10 wonderful days on Oahu - trip report
Mar 9th, 2004 | 11:27 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
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10 wonderful days on Oahu - trip report
Aloha, fodorites! Been back for a few weeks, but busy catching up with life whilst retaining my aloha mojo. This was my second trip to Hawaii. Last May I spent 10 magical days with my husband on Maui and Kauai. This trip was made just by me (I'm in my late 20's if that matters to anyone) and some friends I met up with out there.
Oahu has so much to offer and so much diversity. I truly enjoyed it. It seems like so many Hawaii travelers only stop there on their way in or out...seeing only Pearl Harbor or Waikiki if they have time before jetting off to another island. Try Oahu! Spend some time in town, then rent a car and explore or just relax in the country. I'm so glad I spent time there and got to know the island a little better...there were so many magical little places that I want to take my husband back to one day.
* Waikiki/Honolulu was great. I spent a few days in Waikiki and enjoyed the energetic vibe there. Hawaiiana Hotel was great, barebones but charming. The staff and the people staying there were so warm and friendly. Loved the gardens, twinkle lights at night and coffee/juice poolside in the am. It felt like home. Short stroll to the beach, ABC store across the street and Henry's nearby for fresh produce was wonderful and convenient. For the price, it can't be beat (without using priceline of course). ;-)
Spent a lot of time walking, jogging and just puttering around Waikiki. The beach is so nice in the early morning hours. I enjoyed jogging around beautiful Kapiolani (sp?) Park and along the beach road next to Diamond Head. What a beautiful area. There are several good places to stop and watch the surfers. The canal is also a good place to jog but gets really hot later in the day. Thanks Melissa for the jogging advice!
Dukes became home base while at the beach. Restrooms, decent lunch, good drinks, friendly bartenders, and nobody seemed to mind if I took a quick dip in the pool, but please do so at your own risk. Everyone is right, it's a fun place to watch the sunset, gets very crowded though. and beware, the hula pie is good but should have it's own zip code.
Picked up yummy pastries at a bakery...I think it starts with a 'G'. anyone? Enjoyed them with fresh pineapple and papaya (from Henrys) for breakfast.
Alan Wong's was AMAZING and worth every last cent. The poke appetizer special was out of this world, undecided about the hot california rolls, but the rest of dinner and the desserts knocked my socks off. Wonderful flavor combinations and it all went down so well with my favorite wine that they had. The haupia homemade ice cream and the chocolate soup (featured on the chocolate sampler dessert) were both divine.
Next to Alan Wongs and Boots and Kimos, the next best food experience was at the New Otani hotel. We went on Valentine's Day w/out resies - HA! - but we were able to snag a table at the lounge there and order from the restaurant menu - Hale something right? Anyway, the pupus were excellent!
Surf - plenty of places to rent a board. If you are a first-timer paaaaleeeease take a lesson. It's fun but don't be stupid.
Diamond Head - a fun hike, but a little crowded. We met some folks on the way out that said it was much worse earlier in the morning?hmmmm, isn't that when the books tell you to go, to beat the crowds? There were a few more steps than 99, 260 to be exact. The views are worth that and more.
