For me, #7 would be changed to "ginger." Looooooove the smell of ginger flowers!

I'd also like to add sunsets at Magic Island. And July sunrises....every morning this month I've rolled out of bed to an incredible panorama of colors unfolding over a glassy blue Pacific Ocean. (OK at this point I'm just bragging!)

Right on, tanman. Oahu loves you too!

Best white sand beaches for swimming!

MelissaHl -- you're killing us here! Put a lid on it!!!

Ahhhhhhh, Oahu! Wish I were there!

Lovely Oahu . . .

The constant coming and going of Waikiki

Historical downtown.

The beautiful beaches of the North Shore.

Chinatown!

I still miss you Oahu!

Cats Do Dance

Watching the waves on the North Shore in wintertime

the view from up on the Tantalus

Strolling the tourist zone in Waikiki--where else do you find Rodeo Drive meets Ocean City boardwalk?

I love that there's no way you can see or do it all in one trip, that leaves great excuses to go back again and again and again...

I love the lobby of the Moana Surfrider, I can imagine being there circa 1920....
I have had the very same people who tell me they love going to Vegas say they hate Waikiki because it is too commercial and over developed!!!!

Taking a sailing cruise out of Waikiki and viewing the island from the water. So amazing to see a big city coming out of the water with the mountains and clouds in the background!

Luscious pineapple
Macadamia nut pie
Coral jewelry
Rainbows
View of the ocean in one direction and the mountains in the other
Old memories of getting off the plane to join my husband who had been in Korea for a year, seeing the gorgeous tropical scenery for the first time, a year of weekends at the beach and potluck dinners with other young couples, the birth of our daughter--it's my magic place.

Watching 4,745 glorious sunsets (13 years on Oahu), and still looking for my first green flash...

Walking from my apartment in Pualei Circle through Kapiolani Park to get to the beach.

Making lifelong friends.

The Iolani Palace.

Kawaiahao Church's Hawaiian & English services on Sundays.

The old Willows Restaurant

The view from Tantalus

Eating dim sum downtown

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii & The Brothers Cazimiero & Concerts at the Waikiki Shell

The Christmas lights in Downtown Honolulu.

Eating eggs benedict at brunch at the Tahitian Lanai...sadly now gone as well...

Remembering being on Waikiki Beach my very first day living on Oahu, and thinking life doesn't get any better than this.

tanman, I love to laugh and you made me roflmao at #5.
Also, tanman you and the others have convinced me to spend several days on Oahu either on the way to or from Kauai, May, 2005.

1. Strolling Waikiki Beach as the sun goes down and the lights come up at the resorts, with the sound of the music wafting out to the water.........

2. Swimming at Sans Souci Beach at the New Otani Kaimana

3. The panoramic view from the oceanview jr. suites at the New Otani, of the ocean, the city lights and Diamond Head as night falls.

4. The evening show at the Polynesian Cultural Center

ALL of the above, plus---

Snorkeling at Hanama Bay.

Everything about the North Shore.

Double rainbows.

Fresh pineapple ice cream.

The Arizona Memorial and Punchbowl National Cemetery.

The incredible local musicians (at least we can take their music home with us!).

Sunset ceremonies.

And...the view of Waikiki from a parasail!

#3...Shave Ice, not Shaved Ice.

I live in Waikiki...Ala Moana Blvd. with Ocean, City, Canal and Mountain views. Can't wait to move out. Maybe a nice place for a visit, but not to live. Why anyone would come to Honolulu for a vacation rather then Kauai is beyond me.

travelsmart, this thread is called Why I love Oahu, too. I live in metro Honolulu on the edge of Waikiki and I love it. In fact, I was wading in the water in Waikiki yesterday thinking, "Hey, this is pretty nice!" (and yes, I fought the traffic for the Ukulele Festival.)

I've been to Kauai, travelsmart, and while it "is" nice, I much prefer Oahu!

Different strokes for different folks.

I hate crowded sidewalks, high rises that block the views of the beach and commercialism. So why did I LOVE Waikiki?! It's hard to describe until you experience it.

Fun thread tanman!

The contrast of watching surfers standing barefoot w/ their boards at a stoplight on Kalakaua Avenue.

