Highlights of Oahu, Hawaii

There are few things that I think are a must do in Oahu: snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, hike in Diamond Head, kayak in Lanikai beach, learn how to surf in Waikiki beach, shop, eat, eat, and eat!!

Quick Tips:

Don't forget to check out the local supermarket in downtown Honolulu (other than ABC stores, which is more like a convenient store) to find affordable local food such as spam on rice hand roll or teriyaki on rice. Also, the prices are usually cheaper than ABC stores in Waikiki. Consider sharing a meal with your partner or friend because the portion in plate lunches is usually enough for two. That way, you save money and try more variety of food. It also works for those who eat smaller meals throughout the day.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car rental is probably the most convenient way to get around in Oahu. To get around in Waikiki, you could just walk.

Learning how to surf is a fun way to exercise and enjoy the warm weather in Oahu. The waves in Waikiki Beach are small so you don't have to worry about hurting yourself when you fall.... and you'll fall a lot. I did get some scratches on my knee from scraping it with the surf board while trying to stand up. I didn't notice it until afterwards. I took a lesson from one of the instructors at the Beach Boys, right on Waikiki beach, but there are many surfing school there so you can have your pick.

You can see the crater and a nice view of Waikiki beach from the top. Definitely bring water, and even though I went in January, it got pretty hot up there. The steps were pretty tough but if you take your time, you can do it.

The water is clear so you can see far ahead of you. The corals are pretty much grey, and you'll see more fish in the deeper water. I got to see a turtle up close and I heard a few people shrieking with excitement for seeing an octopus.

You can rent a kayak from a rental "van" across from the park. The water was clear so you can see the sand and corals underneath you. We saw a turtle surfacing from a distance. There's a couple of islands near Lanikai that you can kayak to. We only kayaked to one island to rest and ate some snacks. It was a bit tricky to get back in the water but if you are not afraid to get wet and jump back into the kayak, it's do-able.

We stumbled across this "restaurant" called Tsukenjo while driving around downtown Honolulu. It's more like a hole in the wall kinda place. Not fancy at all and only has basic amenities. However, the food is excellent and even saw a local policeman buy his lunch there. It's very affordable (around $7 to $8) and the portion is good for two people. Menu changes daily. I have photos but I cannot seem to upload them.

When you see a kau kau wagon, you can buy plate lunches there. The menu also changes daily but there is not that many options. It's also very affordable, two scoops of rice and some meat+veggies is about $5.50 (this is a medium size).

Also, there's a local chain restaurant called L & L that is worth a try! Some of the food you might find weird but it's actually really good. You may have heard of Loco Moco where you get two scoops of rice, hamburger meat covered with gravy and eggs on top. Give it a try before you decide it's not for you. The prices are affordable too, less than $10 and there are many locations. So if you're looking for a cheap place to eat, you can consider it.

There is a shaved ice shop called Matsumoto on Waialua Bay on Kamehameha Hwy, near intersection of Rt 83 and 99 (near North Shore) that you must try. They have many different flavors and they have a special one where they mix vanilla ice creams, sweet red beans, and shaved ice. My husband tried it and he loved it. I ordered cotton candy shaved ice and it was fun to eat, especially on a hot day.

Next to Matsumoto, there is another shaved ice shop called Aoki, I think, and it's supposed to be good too. If we weren't full with what we had, we would've tried the shaved ice from that shop. Next time we go to Oahu, we will.