I cannot believe 6 months have flown by already since I was in Oahu, HI for an amazing wedding. I was lucky that I went with some friends who had been to the island before and was able to rely on them. Check out their recommendations (thanks AW and SR), the activities we did, and all the great places to eat below!

Some general travel recommendations:

• Should I get a rental car? If you plan to check out North Shore, which I highly recommend, then you should get a car for flexibility and ease. There are public buses, but they take much longer and are infrequent.
• What is the weather like? We were there in March and it was rainy and cool, but we heard that the same week last year was completely sunny and warm. Generally, the weather can vary so I would recommend looking up the weather forecast before you get there.
• Where to stay? Our friends highly recommended staying and spending most of the time in North Shore vs. Honolulu. SGDF and I completely agree. Honolulu is great, but it felt like a mix of San Diego (city by the beach) and Los Angeles (some areas filled with high-end shops and others very industrial).

North Shore

We spent most of our time in North Shore. The beaches are less crowded compared to Waikiki, and the surfing is renowned in the area (though meant for the more experienced surfers). My favorite part, North Shore has some of the best food on the island and is generally more affordable than Waikiki.

Food

• Anywhere in Old Town Haleiwa: There are so many food trucks including Camaron Kahuku Shrimp (get the shrimp plate), Crispy grindz (local Brazilian-style açaí bowls), and Sushi and Udon No. 7.

• Elephant shack: great Thai place that started off as a food truck before becoming a full restaurant
• Surf and salsa: our Airbnb host claimed it’s the best Mexican spot on the island
• All the shrimp trucks like Giovanni for anything shrimp
• Banzai Bowls: the best açaí and pitaya bowls ever (seriously, we went back twice in one day once). It is located inside the Techron gas station (yup, a bit weird but so amazing).

• Kahuku Superette: poke spot inside this rundown looking store. It’s delicious so just go in!
• Pupito Grill: local favorite
• Scoop of Paradise Ice Cream: good ol’ fashioned ice cream
• Green Coffee Farm: coffee farm and store where you can get some amazing coffee and local products (lotions, oils, ceramics, gifts). There is a cafe and outdoor area to hangout.

Beaches

• Sunset beach: per its name, this beach is nice for sunsets all year round
• Waimea bay beach: can get 30-foot waves in the winter
• Velzyland Beach: we didn’t make it there on this trip but AW said it’s a great local beach and a spot for surfers
• Turtle Bay Resort: great spot for beginner surfers, it’s where we signed up for lessons
• Banzai Pipeline: advanced surfer spot
• Laniakea Beach: long but narrow strip of beach located off the side of the road
• Shark’s Cove: good spot for snorkeling

Activities

• Hikes: unfortunately we couldn’t do any of the hikes because it was raining but our hosts told us about Crouching Lion and Pill Box
• Surfing: Generally North Shore is for more advanced surfers, but we took lessons and went out nearby Turtle Bay resort
• Haleiwa: Town close to the beach where you can walk around, explore the boutiques, and eat
• North Shore Yoga Co-op: beautiful space for yoga that we found during one of our rainy days
• Snorkel: We didn’t get to snorkel during our trip since the weather was bad, but next time we will go to Shark’s Cove.

South Shore / Waikiki

Waikiki reminded me of San Diego, with its high-rise buildings and shopping centres located right by the port. There are great restaurants located in Waikiki, but in general, it seemed more expensive than North Shore.

Food

• Ramen Nakamura: didn’t get to go there but it was recommended to us
• Marukame Udon: didn’t get to go there but it was recommended to us
• Leonard’s: known for their Malasadas (Portuguese donuts); I preferred the original (without filling)
• Ono’s Seafood: Poke, probably the best poke on Oahu and they offer so many different flavors
• Goofy’s: great for brunch, but expect long lines

Beaches

• Kahanamoku beach: it can get super packed since it is near many of the resorts. You can rent beach chairs and an umbrella from one of the stands on the beach.

Activities

We didn’t get to do much but we saw many snorkel spots and surf lessons along the beach. Waikiki also has so many shopping centers and high-end stores, great restaurants, and nighttime activities. Things close pretty early in the North Shore, but in Waikiki, there are many nightclubs and bars.