Posted: 8/3/20 | August 3rd, 2020
I didn’t know much about Oahu before I visited. everyone told me it was worth it for Pearl Harbor but to spend the rest of my time elsewhere in Hawaii. Maui and Kauai were where the action was, they said.
But Oahu was home to Honolulu’s international airport, from which I was catching an onward flight to Taiwan. considering that I had limited time, going to multiple islands wasn’t feasible.
Fortunately, after spending a full week on Oahu, I can say this: everyone was wrong.
Maybe they just let their preconceived notions get the better of them.
Or maybe they just didn’t give the place a chance.
But whatever the reason, I’m here to tell you that Oahu has some magic. Sure, it’s quite developed, has horrible traffic, and huge crowds. and yeah, maybe it’s not as “raw” as the other islands (I assume that’s why people like them).
But there are plenty of spots in Oahu where you can live that Hawaiian dream and there are tons of things to see and do (even if you’re checking out Oahu with kids).
I spent a week round-tripping the island (which, given how small it is, [turned out to be] quite easy). My plan was simple: sit on a beach as long as I could, eat my body weight in poke (diced raw fish, pronounced “po-keh”), and hike.
Along the way, I also binged on shrimp, drank the best piña colada of my life, and took notes so you can do even better when you visit!
Driving Oahu: A Road-Trip Itinerary
First, a tip: if you’re driving around Oahu, go counterclockwise from Honolulu, considering that a lot of of the food trucks you’ll want to stop at are on the ocean side of the highway as you go up the east coast. So going in that direction just makes it much easier to pull off the road and try all the food trucks that line the highway (and there are a lot). There’s also a lot more to do on the east side of Oahu, so it’s best to start there.
That said, I actually don’t think a standard road trip is the best idea. Oahu is smaller than you think — you can drive end to end in under two hours — so everything provided below can really be done as a day trip from one base or another, which will save you packing and unpacking, as well moving from place to place too often (especially considering that the east and west coasts don’t have a lot of affordable accommodations).
Base yourself on the North shore for a couple of days and then in Honolulu (in the south) for a couple of days (or vice versa).
Day 1: Honolulu to Kailua (28 miles)
Pick up your rental car, head out of Honolulu (you’ll be back later), and start off at Hunauma Bay in southeast Oahu. You can spend a few hours there snorkeling and kicking back on the beach before heading to the nearby Halona Blowhole Lookout for the view and Makapu‘u point (Oahu’s easternmost point) for a short hike. There are also plenty of beaches, food trucks, short hikes, and viewpoints along the way to Kailua, where you’ll want to stay the night.
Missä syödä:
Teddy’s bigger Burgers
Any of the food trucks on the way north
Buzz’s Steakhouse (for dinner)
Missä yöpyä:
Airbnb is the best option, considering that there aren’t lots of hotels or hostels in Kailua. book early though, as there isn’t a lot to choose from.
Day 2: Kailua to Haleiwa (50 miles)
Start your morning with the popular Lanikai Pillbox hike just south of Kailua, where you can get sweeping views of the ocean and the cities and beaches on this side of the island. The hike is short (it only takes about 20-30 minutes) but steep, so wear proper shoes.
If you have some time in the morning, Kailua and Lanikai beaches are both beautiful (they’re ideal next to each other and on the way from the pillbox hike). Not a lot of people, white sand, blue water. They’re heaven.
As you leave this area to head north, visit the Ho‘oamaluhia Botanical garden (it’s free!), which is also home to a lake filled with tropical plants.
Afterward, drive up the east coast toward the North Shore. Along the way, you can stop at the Kualoa Ranch, where lots of motion pictures have been filmed. If you do a tour, I suggest the 90-minute Hollywood motion picture sites excursion (which includes scenes from Jurassic Park!), as you don’t need much a lot more time than that to see the ranch. (It’s expensive, though, so if you’re on a budget, I’d skip it.)
As you keep going north, you’ll find a ton of beaches and hikes (there are plenty of signs for everything). I really took pleasure in the Hau‘ula loop trail especially, which is about 10 miles north of Kualoa. It’s really overgrown, so you’ll feel like you’re very much in the jungle (meaning you’ll also need to bring bug spray). and like a lot of hikes here, there’s a picturesque viewpoint!
Then drive around the northern idea of Oahu to Haleiwa, your base of operations while on the North Shore.
Where to eat Along the Way:
Kalapawai Café and Deli
Fresh catch Kaneohe
Shrimp Shack
Seven Brothers
Ken’s FreshKalastaa
Fumi’s Shrimp
Missä yöpyä:
Airbnb is again the best option, as there aren’t lots of hotels or hostels in Haleiwa. book early here too.
