Most people fly into Honolulu and use Oahu as a base when exploring the Hawaiian islands, as Oahu offers several inter-island flights daily from Honolulu. :). Kaena Point: A pristine, meandering trail running flatly alongside the sea, hugged by mountains, to a bird sanctuary and the westernmost point of Oahu, Makua Beach: A pristine, quiet beach known for early morning, freestyle snorkeling with wild dolphin pods. I bought my book a month in advance of the trip and I'm glad I did, because it takes a while to read and absorb the information. Getting To Oahu: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also known as Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Oahu, is Hawaiis major airport and serves as an entry point for the majority of tourists visiting the Hawaiian islands. I hope this guide will aid in structuring your vacation better and pinpointing where you want to stay and what you want to see and do! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Kauai The fish are in shallow water close to shore. Oahu, the third-largest island of the eight Hawaiian islands , Oahu also serves as a central hub for tourism and a gateway to other Hawaiian islands and popularly known as The Gathering Place.. Dj vu! It boasts incredible restaurants, fun nightlife, arts and culture, enviable shopping at the largest open-air shopping center in the world, Ala Moana Center, world-famous beaches, historical sites, a striking mountainous backdrop, and a quick drive away from more remote areas. The complaints I have about the book are actually very minor. The bus is very cheap, if-ever-so-slightly-unpredictable. Wizard guidebooks take over a year to compile and the writers are residents who personally and anonymously review every facet of the island. Written by the author of the best-selling guides, Maui Revealed, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. What are the spots you cant miss? Here is my ultimate guide to Oahu, featuring essential trip-planning information, major attractions, Oahu attractions map, and recommendations on hotels and restaurants in Oahu! Every restaurant, activity provider, business and resort is reviewed personally and anonymously. Travel The Food For The Soul United States The Ultimate Guide To Oahu. Most travel titles are put together in a few weeks by visiting travel writers. I don't think this book has any real competition from other books. Insiders tip: My favorite place to rent a board from was Moku Hawaii in downtown Waikiki. Famous for its surf competitions, colossal waves as well as peaceful swimming beaches, and intimate and peaceful atmosphere you can find on the northern coast of Oahu. Be aware that while the summer is driest, the wet months of January through March will bring torrential downpours of rain. About the Author During quarantine, it was $5 for two hours, but currently it is $5 for one hour or $10 for two hours, still a great deal and cheaper than other rental places. No high rises and few big resorts, cottages and small sea shacks right on the water sit quietly amidst thickets of palm trees, life (and traffic) moves slowly here. The Ultimate Gift Guide For Campers and Hikers, Norwegians Seven Day Hawaii Roundtrip Cruise, The Ultimate Guide To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Be warned, it is not quiet here! The book is well written, and is especially strong in the section on lodging. This is not a sponsored post, and I recommend products based on my experience. Click here for the disclosure statement. Waikiki is a very pedestrian-friendly area, and it is a beautiful area to explore and get to know by foot. Geographically, it is the driest and hottest part of the island, with more desert terrain and less cover from the intensified sun. Geographically, Oahu is comprised of two volcanoes Waianae and Koolau with a valley between these two ranges known as central Oahu Plain. Pearl Harbor, known for the devastating events of December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, claiming several lives & prompting the US to enter World War II. Every region in Oahu is equally beautiful and unique, and its challenging to pick one over the other, so I recommend spending a minimum of four days in Oahu, visiting a region per day. A quieter and less-frequented region of Oahu, the West Side feels more isolated and local than any other part of the island. So worth it and super fun. Their maps are the best youll find. But for five bucks, you can get a ride to the East side, Kailua, and back for a fun day trip. Of course you'll have to plan earlier than that for flight, places to stay, etc. Is The Haleakala Sunrise Bike Ride On Maui Worth It? This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makesOahu so exciting. You might want to backup their opinions on some activities with the tripadvisor website, which has many visitors' opinions on popular attractions. is an oceanfront hotel offering contemporary decor, spa services, modern amenities, and easy access to several attractions in the area. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. They guide you to beautiful, hard-to-find beaches and there is honestly no way you could find them for yourself unless you live on the island. The restaurant information is also informative, much better than other guides, but remember that no book can completely cover all the restaurants on the island. Though not as famous as other regions of Oahu, the Leeward Coast is worth a visit if you have time left after visiting the rest of Oahu. If its your first trip to Oahu, I recommend using a guided sightseeing tour to get to know the city. Oahu just has it all. An updated list of events on Oahu can be found here: www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/events, This visual breakdown of island is helpful: https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/regions, Current travel restrictions to Hawaii: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/. This all new expanded fifth edition is a candid, humorous guide to everything there is to see and do on the island. We used it constantly. They didn't give near enough info on snorkeling at Hanauma Bay either. Maui Awesome sunrise hike, Maunawili Falls: A slippery adventure that leaves you caked in mud and full of love for the tropical wildlands of Oahu, this hike takes you to a great waterfall and pool to swim in and jump into, Nuuanu Pali Lookout: Stunning summit views for those who dont want to hike! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Kamehameha Highway hugs the entire eastern coast, stretching from Waikiki to the North Shore, offering an amazing two hour tour drive that is worth going out of your way for and gives you a great feel for the island. Here you find expensive homes, turquoise seas, world-famous Waimanalo and Lanikai beaches, wicked coastlines, little islands to kayak out to, some of the islands most awe-striking natural beauty, and slow and beachy small-town vibes. Oahus Leeward coast / west side is home to gorgeous lagoons, beaches, hiking trails, and some of the best resorts in Oahu. $5/person, Sandys Beach: Nicknamed Breakneck Beach, locals flock here for body and boogie board surfing, Halona Blowhole Lookout: A pit stop along the winding Kamehameha Highway for breath-taking views of the wild coastline. Wizard Publications, Inc. I have been to many of the places detailed in the book, and generally agree with the appraisals of the authors (the one exception being that I thought the Honolulu zoo was substantially better than the authors did). It is densely populated with one million people, very urban and cosmopolitan, very pedestrian-friendly, bustling, and exciting with palm trees everywhere and extravagant shops and Asian and Polynesian cuisine outlets on every corner. They also reveal whos the worst and who to stay away from; all told in a frank, humorous way that makes it entertaining. If you have more time, you could spend a couple of weeks in Oahu and still not run out of places to see and things to do in Oahu. However, if youre pressed for time and have to pick one over the other, here is what I suggest (1) One day trip to Oahu stick to Southern Oahu, (2) Two-day trip to Oahu Spend day 1 in Southern Oahu, and day two exploring the North Shore. Average costs for lodging on Oahu is $372/night around Valentine's Day, $397/night around Christmas time, and $135/night in September and October. Not a bad option! , (2) Poke, seasoned cubed fish, available in most restaurants and grocery stores, (3) Huli Huli chicken, barbecued chicken at Mikes Huli Chicken, North Shore, Oahu, (4) Lomi Salmon, cubed salmon with tomatoes, available in most restaurants serving Hawaiian food, (5) Banana Bread at roadside stalls, (6) Shaved Ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice in North Shore, and (7) Kona Coffee at Kona Coffee Purveyors, Honolulu. Thanks for subscribing! You will walk down Kalakaua Avenue in downtown Waikiki barefoot in only a swimsuit during daylight hours and, in the evening, find yourself strutting the same street in heels and your nicest vacation outfit. The average length of stay in Hawaii is seven days, and average daily spending per person falls around $195. We have been the trusted voice for millions of readers visiting Hawaii. Oahu, home to an unbelievably diverse array of natural landscapes, cityscapes & culture! Pearl Harbor is Central Oahus most significant landmark, on the southern harbor below Pearl City, just west of downtown Honolulu. I have reviewed the lodging and dining options in Oahu in detail in the later section of this post. For a first visit to Oahu, I recommend splitting time equally between Waikiki and another quieter part of the island, so that you are able to experience a little bit of everything. and ride-hailing services, I recommend renting a car when visiting Oahu. All Rights Reserved. $8/person, Diamond Head Crater: A paved but steep walk up the crater that towers over Waikiki. I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Oahu, and I hope this will help you plan your trip to Oahu. Therere several local companies that offer guided land and boat tours in Oahu (1)Waikiki Trolley Tours, offers hop-on-hop-off bus services stopping at all major attractions in downtown Honolulu and East Oahu, (2)Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tourdeparting from several hotels in Waikiki, and (3)The Surf Busoffering full-day guided tours of Oahus North Shore. Mermaid Caves: An underground adventure where the water battered the coast enough that it hollowed out hidden caves that still fill with incoming tides. Color maps and photographs, concise yet detailed reviews, adventures and activities galore from traditional favorites to lesser-known pastimes such as kitesurfing, and much more pack this useful guide, which distinguishes the best of the best places with icons that declare them "solid gold" or "a real gem". Written by the author of the best-selling guides, Maui Revealed, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. A beautiful spot to get a better view of the city. 70% of the states population lives here, and Oahu attracts 50% of all tourists coming to Hawaii. These guys really explored everything on the island. Sightseeing Tours In Oahu: Its always a good idea to use a local sightseeing tour company when visiting a city for the first time, and the same applies to Oahu. Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago. Here is one surf instructor who does private and group lessons that I personally recommend. This all new expanded fifth edition is a candid, humorous guide to everything there is to see and do on the island.
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