An Amazing Trip to Oahu, Hawaii with Tips from a Former Resident
It’s very easy to explore the wonders of Oahu, Hawaii with some cool locals’ recommendations. I was super excited to write this post, since I lived in Hawaii when my dad was stationed there. Going back to visit is always amazing because once the Hawaiians find out you lived there, they welcome you home and will give you tips they won’t give the average tourist.
First things first: DO NOT stay in Honolulu (Waikiki). While it’s cool to see if you’ve never been, it’s basically a touristy city with a beach. You can spend less money and just go to Miami for that. Instead book your trip for the North Shore and take the H-1 to the H-2 for an old Hawaii experience on Oahu. You will want to see some of the sites around Honolulu however, so I will talk about those. They’re worth seeing.
Where to stay
Our favorite place to stay is the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. Turtle Bay is the only resort on the North Shore and for good reason. The local community has fought hard to “Keep the Country, Country.” This is what makes the North Shore unique. You can find Air BnBs on the North Shore if you prefer that.
What to see and do around Honolulu
Again, if you haven’t been, you need to see some of the cool sights on this side of the island. Just don’t stay here! First you must visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. This is a must-see, and I’ve been several times as I’m a big military history buff. It’s a somber place, so be prepared to be quiet and pay your respects. You can make reservations here. Ford Island is another great tour. You can see the USS Oklahoma and Battleship Row.
The other major thing to do on this side of the island is to visit the Diamond Head State Monument. With an elevation of 762 feet, it makes for a very nice hike. The view at the top is well worth it!
Visiting the Dole Pineapple Plantation
On your drive over to the North Shore, you can stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. It’s a great experience for learning about the pineapple industry in Hawaii. Most of it has actually moved away from Hawaii to cheaper places to grow like Asia and South America. However, it is still one of Hawaii’s largest crops. If traveling with kids, they’ll love this stop on your trip.
What to do once you arrive on the North Shore
The First things to do are the beaches. In the summer months, many of the beaches are very calm in terms of waves. If you want to see the monster waves, you need to go during the winter. You won’t be able to swim at many of them in the winter months though due to the dangerous waves.
You will enjoy watching some world class surfers who call Hawaii home if you’re lucky. Sunset Beach is probably my favorite, but there’s also a hidden beach that’s amazing. I don’t know the name but will provide directions later in this post.
Some of my favorite beaches to visit
Waimea Bay– 30 foot waves in the winter and smooth as glass for swimming in the summer
Sunset Beach– Amazing waves in winter and great for snorkeling in the summer
Banzai Pipeline– Home to arguably the world’s most famous wave
Turtle Beach– A great beach for surfing, diving and fishing but not the best for swimming due to its rocky bottom
Our Hidden Turtle Beach– I do not know the name and most tourists don’t know about it. What I tell all my friends going to Oahu is below. Everyone that’s looked for it based on my directions (below) has found it.
Continue out of the town of Haleiwa along the two-lane road (main road on N. Shore), and there’s a place the locals go to see the turtles. You can lay right next to them on the beach, but don’t touch. It’s a little tricky to find. Once out of town, look for a small bus stop on the right just after passing a ranch on the right. You’ll then look to the left, and there’s a small street that leads behind some houses. Go to the end of that street, and there’s a public beach access. It’s a beautiful beach, and if the time of day is right you can see up to 5 or 6 huge sea turtles laying on the beach. The turtles aren’t always there, but it’s a gorgeous and more private beach even if not.
Polynesian Cultural Center
If you’ve never been to Hawaii, then the Polynesian Cultural Center is a must-see attraction. There are 42 acres of tropical paradise to see. You can dine like Hawaiian royalty at the authentic Polynesian Lu’au, followed by an evening show.
Other awesome things to do and places to eat
Spend some time shopping in Haleiwa. It’s the first town you will come to on the North Shore. It’s a quaint little town with surf shops, jewelry shops, and other stores where you can buy cool gifts.
Be sure to get some great cheap eats at one of the shrimp trucks. Our favorite used to be Blue Water, but it appears it didn’t survive the pandemic. Giovanni’s is a close second, so definitely go there for some great feasting! A perfect place to watch the sunset while having some drinks and dinner is Haleiwa Joe’s.
2 comments