aloha vibes

Hawai’i is best known for its stunning nature and vibrant culture. We stayed in Honolulu during our trip, and this post is a roundup of my favorite things we did around O’ahu from hikes and beaches to a couple of places we really loved eating at.

favorite hike

My favorite trail during this trip was the Lanikai Pillbox hike. It’s a quick hike with huge payoff and the panoramic view over Lanikai Beach is beautiful the entire way up. In military terms a “pillbox” usually refers to a defensive structure but the ones on this trail were mainly used as observation sites.

This photo was taken near the entrance to Manoa Falls. The walk to the waterfalls is lush and tropical, and the trail is well maintained and easy for most ages. Fun fact: Manoa Falls has also been used as a filming location for Jurassic Park, Catching Fire, and Lost.

We missed out on our big hike due to weather, but I wanted to include this tip for anyone who has Stairway to Heaven on their bucket list. You can get a similar view by hiking the Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs, and you can access the stairs from the top (just don’t go down them). According to our Uber driver, it’s a great alternative - and you avoid the $1000 fine.

favorite restaurant

Swinging seats and cocktails? Yes please. The vibes at Heyday were amazing and the food was top notch while still feeling relaxed and approachable. It’s located at the retro White Sands Hotel which adds to the laid back atmosphere, and we ended up going back multiple times during our stay.

Another restaurant that deserves a mention is Istanbul. It’s an authentic Turkish restaurant and the lamb was the most tender I’ve ever had.

favorite beach

Hanauma Bay is one of my all time favorite snorkeling spots. The view when you start walking down the hill is stunning, and the beach at the bottom doesn’t disappoint either. The coral reefs are full of beautiful marine life, and you can easily spend hours snorkeling and watching everything swim by.

hawai’i and tattoos

Tattoos in Polynesian culture are believed to date back over 2000 years. The traditional tattoo style is called kakau, and the art is meant to reflect a persons individuality and life experiences, as well as provide spiritual protection and support well being.

While we didn’t get traditional style work done, getting a tattoo at the end of the trip still felt fitting. We went to Hale Nui in Waikiki and the artist was incredibly talented and made us feel comfortable throughout the experience.

in a nutshell

There is so much to do on this beautiful island and even with a full week in O’ahu we barely scratched the surface. If you are visiting I definitely recommend checking out the local fruit stands, stopping by a macadamia nut farm, and having shaved ice at least once during your stay.

Mahalo!