Waikiki, located on the island of Oahu, is the perfect location if you want both city life and beach. Let's start with the beach which is what it is most famous for. Waikiki Beach is perfect for floating around in a tube, swimming or even take beginners surf lessons on a long board. The water is the perfect temperature year round, the waves are gentle and there are plenty of spots to lounge on the sand with your beach towel or even rent chairs & umbrellas.
Be sure to bring your reef friendly sunscreen (Beach Bum is a good one). Effective 2023 only reef friendly sunscreen is allowed in Hawaii.
SWIMMING IN WAIKIKI BEACH
Before you head out to the beach stop at one of the many ABC Stores and grab some snacks and plenty of water. You can grab fruit, spam masubi, deli sandwiches or even packaged snacks like chips, dried mango, etc for your day at the beach. If you want something refreshing mid day there are several shaved iced spots along the main street before hitting the beach. One of my favorites is a little stand in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (the pink hotel), Island Vintage Shave Ice.
Other places not to miss in Waikiki include Cheeseburger in Paradise, Mai Tai Bar (located beach front at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel), Cream Pot for an amazing brunch, the famous Marukame Udon for udon noodles & tempura, and some amazing Tonkatsu at Ginza Bairin.
LOCAL FOOD SPOTS
If it's your first time in Hawaii a luau is a must. There are a few to choose from. My personal favorite is Paradise Cove. It is important to book your luau in advance because they do sell out. Paradise Cove is located in Koolina which is about 45 minutes outside of Waikiki. The luau includes traditional Hawaiian activities, food and show.
LUAU
There are plenty of outdoor adventures in Oahu. Hanauma Bay which is a marine preserve is great for snorkeling. You need to make a reservation either directly with the state park or you can book a snorkel tour. If you book directly with the state park you will need to bring your own snorkel gear and provide your own transportation. I recommend having a shared ride service such as Uber or Lyft drop you off because parking is limited.
HANAUMA BAY
Another outdoor adventure I recommend doing early in the day to avoid the heat is Diamond Head State Park. This hike is fairly easy with the exception of the 175 steps in the tunnel to get to the top. The trail is just under 2 miles round trip. The views up top are amazing and worth the hike. This adventure also requires a reservation with the state park.
DIAMOND HEAD
If you are more into water adventures there are also several companies offering day time snorkel trips. I recently went on a snorkel tour with eSeaDiver and had a great experience. The boat was equipped with a blow up water slide, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear and a trampoline. This was a great way to spend the afternoon with the family.
AFTERNOON BOAT FUN
Outside of Waikiki you can also venture over to the other side of the island to experience quieter beach parks, adventure parks and roadside local food spots. I always enjoy driving over and spending a little time at Kualoa Regional beach park which is at the north point of Kaneoho Bay. This beach offers views of Chinaman's Hat formally called Mokoli'i Island.
MOKOLI'I ISLAND
You know I have to bring up food again! On this side of the island you will want to look for Giovani's Shrimp Truck and Waiahole Poi Factory. Giovani's is known for the peel and eat shrimp. They sell out fast so go earlier in the day. Waiahole Poi Factory is knows for their Kalua Pork, Chicken Long Rice, Laulau and for dessert you can't miss the Sweet Lady of Waiahole.
WAIAHOLE POI FACTORY
Towards the end of the day make your way over to Waikiki Beach and have your camera/phone ready to take some of the most amazing sunset pics you can imagine. I seriously make it a point to go every night and watch it. Anywhere along the beach is a great spot. If you want to grab an inexpensive bite to eat and enjoy the sunset at the same time there is a cute little spot with seating a short walk from the hotel zone called Barefoot Beach Cafe. Enjoy pineapple smoothies, loco moco, teriyaki chicken and other Hawaiian favorites here.
SUNSETS
BAREFOOT BEACH CAFE
