Oahu, Hawaii Travel Blog
Hi Fam, welcome back! It’s been a while since I’ve done a blog post, especially a travel post and honestly I’m not sorry. I am proud of how much work has gone into this year and growing a successful second location of Tutoring Club. We have been working so hard this year, and have taken quite a few risks, we were thrilled for an opportunity to step away for a vacation. Because of our line of work (education), the best time for us to travel is when school is out for an extended period of time like Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer. Just to offer a little more insight as to why we travel, when we travel.
Hawaii is one of the most renowned and popular destinations in the world, the scenery, land, waters, people, culture, food, and more, truly make this a trip over the Pacific Ocean worth it. We had decided on Hawaii as a destination when Tristan’s mother’s (Kathy) graduation for her Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.). Hawaii has been a bucket list trip of hers for quite some time and Tristan and his aunt (Kathy’s sister; Sharon) decided it would be a great opportunity to treat her to her dream vacation to Hawaii. Lucky me!
As a group, we decided on Oahu because for our first trip to the great islands of Hawaii, it had a lot to do! Known as “The Gathering Place,” Oahu is home to the largest population of people. From hiking, beaches, excursions, history, military, activities, shopping, and relaxation; for us as a group for 4 individuals who like to do a variety of different things, this was a great destination for us to pick. Travel dates: November 17 – 23, 2022.
We booked our trip through Costco Travel, which I think is one of the best kept travel secrets… if you know you know. You do need a Costco Membership to book through Costco Travel. If you pay for the executive membership, you receive a certain percent back after your trip as a Costco Card, we received a $161.00 card back after our trip, which is pretty good! For our round trip and hotel for 5 nights, we paid just about 4K in total, seven months before the trip. We had the option to upgrade our seats to first class, which we did for an additional $150 per person closer to the trip. Not bad.
Flights
Because we booked our flights with our package through Costco Travel we simply selected the flights that worked best for us. We booked flights into Honolulu (HNL) which was pretty easy, you can get both connecting and direct flights depending on where you are flying out of. Our flight was just under 9 hours, however keep in mind that when traveling west you gain time back, so although we left at 9AM CST, we arrived in Hawaii around 5PM HST.
Alohilani Resort | Waikiki Beach
We stayed at the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. First impressions: Great location, close to the beach, food, and shops. We booked a partial ocean view, however when we arrived we say like a tiny inch of the ocean – so we asked to be moved, which they honored and moved us to another room on the 38th floor with a true partial ocean view. So when looking out you saw the buildings and hotels of Waikiki, but if you looked to the left you saw nothing but ocean, it was absolutely stunning. So never be afraid to speak up and ask for what you want.
The rooms are OK (I actually did not even get a photo of our room), in my opinion the photos are more jazzy than the rooms themselves, but that is marketing right? However the room was clean, met our needs, had a nice view with a balcony… and we weren’t in the hotel room much besides resting and sleeping. So keep that in mind when looking at hotels. How much time are you spending at the hotel? Some people want to be at the hotel a lot, the pool, the bar etc. For us, we wanted to experience life outside the hotel for this particular trip.
Tristan’s aunt (Sharon), got a complimentary Long Board Club membership because they screwed up her reservation, since she paid for a full ocean view and did not get the room she paid for. The long board club access gets guest “private setting to unwind and take part in curated offerings including a wine Cruvinet featuring 16 varietals, beer on tap crafted for Alohilani, and refined culinary delights” according to the website. However, after talking to Sharon and some other guests who actually paid for Long Board Club Access, the food was subpar after breakfast, and did not offer worthy perks for the additional money paid towards the stay.
My recommendation: Hotel is in a great location, pretty and clean hotel. I did not try the hotel food but it was very convenient to get to a lot of different places around to try different foods. For the right price, you can have a nice ocean view, but don’t splurge on the Long Board Access – support the local/family owned businesses around the hotel with that money I am glad we stayed here, no major complaints but probably would try another hotel next time we go.
Rental Car or Not?
The question a lot of people have when traveling to Hawaii is, “should we rent a car?” Of course, we also had the same question. However, it was technically Hawaii’s “off season” and when I say “off season,” I mean “a time of year that it is not as HIGHLY visited, but it was still very busy. We decided as a group to not rent a car until we got to Hawaii and got a lay of the land/commuting situation. We just were not totally sure how the days would play out, and how far things really were – since Uber/Lyft are in Oahu, we knew we had transportation options. I would say however, if you are visiting Hawaii in the summer, plan ahead for if you do want a rental car because a common issue is that they run out of rentals and you’ll be out of luck.