Days 3 & 4: North shore (Base: Haleiwa)
This was my favorite part of Oahu. It was Hawaii the way you imagine it must be: a lot quieter, less touristy, and less developed. and it had that whole “hippie vibe” going for it. everyone up here was much a lot more laid back than down south.
You can learn to surf here (two-hour lessons begin at just $80 USD) or hike the Ka‘ena point trail (west of Haleiwa) and/or the ‘Ehukai Pillbox (east of Haleiwa). The latter is pretty muddy, so bring proper shoes.
Haleiwa itself is a sleepy little vacationer town with a bunch of restaurants, shops, and parks. There’s not much to do in the town itself other than eat and window-shop.
If you do just one hike, though, I absolutely recommend the Ka‘ena point Trail, which was one of the best experiences I had. It’s a scenic, two-hour coastal walk to the northwestern idea of Oahu, where you will find a protected biological area with seals and native birds. At the tip, you can see all the way down the west side of the island — a magical view. Bring sunscreen and water, as the whole trail is exposed to the sun.
Missä syödä:
Ted’s Bakery
Sunrise Shack
Hale‘iwa Joe’s
Matsumoto shave Ice
Ray’s Kiawe
Kono’s
Jenny’s Shrimp Truck
Giovanni’s Shrimp
Day 5: Dole Plantation, Oahu’s West Side, Honolulu (60 miles)
Head south (inland) and stop at the Dole Plantation. While it is incredibly cheesy and touristy (I mean, so lots of useless souvenirs!), it does have a cool maze, and there’s a train ride through the farm that, while whitewashing a lot of bad things, was an interesting look at the value of the pineapple to Oahu. For a general introduction geared to your average tourist, it was surprisingly informative.
Afterward, continue south toward Honolulu and then head west on the H1 road to the west coast for some deserted local beaches, such as Ma‘ili, Ewa, Makua, or Yokohama. stop at Countryside Café for some extraordinary diner food. The portions are pretty large, so you can share them.
Then head back into Honolulu, as there’s not a lot of accommodation along the west coast. If you do want to stay longer, you’ll find some listings on Airbnb and Booking.com if you book far in advance. Otherwise, there are a few hotels in Kapolei if you don’t want to drive all the way to Honolulu.
Days 6 & 7: Honolulu
I actually liked Honolulu a lot (the main beach area of Waikiki is a vacationer trap though). While downtown is a bit bland, other communities are filled with awesome stores, breweries, bars, restaurants, and art galleries. Be sure to check out the “hip” Kaka‘ako part of town in particular.
Consider going on a hike on diamond Head, a volcanic cone on the east side of town. It uses an extraordinary view of the city, though it’s one of the a lot more popular trails in the area, so if you aren’t there early enough to beat the crowds, you’ll generally be walking in a slow-moving line up vuori. If you are short on time, skip it.
Other things to Do:
A complimentary walking excursion with Hawaii complimentary excursions (call ahead, considering that they only run when they have bookings).
Pearl Harbor – This is a must. It’s not even up for debate. Sinun täytyy mennä.
Iolani Palace, the former royal residence of Hawaii’s monarchs.
Soak in the sun on Waikiki beach or other nearby beaches, such as Ala Moana, which is popular with locals.
There’s also an Islamic art museum, which is meant to be great, but I didn’t make it there.
Missä syödä:
The Pig and the Lady
Mei Sum dim Sum
Shirokiya Japan village Walk
Rainbow Drive-In
Leonard’s Bakey
Ono Seafood
Hula Dog
Missä yöpyä:
The beach – This hostel is ideal on the beach, includes complimentary breakfast, and has plenty of space to kick back and meet other travelers.
Polynesian Hostel beach Club Waikiki – The accommodations here are basic, but the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and they organize lots of events.
Additionally, head to the royal Hawaiian hotel for the best piña colada of your life. It’s not cheap ($15 USD a pop), but it is sooo good! Every one of my friends who didn’t buy one got it as their second drink. (Fun fact: My grandfather was stationed in Oahu during WWII and went back to Oahu often. The royal Hawaiian was his favorite hotel. It’s pretty cool that it’s still there!)
Average costs
How much do things cost on Oahu? here are some normal prices (in USD):
Hostel dorm – $27
Airbnb – $100+/night for a one-bedroom or studio
Hotel – $175–250/night for a mid-range boutique hotel
Car rental – as low as $20/day, plus insurance
Gas – $3–3.50/gallon
Poke bowl – $12–15
Takeout meal – $10–14
Sit-down meal at a fancy restaurant (with drinks) – $50+
Local lunch – $15
McDonalds – $6 for a value meal
Groceries – $75 for one person for a week
Beer (at a restaurant) – $8–10 ($2–3Japanilaisella kävelyllä!)
