O’AHU, HI
While it’s not necessarily a city, the island of O’ahu stretches 44 miles long, 30 miles wide and offers sensational beaches, hikes and historic sites. It’s also home to Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu. My friend Kirsten has been living on the island for about 3 years. Check out her Instagram doodlesbykirsten to see some of her incredible artwork that is largely inspired by O’ahu’s beauty. Kirsten shared her favorite spots on the island, many on the North Shore where she lives. Happy traveling!
Travel Tip:
- Experience all of O’ahu and don’t limit yourself to just Waikiki! A lot of the time when people visit, they only stay in the city and are disappointed. The city is such a tiny portion of the island, and not a true reflection of Hawaiian culture.
One fun thing:
- Do your research on Instagram / social media. Search locations or geotags to get inspired by different things to do, and don’t hesitate to reach out to people that live in Hawaii!
- Laylow Hotel or Waikiki Prince Hotel: where to stay in Waikiki for a few nights if you don’t want to break the bank. They both have pools and great accommodations, but not the steep prices of the beachfront resorts.
- AirBnB: find a unique place to stay and enjoy the real Hawaii outside of tourist central!
- Lei making workshop: the perfect way to bring a memento home with you. There are a variety of outdoor classes that you can take and create your own “Haku Lei” (floral headband lei). Check out EcoMindful Lei where you can find workshops down by Waikiki or you can hire the instructor for a personal/group class.
- Pearl Harbor Memorial & Visitor Center: an important piece of history you can visit. The main attraction is the USS Arizona Memorial, the memorial structure that sits over the sunken battleship. Also get a tour of the USS Missouri, the last battleship commissioned by the United States. The Aviation Museum on Ford Island is also worth exploring if you’re interested in WWII aircraft.
- Brewery tour: because who doesn’t want a cold beer after surfing or hiking all day? If you want to bar hop, start out at Hana Koa Brewing Co, a local favorite. It’s close to both Waikiki Brewing Company and Honolulu Beerworks. On the east side, check out Lanikai Brewing Company.
Beaches & surfing: when in Hawaii do as the Hawaiians do! If you want to try surfing, only paddle out if you are comfortable with conditions and have the right equipment. There’s tons of groups that lead private or group lessons too. Check out Puaena Point for great surfing lesson options in an area perfect for beginners or Chuns Reef Beach when the waves are smaller. Here’s a breakdown of Kirsten’s favorite beaches on the island:
- Haleiwa Beach Park (Ali’i): Kirsten’s favorite. A bit less touristy with manageable-sized waves.
- Banzai Pipeline or Sunset Beach: where you can watch big waves- we’re talking 30-40 feet at some points during the year. It’s also where the Billabong Pipe Masters competition takes place, a pro competition that only happens if the waves are big enough.
- Waikiki Beach: a spot where you can find easy long waves. It’s a bit more crowded and touristy, but still a fun beach to go to.
- Waimea Bay Beach: a completely different beach depending on the time of year. In the winter, there are big waves at Waimea, but in the summer it’s completely flat. In the summer, you can snorkel and paddle board. In the winter they do The Eddie – big waves surfing competition, think 60 feet waves.
Hikes: use the app “AllTrails” for downloadable trail guides, up to date reviews and maps. Check the weather & only hike where you feel comfortable! The west side of the island is super dry, so hikes will always be accommodating, but the east side is very wet, and that can make hikes dangerous or just downright unpleasant. Here are some of the best trails:
- Maunawili Falls: a hike where you can jump into the waterfall at the end! It’s around 3 miles. At the waterfall, there are three different heights you can jump from.
- Kuliouou Ridge: a 4.3 mile out & back round trip hike that overlooks a beautiful ridge where you can see the east side. It’s steep at points but doable.
- Ehukai Pillboxes: a short 2 mile hike that’s easy when it’s not muddy. You’ll pass several WWII “pillbox bunkers” on the way up. There are several lookout points where you can watch the surfers on Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach.
- Crouching Lion: shorter than half a mile, but you can make it longer. It leads up to an amazing view.
- Beet Box Café: a breakfast and lunch spot with incredible vegetarian food. There are two locations, one in Haleiwa and another in Kailua. Ingredients are sourced from local farms, full of flavor and the menu has something for everyone! Kirsten’s favorite dishes are the Yogi Bowl (brown rice, eggplant, tofu) and the Green Bowl Smoothie.
- Coffee Gallery: the perfect spot if you need coffee and a quick bite to eat after a surf session! Located in the North Shore Marketplace, there are so many delicious pastries made daily and a variety of coffees to try or to bring home to your family as a gift!
- Stonefish Grill: a newer restaurant in Haleiwa that’s open all day. They have the cutest outdoor patio seating area. It has the classic diner feel, with a local twist. Kirsten recommends their cinnamon roll french toast.
- Waialua Bakery & Juice Bar: a hole-in-the-wall spot for sandwiches and smoothies galore! The best deal if you want quality and simplicity. Try the avocado sandwich and the Green Room Smoothie. Sweet tooth? They have amazing homemade cookies for $1!
- Elephant Shack Thai: food trucks with the best Thai food on the island. They have three locations. Lots of vegan/vegetarian options and farm-fresh ingredients and spices. It’s Kirsten’s favorite lunch to grab after a fun hike with friends. The Elephant Shack Laie location is close to the Crouching Lion hike.
- Haleiwa Bowls: the best place to get an acai bowl. There are a plethora of places to get an acai bowl in Hawaii, but this is Kirsten’s favorite. The texture is always great, and they have toppings galore. There can be quite a line during peak hours, but the wait is worth it.
- Maya’s Tapas and Wine: the perfect spot for a fun night out. It’s recommended to get a variety of items to share, the food is largely influenced by Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Make sure to try the shishito peppers or brussels sprouts. Some days they have live music on the lanai or they have special events where they bring in different chefs. Plus it’s a black-owned business. Definitely make a reservation.
- Banzai Sushi: a delicious, authentic sushi spot with a huge menu. Order some rolls, share some sake, and enjoy! They don’t take reservations so it’s recommended to go early or on a weekday. However, on Sundays, it’s “Sake Sunday” and Saketinis are half off all day long.
- Lei Lei’s: a restaurant located on the famed Arnold Palmer golf course at Turtle Bay Resort. Grab a table on the green at sunset and enjoy dinner with friends. It has a casual feel, is family and dog friendly, and the staff are so kind!
- Aloha General Store: where you can treat yourself to the infamous Hawaiian Shave Ice! It’s not your average snow cone. There are lots of places in town, such as the famed Matsumoto’s (where you will see a massive line), but it’s always nice to support the other smaller venues. Hawaiian Shave Ice is all yummy and refreshing on a warm sunny day!
- Sunset Cruise – Na Hoku: a 2-hour catamaran cruise with an open bar and sunset views of Diamond Head and Waikiki. You can’t beat the views and being on the water! Hilarious crew and bumpin’ music.
- Concerts at the Blue Note Hawaii: located at Duke’s Hotel in Waikiki, this small cozy lounge hosts a variety of artists, local and occasionally some national names. Sit at a table with your friends, order drinks and enjoy the ambiance.