Tristan ended up renting a car from the hotel across the street from us, why? Initially, our hotel had run out of rental cars, however it ended up being a blessing because the hotel we rented from offered to park our rental car for free at night. So instead of paying for a rental car AND overnight parking at the hotel, we only paid for the rental car (with a military discount because Tristan’s mom is retired military) with free parking. When we wanted to use the rental car we went across the street and they brought it down for us – super easy and convenient.
Helpful Tip: If a member of your family is retired military be sure they have their ID on them so they can take advantage of the amazing military discounts for their service!
We rented a car for the first three days of our trip, when we had the furthest out activities, 30 minutes or more drive outside of Waikiki. The last 3 days we rented Ubers/Lyfts as needed.
My recommendation: Get a rental car, but you don’t need it for the whole trip. You can save some money and rent a car from a nearby hotel and ask them to park if overnight for free. Build your itinerary so your furthers activities/excursions are together (beginning or end of trip) so you can rent it for a few days, get a full use out of it, then return it and then Uber (or walk) to the activities closer rest of your activities closer to your hotel.
Being a Responsible and Respectful Traveler
I want to start by saying that before traveling to Hawaii, I did my fair share of educating myself on the island, the people, and the culture in order to learn how to visit as a responsible and respectful traveler. As visitors, we have a responsibility to be as best prepared as possible, whether here in Hawaii or any other destination around the world. Preparing ourselves for a deeply rich cultural place requires us to do some homework as a visitor. There is nothing worse than visiting someone else’s home and doing damage or being inconsiderate, and although ONE person won’t make a difference, a million tourist being inconsiderate of the environment and people DOES. So please take the time to do your part before visiting anywhere
Shop Small [When You Can]
When you support local and family businesses, you help the distinctive local communities flourish and maintain their authentic character. It was very important to me as a traveling to choose restaurants and businesses that sourced from local suppliers and choose sustainable certified operators. Buying and shopping local reduces capital flight and keeps that dollar continuously circulating into the local economy.
Choosing to support and get to know the farmers and eateries that use ingredients from the islands. Plus, you’ll also be tasting some of the freshest food available and flavors from the cultures that make up modern-day Hawaii, making the decision a win-win.
Oahu Beaches
Out of the group, I am the only person who could spend all day at the beach. So prior to visiting I made a list of beaches I really wanted to see. However with the “limited” time in trying to see so much of the island and experience so much, I could only spend half a day sitting and relaxing on the beach, but I was able to see FOUR.
Beach 1: Waikiki Beach
Waikiki is not only the most famous beach in Hawaii, but also one of the most recognized of the beaches in Oahu. Waikiki Beach is actually separated into different sections, and luckily for us, there was direct access to Waikiki Beach right outside our hotel. The best part about this beach (in my opinion) is a beach on the WEST side of the island which means, you have a front row seat to a GORGEOUS sunset every night.
The area closest to us area is known as the Prince Kuhio Beach or “The Ponds”, because they constructed two back-to-back concrete walls that stretch about 40 yards into the ocean. As a mom, I can really appreciate this beach as the enclosure of “the pond” keeps the water calm for little kids or those who don’t want to hang out in the rough waters with the waves.
Another area of Waikiki Beach is Queen Kapiolani Beach, Queen’s beach is located just after the Kuhio Ponds and very close to the Honolulu Zoo, a nice stretch of sand to relax and sunbath on.
It’s also a great spot to rent a boogie board and play in the rolling waves along the Waikiki Wall, which acts as a walking pier for visitors to watch the water action, I actually sat on this pier for a while Tristan was out with his mom, and I really enjoyed the views of people, beach, and city.
Whether you are looking forward to surfing, canoe paddling, snorkeling, swimming, boogie boarding, sand combing, catching a golden tan, people watching, or marveling at a few beautiful Waikiki sunsets, it’s very easy to have a good time on.
