Honolulu, Hawaii
- emilycarman
- Feb 9, 2019
- 4 min read
Honolulu was a dream! There’s so much to discover, it’s worth at least a week of vacation - beach backed palm trees, sunset happy hours, cocktails that'll make you rethink your idea of a tiki drink, luaus, and no shortage of outdoor activities. I checked lots of items off the bucket list - surfing, renting a convertible, visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and hiking Diamond Head!
Here are some can’t-miss spots in Honolulu:
Where to Stay
We loved our stay at the beach club! The resort is fairly large and has everything you need. Between their amenities and those of nearby hotels - Aulani (a Disney Resort) and the new Four Seasons Resort - there's no need to leave Ko Olina unless you want to.
The property is full of waterfalls, three gorgeous outdoor pools, a spa, and lots of yummy restaurants. It's located on one of Ko Olina's four white-sand beaches, so you are connected to several miles of shoreline paths for easy access to other resorts and the best paths for walking along the beach. Obviously, you'll want a room with a balcony and an ocean view. Nothing beats morning coffee on the balcony or sunset happy hours.
What to Do
When you are all beached out, the swap meet is the perfect break from the sun. Vendors set up shop around the exterior of Aloha Stadium, so prepare yourself for a lot of walking and a small crowd. The market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and to learn more about the Hawaiian culture. They sell everything from coverups to wood carved souvenirs to local food (try the macadamia nuts - you'll be amazed at all the different flavors). If you're like me, you'll want a beautiful lei or flower crown, and the swap meet is where you can find one on the cheap (comparatively speaking to the more expensive ones at the airport or your hotel).
Diamond Head, the world’s most recognized volcano, is a volcanic tuff cone and one of the island's most popular and well known landmarks. It takes about 30 minutes to hike up to the top, with plenty of good photo opps along the way. Once you get to the top, you'll discover incredible views of the ocean, a lighthouse, and the city of Honolulu. Definitely worth the trek!
Paradise Cove is said to be Hawaii's best luau and I'd have to agree. It is the true Hawaiian experience, complete with a Mai Tai greeting, luau dancers, a Hawaiian style buffet, fire dancers, body artists, leis, etc.
If you are looking for a fairly short and painless tour of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, this is a perfect way to see a lot of sights in about six hours. A guide will take you through Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, helping you make the most of your time at the popular attraction. After, you'll visit to the historic district, including stops at ‘Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on US soil), the Capitol building, the King Kamehameha statue, and Punchbowl National Cemetery. The tour makes stops along the way for pictures and snacks. I prefer the early morning tour - while the 6 a.m. pick up is a bit brutal, you'll be back at the hotel before lunch so you can enjoy the rest of your day on the beach!
Waikiki Beach is the premiere destination for surfing. You can surf, stand up paddle board, or canoe. For first timers, surf lessons are a must! (Tip: I tried surfing on our last day, which made for a somewhat painful flight home. I recommend trying this a little earlier in the trip so you have time to recover on the beach rather a long flight.) Even if you don't want to give the water sports a try, it's still fun to see all of the local experts in action. Stop by the Statue "Duke Kahanamoku," a 9-foot bronze sculpture honoring the Hawaiian Olympic champion & father of international surfing, for a picture.
Where to Eat
A visit to Hawaii wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. They offer so many activities, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Plantation Garden Tour, and the Pineapple Garden Maze (the world's largest maze!). Must try the Dole Whip ice cream!
The much-awaited Four Seasons resort, the first on the island of Oahu, just opened in June of 2016. For those familiar with Ko Olina, it replaced the old JW Marriott with a complete renovation. Bringing four great new restaurants, is the perfect addition to Ko Olina. For casual seafood poolside, check out Fish House. Try La Hiki for modern Pan-Asian in an open-air setting. Go to Noe for some of the best Italian food on the island. And last but certainly not least, hit up the Waterman Bar & Grill for cocktails, lunch and light, casual fare.
This is the perfect place if you want to do a combo of dinner and stay for drinks after. The restaurant was originally established to bring something to the table that Hawaii was missing - authentic Mexican food and margaritas. With over 300 varieties, they have an extensive tequila bar that even impressed us Texans.
This casual upscale restaurant has several locations across the island. The atmosphere has a good vibe and the menu offers a variety of options. We highly recommend the organic macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi or the kale & wild mushroom gnocchi. YUM.
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