Towards the end of our six-month trip, we took another “detour” to Hawaii. We had planned to spend a total of 3.5 weeks on the islands of Oahu and Maui. In this blog article, we would like to tell you how we enjoyed Oahu and what you can do on the third largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
Hawaii is a very special place for many travelers. For us too, films, series and reports about the famous archipelago have created very specific images in our minds. Without exception, these were picturesque images of wreaths of flowers, Hawaiian girls, beautiful surfers, green volcanic landscapes and magnificent beaches. But these are not the only reasons why Hawaii has been at the top of our travel list for over 20 years.
Random Google Ad
Hawaii, a place of longing
Over the past two decades, we have often wanted to fly to Hawaii. We had already bought travel guides and researched hotel and airline websites extensively. Unfortunately, we always came to the same conclusion: Hawaii is just too far away for us for a simple annual vacation. If we fly to Hawaii, then only as part of a longer trip and in 2024 it was finally time. We had already been traveling for 5 months and flew from Vancouver (Canada) to Honolulu. Even the probably shortest route from the mainland to the island archipelago still takes almost 6 hours.
Why is Hawaii so special?
What do you think of when you close your eyes and think of Hawaii? Exactly. We also set off with these images in our heads. However, it is often the places that arouse the greatest expectations in advance that are a disappointment. For this reason, we deliberately toned down our anticipation. We were right to do so, because Hawaii is not as picturesque as the tourism marketing would have us believe. Is it still worth a trip? Absolutely, if you know what you're getting yourself into.
The long journey to Hawaii
Hawaii is one of the most distant destinations for Europeans and, as far as we know, there is no direct flight. So if you want to get to this island paradise, you will definitely have to change flights. We recommend booking the long flight (around 20 hours pure flying time) in two or even three stages. We would probably fly via York and Los Angeles. As we were in Vancouver, we naturally flew from there. It makes sense to fly into Honolulu airport on Oahu if you've never been there - but other islands have international airports too.
Economy class fares are around 800 euros per person. If you want to afford Business Class, you will have to fork out a good 4,500 to 5,000 euros. If you've got it, you've got it! An alternative in between is Premium Economy, which is now offered by many airlines and is priced between Economy and Business Class. Incidentally, we flew with Westjet from Vancouver to Honolulu.
A few facts about the Hawaiian island chain
The name Hawaii is actually a little misleading. The archipelago in the Pacific Ocean was discovered by James Cook in 1778 and annexed by the USA in 1898. In 1959, the dream vacation destination of many Americans was declared the 50th and (so far) last state of the USA as “Hawaii”, although there is also an island with the same name.
On the internet you can find contradictory information about the islands: some sites say there are only six, others say there are eight main islands. A local travel guide assured us that there were eight main islands. We believed him.
The eight main islands of the Aloha State are listed according to size:
Hawaii (Big Island): 10,432.5 km2
Maui: 1,883.5 km2
O'ahu: 1,557 km2
Kauaʻi: 1,433 km2
Molokaʻi: 673.4 km2
Lānaʻi: 364 km2
Niʻihau: 179.9 km2
Kahoʻolawe: 115.5 km2
In one of our next blog articles, we would also like to go into more detail about the differences between these eight different islands, but that may take a while.
Hawaii Island is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian island chain. It is almost twice the size of the other islands combined and is not colloquially known as the “Big Island” for nothing. Nevertheless, most of life takes place on the island of O'ahu.
Oahu – the heart of Hawaii
O'ahu is probably the most famous and most traveled island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is also called The Gathering Place (“The Gathering Point”). O'ahu is home to the most iconic locations in the entire state. On the one hand, there is the capital Honolulu, which extends far up into the mountain slopes, and on the other hand, the Waikīkī district with its famous hotel beach and the Kalakaua promenade, the tourist center of Oʻahu. This is where the fun comes in, as 75 percent of the entire state's population lives on O'ahu. Honolulu, Hawaii's largest city, is home to nearly 350,000 people, although life here is very expensive - to the chagrin of the locals. Hawaii is the most expensive state in the USA, ahead of California.
Oʻahu is the result of two volcanoes that are no longer active, Waiʻanae and Koʻolau, which are connected by a wide saddle. And similar to the other Hawaiian Islands, the individual sides of Oʻahu differ considerably in their vegetation. In terms of climate, Hawaii, including O'ahu, is tropical - it is a year-round travel destination.
Economy: The people here live mainly from tourism, although pineapple, papaya, cocoa and other agricultural products are grown. Oʻahu is also the only Hawaiian island on which there are multi-lane highways (freeways).
