I took a trip earlier this year with my boyfriend and his family to a Hawaiian island that many people might know as Honolulu or Waikiki, but the actual name of the island is Oahu. Honululu is the capital and Waikiki is a name of a beach on Oahu. Then there is also the Island of Hawaii, which is a completely different island in itself, so that's why it can be confusing if you've never traveled to any of the islands and that’s why the names are used interchangeably.
Oahu is the most popular island where tourist love to visit because of its popular city/night life and for someone like myself, the food! If you're looking for more of a romantic, secluded island- I would definitely check out Maui. I don't have experience with any of the other islands, but I've only heard great things.
Tips before you go:
Download the Gypsy Guide app! It cost $4.99 for half of the island or $6.99 for the full island tour in the Apple Store. This app was a life saver! I learned about this app when I was on Maui and it helped with the famous Road to Hana. This app will help guide you around the island if you’re going to visit some of the main tourist spots aka Pearl Harbor or the Haleiwa road. Its a guided tour with commentary (you can mute if needed), but it will give you updates including the places worth seeing or eating. We used this app when we were heading to our zip line tour because it talked about the cool beaches to find turtles or neat food places along the way.
Bring your own snorkeling equipment so you don’t have to rent (plus you won’t have to share anyone’s germs!)
Bring sunblock! I like to use the body sunblock spray from Trader Joes for $5.99 because it feels less sticker than the other ones I’ve tried. For my face, I use my Clarins UV Plus SPF 50 Sunscreen $42, which isn’t sticky and doesn’t cause my face to break out.
Bring a hat and sunglasses.
Bring mosquito repellant (depending on the humidity), you will need it. I would recommend using it if you go hiking at Manoa Falls (more info below), which is tropical and very humid.
Bring a selfie stick for those great photos. This will definitely help if there’s only two of you and you don’t want to bother other people. My favorite one is the selfie stick with the tiny mirror, which allows you to use the better camera vs the front camera of the iPhone (anyone who has an iPhone knows the camera on the front can be terrible quality). I originally bought it on Amazon and here is a review of the stick http://www.bestselfiestick.net/everyday-selfie-stick-review/
THINGS TO DO
Ziplining at CLIMB Works Keana Farms
56 Kamehameha Hwy Kahuku, HI 96731
http://www.climbworks.com/keana_farms
https://www.yelp.com/biz/climb-works-keana-farms-kahuku-5
Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Ziplining was one of my favorite things to do on the island. I've made multiple recommendations to a few friends who were planning a trip and a couple of people have visited because they saw my AMAZING photos. I've never gone ziplining before, but from the stories I heard, I think this is the best deal if its your first time.
The tour is 3-4 hours which includes instructors and it is reasonably priced at $169 per person ($30 extra for pick up at select Waikiki hotels). There are 8 lines up to half a mile long and you get to experience rappeling, bridge crossing and more. I saw everyone of different ages old or young attempt ziplining (minimum age limit is 7 years old).
I would recommend making a ziplining appointment in the afternoon so that gives plenty of time in the morning to stop by a few places like the Dole Plantation, food trucks or beaches with sea turtles along the drive if wanted (use the Gypsy guide app to guide you).
When you first arrive at the zipline place, you have to sign a few waiver forms and then be prepared to have all of the gear strapped onto your body right after! Next, you will do a test zipline with your group of about 10 people to see if you can handle the height and the ziplining motion. When you are done with this, they take you on an ATV ride and drive you a few miles to the first line to start your adventure. There are always instructors to strap you in and the best part is that they are at the end of the line to catch you (whereas I heard at other places, you have to learn to stop yourself, which I think would be nerve wrecking for first timers!)
A couple of the lines you learn to pick up speed, some lines are longer distance, some lines are of a greater height, one line you will go backwards and...well I don't want to ruin the rest of the surprise (unless you already saw it in my photos). Trust me, unless you have a deathly fear of heights, I would recommend this being a part of your trip when you are visiting Oahu. The guides said that a lot of people who have fear of heights use this as a way to get over their fears because there's always tour guides and it's safe. They take every precaution to make sure you’re always strapped in and only allow one person on the “ramp” at a time. I am going to make this tour a part of all of my future trips when I visit again! I loved every minute of it!!
H2O Sports Hawaii
377 Keahole St Honolulu, HI 96825
http://www.h2osportshawaii.com/jet-ski/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/h2o-sports-hawaii-honolulu
Hours of Operation: 7:30AM - 5:30AM
At this location, they offer a ton of different water sports like jet packing, parasailing, bumper tubing, banana boating, jet skiing and more. We decided to jet ski, which I was super excited about because I love jet skiing. It cost $55 per person (if you’re riding tandem), or $80 for solo riders. I’ve gone jet skiing before but this time, I didn’t enjoy it as much.
