Our Guide to Oahu

I love all of Hawaii, but Oahu is special to us. It’s the island I went to with my parents in High School, and it’s where David and I celebrated both our second and fifth anniversary. Today, we’re sharing one of our supersized blogs, so we can talk about our favorite places on the island.

Stay:

If you want to stay in Waikiki, we recommend both Waikiki Parc, and Halekulani – they’re both in an unbeatable location, with excellent customer service.

If you want something more remote, head to The North Shore and check into the only hotel on that part of the island, Turtle Bay. Every room has an ocean view, and it’s completely isolated.

For die-hard Disney fans, spend a few days at Aulani – Disney’s beautiful hawaiian escape.

Eat: 

I judge a vacation spot by the food. I’m not saying it’s right, but it’s what I do. Oahu has SO many options, and the best food you’ll find is in the small, out of the way places in Oahu. We saw SO many people eating at The Cheesecake Factory every night – and while we love a good piece of cheesecake, there’s so many hole in the walls, that you should avoid chains at all cost.

Hideaway Coffee
Hideaway Coffee is in the Laylow Hotel – it’s not just perfectly decorated, but has some of the best cortados of my life.

Olive and Oliver
Not only is Olive and Oliver located in The Surfjack Hotel (which is hella cool), they also have super cute pineapple coffee cups, and great espresso drinks.

House Without A Key
DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE! Their Mai Tai’s are legendary, but they also have a great, open air patio with live music and views of the ocean.

V-Land Tacos
These are the best tacos I’ve had in my life. Which is not a statement I make lightly, considering I’m from Texas. This tiny food truck is on the North Shore, and incredible.

Ono Seafood
Ono Seafood is on Yelp’s list of essential 100 restaurants in America. The poke is fresh, and delicious – it’s also ridiculously cheap.

Mike’s Huli Chicken
This is another food truck (if you’re seeing a trend here). You see them roasting the chicken on an open air grill, and their Huli sauce is famous.

The Sunrise Shack
This is our favorite breakfast place on the island – they serve papaya bowls, and they’re delicious.

The Pig and the Lady
The Pig and the Lady is one of the most delicious restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It’s Thai/Hawaiian fusion, and you really can’t go wrong with anything on either the food or cocktail menu.

Arvo
Tie-Dye Lattes. I really don’t think I need to say more.

Leonard’s
Leonard’s is THE PLACE to go for malasadas (fresh baked donuts with different kinds of cream filling). They’re delicious, and made to order.

Play:

There’s so much to do in Oahu that it’s hard to narrow it down – we’re only sharing our absolute favorites today.

Leis in Chinatown
We found the best, cheapest leis in Chinatown (and the highest quality too!).

Tantalus Drive
The Tantalus Drive is one of the most scenic drives in Oahu. It winds up above Honolulu, with beautiful lookout views of Waikiki and Diamond Head.

North Shore Beaches
Our favorite beaches in Oahu are on the North Shore. It’s one of the only places on the island that you can find almost deserted beaches – and there’s a good chance you’ll see either sea turtles or seals.

Sunset at Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay is our favorite place to watch the sunset. Take some of the winding walking trails, or head to ‘the point’, to see a spectacular show.

Waimea Valley Waterfall Hike
This is the easy hike of my lazy dreams – complete with a beautiful waterfall you can swim under.

Halona Blowhole
This is a scenic lookout, with a steep trail downward that leads to an almost deserted beach. It’s one of our favorite places in Oahu.