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Last week, I came back from what was truly the most whimsical place I’ve ever been to in my life: Hawaii. I was constantly pinching myself. “Is this real life?” I thought as I tried to soak in the all the beauty: the ever-present, jaw-dropping , jagged, green mountains; the glorious, lush tropical forests that will make you feel like you’re in a movie; miles and miles of white sand beaches leading to idyllic, crystal clear water that looks like a heavenly swimming pool; and of course, the food (oh the food!🤤 See my Oahu foodie guide here).
The laid-back towns and the amazing year-round temperature make Hawaii an ultimate paradise for hikers, surfers, foodies, newlyweds, partygoers, beachgoers and those seeking relaxation and privacy. I went with my dad and we both had time of our lives. We went to Oahu which, if it’s your first time in Hawaii, is the best island to visit. Not only is it the most populated island, but it’s also a good introduction to what Hawaii is, since the rest of the islands are protected nature preserves, and many areas on the other islands are not as easily accessible to the public as Oahu.
I wanted to take some pictures of myself sipping a Margarita with a Plumeria flower in my hair wearing a cute dress, but since our schedule was so hectic, there was very little time for me to dress up and play with makeup. Anyway, I still got some pretty decent pictures. We tried to squeeze in as many places as possible. We skipped the hikes and Zip lines since those really take up at least one entire day, but we made the most of the beaches, landmarks and of course, poke joints in different parts of the island!
If you plan on visiting the whole island, which you should, a car is an absolute must! It goes without saying I was absolutely thrilled to drive a Jeep in Hawaii. A Jeep over there is the equivalent of a Toyota Prius in LA. They’re everywhere! And they’re also super cheap to rent. Our rental car company was Dollar Rent A Car: Incredible cheap rates and the friendliest customer service!
Waikiki
Think of Waikiki like Miami Beach or Rio de Janeiro; a major tourist hub filled with restaurants, nightlife, tourist attractions, world-renowned resorts, all the imaginable stores in the world and the famous Waikiki beach.
We stayed at The Surjack Hotel & Swim Club, a fantastic boutique-style hotel with the most amazing service. There was a pool and an open-air lounge in the lobby. The hotel’s design was super trendy and beachy, perfect for photo ops. Every detail was on point, like the surfboards hanging from the ceiling. Our balcony was huge and our living room was super cozy and inviting. They had live music acts playing every night. If location is a concern for you, I highly suggest Surfjack Hotel. It’s in the middle of Waikiki but far enough from all the bustle of Waikiki beach, which is only 5 blocks away. The staff couldn’t have been more attentive. They truly embraced the “Aloha” warmth and welcoming attitude that Hawaii is known for.
We liked Waikiki but we don’t know if we would stay there again. I guess it all really depends on the purpose of your trip. If we go back to Oahu, we would stay near North Shore, which was a one-hour drive from Waikiki, and a place we felt we didn’t have enough time for, or in Kailua. However, if it’s your first time and you’re staying at least a week, it might be a good idea to stay in Waikiki to get yourself acquainted with the island geography, and if you don’t have a car, Waikiki is the perfect location because it has very reliable public transportation at all times, it’s walkable, and the beach is right there. Oh, and free coffee!
Ho’omaluiha Botanical Garden
This is the first place we went to. We had our jaws dropped the entire time. It was sheer heaven to stroll along the path appreciating the different tropical trees. If you look up this place on Instagram, you will see the top photos of people posing at the whimsical entrance with the beautiful palm-lined entrance and the clouds floating over the mountains. Well, from what I read online and from what we experienced, a rude guard will call you out and strictly prohibit you from taking photos. I don’t get it, is the guard off duty when these people take photos? If you know the trick, please I beg you let me know in the comments.
Lanikai Beach
I’m in love! This was by far my favorite beach: soft white sand and gorgeous turquoise water that looked straight from a postcard. Swimming there made me feel like Princess Moana and the Little Mermaid. As soon as we got there, I desperately wanted to jump into the blue water. The waves were super soft, the water was clean and the view of the two islands in the background made me question, again and again if this was real life. It is one of the best beaches in the world for a reason.