During my prior experience at other places, I was able to travel for a few miles away from other jet skis (of course between restricted cone area). However, at this location, we had to ride in circles around a few cones, which was kind of tough because we had to keep watch of the other riders and were essentially going in circles. Also, the waves were really rough and the salt water splashed on my face so much that my eyes burned. This definitely made riding very difficult. I would recommend bringing goggles or renting their goggles for $5. The cool thing about this place was that they strapped a go pro to the jet ski, so you were able to purchase videos and pictures after the ride was over. We purchased the photos, but lets just say… salt water in the eyes does not make for a pretty photo. Overall, It was fun, but I would definitely try to see if there are other places that let you ride a further distance.
Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Pl Honolulu, HI 96701
Hours of Operation: 7:00AM - 5:00PM
If this is your first time visiting, this is a touristy/historical place to visit. They definitely have a variety of different tours, so make sure you check them out. However, every day there are 1,300 free walk in tickets that is given by the National Park Service, which include the 23 minute video along with a boat ride to see the USS Arizona Memorial as well.
It is first come first serve, so definitely make sure you arrive early. We were able to arrive around 8am, and get free tickets, but I would come earlier if you are planning to come during the peak seasons. If you can’t get free tickets, there are still monuments and museum pieces like the conning tower, torpedo, submarine rescue chambers and more to see and photograph.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head Rd Honolulu, HI 96816
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/diamond-head-state-monument-honolulu
Hours of Operation: 6:00AM - 6:00PM (last entry is at 4:30PM)
Distance: 0.8 miles one way
This is an iconic place to visit because of the stunning view and famous hiking trail. There's parking located at the bottom of the mountain for $5 per car, $10 per van or $1 per pedestrian (cash only). I saw a lot of people park far away, but I personally don't like getting sweaty before I even start my hike. It was hot and dry since there's only dirt surrounding you. I would recommend packing light since there are steep areas and you don’t want to carry around something heavy (unless it’s your child). Don’t worry, there’s pathways and stairs to lead and guide you.
I am definitely not an athletic person, so I personally felt that this was a one time experience that I wouldn't go again unless I was taking other people who had never been to Oahu. Wear sunscreen and bring a hat/sunglasses/water/good hiking shoes. When you're done with the hike, don't forget to get shaved ice at the food truck parked by the entrance. I was glad to experience this, but if I had to pick — by far, my favorite hike is the next spot on my list, Manoa Falls.
Manoa Falls
3860 Manoa Rd Honolulu, HI 96822
https://www.hawaii.com/oahu/things-to-do/hiking/manoa-falls-trail/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/manoa-falls-trail-honolulu-2
Hours: Unknown
Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
Although your final destination is the waterfall- the whole route there is appeasing to the eye. This large rainforest was filled with large trees, flowers and greenery everywhere, which made the hike fun and slightly cooler/humid than the hike to Diamond Head. Although they don't recommend swimming, people still come in their swim outfits for their picture perfect photo next to the waterfall.
Park at the entrance for $5 and use the restroom in the restaurant next door before you start. Don't forget bug spray! I had 4 bug bites after my hike. When we were almost done with the hike - it started raining! I would recommend possibly bringing a small umbrella just in case! It can get muddy as well, so bring good hiking shoes so you don’t slip! Also, don't forget to get shaved ice at the restaurant when you're done. The shaved ice here is just as soft as Waiola (mentioned below), but there wasn’t enough syrup.
Hanauma Bay State Park
100 Hanauma Bay Rd Honolulu, HI 96825
http://hanaumabaystatepark.com/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/hanauma-bay-honolulu-4nma
Hours of Operation: 6:00AM - 6:00PM (closed Tuesday)
If you've never snorkeled before, this is the perfect place to bring your own or rent some gear and learn! You don't have to pay for a boat to take you far out in the ocean to see fish or coral. It's all located underneath you once you step out 5-10 feet away from the shore. Once you arrive, you’ll have to pay $7.50 per person for an entrance fee and then you'll have to watch a safety video. After the video, you can either walk or take a tram ride down to the bay.
It isn't far walking down, but if you have a lot of stuff, it can be tiring and hot. I would recommend just paying $2 for both ways (versus paying one way and having to pay again after to come up, which will cost $2.25). If you're not in the mood to snorkel or swim, feel free to relax in the shimmery sand while your friends/children/parents hang out in the water.
Lanikai Beach
I'm sure there are plenty of places on Oahu to see blue water, but this is the beach my boyfriend and I went to because it was recommended by the local uber drivers. There's no direct address so I would recommend just looking at your google maps for Lanikai Beach and navigating towards the location on google maps, which is what we did. It's more on the south east side of Oahu located between Kailua Bay and Waimanalo Beach.
