Oahu

Transportation

Getting around Oahu can be difficult at rush hour. This island is the most like living in a big city. We rented a car because we wanted to be able to drive all over the island but there is public transportation available. We rode the trolley a couple times when we were just going to dinner because we didn’t want to have to bother with finding parking. It was easy to figure out and the drivers were very friendly and helpful. If you are staying at a big resort that offers rental cars, you might want to reserve them ahead of time or they could run out.

Getting between the islands is no problem. There are a few different inter-island airlines and the cost is very reasonable, especially if you arrange it ahead of time. The planes are much smaller than what you might be expecting. Our plane from Maui to Kauai was just 4 rows and you could sit where ever you wanted. The plane also had propellers so keep this in mind if you are afraid of flying or are claustrophobic (I am but as long as I can sit in the aisle, I’m fine.)

Accommodations

Both times on Oahu we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is right on Waikiki Beach with beautiful views of Diamond Head. There are lots of shops and restaurants and the lagoon is absolutely beautiful. You can rent snorkel gear and other equipment. We tried paddle boarding for the first time and had a blast! The hotel is also very centrally located to just about anything you would want to do in Waikiki or Honolulu. You can even see the suite where Elvis stayed!

Food, food and more food

There are way too many good food options in Hawaii to mention them all here (including SPAM if that’s your thing.) On Oahu, there are a lot of chain restaurants but you don’t have to look too hard to find local places that are phenomenal. If you love seafood, you will be in heaven. And of course, you have to go to a luau where you can see a pig roast. One of the restaurants we love in Hawaii is Duke’s which is named after the legendary Duke Kahanamoku who was a native Hawaiian. You can find a Duke’s in Waikiki, Maui and Kauai. If you go, you have to get the famous Hula Pie. It’s made with macadamia nut ice cream on a chocolate cookie crust, topped with hot fudge, whipped cream and macadamia nuts. They say it’s big enough to share but I wouldn’t recommend it. 🙂

Activities

When you go to Hawaii and think of what to do once you get there, of course you come with things like surfing, swimming, fishing, etc. But there are so many different activities for all fitness levels, you would never get bored. You can take tours that will show you where movies and TV shows were/are filmed. You can see where the stars live. There is whale watching, scuba diving, boating and so many wonderful attractions to experience.

If you go to Oahu and don’t do anything else, you have to go to Pearl Harbor. It is truly a moving experience. Go first thing in the morning so you can be in one of the first groups. If it gets too windy later in the day, they might stop taking boats to the USS Arizona Memorial. Also, the tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial are first come, first served so you don’t want to wait and not get tickets. When you go, make sure you leave all your bags either in your hotel room or in your trunk. No bags of any type are allowed. No purses, camera bags, fanny packs…nothing. Of course, it’s for security reasons. There are lockers you can rent but there are long lines for them.

There are lots of other sites at Pearl Harbor that you will want to check out. Stroll around the grounds and look at all the photos and read the stories. You can take a tour of the Bowfin Submarine. You will definitely want to take a tour of the USS Missouri. You can walk through yourself or take a guided tour. Make sure you save plenty of time because the ship is massive!

One of our favorite places to visit on Oahu is Dole Plantation. You can stroll through the grounds or if you are feeling adventurous, you can try to find your way through the over three acre maze! You will definitely want to go inside and get a treat. Our favorite is the Dole Whip. I know, they have that at Disney. Trust me, it is not the same. There are many other pineapple concoctions and they all smell and look amazing!

You will also want to check out Tropical Farms. You will find beautiful flowers, amazing artwork, yummy macadamia nuts and Tony’s favorite coffee. The macadamia nuts come in different flavors including my favorite, Maui onion and garlic. They also have samples so you can find your favorite. The coffee they sell is Tony’s favorite out of any other coffee in the world. They soak their coffee beans in macadamia nut oil. I’m not a coffee drinker but it smells wonderful! They sell their products online so you can still get your favorites when you get back home.

If you are on Oahu more than one day, make sure on one of those days you take the time to climb Diamond Head. Early morning is best before it gets too hot. But beware, this is not for the faint of heart! There are almost 200 stairs to get to the top, but once you are up there, the views are incredible!

After you make your way back down, there might be a guy at the bottom selling shirts that say you climbed Diamond Head. He sells them for $10, takes your address and mails them to you. He is legit. We each bought a shirt and about a week after we got home, our shirts arrived in the mail.