Hawaii: Oahu
- Kaitlen Daigle
- Jul 23, 2024
- 4 min read
We flew into Oahu and let me just say, the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport may be the prettiest airport I've ever been to. There's a garden in the middle that you can walk around and the airport is indoor and outdoor, making it easy to get fresh air. We got a ride to our hotel in Waikiki and checked in. After that, we went in search of food. We found this giant mall and on the top floor were some restaurants. We stopped at Liliha Bakery to pick up some of their famous coco puffs, which were honestly so amazing. We decided to eat dinner next door at Eating House 1849 by Roy Yamaguchi. I ordered this pineapple juice drink and a sushi roll and both were so tasty. Then we headed back to the hotel for the night.
The next morning we set out on the road to go to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial site. As we were almost there, we passed by a large marketplace at the stadium and our tour guide said it was the Aloha Stadium swap meet. When we arrived at Pearl Harbor National Memorial, we had some time to walk around and look at the museum and just learn more about the tragedy that occurred there. Then we took a small boat across the water of the active naval base to the USS Arizona memorial building. Seeing the pieces left of the USS Arizona and the wall of all the names of people who were on the ship that perished was very impactful to witness. If you are on Oahu, I definitely recommend seeing this, at least once in your life.
After our tour, we still had an hour and a half till our tour bus was going to pick us up. So my brother and I headed over to the swap meet. It was a little bit of a walk there but so worth it. There were so many vendors from clothing to souvenirs to food vendors. I honestly could've explored the swap meet for hours. I ended up getting a 60's style orange floral knit bag. We also had to pick up food because everything looked so good. We ended up getting dynamite fries and some shaved ice. It was a super warm day so the shaved ice was very refreshing. The fries though... they were my favorite. They were topped with teriyaki, sriracha aioli, and furikake. I'm going to try and recreate them because I need them again in my life.
We headed back to the tour bus and the driver took us around the city a little. We stopped at the statue of King Kamehameha, which was across from 'Iolani Palace. The original statue was stolen and so they made a replica of it and that is the one in Honolulu. When the original statue was recovered it was placed in King Kamehameha's birthplace in Hilo. There is a third statue, this one isn't in Hawaii but rather in the nation's capital, Washington D.C. I've now seen all three of them. Weird flex, I know.
After our tour we walked to the beach quickly, just to marvel at its beauty before getting on our cruise ship and starting our journey to the other islands.
After the cruise, we ended up back in Oahu and headed straight to the airport. Before flying home, we stopped at The Local at the airport and had an amazing lilikoi mango cheesecake. Also, at one of the shops in the airport, there was a vendor selling chocolate. This chocolate is some of the best I've had. It was dark chocolate that literally melts in your mouth. It was a Hawaiian company called Manoa Chocolate. They had a lilikoi one, which was phenomenal. Yes, I bought a bunch of bars, and the lilikoi one has already been eaten. Can you tell I was obsessed with lilikoi? If you read my posts on the other Hawaiian islands, you'll see that lilikoi pops up again. Someone told me that when I was in Hawaii I needed to try all the fruit. So I was eating all kinds of fruit daily and it was the absolute perfect thing to eat on the hot days we were island hopping.
If you want to visit Oahu, here's a list of possible things to see and do:
Waikiki Beach: Famous for its golden sands and excellent surfing conditions, Waikiki Beach is a must-visit for its iconic views of Diamond Head and bustling atmosphere.
Pearl Harbor: Pay homage to history at Pearl Harbor, including the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri battleship, offering insights into World War II history.
Diamond Head: Hike or drive to the summit of Diamond Head Crater for panoramic views of Honolulu and the southeastern coast of Oahu.
Hanauma Bay: Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, teeming with colorful marine life and coral reefs.
Polynesian Cultural Center: Immerse yourself in Polynesian culture through traditional performances, interactive exhibits, and authentic island cuisine.
North Shore: Experience the laid-back vibes of Oahu's North Shore, famous for big-wave surfing in winter (November to February) and charming small towns like Haleiwa.
Dole Plantation: Visit the Dole Plantation to learn about Hawaii's pineapple industry, take a train ride through pineapple fields, and navigate the world's largest maze.
Iolani Palace: Tour the historic Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, to learn about Hawaii's monarchy and its rich cultural heritage.
Lanikai Beach: Relax on the pristine shores of Lanikai Beach, renowned for its turquoise waters, powdery sand, and views of the Mokulua Islands.
Manoa Falls: Hike through the lush rainforest of Manoa Valley to reach the picturesque 150-foot Manoa Falls, a tranquil oasis just outside of Honolulu.
If you want more suggestions on what to do in Oahu, I suggest you check out the Hawaii tourism website.
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