Beach 2: Laniakea Beach – Turtle Beach
I had the pleasure of jumping out a plane over this beautiful beach (we will get to that!), and after successfully and safely landing on the ground, I wanted to stop by before we made our way back to Waikiki. It is about a 45-50 minute drive from Waikiki, More commonly known as Turtle Beach for its beach side residents, Laniakea Beach is also part of the 7-Mile Miracle, which makes up an area in the North Shore that is prime for big surfing waves during the winter time. In the particular area and time of day we were in, there were no sea turtle relaxing on the beach, however we did see some sea turtles swimming in the water close to shore which allowed us to dub this trip to Turtle Beach a successful one!
Note that the sea turtles are fascinating to look at, but prohibited by federal law to touch, provoke or even get too close to. From where we entered we had to go through some greenery, which made for a beautiful and dramatic beach reveal which I absolutely loved. This beach was by far the least populated by people, there was probably only 4 people on the beach, away from the so if you wanted a more private experience.
Beach 3: Kailua Beach
This was a beach that was specifically on my list, I specifically made time to visit this beach in my free time. When I stepped on this beach, like all the beach I had the pleasure to see, I was simply amazed at the beauty. I had the rental car for the morning so I put “Kailua Beach Park” in my GPS and went from there. It was about a 20 minute drive from Waikiki, and it was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken – in addition to the unexpected treat of finding a farmer’s market along the way to stop and get some treats before I went to the beach.
The beach park had plenty of parking when I arrived, the parking lot was free, there were restrooms, and some picnic seating. The main park at Kailua Beach is 35 acres of green space with a lot of shade, the dunes rising up and overlooking the sand and the water. There were sunbathers, kayaks, boats , runners, wind surfers, kite surfers, and stand-up paddlers – everyone doing their own thing, enjoying the day.
Beach 4: Lanikai Beach
To start: This was my favorite beach of the whole trip, and easily the most beautiful beach I have seen in my life (to date). The moment I stepped foot onto the beach, I imagined Tristan and I retiring with a home on this beach, I truly found a piece of paradise. Lanikai beach is not only described as “most beautiful” of all Oahu beaches, but Lanikai Beach has consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. Finding Lanikai Beach can be a bit tricky since there are no posted beach signs. After you pass Kailua Beach, you will know you are on the right path when you see the iconic Lanikai Monument in the photo above. It prominently has “LANIKAI” written on it, and it’s very hard to miss. Thankfully I got there early so parking was not a problem for me, however parking has become tough in Lanikai because of its recent popularity amongst tourists, when I left there were cars lining up waiting to take my princess parking spot.
After you park, it is fairly easy to find the 6 public beach access ways to Lanikai Beach along Mokulua Drive, the first 4 are the most popular, while the last 2 lead only to water as the sand has eroded away – which I personally found out when I walked down one. I was absolutely speechless when I stepped onto this beach, the gorgeous white sands, calm and clear blue waters, greenery, and the beautiful Mokulua islands off-shore, I found my spot on the beach where I had a nice view of the islands, and simple laid out popping in the and out the water from time to time. Look for the dark areas in the water that represent rocks, and that’s where fish will most likely be if there are any at all. I honestly wish I could have spent the entire day at this beach, and wish I could have gone back to spend more time here.
My recommendation: take a rental car, and go out early to find parking and a beautiful spot to enjoy.
Activities in Oahu, Hawaii
When we decided on Oahu for our Hawaiian destination, we specifically picked it for the diversity of activities for every one of us to enjoy the trip. A little adventure, a little food, a little history, and a little relaxation, something for everyone. Besides traveling in a group – which is another story for creating an itinerary, these were the activities that we did while in Hawaii, either together or individually:
Skydive Hawaii
This had to be the first of the list because it was the most OVER THE TOP experience ever. I had the idea to go skydiving because it has been something I have always wanted to do, and this year has been a year of pushing myself out my comfort zone… so why not push myself out a plane free falling over one of the most beautiful destinations in the world? The best part? I got to do it with my Mother in Law and Tristan’s Aunt… or my Bonus Mother In Law! One by one we fell out a plane over a beautiful picturesque view. It was breathtaking, exhilarating, and terrifying. However if you are looking for the ultimate THRILL in Hawaii, this is it! We went to Skydive Hawaii which is on the North Side of Oahu, about 50 minutes outside of Waikiki, so if you are going to go, rent a car and make a day out of your trip out there! Visit Skydive Hawaii to see the World’s Most Beautiful Drop Zone for yourself!
