The Royal Hawaiian Center

Going to Oahu? You must visit the renovated Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, now named Royal Hawaiian Center or RHC. It's hard to miss as you stroll along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Standing on the mauka (mountain) side of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. If you've been to the shopping center before, you'll be pleasantly surprised. After $15 million spent, It has been transformed. Where it was once a dim and concrete environment, it now is a tropical and open aired environment. The concrete bridges have been changed into open breezy walkways and escalators replaced the dreary elevators. The landscaping has become warm and welcoming, reminding you that you are in beautiful Oahu.

The roster of retail stores has changed as well. It is now a nice combination of luxury, international stores and lower priced and local stores providing the shoppers with a wonderful variety of choices. It has some local favorites such as Crazy Shirts, Xcel Hawaii and the ABC store mixed in with widely known stores such as Hermes, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Harley Davidson, and Borders Express (the only bookstore in Waikiki). RHC is also home to the largest Apple store in Hawaii, the highest grossing Cheesecake Factory in the U.S and the Hawaii's only Senor Frog, Kate Spade and Tourneau.

RHC has the Paina Lanai food court which offers a variety of foods for their international visitors. They have kept some of their longtime restaurants like Paradiso Seafood & Grill and Suntory. Some of the new restaurants include Doraku Sushi, Wolfgang's Steakhouse and P.F. Chang's.

In keeping with RHC's Hawaiian history focus, the Kaulani Heritage Room invites visitors to view three special HD
presentations. Make sure to catch at least one of the free classes. There are Hula, lei-making, Hawaiian quilting, lomilomi massage and Bob's ukulele classes!

I think the Royal Hawaiian Center has improved greatly and visitors will find it a wonderful place to go to during their time in historical Waikiki.

Bishop Museum

If you find yourself on Oahu after August 7, 2009, (and I suggest you do), make sure to visit the newly renovated Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall. It's been going through a $21 million renovation for the past three years. The museum is a must for people looking to learn about the history and culture of Hawaii from the perspective its people.

With three floors to explore in, and admission at about $16.00 for adults and about $13.00 for children; the Bishop Museum is well worth the visit. I like going to the Arizona Memorial and the Museum on the same day and then having a late lunch at maybe Bubba Gumps at Ala Moana Shopping Center or Mariposa at the Neiman's in Ala Moana. You have fun and get to reflect on everything you learned and experienced.