30 foods you should say aloha to in hawaii
(originally published December 6, 2016, updated on September 3, 2021) Hawaii is a melting pot of different cultures, so it’s no wonder why this list is so extensive. While not everything here is my favorite thing to eat, I’d still recommend trying it if you ever get the chance to visit the island. When in…
snorkeling at hanauma bay
Since my sister, brother-in-law and niece live on Oahu, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the island numerous times (and with free lodging)! I’ve been to Hanauma Bay a few times and didn’t realize until now that I had never blogged about it before. But this time was extra special to me because it was…
swimming with dolphins
Imagine yourself floating around in the warm, serene Hawaiian waters, basking in the sun. Friendly and playful bottlenose dolphins are swimming all around you. Well, swimming with dolphins is nothing like this. Although that was the picture I had in my head (I can probably thank Flipper for that), it wasn’t what I expected at…
how to beach in oahu
(originally published November 3, 2016) Whenever I visit my sister in Hawaii, we tend to go to the same couple of beaches. On this seventh visit, I’m glad finally add a new one to the list! Here is how I would rank the beaches from best to worst (but let’s face it – even the…
a day at lanikai
Lanikai is my sister’s favorite beach and I can see why. It means ‘heavenly seas’, and the name definitely suits it. Soft sand, calm waves, and a great view of the Mokulua Islands. On a few occasions, we’ve combined a hike at the Lanikai Pillboxes and a day at Lanikai Beach for a nice little…
hiking the easternmost point of o’ahu
Also known as Makapu’u Point, which means ‘bulging eye’. Perhaps because of the lighthouse the point overlooks at the end of the trail? Polar opposite of Ka’ena Point, the trail is located on the same side of the island as Hanauma Bay. We combined these two into one day but I would highly recommend going…
hiking the westernmost point of o’ahu
Also known as Ka’ena Point State Park, Ka’ena means, “heat” in the Hawaiian language. And not without reason – this 5 mile round trip hike provides no relief from the sun, as there aren’t many trees around for shade. What it does provide is excellent coastal views. There’s also a bird (moli) sanctuary, and some…
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