Advertising
Our first impression of Hawaii
We landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, which is located on the south side of Oʻahu, at 11 pm. It was already pitch dark, but we decided to take the public bus to our hotel. We should say goodbye to the idea of being greeted on arrival in Hawaii by tanned girls in raffia skirts with a “lei”, the typical Hawaiian flower decoration.
Our first impression was, on the contrary, rather sobering. The bus took us through less appealing neighborhoods and we quickly realized: Honolulu is a big American city with everything that goes with it. In fact, the number of homeless people here is particularly high, which is probably due to the high prices and the dwindling supply of social housing and other social benefits. US policy does not stop at Hawaii. The fact is: if you are walking through Honolulu in the middle of the night and are not on the main tourist routes, you should pay particular attention.
Our first hotel in Waikiki
We have planned seven nights for the island of O'ahu. We booked the first three of these at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham. The hotel is close to the harbor and the beautiful Ala Moana Beach Park and offers a 24-hour reception, a concierge service and a small pool area, which we really enjoyed. The hotel and its rooms are a little dated and are more reminiscent of a city hotel than a vacation hotel, but for our purposes and the first three nights in Honolulu, it was absolutely sufficient.
If you are looking for reasonably priced accommodation in Hawaii, and especially in Honolulu and Waikiki, you should take your time to search, as the prices are sometimes breathtakingly high. At 202 euros per night for a room with two double beds, the Ramada Plaza was one of the cheapest hotels. However, breakfast was not included.
The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham was perfectly fine for our purposes.
Our second hotel in Waikiki
We spent our last four nights on O'ahu at the Oasis Hotel Waikiki. This hotel is closer to the always busy Waikiki Beach, the famous promenade and the iconic bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku. The Oasis Hotel therefore impresses with its central location. At 226 euros per night for a four-bed room with breakfast, the price is comparatively reasonable. We liked the openness of the hotel and the small pool area is nice.
A small pool and a spacious room - only the breakfast wasn't that great!
Unfortunately, the breakfast is very minimalist, so we went out for breakfast on the second day. In addition, there was already no free table at 7am - the breakfast area is far too small. The balcony of our room faced the back, where it is quite noisy all day - in addition to the normal street noise, there is a loud, non-stop ventilation noise. And at night, drug deals were apparently made in the square behind the hotel (not on hotel property). We watched from the balcony and felt like we were in an episode of Hawaii 5.0. Very exciting!
The beautiful sides of O'ahu and Honolulu
Since the beginning of our blog article about O'ahu is somewhat critical, we would like to reassure you: The island is beautiful despite some disappointments. It starts with the unique flair of Honolulu. The density of hotels here is very high and the luxury accommodation has a big influence on the atmosphere in the city. You can see many impressive corners, artificial waterfalls, lavishly decorated stores and malls and there are torches everywhere that are lit as soon as it gets dark. Here they know how to masterfully play with the reputation that Hawaii has had in the world for decades and you are inevitably carried away.
We really enjoyed Ala Moana Beach Park with its magnificent artificial lagoon, as well as Waikiki Beach. Yes, of course there's a lot going on here, but that's what makes the atmosphere so special. You just have to go with the flow.
A rental car makes sense
Although we hadn't originally planned it, we ended up renting a car on O'ahu too. Booked tours are simply very expensive and the public bus network could be improved - especially if you want to see the rest of the island. We paid 160 euros for a mid-range car for three days - very reasonable from our point of view.
But be careful: if you rent a car on Oahu, you should definitely think about where you can park beforehand. Parking on the streets is only permitted for a short time, if at all, and hotels with parking lots often charge horrendous fees. It's best to ask the hotel in advance!
Random Google Ad
Cheap food and drink on O'ahu:
We set ourselves very strict budget limits on our trip - when the four of you are traveling for over six months, you can't go overboard if you're a normal earner. It wasn't that easy in Hawaii, as we realized during the planning stage. Once we were there, we finally realized how expensive the 50th state of the USA really is.
Breakfast: You have to be careful with hotels that serve breakfast, they are often very expensive and the breakfast is not worth the paper plate it is served on. In high-priced hotels, however, you probably don't have to worry about this. If you want a good and plentiful breakfast, you can go to the IHOP restaurant chain without hesitation. IHOP is the abbreviation for International House of Pancakes and specializes in breakfast dishes such as pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelettes, sausages and bacon. It may not be cheap at first glance, but the portions are extremely generous and your tummy is sure to feel good for several hours afterwards. We have never eaten as much breakfast as at IHOP. The McDonalds in Waikiki was a disappointment in this respect.
Nach einem Frühstück bei IHOP ist man mit ziemlicher sicher pappsatt.
Interesting half-knowledge: Incidentally, from 1979 to 1982, IHOP was owned by the Wienerwald-Holding of Austrian restaurateur Friedrich Jahn.