Dusk at Kuhio Beach Park w/ all the tikis lit & waves of Hawaiian music all around...

Young & older ladies doing hula dance.

Strolling Chinatown.

Soft showers & duoble rainbows...

Driving the windward coast in no hurry...

Fresh produce stands along the road on the north shore...

Sunset Beach in Nov/Dec watching the Triple Crown of Surfing!

Being mesmerized by watching enormous waves close out.

Shelling @ Ke Iki.

Breaching whales...

Falling asleep to the crashing surf.

Floral fragrance everywhere... I'm w/ you Melissa, ohhh the smell of ginger!

Shopping at the Crazy Shirts Outlet and Aloha Stadium.

Watching surfing on the Northshore.

Matsumoto's for Shaved Ice.

aloha...

There's just something wonderful about the memorial of leis on Duke Kahanamoku & Princess Ka'iulani's bronze statues... and also the lei's at the Arizona Memorial... very moving.

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I love Oahu. On some boards you get tarred and feathered at the mere mention of Waikiki. LOL I have been to all the islands and really like them all with the exception of Kauai and that is NOT a put down of those who love it there..it just isn't my cup of tea. it's a big wide wonderful world and there will always be something for everyone.

I lived on Oahu for three years and visited the other islands many times. Oahu remains my favorite. You can do everything on Oahu, be in the city or in the middle of nowhere within 30 minutes, take the bus anywhere and everywhere, eat fantastic food... I have to stop, my mouth is watering.

By the way, I really loved the local comedians. Is Andy Bumatai still performing?

Ya know, I thought Andy had left the comedy scene for software development (seriously). But if you go to andybumatai.com, you'll see that he performs every Friday & Saturday night at the Palace Showroom with another classic Hawaii comedian, Frank Delima.

Another popular duo is Augie T. & Lanai, who perform on Fridays at Dave & Busters.

I'm not super sure about Booga Booga, the grand-daddies of local comedy. James Grant Benton passed away last year, leaving Ed Kahapea and Dave Lancaster. Ed and Dave do a lot of fun commercials and we've hired them to do skits for our company functions, but I have never asked if they actually perform anywhere in Honolulu on a regular basis.

Great thread!! I just got home from Oahu last night. Sighhhhh.....it's my most favorite of the 3 Hawaiian islands I have been to. Oahu has it all!

1. Ko'Olina lagoons on the west side

2. The many gorgeous shades of the ocean

3. The hum and energy of Waikiki, watching all the happy people strolling by

4. Watching a movie on the beach at Sunset on the Beach, while munching on kalua pork and banana lumpia

5. LAVA FLOWS!! (not the real ones, the cocktail!)

6. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

7. Giovanni's White Shrimp Truck on the North Shore for the most delicious, garlicky shrimp scampi over rice (don't be scared by the dilapitated truck!)

8. Taking a sunset cruise with a pod of dolphins swimming and jumping and twirling next to us

9. Drinking a tropical cocktail out of a pineapple while sitting under the banyan tree at the Ala Moana Surfrider

10. LAVA FLOWS!! LOL

BTW, tanman10, I LOVE your #14!!!

Floating in the waves waiting for the sun to set with Diamond Head at your back.

Windward side with all the cute giggling local children

Beautiful view looking out toward Chinaman's Hat.

Pineapple whips and fresh pineapple juice.

Plate lunches and Korean BBQ

Ack! I almost forgot one of my most favorite things on Oahu:

11. Beautiful Turtle Beach on the North Shore, where you can swim with huge sea turtles, and the come up onto the sand to sun themselves next to you...

MelissaHI: Thanks! I liked Frank DeLima a lot, too!!! I remember Andy tried to make it on the mainland, but they just didn't get stuff like "you know when you go out to your cars and you hear the radio shut off because the cockroaches have been in there listening to it." Nothing like those 747 cockroaches!