Hmmm...so it sounds like all I did was beach bum, jog and eat my way around. Well, that's about right. Clearly I couldn't resist slipping into that laid-back attitude. There's always next trip for Pearl Harbor, Chinatown, Moana Valley, etc. ;-)
So that was the first few days....then we rented a car and drove to the north shore by way of the windward coast. I did some homework before the trip using Driving and Discovering Oahu..and approached it much like I did the Road to Hana on Maui...tried to pick a few of the most attractive sounding sights. Well, much like the rest of the trip...those were good intentions and all but once we got into the groove...it all went out the window. I can't remember all the places we pulled over. Hanauma Bay was closed due to jellyfish, it was nice to take a peak from the lookout without hundreds of people crowding the beach and bay. The Blowhole was barely burping when we stopped and we didn't see any giant green sea turtles (but saw many of those on the north shore, on the beach just behind our place) but watched the bodysurfers and bodyboarders at the beach just below. Stopped for a late breakfast at Boots and Kimos. That mac nut sauce sure does live up to the hype!!! It's ridiculously good and wonderful over the banana pancakes. Yeah...service is a little rushed, but it wasn't that bad and didn't take away from the mac nut goodness (someone posted a horrible b&k report just before I left...) Lanikai beach was awesome, a perfect spot for a post pancake nap, and newest addition to my favorite beach list. Water is perfectly calm and pleasant for dipping/floating. It was uncrowded, even on a Sunday. ....would like to possibly stay there sometime, rent kayaks, paddle out to the islands, relax and enjoy that quite, beautiful place. A storm rolled in rather fast and we drove non-stop for awhile...boy, was it windy and raining buckets! But eventually, Lots of rainbows.
Driving through Kahuku it's almost impossible not to stop at a shrimp truck when you smell that garlic butter wafting through the air. Giovanni's was packed and at about an hour wait. We were meeting up with some folks so couldn't linger...instead we tried the truck just passed Giovanni's and on the same side of the road. Had the garlic butter shrimp which was awesome and coconut shrimp...washed it down with guava juice. So good. Driving the north shore in the rain is beautiful.
Having spent a few days in Waikiki...it was refreshing to get out in the country. I had an amazing time on the North Shore for the next 6 days. Our place was just a couple miles east of Haleiwa and on a wonderful stretch of beach that displayed very few footprints on any given day. People there were so friendly, I enjoyed talking with neighbors and playing with their adorable dogs on the beach each morning...thought many times of calling on hubby and dog to pack up and join me for the rest of our lives. Surfed every day, napped in the hammock, took walks, did yoga in the backyard, swam alongside sea turtles, saw whales on the horizon, ate well, fell asleep to the sound of surf, lived well...a little slice of heaven.
Swell came in during the week and the waves become bigger. Contest was on at Pipeline and we watched the surfers excitedly yet nervously. It was really something else...the force and size of that wave simply takes your breath away. Once the contest ends, more surfers go out, and the show really begins...sand in your toes, whales on the horizon, and a magnificent sunset. Can it possibly get any better?
Not a whole lot more to report on up there. There was a farm in Pupukea that had wonderful organic greens and this papaya seed salad dressing that I'm now addicted too. Good thing the dressing is sold on-line. Another new love blossomed from a smoothie stand on the mauka side of the road...made from a Brazilian fruit called acai, it's delicious and actually good for you too. Haleiwa Joe's is fun, didn't eat there...but went for drinks. Had shave ice at Aokis...Matsumotos line seemed to extend all the way back to Waikiki. Chose the coconut flavor with mac nut ice cream and beans - yummy.
It was an amazing trip! Very different from the one hubby and I took last year in which we stayed at the fancy places, dined well every night, stuck mostly to the itinerary (gasp!) don't get me wrong...it was wonderful and an incredible trip that I enjoyed very much. This just felt more real to me and I came back with an even greater appreciation for Hawaii and the people there. There was no luau, no lei greeting, no dinner resies made in advance for all the best places. Just pure ALOHA.
Oh, and the weather was perfect. just perfect.
Aloha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oahu has so much to offer and so much diversity. I truly enjoyed it. It seems like so many Hawaii travelers only stop there on their way in or out...seeing only Pearl Harbor or Waikiki if they have time before jetting off to another island. Try Oahu! Spend some time in town, then rent a car and explore or just relax in the country. I'm so glad I spent time there and got to know the island a little better...there were so many magical little places that I want to take my husband back to one day.
