Mahalo Oahu, Hawaii - You were awesome!
So my week here in Oahu, Hawaii has flown and it’s been epic. From my first hostel experience, a waterfall and volcanic hike, a road trip to the north shore, to simply enjoying the Hawaiian zest for life. The pace of life here really is hypnotic. Every morning you witness the early raisers waking up to run along the coast line in sync with the sunrise, whilst the local surfers make the most of the vacant waves before the tourist pile in. There’s so much to do and see on this island and I barely scraped the surface:
The Breach Waikiki Boutique Hostel
So this was my first experience staying at a hostel and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. As far as my preconceived judgement of how I thought it would be, it wasn’t that bad at all. Staff were extremely helpful and the rooms with pretty clean. It was no 5 star stay but better than can be expected. Every morning there was free breakfast on the rooftop which consisted of porridge, toasts and muffins and two nights a week they served complementary pizza and hotdogs. More than what most hostels offer I’m sure. I chose to stay in an all girl dorm just because boys can be so gross and it’s common for a lot of people to come and go with some just staying for one night. Never at any point did I feel unsafe and I made sure to use the lockers provided for my valuables. This place was really generous with the use of their snorkelling equipment, surfboards, floats etc and if you needed any guidance getting around the island they were more than happy to help. As far as hostels goes, this one gets my seal of approval.
Manoa Falls
On my first day I met two other girls in my hostel who invited me on this hike to Manoa Falls. To get there it takes about half an hour by car from Waikiki and a taxi worked out about $70 return which between a big group isn’t too bad. The hike is about 3 miles round trip and took us just over an hour. I’d recommend wearing walking boots or trainers as the up hill path can be quite muddy and wet in places. The trek itself is pretty easy and not too strenuous for those who are reluctant to work up a sweat and the entire trail is in the shade from the trees of the rainforest. The top the 200 meter waterfall is breath taking but note that your not allowed to swim in the plunge pool although some rule breakers do. In all, a really relaxing, beautiful scenic walk, perfect to kick start your day. Oh and don’t forget to take your camera, you might get lucky like me and get the chance to see a Hawaiian rainbow at first hand.
Diamond Head Trail
By far the best thing I did… I woke up on my second morning with the worst jet lag and looked at my phone to see 5.30am. Bug eyed and wide awake I thought I’d make the most of the day and get up to do the Diamond Head Trail. People I’d spoken to said it was best to do it first thing in the morning as there were less tourists and the temperature would be a lot more bearable. I was starting to feel slightly guilty about the lack of exercise I’d be doing in the next couple of days, so made the decision to walk to the crater which in itself took me about 40 minutes. A further 30-40 minutes later and I was faced with the most spectacular view. Words can’t describe the feeling you get when you look out across the Hawaiian coast line. Bright blue waters accompanied by golden sands, green mountain tops and its own miniature concrete jungle of Waikiki.
The walk itself can be quite vigorous in places (aprox 3 miles round trip) with the option to take additional steps if you want to challenge yourself. For the lazy, you’re able to walk around which takes slightly longer and if you’re like me and wanting to get your heart rate up, be aware of tourists who are in no rush what so ever.
Definitely take some water with you and don’t forget your camera. Sensible shoes are a must because trust me, the amount of wedges I witnessed attempting to climb a mountain was comical. And finally, have fun and take it all in. Honestly this is a once in a life time!
North Shore
A more natural surrounding, the North Shore is perfect for a day at the beach, a wander around the local shops, paddle boarding, canoeing and if your any good, surfing. The beaches are surrounded my natural greenery and family homes. I visited a Haleiwa which is full of character and famous for its secluded white sandy beaches and delicious shaved ice. If your looking to visit the North Shore and coming from the South of Oahu, I’d suggest renting a car, I got two buses which took over 2 hours. That way your able to drive up the coast allowing you to see other major attractions including Turtle Bay, which I’d heard nothing but amazing things about.
Pearl Harbour Memorial
So if your anything like me you’ll be embarrassingly ignorant to the events of Pearl Harbour or perhaps you’ve only ever watched the film. Well I hadn’t even managed that so was extremely interested in visiting the memorial. It’s about an hours bus ride from Waikiki but again, drive if you can as its only approximately 9miles away. I’d also reserve a ticket, they’re released online at 7am the day before and garentees you a spot. Otherwise you can find yourself waiting for up to 2 hours to see the memorial once you get there. The venue consist of a number of different museums all containing memorabilia and facts about the day the Japanese army attacked. I couldn’t believe how little I knew about such a pinnacle day in history. At your given time slot you’re ushered into an auditorium where you watch a 20-30 minute video followed by a boat trip out the memorial which lays in the middle of the harbour. This for me was quite surreal. The memorial sits on top of a sunken boat that got attacked on December 7th and you’re told that over 1000 bodies still lay beneath its armour. It’s pretty powerful where not a single word is spoken during the 15 minutes you spend admiring the names of the fallen. I wouldn’t categorise this as a must see but if you have time I would definitely go. It’s important to know about the history behind Pearl Harbour and it really opened my eyes to the on goings of World War ll.
So… I’m so glad I decided to start my ‘Journey of Self Discovery’ here in Hawaii. It gave me a chance for some 'me' time, to read a book, to embrace the outdoors, to meet new people and to just enjoy myself. One of the most important things you can learn in life is to appreciate and value your own company. Nobody knows you better than you do. It takes time but when you’re no longer afraid to go at it alone, it'll means so much more when you get to do all those things with someone you love. Next stop...NYC to meet my someone!
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