Great thread - thank you. I agree with everyone. I have been to the islands several times and have always loved Oahu. I just went with my husband of 2 years and we went to Waikiki for our first 4 days. It was just not his thing. I had to rethink why I love it so much and this thread really nailed it for me. I've seen a few snippets that seem right to me on this site:

Las Vegas with a beach
New York with palm trees

But there is something else:

Waikiki is modern, glitzy, and touristy but also, like Las Vegas, unapologetic. But if you listen, it has echos of a past that is still so close you can hear the big bands of the 30's and smell the ginger. You can step out onto the edge of the surf in Waikiki and be transported back to another time. There are still surfers, outrigger canoes, sailboats and swimmers. The beautiful ladies of the beach can help you get there. The Moana Surfrider and the Royal Hawaiian are a step back in time. I took the historical tours of both and they made me look at the area with new eyes. I could imagine what it was like before the travel boom of hotel building.

There isn't much left but the gentle age of travel is still there and alive in Waikiki. The days when you had to sail over on the Matson Line in your best dress and would attend grand parties under the banyon tree.

Somewhere... Hawaii Calls

"Waikiki....My whole life is empty without you..."

I first heard that wonderful song back in 1965 when I was living on the Windward Side and I have never forgotten it. In those days when there was, reportedly, only one traffic light on the island of Kauai, K-Blvd was full of T-shirt shops (no golf stores, no "upscale shopping" and the old Biltmore was still doing business)...you could watch the "clouds" on the ceiling at the Waikiki theatre and on and on and on...

Oahu..the "gathering place" and for oh so many GOOD reasons..wish I were there right NOW!

TopMan: Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory....I haven't thought about the clouds on the ceiling in years and years.

ttt
I needed a Waikiki fix...

Snorkeling at Shark's Cove on the north shore (summer only)

Patti's Chinese Kitchen at Ala Moana Mall (better vefore they renovated the mall, when it wasn't in a food court!)

Fort DeRussy Park

Kapiolani Park

Bishop Museum

Riding a motorcycle thru the tunnel from the windward side to Honolulu

Eating at a local place in Wahiawa

Huli-huli chicken

Aaaaaalohhhhhaaaa all you O'ahu lovers!

Kamahinaohoku, I love you for topping this thread... just what I needed after a very long day of work on a COLD day in Chicago.

Aaaaaahhhhhh!

It's cold here in Honolulu, too! Dipped to 60 degrees the last couple of nights....what we call a "double blanket night."

Hey Makai1- I know it's a little early, but Mele Kalikimaka me ka Haouli Makahiki Hou.

You want to get really depressed? Check out the Honolulu lights downtown.
http://www.melekalikimaka.com/

Actually, Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauoli Makahiki Hou to everyone.

Aloha!

Topping for cak01...

Hey Melissa, what's the weather today?? ;;D Any ??

Yesterday (12/26) it was clear and beautiful. From last night, though, it started pouring. right now (11 a.m.) it is gray and cloudy all over. What a contrast! You can still see the Pacific Ocean from here, though......

Come see the tanman who has just returned from hawaii and met don ho...click below
http://community.webshots.com/album/235662752aSCkpD
http://community.webshots.com/album/235674893VwJsDS

love how this thread developed ))

Aloha tanman,

OOhhhhhhhh, are you just attempting to make us all jealous?????

Mahalo for sharing... aaahhh the memories... esp. on a 20 degree day in Chicago.

With fond thoughts...

Great thread, tanman, but reading all these great posts sure makes me wish I was in paradise instead of behind a desk here in "Sin City!"

Why I love Oahu? I love it the moment I set foot in the airport, just stepping into the open air concourse and gettng that first whiff of the unmatched scents of Hawaii. One good, long deep breath and I realize I'm in heaven. The trade winds breezing through and just the electric energy that IS Oahu.

And of course all the rest - the magic I feel when my toes first sink into the warm sand as I head off on my maiden walk on Waikiki beach - looking toward Diamondhead - and heading straight for the Banyon Bar at the Moana!

The amazing ocean with all it's power, beauty and awesome waves. The sunsets that are incredible. Dark blue skies. Welcome showers on humid days. Driving along toward North Shore, usually seeing numerous rainbows on the way, and the deserted beaches we always manage to find.

The smiling faces all around - no where - not even here in the adult playground I live in - do you see such an abundance of smiling, happy faces. I love people watching in Waikiki - both at the beach and everywhere else, especially from a rocking chair on the lanai of the Moana.