* Waikiki/Honolulu was great. I spent a few days in Waikiki and enjoyed the energetic vibe there. Hawaiiana Hotel was great, barebones but charming. The staff and the people staying there were so warm and friendly. Loved the gardens, twinkle lights at night and coffee/juice poolside in the am. It felt like home. Short stroll to the beach, ABC store across the street and Henry's nearby for fresh produce was wonderful and convenient. For the price, it can't be beat (without using priceline of course). ;-)
Spent a lot of time walking, jogging and just puttering around Waikiki. The beach is so nice in the early morning hours. I enjoyed jogging around beautiful Kapiolani (sp?) Park and along the beach road next to Diamond Head. What a beautiful area. There are several good places to stop and watch the surfers. The canal is also a good place to jog but gets really hot later in the day. Thanks Melissa for the jogging advice!
Dukes became home base while at the beach. Restrooms, decent lunch, good drinks, friendly bartenders, and nobody seemed to mind if I took a quick dip in the pool, but please do so at your own risk. Everyone is right, it's a fun place to watch the sunset, gets very crowded though. and beware, the hula pie is good but should have it's own zip code.
Picked up yummy pastries at a bakery...I think it starts with a 'G'. anyone? Enjoyed them with fresh pineapple and papaya (from Henrys) for breakfast.
Alan Wong's was AMAZING and worth every last cent. The poke appetizer special was out of this world, undecided about the hot california rolls, but the rest of dinner and the desserts knocked my socks off. Wonderful flavor combinations and it all went down so well with my favorite wine that they had. The haupia homemade ice cream and the chocolate soup (featured on the chocolate sampler dessert) were both divine.
Next to Alan Wongs and Boots and Kimos, the next best food experience was at the New Otani hotel. We went on Valentine's Day w/out resies - HA! - but we were able to snag a table at the lounge there and order from the restaurant menu - Hale something right? Anyway, the pupus were excellent!
Surf - plenty of places to rent a board. If you are a first-timer paaaaleeeease take a lesson. It's fun but don't be stupid.
Diamond Head - a fun hike, but a little crowded. We met some folks on the way out that said it was much worse earlier in the morning?hmmmm, isn't that when the books tell you to go, to beat the crowds? There were a few more steps than 99, 260 to be exact. The views are worth that and more.
Hmmm...so it sounds like all I did was beach bum, jog and eat my way around. Well, that's about right. Clearly I couldn't resist slipping into that laid-back attitude. There's always next trip for Pearl Harbor, Chinatown, Moana Valley, etc. ;-)
So that was the first few days....then we rented a car and drove to the north shore by way of the windward coast. I did some homework before the trip using Driving and Discovering Oahu..and approached it much like I did the Road to Hana on Maui...tried to pick a few of the most attractive sounding sights. Well, much like the rest of the trip...those were good intentions and all but once we got into the groove...it all went out the window. I can't remember all the places we pulled over. Hanauma Bay was closed due to jellyfish, it was nice to take a peak from the lookout without hundreds of people crowding the beach and bay. The Blowhole was barely burping when we stopped and we didn't see any giant green sea turtles (but saw many of those on the north shore, on the beach just behind our place) but watched the bodysurfers and bodyboarders at the beach just below. Stopped for a late breakfast at Boots and Kimos. That mac nut sauce sure does live up to the hype!!! It's ridiculously good and wonderful over the banana pancakes. Yeah...service is a little rushed, but it wasn't that bad and didn't take away from the mac nut goodness (someone posted a horrible b&k report just before I left...) Lanikai beach was awesome, a perfect spot for a post pancake nap, and newest addition to my favorite beach list. Water is perfectly calm and pleasant for dipping/floating. It was uncrowded, even on a Sunday. ....would like to possibly stay there sometime, rent kayaks, paddle out to the islands, relax and enjoy that quite, beautiful place. A storm rolled in rather fast and we drove non-stop for awhile...boy, was it windy and raining buckets! But eventually, Lots of rainbows.