We parked in a residential area where it had a clear alley opening to the beach and it looked like other locals parked there as well. If you want a place that looks like those picturesque photos of Hawaii represented on TV or on paintings, this is the place! The water is really blue, calming and breathtaking. Seriously, this is definitely a recommendation for a place to go visit and swim in Oahu! If you don't like swimming, it's definitely picture worthy!
Ala Moana Mall
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Honolulu, HI 96814
This mall was located near the hotel that I stayed at and it was huge! I loved that it was outdoors as well. Although, some of the lower levels were more humid during the day though. It included all the typical shops you would see in other malls like Sephora, Kate Spade, Nordstorm etc… It also had a few local Hawaiian shops that sold coffee, sandals, cookies and snacks.
My favorite part about the mall was the food court. I've never seen a larger food court with a variety of food from seafood to Asian food to Italian food and more! If you can't decide on a place to eat, this is the best option for your picky eaters! Read more below to see the food options I’ve tried at the mall.
PLACES TO EAT
Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen
151 Hekili St Kailua, HI 96734
https://www.yelp.com/biz/boots-and-kimos-homestyle-kitchen-kailua
The only reason I went here was for the Banana Nut Pancake with Macadamia sauce/nuts and this place did not disappoint. The sauce was subtle and the pancake was definitely shareable. I would definitely recommend this place!
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Many of my friends told me that I needed to try this at least once, so I was excited when we were nearby after our zipline adventure. Their popular item is the scampi shrimp bowl. It's battered and fried shrimp cooked in olive oil, garlic, white wine and lemon juice dipped in a butter sauce. Make sure to ask for the hot sauce! I shared, but I felt like it wasn't enough and I could have eaten a whole bowl by myself! It came with a side of rice with cooked garlic on top. Everything was delicious!
Pig and Lady
This place was recommended by multiple local Uber drivers and it surpass its reputation! The restaurant was located in downtown Chinatown, which didn't seem like the safest area in the nighttime. However, my boyfriend and I were able to uber to and from the restaurant so it worked out fine. The food was a mix between Vietnamese and French fusion. The menu changes depending on the availability due to certain items. Some of the items I enjoyed here were:
Brussel Sprouts (mixed with fish sauce)
Laotian Fried Chicken
Bone Marrow
Off the menu: Shrimp dish
I really liked all of the food and drinks we got here. You definitely can’t go wrong with anything you pick here!
Nico’s Pier 38
We stopped by this place after we landed in Oahu the first day. I didn’t get to try any of their hot dishes, but I did get their poke (seasoned raw fish). I would definitely recommend the salmon poke. I did try the tuna in different seasoning, but I think salmon had the best seasoning. I would definitely come back to eat the poke!
Naniwa-Ya Ramen Japanese Noodle
(Located inside the Ala Moana Mall food court)
This ramen place was found by accident when my boyfriend and I were shopping at Ala Moana Mall. This was one of the places in the food court. The ramen doesn't taste like the typical Japanese style, but it reminds me more of spicy Chinese food. The first day I ordered the kimchee ramen and my boyfriend got the spicy beef broth, but we ended up switching. My favorite was definitely the spicy beef ramen. It had a rich, oily (I know that sounds unappealing) consistency that I truly enjoyed. I even came back twice in the same week to eat this again. I also love the garnish you can add after you get your order like the extra garlic chips, green onions and or white pepper.
Kona Abalone
(Located inside Ala Moana Mall food court)
I found this place on Yelp, but it also happened to be at the Ala Moana mall as well. It's located on the left side as you're entering the food court. If you’re curious in trying this large sea snail, this is the best place to do it! It cost $9 for one garlic butter abalone topped with panko, $11 for a grilled abalone that comes with ponzu sauce, or $9 for a steamed abalone that comes with ginger sauce.
They also have Abalone porridge, rice or poke as well. One of the girls who worked there recommended the ginger abalone, but my favorite was definitely the garlic butter. The abalone has roughly12 thin cut pieces and is crunchy in texture. Its fun to eat as a snack, but don’t try getting full or else you’ll be paying a lot. If you’re scared of buying a whole abalone, ask for samples!
Marukame Udon
There’s a location in California, but I had to try this place since it was one of the highest rated restaurant on Yelp of about 4,800 reviews. I think the noodles are made fresh, which makes it appealing. My boyfriend and I came here at night around 9pm, but it was just as crowded. I’ve seen the line in the daytime and heard the wait was over an hour long, but luckily we were able to place an order within the first 30 minutes.
