The Best of Oahu

I couldn’t think of a better place to start this blog than with a destination that is near and dear to our hearts. Last Christmas while we gathered together in frigid Wisconsin we dreamed (I thought jokingly) about how nice it would be to spend the holidays together on a warm beach in Hawaii. Two days later I unexpectedly received an email confirmation for an Airbnb in Oahu that my mother-in-law booked for the next year (12 months away!). At first I didn’t know if we were going to actually pull it off due to a lot of unknowns about our schedules but where there is a will there is a way and we spent Christmas and New Years together on the beach just like we dreamed!

We’ve been to Hawaii several times but only once before to Oahu. Prior to our first trip to Oahu I thought certainly I couldn’t love it as much as Maui and that it was overly commercialized but boy was I wrong. Sure in many ways Honolulu is a typical bustling city with traffic and lots of people but it also has great food, good shopping, and the famous Waikiki Beach. If that’s not your style you don’t have to venture far out of the city to find some of the most breath taking backdrops (we’re talking literal Jurassic Park movie sets here) and pristine secluded beaches. For this trip we again chose to stay in an Airbnb on the North Shore in the little surf town of Haleiwa. Here you can find epic professional surf competitions in the winter, a multitude of food trucks with many fresh healthy options, and laidback island vibes. This time we didn’t have an itinerary (I know, so unlike me!) so we spent our time exploring some of our favorite places and also made sure to try a few new ones as well. Here’s a list of some of my top things to do in Oahu that I know you’ll enjoy too! In future posts I will break down some of the details so you know exactly what you can expect when planning your future adventure. Let me know your favorite thing to do in Oahu below!

Hikes: Diamond Head, Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail, Kaiwa Ridge Trail (Lanikai Pillbox), Kammieland Trail (Ehukai Pillbox), Ka’ena Point Trail

Beaches: Waimea Bay Beach, Sunset Beach, Shark’s Cove, Kawela Bay Beach, Turtle Beach, Ka’a’wa Beach, Lanikai Beach

Other activities: Waimea Valley Nature Preserve, Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve (Jurassic Adventure Tour), Polynesian Cultural Center (Islands of Polynesia)

Food: Goofy Cafe, Paia Fish Market, Sunrise Shack, Panda’s Thai Food Truck, Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Cafe Haleiwa, Haleiwa Joe’s, Hale’iwa Beach House, Surf N Salsa, Seven Brothers, Foodland (grocery store with THE best poke)

Still on the to-do list: Moanalau Valley Road Trail, Kuli’ou’ou Trail, Pink Pillbox Trail, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Hanauma Bay, Kokua Learning Farm

Favorite Oahu Hikes