OAHU
My first trip to Hawaii was mainly for a civil engineering leadership & professional development conference in Honolulu, but I extended my stay to a week to explore Oahu. The first half of my trip I was with friends and it was so much fun since they attended the conference too and we got to explore Honolulu. The second half of my trip I got to venture out on my own so I rented a car to explore the rest of the island.
On our first night there, we went on a catamaran booze cruise at sunset where they play music, serve drinks, and take you out on a ride with gorgeous views.
TIPS:
Check for flight specials on Hawaiian Airlines
If traveling during the rainy months, pack a rain jacket (it poured during one of my hikes and luckily I had one on me)
Shop at Wholesale Unlimited if you’re looking to buy local snacks to bring home as souvenirs (i.e. specialty dried fruit)
Rent a car - it’s the best way to explore the island
Book an Airbnb that comes with free parking since hotels will charge you for parking and resort fees (I stayed at an affordable Airbnb in Waikiki within walking distance to Waikiki Beach)
Have some cash on you if you plan on heading to any food trucks (sadly I didn’t know this and stood in long line before realizing I only had enough for half a plate)
Split your time between the North and South ends of the island
Go EARLY for your hikes! A lot of these hikes are very popular and crowded
HIKES
Lanikai Pillbox Hike
The first hike that my friends and I did was the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. A lot of hikes on Oahu are known to be short but strenuous because of the steep uphill climbs right from the start of the trail head. Within the first 20 minutes you will get to the first old military pillbox bunker. From there, continue walking until you reach the second pillbox which is another 10 minutes. This is a beautiful and rewarding hike since you’ll get great views of Lanikai and Kailua.
After we finished our hike we headed down to Lanikai Beach to relax and meet up with the rest of our group. We wore our swimsuits under our hiking clothes and packed other essentials in our daypack.
Diamond Head Crater Hike
Another iconic hike that I did with my friends was the Diamond Head Trail. It’s important to get there early in the morning since it gets very crowded and they stop letting people in after 4:30pm. What’s unique about Diamond Head is that it is a volcanic crater that was left from an eruption. Even though it’s a fairly short hike (1.8 miles roundtrip), there are a handful of steep sections and stairs that you’ll have to ascend. Once you reach the summit, you’ll get the best 360-degree views of Waikiki.
Sunrise hike at Koko Head
Koko Head was by far my favorite hike and a highlight of my trip even though I hiked it solo. This is a hard hike as there are over 1,000 steps to reach the top! As challenging as it was, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing this hike if you can.
The unique thing about this trail is you’re climbing up an abandoned railway that is used as hiking stairs mounted to the side of the mountain. Luckily I did my research and went for the sunrise hike to avoid hiking in the heat since there is little to no shade. I timed it well since it took me about 30 minutes to reach the top and gave me plenty of time to breathe and enjoy the sunrise. One thing I wish I did bring with me was a headlamp since i was practically hiking in the dark and relying on other people’s lights to find my step.
When I got to the top, my breath was taken away. It was an incredible view of Hanauma Bay and the coastline.
BEACHES
Waikiki Beach
Waimanalo Beach
Waimea Beach (North Shore)
Shark’s Cove (North Shore)
Lanikai Beach
THINGS TO DO
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
Take a tour of the Dole Pineapple Plantation
Attend a luau
Take a catamaran booze cruise
Visit Pearl Harbor War Memorial and reserve your free tickets in advance to see the USS Arizona Memorial
PLACES TO EAT
Breakfast/Brunch
Lunch/Dinner
Highway Inn - traditional Hawaiian food
Sansei Waikiki - classy Japanese restaurant, good for special occasions
Fresh Catch - poke
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck (North Shore)
Ichiriki - Japanese hot pot
Drinks/Snacks
Honolulu Cookie Company - these were my absolute favorite! I brought so much of these home, these make great souvenir gifts!
Top of Waikiki for happy hour
LuLu’s Waikiki for happy hour
Matsumoto’s Shave Ice (North Shore)
Diamond Head Cove Health Bar - acai bowls
Hawaiian Crown - acai bowls
