Aloha from Oahu, Hawaii! A week ago, my boyfriend and I were visiting the beautiful and lush Island of Oahu. We stayed at Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, which is located just a few short blocks from shopping and Waikiki Beach. The hotel was not the Ritz, but it certainly got the job done and allowed us to have an enjoyable vacation.
We spent a whole week in Hawaii. This enabled us to explore various parts of the island, and not just spend our whole time in Waikiki (the Vegas of Hawaii). This meant booking a rental car, which we were able to do via Hopper.
We visited Hawaii in June for a friend’s wedding. The summer time can make for an expensive trip, so if we could visit again, we would prefer to go during the Fall or early Winter when flights/hotels tend to be cheaper (I recommend watching flights on Hopper). Of course, there were up sides to when we visited, like the amazing weather (mostly sunshine with some light showers, which made for some pretty spectacular rainbows).
I will now share some of the activities and adventures we participated in during our stay. For most activities and places that take reservations, I highly suggest booking in advance, especially if you do visit during the peak season (mid December-March and June-July).
Day One:
- Stroll around Waikiki – We arrived at Honolulu airport around 9:30am Hawaii time. Thus, we had lots of free time on our hands before we checked into our hotel. Waikiki has tons of shopping, so it wasn’t hard to stay entertained. We even walked through places like the Royal Hawaiian Center and International Market Place.
- Catch the sunset at Waikiki Beach – In my opinion, one of the best ways to spend a first night in Hawaii is to walk the beach and enjoy the sunset. Waikiki Beach is pretty large, so we were able to walk around for about an hour or two before grabbing some grub.
Day Two:
- Kona Coffee Purveyors – This cute coffee shop had a bunch of different pastries (I indulged in a strawberries and cream pastry) and coffee (I went with my go-to, a chai latte). Nothing like a little breakfast fuel to start the day!
- Macadamia Nut Farm – This store began its operations as a roadside vendor. They sell a variety of goods like nuts, spices, coffees, chocolates, and gift baskets. We actually bought some hot sauce; word to the wise, do not pack it on your carry-on bag unless you want this confiscated by TSA (as was the case for us).
- Polynesian Cultural Center – Be ready to spend the entire day learning about the Islands of Polynesia! At the PCC, travel through time and culture as you explore Samoa, Aotearoa (currently known as New Zealand), Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and Hawaii. As a heads up, it is good to buy the package you want in advance. We just went with the Islands of Polynesia package (cheapest), but they offer others in case you want to check out a Luau and dinner or an evening show (I would love to do this next time). Also, a plus is that they have lots of food at their local market on-site.
Day Three:
- Byodo-In Temple – Better known as the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. The temple was built to honor the first Japanese Immigrants to Hawaii. It is a non-practicing Buddhist temple, so people of all faiths are welcome. It is best to dress conservatively as there is a dress code, and you will need to remove your shoes if you plan on entering the temple.
- Kualoa Regional Park – This park is situated at Kāneʻohe Bay and it looks out to the small island of Mokoliʻi. My friend who lives on Oahu likes to kayak out to the small Island, which is only a few miles offshore from Oahu. Since we didn’t have the gear or time, Evan and I picked up some food and ate at one of the park tables before we went across the street to Kualoa Ranch.
- Kualoa Ranch – Welcome to Jurassic Park! Kualoa is a 4000-acre nature reserve and cattle ranch, and has served as a location for films like Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Lost, Kong, 50 First Dates, etc. There are a range of activities to choose from, but we selected the two-hour UTV Raptor Tour. Because this is their most-booked tour, I highly advise making reservations early (I booked this out a few months in advance). Also, be ready for things to get dirty and dusty (sunglasses/goggles and buffs are a must).
Day Four (North Shore):
- The Sunrise Shack – Rise and shine! If you are on the North Shore, which you absolutely need to make a day out of, I recommend hitting up The Sunrise Shack. They have tasty smoothies, coffee, avocado toast, and smoothie bowls. Evan and I both grabbed some smoothies and we hit a beach across the street for about an hour.