Lunch and dinner: If you really want to eat in restaurants, you pay length times breadth here. Main courses under 30 dollars are a rarity, so four people can easily end up paying 120 dollars per meal. We often went to Seven Eleven, where you can eat quite well and cheaply (and heat your own food from the chiller cabinet in the microwave).
There is also a Walmart in Honolulu where you can also shop relatively cheaply.
What we did on O'ahu:
Walk through Waikiki and Honolulu: The capital of Hawaii is sprawling and reaches far up into the green hills. So it would be wrong to think you could explore it completely on foot. However, one or more walks through the city center and along the two most famous beach promenades are an absolute must. In Honolulu you can also do some excellent and very expensive shopping and in addition to numerous stores there are also several malls (e.g. International Market Place, Ala Mona Center, Royla Hawaiian Center, Kahala Mall, Ward Centre and others).
Visit Pearl Harbor followed by a bus tour of Honolulu: Pearl Harbor is a dramatic piece of world history and a visit to the famous military harbor is also a must for visitors to Hawaii. The harbor was made famous by the attack on the US Pacific Fleet by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941 during the Second World War, which led to the USA's entry into the war. Since January 29, 1964, Pearl Harbor has had the status of a National Historic Landmark and today it is an important memorial and an emotionally impressive tourist attraction.
We were particularly impressed by the USS Arizona Memorial Tour with a view of the sunken warship.
The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor left a lasting impression on us.
Advertising
The subsequent bus tour with an exceptionally funny tour guide gave us an understanding of the capital's most important sights. We saw historic Honolulu, China Town, the National Cemetery of the Pacific, the King Kamehameha statue, the Iolani Palace Saint Damien and even the headquarters of Hawaii 5.0. We almost applied for a job there 😉.
Our bus tour through Honolulu took us to the most famous places in the city.
Fireworks in Honolulu: Every Friday at 7.45 pm there is a great (and free) fireworks display at the Hilton Waikiki Village. It's best to sit on the beach with a few drinks in good time and enjoy. Really cool.
Beach tour with the rental car: One or two short island road trips are always a recommendation. We just went for it and made some interesting stops. Kawaikui Beach Park, for example, is a great destination. Here you have a wonderful view of the sea as well as the impressive mountains of O'ahu. If you drive further, you will come to the Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary was established by the state of Hawaii in 1981 to protect the endangered Hawaiian stilt and other migratory water birds. This is followed by other beach parks such as Maunalua Beach Park, Marshalls Beach to Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve and Lānaʻi Lookout, where, with a bit of luck, you can watch whales.
Caution: You should leave earlier than most others, otherwise you won't get a parking space at some beaches and you'll have to drive on unsatisfied.
The best way to visit the island's most beautiful beaches is by renting a car.
At the easternmost end of O'ahu are Sandy Beach, which Hawaiians also call Wāwāmalu and is very popular with surfers, and the somewhat rougher Kaloko Beach. If you continue along the Kalanianaoe Highway, you will reach the easternmost point of the island and can walk the very attractive Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail to the lighthouse.
Visit to the Laie-Hawaii Mormon Temple: Visiting this ostentatious Mormon temple was a unique but also somewhat strange experience for us. Here you can see impressively how (influentially) rich the Mormon group is in the USA. There must have been a lot of donations for the construction of this luxurious temple complex. The huge property is located on the 83 in the town of Laie (where the Polynesian Cultural Center is also located, which is well worth a visit). Further north is the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge and Kawela Bay.
At the easternmost end of O'ahu are Sandy Beach, which Hawaiians also call Wāwāmalu and is very popular with surfers, and the somewhat rougher Kaloko Beach. If you continue along the Kalanianaoe Highway, you will reach the easternmost point of the island and can walk the very attractive Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail to the lighthouse.
Visit to the Laie-Hawaii Mormon Temple: Visiting this ostentatious Mormon temple was a unique but also somewhat strange experience for us. Here you can see impressively how (influentially) rich the Mormon group is in the USA. There must have been a lot of donations for the construction of this luxurious temple complex. The huge property is located on the 83 in the town of Laie (where the Polynesian Cultural Center is also located, which is well worth a visit). Further north is the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge and Kawela Bay.
There is comparatively little going on at the western tip. Here you can visit Kaʻena Point State Park, for example, where there is a very beautiful sandy beach.
Visit Diamond Head State Monument with a hike to the summit: Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi in Hawaiian, is a 232-metre-high tuff formation. If you want to visit the park, it is best to take an Uber or Lyft and book a timeslot - otherwise you are not allowed to enter the park.