Driving through Kahuku it's almost impossible not to stop at a shrimp truck when you smell that garlic butter wafting through the air. Giovanni's was packed and at about an hour wait. We were meeting up with some folks so couldn't linger...instead we tried the truck just passed Giovanni's and on the same side of the road. Had the garlic butter shrimp which was awesome and coconut shrimp...washed it down with guava juice. So good. Driving the north shore in the rain is beautiful. Having spent a few days in Waikiki...it was refreshing to get out in the country. I had an amazing time on the North Shore for the next 6 days. Our place was just a couple miles east of Haleiwa and on a wonderful stretch of beach that displayed very few footprints on any given day. People there were so friendly, I enjoyed talking with neighbors and playing with their adorable dogs on the beach each morning...thought many times of calling on hubby and dog to pack up and join me for the rest of our lives. Surfed every day, napped in the hammock, took walks, did yoga in the backyard, swam alongside sea turtles, saw whales on the horizon, ate well, fell asleep to the sound of surf, lived well...a little slice of heaven.
Swell came in during the week and the waves become bigger. Contest was on at Pipeline and we watched the surfers excitedly yet nervously. It was really something else...the force and size of that wave simply takes your breath away. Once the contest ends, more surfers go out, and the show really begins...sand in your toes, whales on the horizon, and a magnificent sunset. Can it possibly get any better?
Not a whole lot more to report on up there. There was a farm in Pupukea that had wonderful organic greens and this papaya seed salad dressing that I'm now addicted too. Good thing the dressing is sold on-line. Another new love blossomed from a smoothie stand on the mauka side of the road...made from a Brazilian fruit called acai, it's delicious and actually good for you too. Haleiwa Joe's is fun, didn't eat there...but went for drinks. Had shave ice at Aokis...Matsumotos line seemed to extend all the way back to Waikiki. Chose the coconut flavor with mac nut ice cream and beans - yummy.
It was an amazing trip! Very different from the one hubby and I took last year in which we stayed at the fancy places, dined well every night, stuck mostly to the itinerary (gasp!) don't get me wrong...it was wonderful and an incredible trip that I enjoyed very much. This just felt more real to me and I came back with an even greater appreciation for Hawaii and the people there. There was no luau, no lei greeting, no dinner resies made in advance for all the best places. Just pure ALOHA.
Oh, and the weather was perfect. just perfect.
Aloha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mar 9th, 2004 | 12:02 PM
#2
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Thank you for the great trip report. We are planning a trip this summer to Maui and Kauai. - Much like your first trip. Now you've made me realize that Oahu is not a place to avoid. Our next trip may very well be along the lines you described in your report!
Mar 9th, 2004 | 12:11 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Great trip report! We just got back from the BI on Sunday and reading your report made me want to book a trip to Oahu. I am one of those people who has been through but never stayed on Oahu. My husband has stayed in Waikiki so he has wanted to see the other islands before heading back.
Mar 9th, 2004 | 01:38 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
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Thanks Bogart, I am so glad you love "my" island!
1. Was the bakery called Saint Germain?
2. When I am out in Haleiwa, I eat at Aoki's. Aoki's is actually better but Matsumoto's gets all the PR.
Just did 14 miles this weekend, jogging along the Ala Wai AND Diamond Head!!
1. Was the bakery called Saint Germain?
2. When I am out in Haleiwa, I eat at Aoki's. Aoki's is actually better but Matsumoto's gets all the PR.
Just did 14 miles this weekend, jogging along the Ala Wai AND Diamond Head!!
Mar 9th, 2004 | 02:38 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
really enjoyed reading this trip report. there is so much more to Oahu than Waikiki Beach...what is the name of that little place in Haleiwa that make the best burgers on earth? starts with a "K"........
glad the surf was up when you were there!
glad the surf was up when you were there!
Mar 9th, 2004 | 02:45 PM
#6
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
Aloha bogart!!
I've been enjoying all of the BI trip reports I've been reading lately, BUT OHHHHHHHH, it was good to read a great O'ahu TR!
