Live Like a Tourist: What to do when traveling to Oahu, Hawaii!
ALOHA Friends!
When we first moved to Hawaii, it was a huge lifestyle shift. It took a long time to get our bearings and I remember wondering how long I would feel like a tourist. At first, I treated ‘tourist’ like a dirty word, but as the months wore on, my perspective completely changed. I came to realize that mindset is just wrong: The truth is, tourists have all the fun! They’re the ones getting out there, exploring, taking advantage of what a city – or an island – has to offer. TOURISTS KNOW HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
I’ve come to embrace this island life, but at the same time, I’m doing my best to live like a tourist every single day. There’s SO MUCH to see and do here on Oahu and I never want to take this magical place for granted! That’s why today I thought I’d share a roundup of some of my favorite places to stay, towns to visit and sights to explore, all right here in my own backyard. I hope these ideas help inspire your next trip. Enjoy! What to do when traveling to Oahu, Hawaii</font color=”white”>
The Alohilani Resort
Stay Awhile – Where to Stay
I’ll keep this short and sweet. The ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach resort is absolutely beautiful. Named after Hawaii’s last monarch Queen Lili’uokalani and situated on land belonging to a trust created in her honor, the property underwent a $125 million facelift and rebranding a few years ago and the result is honestly spectacular. If the open-air lobby and two-story 280,000-gallon saltwater Oceanarium aren’t reason enough to make a reservation, you should know that Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is the culinary genius behind two of the hotel’s restaurants.
On an intimate stretch of the beach sits Halekulani Hotel, the No. 1. Hotel in Hawaii this year as voted by Condé Nast Traveler readers. I’m not surprised. Halekulani is known for its top-notch hospitality and attention to detail and has the highest staff-to-guest ratio of any Hawaiian resort. Consider booking a suite overlooking Diamond Head and the hotel’s iconic oval pool, which is meticulously adorned with 1.2 million glass tiles. If you’re feeling fancy, pop over to the hotel’s cozy jazz-inspired cocktail spot, Lewers Lounge, and sip on a Sunset Martini.
Turtle Bay Resort is the only resort along Oahu’s North Shore and with 800 acres to explore, it makes for an impressive vacation home base (or a day trip stop) that I really love. The resort itself is cleverly laid out so that nearly every guest room has a view of the water. From hiking and biking to snorkeling and championship golf, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep the whole family entertained. Hans Hedemann Surf School has a location on the property and offers private and group lessons for students of all skill levels. If you’d prefer to watch the action, I like to head to the western side of the resort (near the pool) to check out experienced surfers catch massive waves.
Get away from the hotels and stay in a local area – AIRBNB
Did you know that there are no hotels in the Kailua area? They are concentrated in the Waikiki and Ko’olina area so that tourists don’t overrun the local towns. That being said, it’s a more uniquely local experience to stay in Kailua, with less of the hustle and bustle of the city. You can find the perfect airbnb, with options along Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach to make your stay even easier and more memorable.
Here is my top recommendation – Maleana Gardens Airbnb in Kailua:
Amazing location? Check. Island vibes? Check. Wonderful owners? Check. Right next to the beach? Check. Walk to Kailua town? Check. Secluded gardens and clean stay? Check. This is literally the perfect spot, I’m not joshing ya.
Hit the Open Road – how to get around the island
I know what you’re thinking. With such incredible amenities, why would I ever leave the beach near my resort? Well there’s so much to see and there’s no better way to experience all Oahu has to offer than by exploring by car. If you don’t have a vehicle, consider renting one from a reputable company like Avis, Dollar, Enterprise or Hertz, all of which offer short term rentals (some for as little as $50 a day) and can be conveniently picked in downtown Honolulu or at the airport. I’d recommend renting a car for at least 1-2 days, so you have enough time to explore the entire island without feeling rushed.
** BIG TIP: Before you start your road trip, download the APP GyPSy Guide! (you can just search ” Oahu Gypsy guide” in apps on your iphone.)
