I couldn’t believe the beauty that was Hawaii. I only wish I could have spent a few more days here soaking it all up. From Diamond Head State monument to Oahu’s windward coast (blowhole & beach cove included), I was consistently amazed by the beauty, the color, the consistently perfect weather, and the people.
I think I enjoyed the natural beauty above all, as I have never been exposed to a terrain and a climate as sweet as Hawaii’s. I could have stayed at the Halona Beach Cove for days, and only wish I hadn’t just swam for hours at Hanauma Bay that same morning, otherwise I would have loved to stay there and swim. Of course, stopping at Waikiki beach to swim and people watch at least once during your trip is a must too. The views from the top of Diamond Head are absolutely mind blowing. Definitely dedicate a few hours to explore Diamond Head, so you can stop at various places on the trail and marvel at the views down below.
We tried a few different restaurants during our time in Hawaii, some better than others. We definitely had a variety of different foods. On our last day, we ate at Ono Hawaiian Foods. The funny thing is, although we had already been on Oahu for 5 days, we had not had a chance to eat very much “traditional” Hawaiian food. Therefore, for lunch on our last day, I wanted to make it a point to try a real Hawaiian meal. We were on our way to Ono Seafood, as that is the #1 rated restaurant on Trip Advisor. They are well known for having the “best poke bowls” in Hawaii. As we were driving around looking for the restaurant, I thought I saw it when I saw the word “Ono” on a storefront. We parked and went in, only to realize we were at the wrong restaurant. Oops. So much for trying the best poke bowl in Hawaii. We looked at the menu and saw that all of the food at this restaurant was also very traditional Hawaiian fare. We opted to split a Kalua pig plate. The man who appeared to be the owner of the restaurant brought our food to the table, and told us what everything is. After a few minutes of eating, we were so grateful for our mistake! We were treated to a delicious meal of Kalua pig with rice, poi to pour on top, lomi salmon, haupia, and pipikaula. We couldn’t have had a better traditional Hawaiian meal. Thank you, Ono Hawaiian food!
If you’re thinking of planning a trip to Hawaii but you are on the fence about it, go for it! It is totally worth it. Some must dos in Oahu are:
- Stopping to swim and people watch at Waikiki beach
- Trying some traditional Hawaiian food at Ono Hawaiian Foods!
- Driving through Oahu’s windward coast and checking out the beautiful lookouts
- Going up Oahu’s North Shore and driving through small towns such as Haleiwa (the original home of shave ice).
- Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
Looking back on my trip, those are the six things I enjoyed the most and those will be the best memories I will think back on often. If anyone reading this has also traveled to Oahu, what do you think? Do I need to add anything? Am I forgetting something you think is a MUST? Please feel free to comment!
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