I love taking The Bus anywhere & everywhere and talking to the locals who are so friendly and willing to share their time and their stories.

Now you've got me sitting here daydreaming and wishing I could jump on a plane this afternoon!

I am daydreaming also!

My grandson who works in Oahu asked if I could come there in April to visit him. The answer is YES!!!!!

I am another one who loves Oahu. Cannot give a better description then tanman10 did.

Happy travels everyone.

topping... because it's SNOWING outside AGAIN and I DESPERATELY need an OAHU fix...and a Kauai fix...and a Maui Fix...Molokai...Lanai...Big I.s.l.a.n.d....

DAMN...I'm depressed!

Leaving for Oahu in 3 weeks....

My vote is for Zippy's. Much like Denny's but it has hawaiian-asian flare specialties including scoops of rice which my husband loves

Don Ho - that guy amazes me, he must be in his late 70's by now still going strong

while scrolling through all these threads I noticed that someone wrote about the Tahitian Lanai being gone.

I have many memories of that place during the 60's when Val the piano player was there and a lot of the local guys would come and sing Hawaiian music.

Anyone else remember that.

One of my favorite memories is working at Queens Hospital - the birds would be flying in out/ some of the patients would have ukeleles and be strumming and singing while we did our work -

My favorite beach is Bellows - spent many a night there also .

Wish I was there now

Sunburn1944 - that was me reminiscing about the Tahitian Lanai earlier. Oh for some pan fried taro, eggs benedict and those banana muffins...
I didn't arrive til 1974 so I don't remember the piano player at TL. But I think I remember that there was a piano bar at Canlis.

Plantation iced tea! They make an excellent version at Diamond Head Market & Grill on Monsarrat. Speaking of Monsarrat, I also love the Saturday morning farmers market at Kapiolani Community College.

I used to love watching the rain coming down off the Ko'olaus, making it's way to Kaimuki. I got pretty good at guessing how much time I had to grab lunch/get to my car before the downpour arrived.

Thanks to this thread and others like it that extol the virtues of Oahu, I am planning a trip there for next year! Yippee! First time back since 1985!
-Bill

15 years ago I had the time of my life in Oahu....my most memorable vacation.
I still recall the hawaiian music in the Woolworth's store on Kalakaua and the song playing was "the green green grass of home" sung in hawaiian.
It gave me goosebumps then to hear the intoxicating gentle tones of Hawaiian to a familiar song.
Along with the gorgeous sunsets, the tikis, torches, surfers, breezes, waves, blue , blue and blue ocean and palm trees waving, and hibiscus flowers falling everywhere and so many other memories...Here's to you Oahu!
When I'm there in 4 weeks I'll toast you with a mai tai.
Aloha

Many mahalos, kamahinaohoku... you always seem to pull this thread back up when I need it most... this cold weather can't last much longer!

Aloha for now...

I love this thread!

Makai1 - Mahalo nui loa to you as well. Obviously we both need a big dose of Oahu when the weather is this bad. And it's supposed to be spring! Weather's all kapakahi.

The sunsets from Magic Island have been spectacular (except last night) this week. Orange orange skies, glassy Pacific Ocean, sailboats on the horizon. Makes up for the cold weather we had had.....the temps dropped down into the mid 50s!!

Another thread with things to do on Oahu:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=34652188

Besides the websites listed on the thread that are good for all islands, here's some more for other islands:

Big Island:

www.bigisland.org

Maui:

www.mauihawaii.org

www.visitmaui.com

Kauai:

www.kauaidiscovery.com

www.kauai-hawaii.com

Whatever island(s) you choose, you can't go wrong.

aloha dusty... you seem to have missed the point.. Oahu... why I love Oahu... just thinking about the crashing surf of the north shore makes me want hop on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again...

I love this thread tanman! I love speed walking/running up Diamond Head, going for a long jog along Kahala, rainbows as we head towards Bellows beach, malasadas at Leonards, the views from Punchbowl, hanging out have a plate lunch.

Makai1 - I didn't miss the point. I was reading the other message with the link to this one and when I wanted to respond to the other one I forgot that I had clicked on the link to this thread.

