanese izakaya right on your route back β zero backtracking. Fresh soba, tempura, sushi rolls, izakaya small plates, and the famous Honey Toast dessert the kids will love. Open until midnight so zero timing pressure. Street parking on 11th Ave. Dinner for family of 4: roughly $140β180 sharing plates. π (808) 367-0966 |
| 7:00 pm | π¨ | Back to Holiday Inn Express ~20 min drive from Kaimuki |
Drop car at Avis FIRST using the after-hours drop box in the parking garage β confirmed by reviewers. Walk back to hotel. Zero overnight parking fees ($49/night saved!). Back at hotel by ~7:30pm β much earlier than before! πΊ |
π± Why Kaimuki Shokudo wins β and how the others compare
β Kaimuki Shokudo
Fresh soba, tempura, sushi, izakaya small plates. Famous Honey Toast dessert β the kids will love it. Open until midnight, right on your route home. Street parking on 11th Ave. Zero timing pressure after a big day.
~$35β50/person π TOP PICKThe Pig and the Lady
6x James Beard nominated. Bold Vietnamese-American fusion. New Kaimuki space since 2025, more family-friendly. Also on your route home. Closes 9:30pm β need to be seated by 8:30pm latest.
~$30β45/personHau Tree
Beautiful Mediterranean menu at Kaimana Beach Hotel. Gorgeous ocean views, romantic atmosphere. Great if you want dinner near the hotel. Closes 9pm. Hotel parking available.
~$40β60/personMW Restaurant
Award-winning chefs Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka. Creative Hawaiian regional cuisine with local fresh ingredients. Near Blaisdell Concert Hall. Busy on weekend nights β book ahead.
~$50β70/personSenia
Michelin-trained Chef Anthony Rush. Γ la carte $20β40/dish. Tasting menu ($288/person Fri/Sat only) is overkill for a family dinner. Downtown Chinatown β street parking can be tricky. Opens 5:30pm.
~$50β80/person Γ la carteβ οΈ Lineage Maui
This restaurant is located at the Shops of Wailea on Maui island β not applicable for this day trip. Worth bookmarking for a future Maui visit!
N/A β Wrong Islandβ οΈ Action Items Before the Trip
- Confirm Kualoa 2-Hr UTV at booking.kualoa.com β 11am slot
- Book Avis car rental early β Thanksgiving week inventory is tight
- Confirm Avis after-hours drop box procedure when picking up
- Share this HTML with all 6 families β Dole Plantation section is for everyone
- Byodo-In Temple closes 4:30pm sharp β don't linger too long at Dole
πΏ Day-Of Logistics
- Walk to Avis 7:30am β 12 min from hotel, opens 8am
- Pali Lookout: leave nothing visible in car, hold kids in wind
- Kualoa: use restroom before UTV β no mid-trail stops
- Huli Huli food runner: 5 min away, back in ~25-30 min total
- Byodo-In closes 4:30pm β leave Dole by 3:50pm to make it comfortably
- Drop car at Avis drop box BEFORE walking to hotel β saves $49
π Food Notes
- Musubi from ABC Store near Sheraton Waikiki β grab before Avis queue
- Huli Huli: order whole chicken + garlic shrimp to go for the family
- Dole Whip is dairy-free β β safe for Venya (friend's daughter with allergies)
- Kaimuki Shokudo: Honey Toast dessert is a must β kids will love it
- Kaimuki Shokudo open until midnight β totally relaxed dinner timing
π What to Pack
- Swimsuits and towels β just in case the group wants a quick dip anywhere
- Closed-toe shoes required for the UTV Raptor tour
- Light rain jacket β windward side gets afternoon showers sometimes
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat (hold it tight at Pali Lookout!)
- Cash for Dole Plantation activities β on-site ticket booths only
- $7 card or cash for Pali Lookout parking (QR code payment on sign)
π¦ Kualoa Ranch
(808) 237-7321
kualoa.com
Check-in: 10:15am sharp
π Huli Huli Chicken
(808) 376-4110
49-132 Kamehameha Hwy
Opens 10am
π± Kaimuki Shokudo
(808) 367-0966
1127 11th Ave, Kaimuki
Open until midnight
π Avis Car Rental
(808) 922-1018
Sheraton Waikiki
Opens 8:00am