Kualoa Ranch (Jurassic Valley)
I feel like anyone who steps foot on Oahu at some point will visit Kualoa Ranch, which is most popularly known as “Jurassic Valley,” because of the recognizable mountains and land that have been used in the Jurassic Park and World Movies. This was an absolute most do for us, because it as something we all wanted to do, and could do.
The website offers a large variety of tours for the different visitors, from a movie tour to see destinations of all the movie spots filmed at that location, e-bike tours, a horseback riding tour, Jurassic Tour, Ziplines, UTVs – it is a lot. However we did the 2 Hour RIDE ALONG UTV Raptor Tour, which meant, a Guide DROVE the Raptor Mobile, and we rode along – I actually recommend this option because you get significantly more information about the property and lands with the guide, if you pay for 2 Hour Raptor Tour for the same price, you drive yourself (behind the guide who is driving us), and get out of the raptor vehicle in the designated areas and get the history/information – really you are paying for the opportunity to drive their vehicles and the scenery, not as much information. So it really is your preference, but what we did was perfect Kualoa Ranch is about 20-30 minute drive outside of Waikiki, depending on traffic, so plan accordingly! Visit the Kualoa Ranch website to plan your trip today!
Experience Nutridge Lu’au
When I was looking for a Lu’au, I wanted something authentic and educational. I feel like a lot of lu’aus are more about the performance, big productions, and volume of tourism. I truly was looking for a cultural experience. I read about multiple lu’aus on the island of Oahu, but in regards to the location and authenticity, one small one kept coming up, Experience Nutridge at the Nutridge Estate. Let me tell you, you may have never heard of this lu’au because it is significantly smaller, like 150 people intimate. They offer transportation but since we had a vehicle we drove ourselves. Since were early they directed us up to the Tantulas Lookout, WOW… the view of Waikiki, Diamond Head and even the North Side was spectacular. We were welcomed to a beautiful display of culture, education, and drinks. There is some walking through the forest, and up/down some hills so wear appropriate shoes. We were able to learn about the culture but also see first hand the performances while learning about the history – we were all so appreciative of that. Before we sat down to eat, we got to experience the most BEAUTIFUL sunset from the mountain, it was a moment. For us, immedietly after the sunset, the downpour of rain came, so we quickly got under the tent, but shortly after the food was ready and it did not disappoint! The menu consisted of: Salad, steamed rice, Kaluaa pua’a, pulehu chicken, mini lau lau, sweet bread, pineapple, chocolate cake, and haupia. After dinner there was a variety of dances, lessons, and games. If I am being honest we did not stay late into the evening because one: some of us got wet and it was windy on top the mountain we did NOT want to get sick for the remainder of the trip and two: we wanted to beat traffic out and down the mountain. If you’re interested in attending Experience Nutridge yourself, you can go to their website for availability here.
Jet Skiing – H2O Sports
This was a last minute booking – which means it was not on the initial agenda when we arrived, because we were not sure how we would feel by the last day, but I am so glad we ended up adding this in. When I thought about jet skiing in Hawaii, I imagined riding freely around the ocean with only a landmark and the sun to tell me when it was time to go in, I was wrong. H2O Sports has a variety of water activities for the family, from jet skiing, parasailing, banana boating, sunset cruises, etc. They check you in, ensure you have signed all the waivers, and then take you out on a transport boat to what I call their “aquatic hub” it’s a larger boat in the middle of the water with the jet ski’s attached, and where they branch off to take you your other activities. When we arrived on their “hub” we were initially disappointed to learn you are on a “course” or track that is designated with water bougies and pretty much go in a circle on your jet ski for 30 minutes. It sounded boring, and honestly repeating it sounds boarding. However, we were there, we paid for it, we might as well make the most of it. I love riding a Jet Ski, driving, I am honestly not as comfortable… so Tristan drove 😉 there were three other people riding jet ski’s with us, so once Tristan got acclimated to the drive, we spent the next 30 minutes lapping as many people as we could.. it was HILARIOUS and so much fun. Even though we were skiing around in a circle for 30 minutes, you would have never known, especially when you are riding with someone else and just having the time of your life. We did not switch drivers, but you can move to the side and switch drivers as needed.