So I screwed up and responded to the wrong one.

But if nothing else, it brought this one back to the top.

Aloha... topping for heavens!
Chinatown... yes... fresh leis being strung in Chinatown.

topping for max!
Oh yah... watching the surfing at Pipeline and Sunset Beach during the Triple Crown!

A fresh new topping for all of those souls wondering if O'ahu offers anything of importance... enjoy the aloha spirit here...

No intention of on your , curious about this report as well:

www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/30/hi.sewage.spill.ap/index.html

what a beautiful thread...and I will not let it fall on such a sour note. waikiki is for sure not for everyone...no place is. each island, and each area of every island has something unique & special to offer. let's stick to honoring beautiful ohau...

I love Oahu for many of the same reasons... it's the feeling I get when I arrive in the airport (I even love the musty smell!) My heart smiles instantly and then I'm on my way...even a trafficy, congested H-1 can't break the feeling. it just adds to the anticipation... stroll along the beach, warm sand in my toes, come to kapiolani park and follow the road up to my favorite spot on Diamond Head to watch the surfers and drink it all in. sunset anywhere. That first early morning stroll is even better...everything is so fresh and waikiki slowly wakes up and comes to life once again. play in the water, ride a wave, nap.... take a drive, roundtop/tantalus does not disappoint... or go the windward coast/north shore and explore a whole new world. calm waters with pristine beaches or big-wave excitement - take your pick. eat your way around the island...malasadas, shrimp truck delight, shave ice oh my! drinking wine out of a plastic cup with great friends on sunset beach, early morning jogs on Laniakai beach before the tour buses roll through for turtle watch, slip into north shore vibe, ride bikes, stroll haleiwa.... fun times & yummy banzai roll at banzai sushi... can't wait to do it all again... maybe next year!

Aloha everyone! Mahalo Oahu!!! We love you. : )

LOL, I don't remember hookers on every street corner! Anyway, Waikiki does put a little negativity on the island of Oahu in general. But there's still plenty to enjoy Windward, Leeward and North side. We had a lot of fun at the Dole Plantation and the maize.

Waikiki is wonderfully nostalgic... and if you wander and breathe and experience it's magic... you'll never be the same...

Makai1- mahalo plenty for topping. I need a Waikiki fix...

...Waikiki my whole life is empty without you,I miss that magic about you
Magic beside the sea
Magic of Waikiki, Waikiki, Waikiki
Magic of Waikiki...
sigh...

Well, since this thread has been resurrected anyway, I'm going to go ahead and add: Mac nut pancakes at Boots and Kimo's!!!

Shirokiya Dept Store at the Ala Moana Center, then trip to the food court at the basement for a super wide selection of whatever i feel like eating at the moment.

We are huge Hawaii Five-O fans and love watching our taped shows before we go back to Oahu. We also watch them on the plane on the way over. Then we go to all the different places they shot the show and take pictures. We have pictures of Jack Lord's a.k.a Steve McGarrett's condo. When he passed away his wife threw his ashes into the water right in front of thier condo.

In one episode at the HHV, the bad guys missed when they went to shoot one of the good guys. The next shot shows Danno digging the bullet out of a coconut palm. A couple of years ago I actually found the coconut palm and the hole from Danno digging into it. I have a wonderful picture of it.

WE LOVE WAIKIKI/HONOLULU FOR HAWAII FIVE-O!!!

We got back last week. It was our first trip to Hawaii and we had a great time. Here is our list

1. Rented a car and toured the island. Magnificent beaches.

2. Sun, sun, sun in Waikiki

3. Mackey's Shrimp truck on the north shore. Don't miss it!

4. We saw birds we have never seen. Not to mention the mongooses.

5. Hilton Royal Hawaiin and Turtle Bay Resorts are awesome.

6. Though kind of hustle bustle in Waikiki, it is laid back.

7. Fresh pineapple, mango and papaya.

8. People won't jaywalk here....

Thanks for resurrecting this great thread - Oahu is my hands down favorite island, and Waikiki my favorite place on earth. Even though I haven't even been home for a month since my last visit I am still longing for the beauty and tranquility that waits for me there. It helps to read through all of these posts and close my eyes and it's almost as good as being back there again. I'll just have to read posts like this and daydream until June 26th rolls around and I get to go back to paradise again ....

topping for degas

I love Oahu because of all the fabulous Fodorites that live there and play host to travelers like me!