The parking situation on the other hand, can get really bad. Luckily, my GPS took us through one residential street and we easily found parking the two times we went there, but we also got there early. Another great thing about Lanikai is that it’s not crowded at all, since it’s a long drive from Waikiki, where all the activity is.
The cross-street was Mokulua and Kaiolena. The beach access is #5.
On our last visit, I took a break from swimming and, as I was taking photos from the shore, I got stung by a mini jellyfish. It hurt really bad. I freaked out and started flailing my feet and arms like crazy. Eventually, the pain subsided 30 minutes later, and I didn’t let this bothersome incident deter me from enjoying the rest of my time! In case it happens again, vinegar is a good pain alleviator for this. Just be aware!
Makua Beach
My dad’s favorite beach! Also known as “Pray For Sex” beach, is a hidden gem if you’re seeking nature and fewer crowds. Unlike Lanikai, there are no coral reefs, but there are tide pools. It’s quite a drive since it’s more secluded but it’s totally worth it! Before you get there, you will drive through Waianae, a not so pretty town that will make you question if you’re heading in the right direction. Once at the beach, locals and a few tourists can be seen hanging around. With this being said, go early during the daytime and don’t leave your valuables in the car. It was my second favorite beach. Enjoying the green lush landscape in the background as I swam couldn’t have been a more delightful experience. Although I preferred Lanikai due to the gentler waves, my most memorable swim was here.
This is how the beach looks like on a sunny day
Waimea Valley
Another exquisite botanical garden with a very easy ¾ mile hike to the falls that even kids can do. If you don’t want to walk, you can take the free shuttle. There’s lots and lots of parking space. The trail to the falls is paved, super easy to walk while soaking in the surroundings of the spectacular grounds. Once you’re in the garden, you’ll see the posters of all the movies filmed in that exact location: Snatched, Marley and I are the ones that come to mind.
If you want to swim in the falls, lifeguards provide you with a life vest to ensure you have a safe experience. I don’t know about other waterfalls, but this one specifically is 30 feet deep, which scared the hell out of me at first! The rocks that lead into the falls are very slippery and sharp. A good pair of swimming shoes will come in handy next time! This valley also holds the Haleiwa Farmer’s Market, which you’ll see at the entrance. Swimming at the waterfall with the water roaring down around me was such an exhilarating experience. Lifeguards were watching over the entire time which made us feel extra safe.
Makapu’u Lookout Point
This lookout point is only a 30-minute drive from Waikiki. Terrific views! The photos don’t do any justice. The narrow 2 lane highway along the coastline made me feel like I was in Big Sur. Right next to the parking lot, there was the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. This trail leads to the Makapu’u tide pools. It was almost closing time when we got there. We asked the people coming down bout the estimated walking time and it was about an hour, which we couldn’t spare. We were a little miffed since the photos looked stunning. Oh well, next time!
Waimanalo Beach
We went here right after the Makapu’u Lookout Point. This is another paradisiac beach, very coveted for beach weddings and photoshoots. Unfortunately, we came very late in the day so the waves were pretty rough. But if you’re looking for another beach with white sand turquoise water, Waimanalo Beach is the place!
Ala Moana Center
If you’ve read my other blog post about malls in LA, you’ll know that I have a special affinity for them. Ala Moana Center is the biggest open-air mall in the world and the seventh biggest mall in the United States. It is massive and has every store you could ever think of. It’s so big that It even has two food courts. You’ll definitely feel the island vibes as you walk around. Shuttle buses come and go from Waikiki all day. Ala Moana was the perfect place to stroll among the locals and people-watch.
