I started my Hawaiian dream by taking my first ever travel nurse job on Oahu. There are only 3 NICU’s on the island, so it isn’t every day that you get a chance like that. After 6 months as a traveler, I took a full time position and stayed for almost 4 years. These are my top recommendations on what to do on Oahu.
Where to Stay
Of course, the first thing you want to decide is where you want to be based while you’re on the island. Are you more into staying in the city, Honolulu/Waikiki has a lot going on most times of day. You can walk everywhere and most things are at your fingertips. You might be more into the resort life, like the Sheraton or The Royal Hawaiian which are both great options! Or you can stay somewhere like the Outrigger Waikiki. Honestly you can’t go wrong.
If you want to stay further away from the downtown area but still have things close by and more of a resort feel, Ko’olina is a good option on the west side of the island. Places like Aulani resort is great for the family/Disney lovers. But there is also The Four Seasons and many others close by.
On the north shore, and probably one of the most known hotels in Hawaii, is Turtle Bay Resort. Although it is on the pricier side of things, this is one of the best hotels on island. Everything you could ever want is there, plus it’s only a few miles drive to Haleiwa town.
Food
First, many people traveling to Oahu know that there is so much yummy food to be had! If you are here for a longer time like I was, you might start missing some of your usual favorites (solid Mexican food was really hard to find). But while here for a week or two, you will have plenty of amazing options.
Moku Kitchen
Located in “Salt” in Kaka’ako, this place is my favorite spot on island for fresh farm to table food and the best Mai Tai on island. Moku Kitchen is the sister restaurant to Monkey Pod which is located in Ko’olina (apparently a new location is coming to Waikiki). They are also in Maui if you happen to be there.
My favorite things to order here include the Coconut Corn Chowder, whatever ravioli they have on the menu (seasonal), kalua pork and pineapple flatbread, and the fish tacos. Plus a Monkey Pod Mai Tai or two (be careful, they are lethal!) and I’m happy.
Ono Steaks and Shrimp Shack
This is a little shack located in Waimanalo (east side) that you do NOT want to miss out on. They do traditional Hawaiian plate lunches. My favorite being the garlic shrimp and steak with rice and a side salad. You just have to google it because they don’t have a website, but you’ll see they have tons of reviews on Trip Advisor, Yelp, and they do have a Facebook page. If you stop here, you can eat outside at one of their tables, or, my favorite thing to do, walk down the road and the sandy path to Waimanalo beach. Sit and enjoy while the waves come in. You can’t go to Oahu and not have a shrimp plate!
Buzz’s
This is one you’ve most likely heard of. Buzz’s has been around for a long time, plus it is right across the street from one of the most popular beaches- Kailua Beach. Located in Kailua/Lanikai, this is a great spot for pupus (appetizers), drinks, or for a nicer dinner. They have some of the freshest fish in the area. One of my favorites on their menu is the calamari steak. Even if you don’t typically like calamari-this is not like the typical loops of breaded rubber. As a bonus for beach-goers, you can order drinks to go here!
Haleiwa Joe’s
So there are two locations for Haleiwa Joe’s. One of course in Haleiwa town on the north shore of Oahu, and one in Kaneohe on the east side. Personally, I recommend the Kaneohe location because it is a much prettier spot. I’ve also just had better experiences with the food and service there. I’ve had quite a few things on their menu and have never been disappointed, even with one of their salads!
You can’t go wrong here. I don’t believe they take reservations, and there is always a long line to get seated, so get there early- you won’t regret it. Another pro to getting there early is that they almost always run out of their prime rib by the end of the night. It is a massive slab of meat, so be sure to come with a big appetite.
Hiking
There are a million and one hikes on this little island! So how do you know which one to do? What’s worth it? How long is it going to take? What’s the difficulty? I use and app called AllTrails. It tells you all of these things and people post comments, photos, and ratings under each hike. This is a great way to know how the terrain is too! Here are some of my favorite hikes on island (it was very hard to narrow this down!)
