OAHU, HAWAII

Oahu, Hawaii

Where we stayed: Prince Waikiki Hotel

Every January, we go on a family trip, with Wilson’s family. This year we choose Waikiki, we were here earlier last year and loved it but didn’t have enough time to explore so we went back. We made sure to go to all our favourite places; we got coffee at Kai Coffee, our favourite local coffee shop here, they have the best lattes with macadamia nut milk.

This year we stayed at the Prince Waikiki hotel, this hotel is a bit of a walk from the main strip but very close to the Ala Moana Centre. The hotel was great, and we had a great view of the ocean, and the pool was terrific. This time around, we go to explore Oahu. We rented a car and drove up to the North Shore and to check out Haleiwa, a cool beach town with a fantastic town centre. We drove around the island, got to see sea turtles, and stopped in La’ie at a viewpoint called the La’ie Point State Wayside. In that town, we visited the Polynesian Culture Centre. We stayed on the free side because we didn’t have enough time, but they had so many neat things to check out, delicious vegan ice cream, and lots of history to learn. We had family photos done at Kualoa Regional Park, which was beautiful. With a view of the mountains behind us and the ocean in front of us, it was quite the spot. Next time, I want to take a picnic lunch and spend the day there and then go for dinner at Haleiwa Joe’s Haku Gardens. This restaurant was recommended to us by our photographer Reese (booked through Flytographer), and it was delicious. The restaurant itself is also elegant, it overlooks the gardens below, which you can also walk down to and through. It gets busy, so make sure you come early or be prepared to wait, it’s worth the wait, though. We also visited Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts, which had a ton of Macadamia Nut products, we bought a lot of local snacks, products and coffee from there.

In Waikiki, we ate at Nobu. We love Nobu and like to try to visit when we find a city that has a Nobu, it never disappoints. The fish was delicious and fresh, and the service was great, as always. The location was great too; it is right near the Ala Moana Centre, a massive mall which has a ton of dining options and shopping. We had a lot of fun at the Lucky Strike Arcade, which is a bar/restaurant with a huge arcade. A few other dining spots we tried was Piggy Smalls also near Ala Moana Centre. It is a Vietnamese restaurant; it had a fantastic pho broth french dip. Ono Seafood has one of the best Poke I’ve ever had. The main location is tiny, and the parking is limited at best. The wait is well worth it; the poke is so tasty! In the same area is Leonard’s Bakery, an old-school donut shop that is iconic to Honolulu. It is busy and often has lines out the door, but it's worth it. The original sugar-coated donuts were one of our favourites, and the macadamia nut filling was also delicious. Rainbow Drive-in, is a local fast food joint which is another iconic stop. The food itself was good, it’s nothing crazy, but it is cheap and just a must-see when you are in Honolulu. We had breakfast at Goofy’s a couple of times, it’s close to the Prince Hotel, and the food is to die for. It’s a tiny restaurant so go early, or wait for a while. Aloha Kitchen is also another great spot for brunch, but it is also very busy. Both of these places offer great traditional Hawaiian dishes.

We also spent a day on the east coast of Oahu where there are many viewpoints and beaches to take pictures at. You’ll find beaches and lookouts all along the drive, but the ones that we stopped at were Lanai Lookout, Halona Blowhole Lookout, and Sandy Beach. All these areas will be easier to get to if you rent a car rather than Uber-ing to every single stop. Honolulu Cookie Company may seem like a gimmicky tourist trap, but you’re cheating yourself not going there. There is one on almost every block in Waikiki and the cookies are amazing, and there are always free samples. Our suitcases are always overflowing with their cookies on the way home.

We went to a Luau at the Hilton called the Waikiki Starlight Hawaiian Luau. It was a very entertaining night, with good drinks and food. It is on the rooftop of one of the buildings at the Hilton, so it was a nice spot for it, but it got quite chilly. I was a little pricey, but I feel like it is a must-do event at least once in Hawaii.