As I continue to search for this thread to refer it to others who have never been here... and just back from a lovely time with my sister in Jan 08, and new heart pulls... just thought I'd share a few thoughts...

Heartfelt tribute to Don Ho... beloved Hawaiian voice... you will be missed

Waialua Farmers Market... perfect... buying fresh ahi from the back of a fishermans pick up

Mokuleia beach... precious for solitary walks... not a soul in sight

Watching weddings on KeIki and Lanikai beaches taking our breath away

Pulling over at Pupukea beach at sunset...

Whales breaching at Kaena Point

Tasting mangosteen for the first time in Chinatown

Enjoying time with MelissaHI at Aloha Tower Marketplace and meeting Icuy

Getting lei'd w/ tuberrose

Fawwaz seranading us with ukulele and original music at Hauula Gift Shop as we tried on clothes

Talking story with an ole timer as he was carving and staining tikis

Sipping champagne at the beach at Turtle Bay

Purchasing original Hawaiian tapa cloth from a lovely lady at a fruit stand on the north shore... more story

Enjoying our last night with a fine bottle of red on KeIki beach and a brilliant sunset

Big waves

Love, love, love O'ahu

enjoying Oahu is easy when you are with Fabulous Fodorites like Makai!!

By the way, you can get to know the different neighborhoods at www.myadvertiser.com. MY neighborhood blog is at www.myadvertiser.com/kakaako -- scroll down, you'll see my photo on the right. click on my photo and you can read all about the different "insider" things a local does around here.

<>LOVE<> the "whale tales", Mels!! Great pix too!

mak

Topping, cuz Makai1 is a fantastic sleuth!

LOL!! You know me too well Mels!!

Here's what dictionary.com says for sleuth...

"a dog used for tracking or pursuing, such as a bloodhound.

I'm just a regular ole K9... no gettin' away from it!

~smooch~

back to "why I love Oahu too..."

so many choices!

ttt for sf7307

Thank you!

sorry iamq... if you post you MUST share SOMETHING you love...
don't forget it's Oaaahhhuuuu!!!

~smooch~

mak

Oahu has the finest collection of fodorites ever seen! How's that?

smooch back at ya.

Much love and aloha for MomDDTravel... O'ahu heightens the senses and makes you smile down to your toes... smell ginger.

awwhhhh it!!!

DON'T EVEN CARE THAT I'M 3 YEARS LATE

I love love love the smell of REAL Plumerias (nothing can quite capture it)

I love eating Hawaiian French toast from Papa Oles with a juicy dragon fruit

I love driving up and down Kamehameha Hwy with no particular destination

I love kayaking to the Moks (even when I make a crash landing hehe)

I love feeling the powdery soft sand between my toes, standing on Lanikai beach

I love the people, who treat you like a friend from the moment they meet you

I love falling asleep and waking up to the gentle, soothing trade winds

I love how foolish I look while trying to tread water and get my fins on at the same time

I love sitting and staring out at the beautiful, glistening, clear ocean and feeling like time doesn't exist

I love waking up each morning and picking a new snorkel spot

I love hiking different places and always being surrounded by lush plants

I love how the natural beauty, everywhere, and how it never ceases to put me in a state of absolute awe. (Even when I'm trying to focus on driving lol)

I love everything about the sincerity & unique qualities of the North Shore

I love the humble & kind spirit, relaxed pace, and lack of entitlement of people who have embraced the island way of living.

I love that no matter how many random chickens I saw wandering around, it never failed to make me stop & go "wait...huh?"

I loved every time I was snorkeling or kayaking & a Honu would swim with me or peek it's little head up like it was just stopping by to say "hey"

I loved the gorgeous Polynesian men everywhere (don't lie, ladies, they're not exactly an eyesore ;D )

I love Oahu. I love Hawai'i. I miss it every single day. And there's just nowhere that quite competes.