The reason for this set up, we were told is because Hawaii has specific areas with reef and is protected, and people with boats and jet skis just cannot move around ANYWHERE, there is a regulation to the areas in order to protect wild life and the environment, which we can appreciate and respect. At the end of the day, we had a really good time and were really glad that we did it. There are a couple places that do jet skiing in Waikiki so honestly, pick the place you feel best about and is convenient for you – this was about 20 west of Waikiki so not impossible, but not the most convenient for a 30 minute jet ski ride, if I’m being honest. But I did see a different part of the island, and for that I am appreciative!. Book your reservation for H2O Sports Here Today for your trip to Hawaii.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
We visited Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens as a group – it is somewhere everyone from all ages can really enjoy and appreciate. If you are into the international botanical variety from different countries, bird watching, or you simply want to take a really pretty IG photo – no judgement, it is worth making the 20 minute drive up from Waikiki. The different geographical regions highlighted in the botanical collections are: Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America, India & Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Hawaii, Polynesia, and Africa.
When you arrive at the botanical garden after passing through the check in point, you will immediately, I mean IMMEDIATELY be met with signs that say “No Pictures on the Road,” because the road you enter on is very popular in instagram photos, however it is also. two way street for cars and moving traffic, What people chose to do to get a photo, is completely up to them. But I saw quite a few people taking photos in other areas of the park that were equally as stunning so keep that in mind.
I recommend stopping by the visitor center before beginning your adventure through the botanical gardens, you can grab a map, get some additional information on the different plants and wildlife you may see during your visit. For more information you can visit the website here.
Honolulu Zoo
The Honolulu Zoo is in Waikiki, and just after the strip of hotels and shops, depending on where you stay it is walking distance. I ended up visiting the zoo by myself while Tristan and his mom visited Pearl Harbor. It cost me $19 to pay via credit card, the zoo starts with a lot of birds, I mean A LOT – maybe I am just not used to seeing a lot of variety of birds in the Houston Zoo, but there were a lot of species from different regions which was very cool, they had a primate area, a reptile area, an African safari area as well, but if I am being honest, I didn’t need to go by myself, however for kids, this was the perfect treat for them when on vacation with a family, and for that I am super appreciative. I know traveling with kids is challenging in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to water and safety in general. So to have a zoo where kids and come and awe and large animals is what I can imagine a welcome small break for moms. I said small break because the work truly never stops for us! Honestly I am really looking forward to bringing my son back when we return to Waikiki when he is older! My recommendation: Definitely visit with family and kids, if you have a full agenda otherwise you could probably skip this time around and appreciate some natural wildlife! For more information on the Honolulu Zoo, visit the website here!
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Oahu is known as a large military island, there is currently an active military base in Hawaii but also the Pearl Harbor National Museum, the Pearl Harbor bombings which ultimately lead to the United States’ involvement in WWII. The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The Pearl Harbor National Museum is managed by the US National Park Services, most things are free but a few items still require a few such as the USS Arizona Memorial and the Ford Island Bus Tour. Tristan went to Pearl Harbor with his mother who is retired military. He booked a guide to pick them up from the hotel, they were gone for about 4 hours, however they did not see the whole Pearl Harbor Memorial, the museum and paid their respects at the USS Arizona. I recommend if you are going to visit Pearl Harbor, start at their website to determine exactly what you want to see and do, this will make booking your itinerary a lot easier.
Shopping in Hawaii
Do not miss the opportunity to shop in Hawaii if you love to shop and love fashion! The sales tax on retail items is 4% in Hawaii, and depending on where you live, that can be quite a difference – in Texas there is a 6.25 percent sale take and use take on all goods as well as taxable services, however Local taxing jurisdictions (cities, counties, special purpose districts and transit authorities) can also impose up to 2 percent sales and use tax for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. So compared to Hawaii, this is a welcomed reprieve. Hawaii has special discounts on luxury brands that aren’t available anywhere else in the world. Additionally, some designers that retail in Hawaii offer a special rate, usually 10% cheaper on certain goods, than the standard rate. A sales associate told me that it’s because luxury retailers combine Hawaii and Guam into their own special pricing zone since they don’t really fall within the Mainland U.S. or Mainland Asia. As to why it’s cheaper than either mainland. So just be sure to clarify when you are shopping around, because every store is different in terms of their discount and what they offer their discount on.
The trip was truly the most memorable and spectacular trip. To experience this destination with family celebrating such a special occasion made this trip that much more special. We really look forward to returning to Hawaii very soon to see the other islands. I hope you enjoyed this blog and it helps you plan a trip to Oahu if you’re planning one for you and your family/friends!
