Oahu Itinerary (April 2018)
4.5 days in Hawaii maaay not seem like enough time, but when you put your phone down [unwillingly because I had zero data on this trip - THANKS TMOBILE] you begin to realize it’s MORE THAN ENOUGH time to enjoy the beauty of Oahu. The only regret I have is not taking as many photos as I would have like, but I did take the time to write out my itinerary for the week. This not only includes the tourist attractions, but a few local spots that I think you’d all enjoy - many of them being places to eat (yo, I ate sooo much this trip. I literally lost my abs lmao).
*I linked the Yelp page to the places I ate so you can take a look at their menu and the photos of the food I ate hehe you’re welcome
This restaurant was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so you know it’s lit.
Beef Stew Super Combo Plate (I ordered this by accident, but it turned out to be pretty good! If you’re familiar with the Filipino dish, kaldareta, it tastes just like that!)
Did you know that the U.S. uses enough plastic straws to fill the Yankee Stadium 9 times? What I admired about most about Lanikai Juice is that they use paper straws #ecofriendly
Hana Hou (This is a local favorite made with local greens, kale, green apple, cucumber, celery, lemon)
My sister’s friends and I walked 1.5 miles to get to Uncle Bo’s… we dubbed it the first hike of the week considering it seemed a lot further than it actually was lol! One thing to note - don’t judge a book by its cover! Uncle Bo’s was probably the best restaurant we went to all week.
It’s not a trip to Oahu if you haven’t tasted Leonard's!
Original and Cinnamon Malasada
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
This hike was more like an intense uphill walk, ranging about 1.5 miles both ways, 3 miles roundtrip. It’s family-friendly, offers a paved trail and I’d score it a moderately easy hike. Once you reach the top, you have a gorgeous view of the sea below and the view of the Makapu’u Lighthouse.
Plan to arrive early or take the shuttle bus from Hawaii Water Sport located just down the road from Hanauma Bay. It’s $8 per person and you can call to arrange a pick up when you’re done swimming with the fishes. Snorkel rentals are definitely available, but bringing your own may be more convenient and sanitary, in my opinion!
We didn't plan to eat here, but by golly I’m glad we did. This was the best hole-in-wall KBBQ spot I’ve had in awhile…. Or maybe I was just *that* hungry lol. This is located right next to Hawaii Water Sport, so if you’re looking to grub before going to Hanauma Bay, I highly recommend!
Kal Bi BBQ Beef & Chicken Combo
Ahh, yes, after a day of laying under the sun and swimming the beautiful, clear waters of Hawaii, an alcoholic beverage is in order. And yes, we’re still in the same plaza as Hawaii Water Sport. Honestly, fuck it, I might as well have spent my whole vacation in this plaza. Oh! And Happy Hour until 6 pm ;)
Melon Margarita (Honestly, I could have lived without this, but *shrugs*)
Garlic cheese bread w/ marinara sauce
You ain’t liiiiivin until you’ve had Marukame Udon. They make the noodles right in front of you and have your order ready in minutes. The line on the other hand, could take a while. Plan to arrive early or really late to avoid an unnecessary wait.
Nikutama Udon (Shredded beef, boiled egg)
Waimea Falls and Botanical Garden
Although I wish we completed a ‘real’ hike to a waterfall, Waimea Falls was still worth the brisk walk! As you enter the nature preserve, you walk through a beautiful botanical garden where you may be greeted by a peacock! This peaceful sanctuary provides educational presentations and workshops on Hawaiian culture and history, and leads you straight to Waimea Falls where you can swim if the waters are safe.
For the amount of times I’ve been to Oahu, I’ve never had the pleasure of enjoying Giovanni’s. MMMMM this place was so good guys! Mark this on your list.
Turtle Bay (Snorkeling, small tide pools)
Fun fact: This is the resort where Forgetting Sarah Marshall was filmed! Probably one of my favorite romcoms of all time. There’s a Roy’s located right on the beach, so if you’re hungry or need a drink, it’s just a few steps across the sand! I’m sad to say I didn’t come across any turtles here, but maybe you’ll be lucky!
We arrived here toward the end of the day, so tanning hours came to an end, but that didn’t stop me from having some fun! My friends and I climbed up a cliff and jumped off with the locals into the ocean! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not attempt to do this if you don’t know how to swim or are uncoordinated or do not have permission from ya parents, or if you’re by yourself - you know, COMMON SENSE SHIT. It’s fun af, but be careful pls.
It’s crazy to see how much Matsumoto’s has grown since the first time I went! They’ve expanded their store so much and added some cute souvenir’s to take home -. lunch bags, hydro flasks, etc. But what’s even better is that the taste is still exactly the same! I don’t recall what I ordered this time around, but I can guarantee that whatever you decide will be worth the drive!
Have you ever gone to sushi with a bunch of nurses? Me neither. THEY BALL TF OUT.
God of Fire “Kagu-Tscuchi Roll”
Maaan if I had the time to tell you all the funny stuff that happened this night you would die of laughter, but I’m just gonna say that this is definitely a sausage fest, so if you’re looking for some honey’s I don’t think you’ll find them here. Bring your group of friends tho and get ready to start a dance circle because the music is definitely on point.
I loved the view of the ocean while I chowed down on my food whilst hungover from a night at Addicted.
Macadamia banana pancakes
Just outside Hula Grill are a set of stairs that lead you straight down to a section of Waikiki Beach. We spent a few hours here soaking up the sun and enjoying some time to relax. This was one of the sunnier days that we were there, so we rented a few things to make our stay more comfortable.
Floaties are $5 each and you can rent until 4 pm
$35 for umbrella so that you don’t burn yourself from all those UV rays
Yet another hole-in-the-wall KBBQ spot to stuff my face in!
Kal Bi Beef and Chicken BBQ
I feel like it’s difficult to give a solid review on this luau because my princess ass got rained on for half the show (like actual lightning and raining pouring from the sky), but aside from all the moisture in the air, Germaine’s Luau put on a damn good show and had everyone laughing. We watched how Hawaiians traditionally cook their meals and were served a buffet full of food. The dances were mesmerizing and all I could think was, “I need to practice that move in the mirror.”
This brick and mortar opened April 10 - the day we arrived in Oahu! We were pretty much one of the first customers to shop the exclusive Honolulu gear (sooo stoked). *Separate blog post for my fit is definitely in the queue. It’s a small store, but they definitely have some good finds! Check it out when you get the chance.
Don’t ask questions. Just go. BEST. COOKIES. EVER.
As our last hoorah before our flight back home, we decided to indulge in a few drinks to, you know, help us sleep better on the plane Rumfire is another restaurant right on the beach located inside of the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki.
I’m honestly not sure how we were able to eat so much this trip lol! But if you’re looking for a local poke spot to try, Ono is the place to be! This joint is rather small and parking may be hard to find - just a heads up!