Well done! We travel very similarly... have a general idea of what you'd like to do, and if you get to it great, if not, next time.
Where did you end up staying on the no shore? Awesome to hear your pipeline info... I'm not the only one mesmerized
by the huge surf and these surfers making it look so easy... unbelievable!
"It was really something else...the force and size of that wave simply takes your breath away. Once the contest ends, more surfers go out, and the show really begins...sand in your toes, whales on the horizon, and a magnificent sunset. Can it possibly get any better?"
EXACTLY!!
Leaving in 14.5 days for just about the same itinerary as yours... thanks for stirring the excitment!!
aloha!!
I've been enjoying all of the BI trip reports I've been reading lately, BUT OHHHHHHHH, it was good to read a great O'ahu TR!
Well done! We travel very similarly... have a general idea of what you'd like to do, and if you get to it great, if not, next time.
Where did you end up staying on the no shore? Awesome to hear your pipeline info... I'm not the only one mesmerized
by the huge surf and these surfers making it look so easy... unbelievable!
"It was really something else...the force and size of that wave simply takes your breath away. Once the contest ends, more surfers go out, and the show really begins...sand in your toes, whales on the horizon, and a magnificent sunset. Can it possibly get any better?"
EXACTLY!!
Leaving in 14.5 days for just about the same itinerary as yours... thanks for stirring the excitment!!
aloha!!
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Mar 9th, 2004 | 02:57 PM
#8
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Bogart-
I am also going to Oahu in a little under a month and your trip reposrt made me SOOOOOOO excited....even more than I already was.
Thanks for the tips on shaved ice and Boots and Kimo's. Were the prices about the same from the shrimp truck you went to in comparison to Giovanni's? I am a major coconut shrimp fan!!!
We are pumped! Thanks!!!
I am also going to Oahu in a little under a month and your trip reposrt made me SOOOOOOO excited....even more than I already was.
Thanks for the tips on shaved ice and Boots and Kimo's. Were the prices about the same from the shrimp truck you went to in comparison to Giovanni's? I am a major coconut shrimp fan!!!
We are pumped! Thanks!!!
Mar 13th, 2004 | 05:35 AM
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Aloha!
Melissa - Yes, I think it was St. Germaines. Congrats on 14 miles!!! I'm training for my first 1/2 marathon right now...wish I were doing it in paradise. My runs out there were amazing.
Makai1 - We stayed at a beach house on Pupuloa Rd (sp?). Right across the street from the horse farm. Tons of sea turtles like to sunbath there in the cove. Heading west from say, Foodland/Pipe/Waimea, there's beach access and parking just before you reach the horse farm on the mauka side. Have a wonderful trip! Pick up an acai smoothie for me and take it with you to Pipeline. ;-)
Travelmom13 - I think the shrimp truck prices were comparable. About $8 a plate, comes with 2 scoop rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad. I do not think Giovanni's had coconut shrimp. They had three choices, but only garlic-butter available when we stopped. The one just passed Giovanni's on the same side of the road had the coconut shrimp. Enjoy and have an awesome trip!!!
Melissa - Yes, I think it was St. Germaines. Congrats on 14 miles!!! I'm training for my first 1/2 marathon right now...wish I were doing it in paradise. My runs out there were amazing.
Makai1 - We stayed at a beach house on Pupuloa Rd (sp?). Right across the street from the horse farm. Tons of sea turtles like to sunbath there in the cove. Heading west from say, Foodland/Pipe/Waimea, there's beach access and parking just before you reach the horse farm on the mauka side. Have a wonderful trip! Pick up an acai smoothie for me and take it with you to Pipeline. ;-)
Travelmom13 - I think the shrimp truck prices were comparable. About $8 a plate, comes with 2 scoop rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad. I do not think Giovanni's had coconut shrimp. They had three choices, but only garlic-butter available when we stopped. The one just passed Giovanni's on the same side of the road had the coconut shrimp. Enjoy and have an awesome trip!!!