It’s a clever location-aware touring app that talks as a tour guide while you drive. You can follow along using one of the app’s suggested pre-planned routes or carve your own path to explore the 230+ historical, geographical and cultural audio points scatted across the island. It’s AMAZING!
Be sure to hit these top spots along the way:
Waikiki Beach
- Waikiki Beach has become synonymous with Downtown Waikiki, but there is so much more to this neighborhood. It is home to most of Oahu’s hotels and resorts and tons of restaurants and bars, which makes it a really fun place to explore on foot. If you’re in the mood to spend, definitely check out Kalakaua Avenue’s Luxury Row, a world-class shopping destination in itself (Gucci or Chanel, anyone?). They also have affordable shops as well, something for everyone. And, all across the island you’ll find references to legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku who helped solidify Hawaii’s legendary surf culture – be sure to honor the man himself at the Duke Kahanamoku Statue on the beach.
- HANAUMA BAY STATE PARK: Moving east, Hanauma Bay is the place to snorkel on Oahu and one of the island’s most popular beaches. It has as many as 400 fish species, including parrotfish and Hawaii’s state fish the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a (or reef triggerfish) in its protected waters. You’ll watch a short video on how to take care of the waters here before you head in, which is a great reminder of the amazing things you can see in Hawaii oceans.
- KAILUA TOWN: Set aside a few hours to explore Kailua, an idyllic beach town so charming you’ll be searching Zillow in no time. I like to pop into a few surf-inspired shops and small boutiques before grabbing lunch and heading straight to Kailua Beach or neighboring Lanikai Beach. These are arguably the prettiest beaches on the entire island and the turquoise water will blow you away.
See my more specific THINGS TO DO IN KAILUA blog posts here!
- KUALOA RANCH: With 4,000 sprawling acres, Kualoa Ranch is an adventure seeker’s paradise. The private nature reserve boasts a ton of guided tours (ATV, kayak, mountain bike, horseback, and so on) and has a cool ziplining excursion through Ka’a’awa Valley. Their Hollywood movie site tour is really popular and takes you to spots where more than 50 hit movies and TV shows like Jurassic Park and Lost were filmed. Kualoa Ranch also offers transportation from select Waikiki hotels, making it a great choice at any point during your trip.
- HALEIWA: The Rainbow Bridge welcomes you into Haleiwa, the historic surf town on the North Shore. Haleiwa manages to feel rural and traditional at the same time, with charming shops and art galleries on one side of the street and farm-stand eateries on the other. No stop in Haleiwa is complete without trying shave ice, Hawaii’s version of a snow cone. The North Shore is home to several popular shave ice shops, including Matsumoto’s, a family-owned spot that’s been around since the 1950s.
WHERE TO EAT:
In KAILUA: Maui Brewing Company, Kalapawai Cafe, Uahi for Hawaiian food, and the iconic “Buzzes” (make a reservation).
IN WAIKIKI: Dukes or Hula Grill (just above Dukes), Rumfire (in the Sheraton), House Without a Key is where I went for my birthday and has Hawaii live music! (make a reservation)
Fine Dining: House Without a Key, Hau Tree Lanai, La Mer (reservation for all)
Hawaii Kai: Roy’s
Ko’Olina: Monkeypod, Roy’s
IN CHINATOWN: The Tchin Tchin Bar, Lucky Belly
IN HALEIWA: Konos for lunch, Haleiwa Joes (make a reservation)
Along the drive around the island >>> head from Kailua up through Laie and to Haleiwa
- SHRIMP TRUCKS: Hawaii is home to some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great meal. Case in point: The Shrimp Trucks in Kahuku. Nothing beats a plate of garlicky, buttery, super-fresh prawns from these trucks scattered along the roadside. Giovanni’s is the most popular and tends to be really busy. Romy’s is a great option with less of a line and tastes the same to me.
