If you have ever been to Hawaii, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about when I describe it as completely enchanting; 80-degrees, sunny days, beaches almost constantly within a stone's throw, friendly people, road-side fruit stands, fresh fish tacos, oodles of lush jungle to explore (essentially snake-free! did you know that?) and all the shaved ice you could want. I'm seriously hooked. Really really looking forward to going back.
We were sure to mix in a balanced amount of touristy vs. outdoorsy things into our trip, and I thought we did pretty freaking AOK. So, if you need an agenda for a stay on Oahu, here was ours:
- Polynesian Cultural Center (touristy and good -- the Samoa presentation is the best)
- Pearl Harbor (touristy and great)
- Honolulu & Waikiki beach -- dinner at Dukes with Hula pie as dessert (all touristy and good)
- Dole plantation (touristy, and I would recommend skipping the train tour and opting for the walking tour)
- Laie Temple (beautiful)
- Malasadas for breakfast (yes)
- Shrimp trucks for lunch (oh heck yes)
- Fish tacos for dinner (don't even get me started)
- Waimea Bay with rock jumping (the best beach on the island for sure)
- Pali lookout (such a lovely lookout, and no hiking involved!)
- Diamond Head hike/lookout (such a lovely lookout, and hiking involved!)
- Muanawili Falls hike with cliff jumping (a well-worn dirt trail with a waterfall and a 37-foot cliff jump at the end. Takes about 40 minutes each way)
- Sandy beach (nice for swimming)
- Shark's cove (really great snorkeling, and I even found a puka-shell anklet on the bottom of the ocean)
- Matsumoto's shave ice (of course)
- Waialua Bakery in Haleiwa (family run sandwich and smoothie shop that grows it's own produce to serve in the restaurant)
