HHV - Thanksgiving Week

Hi Everyone –
The family (wife/2 kids – 8/6 yrs) and I are heading to HHV for some R&R over the Thanksgiving week and would love to get suggestions/advice on the following (this is our first visit to HI):
1) Rooms – where are the best 2br rooms to request? (have reservation from Sat to Sat)
2) Car – do we really need one?
3) Luau – who has the best?
4) Pearl Harbor – go with a tour group or on our own?
5) Polynesian Cultural Center/Pineapple Plantation tours – worth the visit?
6) Other places to see/things to do?
Thanks!

Welcome to TUG.

Most of your questions are answered in the Hawaii forum. Search on Oahu.

There are numerous threads here about rooms at HHV, but I don't have time to look them up. Maybe someone else does.

We went over Christmas last year without a vehicle. There's a shuttle to the Arizona and I felt it was worth the visit. It is relatively brief. The luau is great and there may be a free offer if you take in a timeshare presentation (i don't recommend it, but some people like the free gifts). Other than that we surfed, snorkeled and spent time at the pool. There's also a fort museum a short walk down the beach that I found interesting, but I like that history stuff.

Which building did you book in? There are two that have 2 BR's.
What class of 2BR did you book? (2BR, 2BR+,2BRPremium,2BRPenthouse). That might help offering room # suggestions.
Car is questionable. It is $15 each, return to the HHV and back to the airport on a shuttle. It is $25/day to park at the HHV. I would assume you don't plan to use the car every day. We usually rent for a day or two from just outside of the HHV, at Dollar or Enterprise. Others like having a car sitting there in case they need it. (There are cheaper parking options, search TUG for them.)
The HHV luau is on the roof of the parking garage. I've only seen it from a Lagoon balcony, never had the food. Paradise Cove gets decent reviews.
I've only been to Pearl Harbour with a group, so I can't really comment on one vs. the other.
Sorry, I've never been to the PCC.
Whenever I go to the North Shore, (which BTW is where the PCC is) I go to Sunset Beach and then Turtle Bay Resort for lunch or early dinner.
FYI, if you haven't heard, food is very expensive at the HHV. For better value, there are a lot of restaurants on Lewers and Kalakawa.

Thanks everyone for the advice/suggestions.

Entertainment on the Cheap:

Plain 2bdrm, Ilikai side, high floor(14+). The room will give you 2 balconies, 1 over looking the harbor/ocean and 1 over looking the parking garage. The HHV luau is on the garage. However, after the third day, it gets old.

Haunama Bay. Great snorkeling. If you are military or dependent, entrance is free.

Luau- I was told Germaines at Ko Olina is the best and cheapest. They do have a bus that transports you to HHV to the Luau and back.

Hope you have fun in Hawaii.

Deros