Pali Puka
This is a hike I wanted to do for so long and finally did right before I moved! I am bummed because it probably would have been one that I did often. Nevertheless, I would recommend this if you want a fairly short hike with some areas of difficulty. There is a really intense ridge area where the wind tends to pick up quite a bit-be very careful here. If you have a severe fear of heights, maybe skip this one.
Ka’au Crater
This is a tough hike, and can take 6 hours round trip. If you turn back before the loop around the crater, it isn’t as bad and it isn’t as difficult, but you’ll miss amazing views of both sides of Oahu! The whole hike is shaped like a lollypop, so you back track only part of the trail, which is nice. You climb up a waterfall and see a few others long the way. It’s a really incredible hike for those wanting a challenge. Bring water and snacks!
Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail
This is a moderate trail I would say. There is a difficult incline right at the top of the trail that might be tough for beginners, but the view is amazing! There are a couple of pillboxes up top, too which is always cool in my opinion. The entrance to this hike is a bit hard to find. You want to turn right when you get to the temple in Kaneohe and park in the neighborhood there. The trail goes right along the main highway, and branches off into the trees after a short bit.
Pink Pillboxes
This hike is on the west side around Waianae. Be careful over here with leaving anything in your car. There are often break-ins and you park on the street next to the start of the trail. This hike is fairly easy because it is short. There are some moderate hills to get to the top, but it switches back a lot to create a fairly steady climb for the most part. The views of the west side of the island are always amazing- it would be a good one to do around sunset.
Beaches
It wouldn’t be a trip to Hawaii if you weren’t going to the beach. Unfortunately, many of the popular beaches on Oahu are so overrun with people it’s hard to relax! If you’re wanting a bustling beach scene, Kailua Beach and Waikiki is where you want to be. But if you want to see more of a local scene- hit up some of these less popular beaches.
Waimanalo Beach
I mentioned this one above, and it is important to note that this is NOT Waimanalo Beach Park, which is often a camp for the homeless. Go further down the beach and park in the neighborhood there. Or, better yet, stop at Ono’s first and get some lunch! It usually isn’t crowded here and it is similar water and beach to Kailua beach.
Makapu’u Beach
This is my number one favorite beach on island. It has gotten more well known over the years, so it might not be AS empty as you like. The waves here can also get really big, so be careful, and if you aren’t a strong swimmer or aren’t comfortable in the ocean, don’t swim here. There are often lifeguards on duty because it is a strong current spot. You park on the road or in the small lot and walk down the hill to get to this serene beach. There are lava rock tide pools here too, which make it extra special.
Sharks Cove
This beach is on the North Shore near Haleiwa town, so it can be crowded. It also isn’t great for laying out and tanning. This is more of a snorkel spot and exploring tide pools and such. Note: the north shore tide and waves are extreme during the winter months, so you probably don’t want to go here between December to February give or take. A less crowded beach might be a little ways down the road towards Ka’ena point, but if you want to snorkel (or scuba dive), Sharks cove is where it’s at!
Electric Beach
A west side beach, again, be careful of your belongings and leaving things in your car. This beach is right down the road from Ko’olina (Disney resort, etc) if you want to get away from the lagoons. Side note: if you are afraid of open ocean, the lagoons are a great spot to go. They are man-made and quite safe. Electric beach is wide open ocean and it is a great snorkel spot! There are rarely more than 10 people on this beach during the weekdays, so you have a lot of privacy.
My last thoughts- if you are visiting this amazing state, please leave it as you found it. Don’t take anything with you, don’t leave your trash, and wear reef safe sunscreen! Every person can make a difference and protect our reef and ocean (while also protecting your skin!) I also always recommend people to rent a car and get away from the tourist areas. It will make the trip so much better, and it only takes a few hours to drive the whole island! Not like my days-long US roadtrips!
As always, if you have opinions on my opinions, leave a comment. Let me know if you are planning a trip to Oahu and what you hope to do.
