Top Oahu Experiences

Top Oahu Experiences

That Beach

Kailua is the beach you came to Hawaii for: wide and gently sloped, glowing golden in the sun, outfitted with a couple of well-placed islets to gaze at, and fronted by waters in ever-changing shades of turquoise. The waves are gentle enough for children. Kayakers are drawn to the Mokulua Islands offshore. Grocery stores and restaurants are within walking distance. And there's just enough wind to keep you from baking. Paradise, but civilized.

Finding Shangri La

Wealth allowed heiress Doris Duke to acquire the lavish seaside estate she called Shangri La. For most, that would have been enough. But Duke had a passion -- Islamic art and architecture -- and determination as well as money. She had a vision of courtyards and pleasure gardens and rooms that are themselves works of art. And she presided over every detail of the never-quite-finished project. The property, now a center for Islamic studies, is utterly unique and quite simply not to be missed.

Oahu After Hours

Yes, you can have an umbrella drink at sunset. But in the multicultural metropolis of Honolulu, there's so much more to it than that. Sip a glass of wine and listen to jazz at Formaggio, join the beach-and-beer gang at Duke's Canoe Club, or head to Zanzabar, where DJs spin hip-hop and techno. Sample the sake at an izakaya or listen to a performance by a Hawaiian musician. Snack on pupu, and begin your journey toward that unforgettable tropical sunrise.

Hiking to Kaena Point

If we had but one day to spend in rural Oahu, we'd spend it walking the back road along the rocky shore at the island's northern tip. Kaena, a state park as well as a protected Natural Area, comprises 850 acres of undeveloped coastline that centers on the point where it is said the souls of the ancient dead leapt into the eternal darkness. The views are incomparable; shells can be scavenged in keyhole coves in calm weather; whales spout offshore during winter; and threatened native plants flourish. It's a trek that will change your mind about Oahu being "too crowded."

Catching a Wave

Taking a surfing lesson from a well-muscled beach boy has been a Honolulu must-do since the first gay divorcée stepped off the first cruise ship. Waikiki, with its well-shaped but diminutive waves, remains the perfect spot for grommets (surfing newbies), though surf schools operate at beaches around the island. Most companies guarantee at least one standing ride in the course of a lesson. And catching that first wave? We guarantee you'll never forget it.

Exploring Chinatown

Chinatown is like one of those centerpiece lazy susans: turn it this way, and you find one thing; turn it another, and there's something else. The various guided tours of this compact and busy neighborhood each offer up a different dish: one focuses on food and restaurants, another shines a light on cultural attractions, and the occasional architect-led AIA tour delves into the area's design character. Take your pick or wander on your own. Just don't miss this unique mixed plate.

Hula with Heart

Professional hula dancers-the ones in poolside hotel shows and dinner extravaganzas -- are perfection: hands like undulating waves, smiles that never waiver. But if you want to experience hula with heart, scan the newspapers for a hula school fundraiser, or ask the activities desk about local festivals. You may see some missteps and bumbles, but you'll also experience different hula styles and hear songs and chants deeply rooted in the culture, all the while surrounded by the scents of a hundred homemade lei.

Listening to a Living Legend

Auntie Genoa Keawe can hold a note longer than anyone. Drop by the Moana Terrace of the Waikiki Marriott hotel any Thursday between 6 and 9 to hear for yourself. Keawe is an octogenarian dynamo and the living embodiment of the falsetto singing style that Hawaiians so relish. You'll feel like you dropped in on a backyard party.