The 2.5-kilometre circular hike called the Diamond Head Summit Trail takes around 1.5 hours and should be manageable even for inexperienced hikers. Sturdy shoes, sufficient water and sun protection (hat etc.) are mandatory. There are numerous steps to climb on the way to the top. We passed a former military bunker and went through a tunnel.
Especially at midday, when the sun is blazing, the climb is quite strenuous, but at the top you are rewarded with one of the most breathtaking views over Honolulu and the south of Oahu.
We can only recommend a visit to Diamond Head State Monument.
More tips for booked tours on O'ahu:
Conclusion
The island of O'ahu and especially Honolulu and Waikiki are legendary. We've been dying to go there for over 20 years. However, what we have learned on our numerous trips has also helped us here: For those dream destinations that you look forward to the most, the “fall height” is also the greatest, in other words, the disappointment can also be huge. We were aware of this when planning our trip to Hawaii and so we were not disappointed.
Oahu is a tourist island, so the infrastructure is correspondingly well developed. You can have everything here if you have the necessary money. In Waikiki in particular, you can have a good time, even if you are one of many people with the same destination. The picturesque South Sea idyll that you might have in mind from Hawaii can only be found here to a limited extent. And don't forget: Honolulu is a big city, not a vacation village. Nevertheless, Oahu has flair - and this flair should not be missed.
Advertising
There are also beautiful beaches elsewhere, and above all they are quicker to reach, but the Hawaiian bonus here is not just the prices but also the experiences. We recommend that anyone who wants to visit several Hawaiian islands should start in Honolulu. Oahu is worth a trip. After all, Magnum liked it here too.
Thank you for reading our blog articles. If you have any tips, complaints or requests (for example, what else we should research and write about), please feel free to write to us.
Also if you have any questions about our hometown Vienna. It's best to book your Hawaii trip to Oahu today.
Steffi and Max from beautiful Vienna
Our shopping tips for your Trip to Oahu, Hawaii
Lonely Planet's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Try the hula, snorkel turquoise waters, or enjoy stunning ocean views; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu:
Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak
Color maps and images throughout Highlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
Essential infoat your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, surfing, wildlife, cuisine, arts & crafts, politics
Covers Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor & Leeward O'ahu, Southeast O'ahu, Windward Coast, North Shore & Central O-ahu, and more
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu, our most comprehensive guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu, is perfect for discovering both popular and off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Advertising
Can you imagine exploring the captivating islands of Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai? Picture yourself navigating the vibrant streets of Honolulu, relaxing on the tranquil beaches of Lanai, and stepping back in time on the historic trails of Molokai. This dream can become a reality with "The Essential Guide to Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai: Hawaiian Islands with Itineraries, Interactive Maps, and Insider Tips" as your definitive travel companion!
What Sets This Guide Apart:
Comprehensive Listings: Dive deep into detailed entries for countless attractions across Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai. Each listing is equipped with essential information, including locations, operational hours, contact details, and website links. From the bustling urban atmosphere of Oahu to the serene, luxurious escapes of Lanai and the untouched, cultural richness of Molokai, this guide ensures you experience the diverse offerings of these islands.
Vivid Descriptions and Imagery: Be captivated by each destination before your journey begins, with vivid narratives and stunning photographs that encapsulate the essence of each island. These entries don’t just inform—they inspire your Hawaiian adventures.
Interactive Maps and Practical Information: Navigate the islands' attractions with ease using interactive maps that link to additional online resources. Whether you’re exploring the historical sites of Pearl Harbor, the secluded landscapes of Lanai, or the ancient fishponds of Molokai, you’ll find invaluable tips including the best travel routes and recommended gear.
First-Hand Experiences and Recommendations: Gain insights from first-hand accounts and expert advice. Discover the best times to visit, top dining spots, and hidden local gems—from the bustling markets of Oahu to the dramatic cliffs of Molokai.
Accessibility and Visitor Tips: This guide provides detailed accessibility information to ensure all travelers can fully enjoy the natural and cultural offerings of the islands. Practical tips on transportation, parking, and other essentials make planning your trip seamless, allowing for a stress-free Hawaiian adventure.
Dynamic and User-Friendly Format: Designed for ease of use, the guide is structured in a user-friendly format, enabling quick access to information whether you're interested in historical sites, outdoor activities, or local cuisine.
Why wait? Our guide is more than just a travel book; it’s your gateway to adventures and experiences across three of Hawaii’s most enchanting islands. Pick up your copy today and embark on your unforgettable journey through the vibrant and diverse landscapes of Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai!
Advertising
All of our trips and excursions are self-paid - we do not give any paid travel recommendations in the reports! Exception: affiliate links. Most of the links in our blog are affiliate links, i.e. advertising. We are trying to recoup some of the costs of our blog and ask for your understanding.
Comments