I got the Ontama Udon, which is a hot noodle soup with sauce and a soft boiled egg, while my boyfriend got the Bukkake Udon, which is hot noodle soup with sauce. The line reminds me of being in a cafeteria because after you get your order of ramen, you place it on a tray and push it all the way until you reach the cashier while adding other optional items like tempura, fried egg, fried onion, fried potato, rice ball etc…If you prefer something cold in the humid weather, there’s a Zaru udon, which is cold noodles dipped in broth. It’s good, but I don’t think its worth the hour wait.
Waiola Shaved ice
I heard Matsumoto shaved ice was the staple of shaved ice, which I didn't get to try, but Waiola was delicious regardless. The shaved ice is different compared to any shaved ice in California. The ice is soft and smooth, which makes it creamy. I definitely had shaved ice at least 4 times when I stayed there for a week. There are a few of Waiola’s location in Oahu. I went to the original one (address listed), which is a tiny hole in the wall with a parking lot behind the place. I also went to one that is located in an outdoor shopping center as well (as seen in the last 3 photos). I would recommend trying any of the flavors, but one of the popular ones is the rainbow since you can experience a variety of their syrups.
Leonard's Bakery
933 Kapahulu Ave Honolulu, HI 96816
https://www.yelp.com/biz/leonards-bakery-honolulu
This is another popular place to visit in Oahu with over 3,900 reviews and 4.5 stars on yelp. Malasadas are Portuguese donuts and this place is known for their typical fillings like chocolate, cinnamon sugar or custard, but they also have unique malasadas with Li Hing Mui powder dusted on top or macadamia nut filling. Unfortunately, I had some picked up for me so I don’t have any photos of the place or food itself and I didn’t get to try it at its best form when its fresh from the oven.
North Shore Tacos
59712 Kamehameha Hwy Haliewa, HI 96712
https://www.yelp.com/biz/north-shore-tacos-food-truck-haliewa
I had a pineapple smoothie in an actual pineapple shell. It’s delicious and refreshing and makes for a cute photo! You can find this place on your along the Haleiwa highway.
Ono Seafood
We picked up a few Poke bowls here: the shoyu ahi (tuna and soy sauce), the miso ahi and the spicy ahi. My favorite were the shoyu ahi and the spicy ahi because they had more flavors. Keep in mind when coming here that parking is really difficult. There’s only 5 spots in front and MAYBE you’ll be lucky to find street parking. The place itself looks kind of run down, but this place is really popular and rated highly on yelp as well.
Highway Inn
If you're looking for authentic Hawaiian food, this is definitely the place to go. The items I tried here were:
Poi (mashed up taro root): I personally didn’t enjoy this dish because it was a little too tart for my taste. I had it at a luau on Maui and it wasn’t as fermented as this place.
Tripe Stew (beef muscle wall): I’m usually a big fan of tripe, but I didn’t enjoy the tomato sauce that was combined together. The taste was too fishy and “intestinal.”
Dried Pipikaula (salted dried beef strip) - This was decent, but the meat was a little tough. I still enjoyed it, but I might want to try the wet version next time.
Butterfish Collar and Stew Gravy - This had too many bones and I didn’t like the tomato sauce that this was cooked in. It must have been the same tomato sauce like in the tripe stew.
Lau Lau (pork and butterfish wrapped in leaves and steamed for hours) - I really liked this dish. It may seem odd at first because your first instinct is to peel the leaves, but they are soft and edible. I love the meat and leaves combination. The leaves remind me of a spinach texture. I would definitely get this again!
Poke (seasoned raw fish): The fish was good, but I would rather eat poke at either Ono Seafood or Nico’s Pier 38. There was more seasoning at the other places.
Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks
This is the best place to get snacks for your friends or family back home. They have everything from candy to sour fruit to dried fruits to beef/tuna jerkies to chips and more. This is definitely a recommended place to visit to get your snacks to bring home. A couple of my favorite items here was the pineapple chewy candy and the spicy taro/sweet potato chips.
Island Vintage Coffee
This place was located inside Ala Moana Mall as well. The items I tried were:
Haleiwa (Black tea, pineapple juice, pineapple mint sorbet and fresh pineapple): This drink wasn’t really sweet and kind of bland, but my boyfriend really liked this drink. I only liked the pineapple mint sorbet. That was refreshing!
Vintage Kona Mocha (macadamia, coconut with peaberry chip): This was my favorite drink because it tasted like coffee and it had the crunchiness of the grounded up bits of peaberry chip.
Honolulu Coffee
There was two locations we visited, but I believe there are over 5 different locations. One was inside the Ala Moana Mall, while the other one was a stand alone, but it was one of the largest coffee places I have visited. It is a modern and awesome place to study or hang out. You can get your pour over coffee, teas, or pastries. That is the address listed above.