Piña Colada-10-15 dollaria
Kahvi – 5 dollaria
Surfboard -vuokra – 25 dollaria/päivä
Snorkkelivarusteiden vuokra – 15 dollaria/päivä
Sukellushinnat – 125 dollaria
Budjettivinkit
Oahu on aika kallis. Paljon kaikkea on tuotava, joten jos sitä ei voida kasvattaa lähellä tai kiinni meressä, odota maksavan paljon. Mutta rahaa ei ole mahdotonta säästää. Tässä on muutamia tapoja leikata kulut:
Vaellus ja nauttii rannoista. Luonto on ilmainen!
Osta oma ruokasi supermarketeista, jotta voit valmistaa omia aterioita tai saada piknikiä. Toki, täällä on paljon maailmanluokan ravintoloita, mutta jos haluat pitää ruokakustannukset alhaisina, sinun on keitettävä joitain aterioita. Supermarkettien poke on joka tapauksessa maukasta!
Jos syöt ulkona, lyö ruoka -autoja. Paljon kustannuksia noin 10 dollaria ateriasta-paljon edullisempi kuin istuma-ravintolat.
Jos aiot saada alkoholia, tee se Japanin markkinoilla, josta löydät olutta vain 2–3 dollaria USD (verrattuna 8 dollariin USD baareissa).
Ohita ratsastaja-verkkosivustot, kuten getaaround tai turo (missä vuokraat autoja yksityisomistajilta). Ne ovat yleensä edullisempia kuin suuret vuokra -yritykset, mutta Oahussa isännät veloittavat sinulle lisämaksun auton pudottamisesta lentokentällä. Mielestäni tavalliset autovuokrausyritykset ovat paljon halvempia, ja hinnat ovat jopa 20 dollaria päivässä.
Hanki kaasusi HELE -asemilla. Ne olivat jatkuvasti kalliita saarella.
***
Vaikka Oahu on usein tungosta ja liian kaupallinen, oli paljon loistavia asioita ja nähdä. Minulle parhaat osat olivat ruoka ja retkeily – niin paljon retkiä, voit viettää viikkoja täällä. Suosikkiosani Oahusta oli North Shore, joten suosittelen, että vietät ainakin muutaman päivän. Odotan varmasti palaamista!
Varaa matkasi Havaijiin: logistiset ideat ja temppuja
Varaa lentosi
Löydä halpa lento Skyscannerilla tai Momondolla. Ne ovat kaksi suosikki hakukoneeni, koska he etsivät verkkosivustoja ja lentoyhtiöitä ympäri maailmaa, joten tiedät aina, ettei kiveä jätetä kääntämättä. Aloita ensin Skyscannerilla, koska sillä on suurin ulottuvuus!
Varaa majoitus
Voit varata hostellin hostellimaailman kanssa, koska heillä on suurin varasto ja parhaat tarjoukset. Jos haluat pysyä muualla kuin hostellissa, käytä Booking.com -sivustoa, koska ne palauttavat jatkuvasti kalliita hintoja majataloihin ja hotelleihin. Suosikki yöpymispaikkani ovat:
Ranta
Polynesialainen hostelli Beach Club Waikiki
Waikiki Beachside Hostelli
Älä unohda matkavakuutusta
Matkavakuutus varmistaa sinut sairauksista, vammoista, varkauksista ja peruutuksista. Se on yksityiskohtainen suoja, jos kaikki menee pieleen. En koskaan mene matkalle ilman sitä, koska minun on joutunut käyttämään sitä monta kertaa aiemmin. Suosikkiyritykset, jotka tarjoavat parhaan palvelun ja arvon, ovat:
Turvallisuussiipi (kaikille alle 70)
Vakuuta matkani (niille 70 -vuotiaille)
MedJet (lisäysten kattavuutta varten)
Etsitkö parhaita yrityksiä säästää rahaa?
Tutustu resurssisivulleni parhaat yritykset, joita käytetään matkustaessasi. Luettelen kaikki ne, joita käytän säästääksesi rahaa tiellä. He säästävät myös rahaa.
Tarvitsetko edullisen matkailuautomatkailua matkaa varten?
RVSHARE antaa sinun vuokrata matkailuautoja yksityishenkilöiltä ympäri maata, säästäen sinulle paljon rahaa prosessissa. Se on kuin Airbnb matkailuautoille.
Haluatko paljon lisätietoja Havaijista?
Muista käydä vankassa kohdeoppaassamme Havaijilla vielä paljon enemmän suunnitteluvinkkejä!