Oahu got a good soak today
Wow! What a gray and rainy day it has been today on Oahu! If you just now arrived on the island of Oahu and you were hoping to escape the winter weather at home you may now be thinking that your pilot landed on the wrong island. Today Oahu is covered by one big rain cloud and the entire island is actually under a flash flood warning. Hawaii is usually sunny even in the winter, but rainfall in the winter months are Hawaii’s “snow.”... [Read more]
Waikiki Attractions
Waikiki is the most popular tourist area in Hawaii and therefore the most crowded. But if you don’t mind crowds, there are quite a few interesting things to do. Waikiki Beach is divided into several beach areas (Kuhio Beach, Queen’s Beach, Sans Souci Beach and Kaimana Beach). Some areas along Waikiki Beach offer good swimming conditions, while others are more suitable for snorkeling, bodyboarding and surfing. There are also three... [Read more]
Magic Island, Oahu
Magic Island is a popular beach park in Honolulu. It is actually a man-made peninsula (not an island) and a great place for picnics, swimming, jogging and relaxing. At the end of the peninsula is a small sandy beach, also known as Magic Island beach. It has a rock barrier, which protects the beach from incoming waves and currents. However, when the surf is up, the waves often times reach over the rock walls, so stay away from this area and... [Read more]
Oahu South Shore Beach and Sightseeing Self-Guided Tour
Here is an affordable way to explore some of the most scenic locations on Oahu – rent a car and drive along the island’s southeastern shore. This part of the island is truly amazing because of the unique scenery, beaches and lookout points, many of which are located at sea cliffs. A short drive from Waikiki and your breath will already be taken away as you stop at Kuilei Cliffs where you will see a pristine cliffy vista of blue... [Read more]
Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore Oahu, Review
The best thing about the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu is the location! Far from busy Waikiki and surrounded by beautiful beaches, Turtle Bay is a great place if you want to enjoy beautiful scenery, typical for the North Shore of Oahu –white sand beaches, green sea turtles and lava rocks covered by green vegetation. Turtle Bay Resort is a 4 star hotel, but personally I would rate it a 3 star hotel because of the service. My stay there... [Read more]
Triple Seven (777) Yacht in Honolulu Harbor Today
Today, one of the most luxurious motor yachts in the world was anchored at Aloha Tower in Honolulu Harbor, where she attracted a number of curious onlookers and photographers. The yacht was sparkling clean from the outside and looked like it just came out of the factory. It didn’t have a single salty or dirty spot on it. It was glittering in the sunshine. For those of you who are curious about the yacht and who owns it, here is some... [Read more]
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki Beach
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is a popular beach attraction located on Waikiki Beach, and it is part of the Hilton Hawaiian Village grounds. The lagoon was closed for renovation in 2006 and reopened in December 2007. The renovation cost was about $15 million! The lagoon is is a great place to relax. The water is warm, calm and azure blue, surrounded by fine white sand and a grassy area. The Hilton lagoon has a scenic view to Diamond Head, the popular... [Read more]
Kewalo Basin Park, Honolulu
Even though the Kewalo Basin Park is conveniently located right next to Ala Moana Beach Park (west of it), it is still largely undiscovered and never crowded. The oceanfront park has many shady trees, grassy areas ideal for a picnic and great views to the entire length of Ala Moana Park, Magic Island and Diamond Head. There is no beach here, only rocks, but there is a nice promenade right on the ocean’s edge. The park also serves as an... [Read more]
Coconut Island, Oahu
Coconut Island, also known as Moku o Lo‘e, is located on Oahu’s windward (east) coast. This little offshore island is the location where part of the popular TV series Gilligan’s Island was filmed. It’s the island that you see during the opening theme of the second and third season of the series. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has a research base on Coconut Island. Students and scientists from around the world come... [Read more]
Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, Oahu
The Kaneohe Sandbar, also known as Ahu o Laka, is a popular picnicking spot among local Oahu residents, particularly among those who have a boat or access to a boat or kayak. It’s the only sandbar of this kind in Hawaii. The sandbar is located in Kaneohe Bay. During low tide, it emerges and forms a shallow and temporary land. During high tide, the water is about hip-deep and deeper towards the edges of the sandbar. There is a steep drop-off... [Read more]
Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu is a busy business center. Many Hawaii business offices are located here. Downtown Honolulu is busy during the week and calm on the weekend, when almost all businesses and public restaurants are closed. The downtown area is definitely worth a visit. You can see many architectural buildings here, nestled in pretty tropical landscaping. Take a stroll in the Bishop Square, then walk by the historic Iolani Palace and the Hawaii... [Read more]
Makapuu Beach, Oahu
Makapuu Beach Park is located right across Sea Life Park Hawaii on the east shore of Oahu. The beach is a pretty place and it offers nice views and picture-taking opportunities. However, it is not a good beach for picnics because the beach is narrow and doesn’t have much shade. Swimming is also not recommended if you are not an experienced swimmer. Waves are usually high and dangerous. There is a bathroom and showers on the beach.... [Read more]
Waimanalo Beach Park
Waimanalo Beach Park is the longest white-sand beach on Oahu, located on the island’s east shore. Spanning over a distance of three miles, Waimanalo Beach is a great spot for swimming, bodyboarding, kayaking and barbecuing. It is never crowded even on the weekends. On a clear day the beach looks better than on a postcard! The water is azure blue and crystal clear. There are many trees along the shore providing plenty of shade. The... [Read more]
Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park
Here are some photos of the beautiful Kuilei Cliffs Beach located at one of the finest areas on Oahu (between Diamond Head and Kahala). The beach is a popular surfing spot. ... [Read more]
Makalei Beach Park
Makalei Beach Park is a small park located on the foothills of Diamond Head. It is very close to Diamond Head Beach Park. The park has picnic tables and some big trees. There is a small swimming beach there too. It is a good place to escape from the hussle and bussle of Waikiki Beach. ... [Read more]
Diamond Head Beach Park (Leahi Beach Park)
Diamond Head Beach Park is also known as Leahi Beach Park. Located on the foothils of Diamond Head, the beach park is a good place for picnics but not for swimming because the ocean bottom is shallow and there is a coral reef. The beach park has some picnic tables and trees for plenty of shade. ... [Read more]
Diamond Head Lighthouse
Diamond Head Lighthouse is a symbol of The Hawaiian history. The lighthouse is located on Diamond Head Road, bewteen Gold Coast and Kahala. Read More →
Diamond Head Road, Oahu
Diamond Head Hike is known as the most popular Oahu hike. Another popular hike is the Diamond Head Road which starts at the end of Waikiki, and goes all the way to Kahala. The hike is easy and very scenic. You will see a few beaches, many beautiful estates, Diamond Head Lighthouse and many tropical flowers. Below you can see some photo we took from there. ... [Read more]
Honolulu Christmas: Honolulu City Lights
Christmas in Honolulu is green and tropical and many light decorations can be seen in the city and the rest of the island. Every year, Honolulu Hale, located in downtown Honolulu, hosts an event called Honolulu City Lights where you can see Hawaiian style Christmas decoration. The admission is free, and it is worth a visit, especially at night when all the lights are lit. Here are some photos I took of the Honolulu City Lights display. ... [Read more]
Oktoberfest 2008 at the Ala Moana Hotel
One of my favorite Honolulu festivals is the Oktoberfest in Ala Moana Hotel that comes every October. There are lots of German good beer, music and dancing. The food is great too. Here are some videos from this year’s fest. Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Read More →