- Banzai Pipeline – The Banzai Pipeline has been televised in famous surf competitions like The Billabong Pipeline Masters during the month of December. It is known for its barreling waves that pro surfers dream of riding. The shallow reef can be dangerous for even the most experienced of surfers, so hit the waves with caution (or watch from a distance, like myself).
- Waimea Valley Falls – Features a 45 ft tall waterfall that people can swim around as long as they have a life jacket on. It is the perfect way to cool off after a short walk up and exploring surrounding botanical gardens. Of course, the falls get pretty busy with tourists, as we experienced, so it is probably best to go in the morning or late afternoon when the crowds tend to dissipate.
- Beachside town of Haleʻiwa – Who doesn’t love a bit of exploring around a cute scenic beach town? If you are in the mood for shopping and food, this is a great place to spend a few hours! If we would have spent more time here, we would have checked out Banzai Sushi Bar, but we did at least enjoy some tasty shaved ice from Matsumoto!
Day Five:
- Leonard’s Bakery – Home to the malasadas (Portuguese donut). Margaret and Frank Leonard founded Leonard’s in 1952 and it thrives as a bakery today. Although long lines can be expected, it is well-worth the wait! I ordered the guava filled malasada and Evan ordered the cinnamon malasada; both were exceptional and totally affordable!
- Diamond Head Hike – We planned to hike Diamond Head, but unfortunately, as of May 2022, advance reservations to park and hike are required (there is an exception to Hawaii residents). I figured I would include this bit of information, because it is something I wish I would have looked at myself (note to self, look at gov park websites ahead of time).
- Tantalus Lookout Point – Even though we were not able to hike Diamond Head, we still enjoyed some pretty spectacular views at Tantalus Lookout Point. This point offers 360 views of Diamond Head, the Waikiki skyline, and Pearl Harbor.
- Kona Brewing Co – We enjoyed a nice lunch at Kona. I ordered a light beer and a chicken sandwich, while Evan indulged in a burger. This was the best chill lunch spot we could have asked for, and is such a staple in Hawaii.
- Waiola Shave Ice – When is Hawaii, shaved ice is a must! Evan and I ordered the Obama rainbow, but next time I’d love to try one of their azuki bowls (ice cream shaved ice bowl).
- Sunset Drinks at “Deck” – The perfect way to end a day is having a yummy cocktail in hand, am I right? But seriously, this Queen Kapiolani Hotel restaurant’s cocktails were to die for and we enjoyed happy hour with a margarita pizza and caesar salad.
Day Six:
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial – This memorial site was built to honor the sailors and marines killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Evan and I visited the USS Arizona Memorial, where we further learned about the history of that horrific day and the events to follow. Advanced reservations are required for the USS Arizona, and it is best to book about 24 hours ahead of time.
- Potluck at Ala Moana Beach Park – This is a 100-acre free public park between Waikiki and Honolulu. We spent the day with friends and enjoyed some good food. Highly recommend if you want to partake in a more restful day, which can be great towards the end of a long trip.
Day Seven:
- Lounge at Waikiki Beach – We decided to have an uneventful last day in Waikiki by soaking up some rays. If I had more money to spend, I would have joined in on some surf lessons. Thus, this is on the bucket list for next time! Nevertheless, you can’t go wrong with beach bathing and playing in the ocean in Hawaii.
- Roy’s Waikiki – For our final meal, we had an early dinner and splurged at Roy’s. We ordered a few sushi rolls, drinks, and enjoyed a melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé for dessert.
Food: We enjoyed a variety of food places like Roy’s, ShoreFyre, Doraku Sushi, Deck, Liliha Bakery, Appetitio Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, Kona Coffee, and Noi Thai Cuisine. Next time, I would like to try Marugame Udon, ARVO, Hale’iwa Joes Haiku Gardens, Surf N Salsa, and Banzai Sushi Bar, to name a few. When in doubt, Yelp it out and talk to the locals.
Additional Days/Activities: If we had more time and money to spend while we were in Hawaii, we would have loved to do a helicopter tour, luau, and cruise. Of course, there is a bunch of other activities like the Dole plantation, shark cage diving, snorkeling with turtles, zip lining, and submarining, to name a few. Hawaii is truly a magical place, and there is never a shortage of adventure to be had.
Mahalo Hawaii, until next time!