- Turtle Bay Resort: If you want to stop for a nicer meal along the way from Kailua to Haleiwa, then you can stop at Turtle Bay Resort for a meal at the bar by the pool, or a nicer restaurant.
Lanikai Pillbox Hike
Take a Hike
It’s one thing to see Oahu’s lush rainforests from afar, it’s an entirely different experience to take them in during a nature walk or hike. These are my favorites:
- Lanikai Pillbox Hike aka Kaiwa Ridge is extremely popular and offers some of the most incredible views of Lanikai Beach. The hike is named for the two pillbox bunkers scattered across the trail and accessible to hikers. This is probably my personal favorite hike on the island because of its amazing views, lack of danger and relative ease to get up. It’s still a hard workout, mind you, and I need constant breaks but compared to the absolutely insane other hikes on the island it’s considered “easy.” Keep in mind there is no shade on the trail.
- I’d encourage every Oahu “first-timer” to visit Diamond Head and hike the 0.8-mile trail to the crater’s summit. The terrain is steep and contains some stairs, but because the trail is largely paved it’s accessible even to hikers without much experience. The trail culminates with more WWII bunkers and a navigational lighthouse, not to mention unrivaled panoramic views.
- Manoa Falls Trail meanders through dense rainforest leading you to an impressive 150-foot waterfall. The trail is well maintained and the hike itself is pretty easy (it takes only about 30 minutes one way). This part of the island can be wet, so be sure to wear the right shoes in case it’s muddy.
- If you’re an experienced hiker and looking for more of a challenge, check out Crouching Lion, a treacherous 4-mile loop with its fair share of elevation changes and narrow ridges. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with unmatched views of Kahana Bay, Kaaawa and the cliffs of Pu’u Manamana. Take extreme caution if the trail is wet.
*** BIG TIP: I highly recommend getting shoe spikes if you’re going to go up a steep hike like Crouching Lion, it makes a HUGE difference in sliding around and falling over versus having the traction you need to just head right up. Once you see the gravestones on many Hawaii hikes you may wish you had them if you don’t.
I have a size medium for my women size 7 foot and my husband fits a size large with a size 11 shoe in mens.
Click the image below to find where I bought mine on amazon.
Celebrate at a Luau
Whether it’s your first time to Hawaii or your 21st, there’s so much to love about an authentic Polynesian luau. My favorite happens at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. The traditional Hawaiian feast and performance is a great opportunity to participate in Hawaiian customs. You can try Hawaiian foods like poi (a paste made from taro root), poke (diced raw fish) and the centerpiece dish, Kālua pig cooked in an underground oven. Before the festivities begin, explore the center’s six immersive Pacific Island villages that honor the history and people of Polynesia, and don’t miss Hā Breath of Life, a 90-minute live show with sensational music and ceremonial fire knife dancing.
- NOTE: Polynesian Cultural Center has no alcohol.
- I’ve also been to Toa Luau and enjoyed it (authentic and in a beautiful part of the island in Laie) and heard good things about Paradise Cove Luau.
Schedule a Photoshoot
It’s not every day that your family is all together in one of the most beautiful places in America. Many tourists take this time to schedule a family or couples photoshoot with one of the many talented professional photographers on the island. Hiring a local photographer means they know the best spots to get amazing photos that highlight the beauty of Hawaii. Many people even take this time to elope without the hassle of a big wedding day back home.
You can check out more on my website now if you want to see if my work is perfect for your style!
** Looking for help with planning a wedding day or elopement here but don’t know where to start? I can help you with everything, from what beaches allow wedding permits, what venues may best suit your guest count, where to find a great officiant and more.
Thanks for reading and I hope you’ll use this handy list when deciding how to spend your next trip to Hawaii!
Rae Marshall is an Oahu wedding and portrait photographer based in Hawaii and specializes in weddings, elopements, family, maternity, senior portraits, couples, lifestyle, fashion and more!