Helicopter Tour
We booked with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters company. I wish I could say that I enjoyed this, but I had a rather unfortunate experience. Ten minutes into the 45-minute tour, I got motion sickness. It was bad. I was also sitting in the back. Thank God I had a window seat and there was a throw-up bag and a citrus wipe that I rubbed on my nose to relieve the discomfort, otherwise I don’t know If I could have survived. The good thing about Oahu is that it’s pretty accessible to the public, so all the landmarks the pilot pointed out were already on my radar. We flew right through the jagged green mountains of Kuaola Ranch, where the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises were filmed and where tours are also available (we went to the beach but we didn’t visit the ranch). If you’re going to drive throughout the island like we did, I don’t think the helicopter tour is necessary. However, if you’re going to another island like Kaui, which is a nature preserve, go for it. The helicopter itself did a lot of tilts forward and sideways, which heightened the dizziness even more. It was also very time-consuming since the bus also picked up and dropped off more tourists that were staying in hotels near ours in Waikiki.
Kuaola Regional Park
A beautiful beach located in Kuaola Valley. Like I said in the paragraph above, this valley includes the Kuaola Ranch, a private nature reserve where the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises, and other multitude of Hollywood movies and TV shows were filmed. I was really looking forward to going to the Secret Island, which you can only access by boat. We called the tour guide company, but all the time slots were sold out for Saturday and Sunday so, we enjoyed the beach instead. Like Waimanalo Beach, we went late in the day and the weather was a little crazy, so the waves were pounding the beach. If you ever go there, don’t miss the ATV Tour at the ranch!
Dole Plantation
Another cute touristy spot in central Oahu. My dad saw the big pineapple maze from the helicopter (at this point on the tour I was almost passed out and couldn’t wait to get out).
This maze has 8 hidden stations for you to find. We only found two and made our way out since it was our last day and we had to catch a red-eye back to LA. We also bought tickets for the plantation garden tour, which consisted in a walk around the gardens through different tropical and exotic plants. There was also a train that took you around the whole pineapple plantation.
Of course, the main highlight was the dole whip!! It was good. I can’t say the pineapple slice that came with the dole whip was the freshest or ripest I’ve ever eaten, but it was good. There were also a lot of booths outside the big souvenir shop, which looked more like a supermarket. We treated ourselves to a fresh tasty sugarcane juice! It was worth the drive just for this drink.
Byodo-In Temple
This place reminded us of the temples we used to visit in Kyoto, Japan. It was just like being there. This temple is a worthwhile stop you won’t regret. You will feel an instant sense of calmness and serenity. The beauty you’re surrounded by, will instantly make you do introspective work. Inside the temple, there was a bench right in front of the big peaceful Buddha statue. I’m so thankful for this experience. The backdrop was the same as the botanical gardens I mentioned before: misty clouds pouring over the majestic green mountains and lush green trees.
Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha shirts
If you have a penchant for Hawaiian shirts like my dad, this place will be heaven on earth! This store boasts 15,000 Hawaiian shirts in every price range, starting at $15. Although, if you live in LA you can get the pricey shirts (the good ones) for a much cheaper price at any vintage shirt store in LA. Nonetheless, it was fun roaming around browsing through the never-ending inventory!
If you want to know the cool spots we ate at, click here!
Tips:
- This is not LA!! Drivers here are really slow and veeeery laid-back. That said, Oahu has the most courteous drivers I’ve ever seen.
- Parking is hell.
- Oahu has more homeless than anywhere in the country. It was disheartening to see countless tent camps throughout the island as I drove. Nevertheless, we felt safe the entire time. Just use your head like you would elsewhere, starting by not leaving your valuables in plain sight wherever you park, especially if you go to the beach.
- Everything closes super early.
- No matter how many times I slathered my face with sunscreen before leaving the hotel, I still got burned.
- Like I said before, parking is extremely scarce especially in Waikiki. Check the hotel parking rates in advance.
- If you go to Oahu and you’re going to rent a car, skip the bus tours.
- Visit Sandbar, another heavenly paradise of turquoise water only accessible by boat, ideal for snorkeling and kayaking.
Thank you to redditor @brianlangauthor for sharing this!!
Click here to view the document.
“This is not my doc but was shared in this sub about a week before we went to Oahu. We used it the whole week.
Edit – and I would add 12th Ave Grill to it because we grabbed a same day rezzie there and the food was fantastic!”
