☰Oahu

When visiting Oahu beaches, there is so much more than just Waikiki. Waikiki Beach is the most developed beach on Oahu Island, but if you have a couple of extra days, plan to visit other breathtaking beaches on Oahu. Here's a guide to other Oahu beaches. **

Haleiwa

** The world famous Banzai Pipeline Surfbreak is located nearby the Haleiwa surf town. To get there take the H1 West highway, then take the exit 8A to merge into H2 North highway towards Wahiawa/Mililani. Take exit 8 towards Wahiawa and then take the HI-99 Kamehameha highway for about 12 miles until you reach Haleiwa. At Haleiwa you will find several official and "unofficial" beach parks. Kalaka Bay Beach Park at 66-449 Haleiwa Road is an outdoor park that offers good facilities for the whole family. If Kalaka Bay Beach Park doesn't appeal to you, then you can drive North Kamehameha Highway towards Turtle Bay and experience over 10 beach parks.**

Kailua Beach Park

** One of the best kept secrets in town is Kailua Beach Park at 526 Kawailoa Road because it combines sandy beaches with calm waters and great conditions for kayaking enthusiasts. There are several kayak rental shops in the Kailua area, which also offer bike rentals. During your stay at Kailua Beach Park, you will understand why Oahu ranks high as one of the fittest places in the world. Here you will find young and old are biking, kayaking, surfing, running and diving. If all of this makes you already tired, don'tworry Kailua Beach Park is full of quiet places for some well deserved and needed R&R.**

Hawaii Kai**

Hawaii Kai is on the Eastern side of Oahu and is dotted with several beach parks where is not unusual to find Japanese newlyweds getting their wedding photographs take. The Sandy Beach Park at 8800 Kalanianaole Highway is known by the locals as Sandy's and is a great beach to have a picnic, and watch adventurous surfers and bodyboarders. This beach has rougher waters so we do not recommend to try bodyboarding there unless you are very advanced and have bodyboarding fins. Sandy's offers a great opportunity to take amazing photographs of pros showing off their skills. Another local favorite beach spot on the Hawaii Kai area is the Makapuu Beach Park at 41-095 Kalanianaole Hwy. The surf break is not as rough as Sandy's but still be careful. From either beach, you will also be close to Queen's Beach Restaurant at 8902 Kalanianaole Hwy.**

White Plains

**White Plains is a great and safe beach for those just trying out surfing for their very first time. This beach owes it name to the obvious fact that it is a bright and white beach. Some people refer to it as the "Waikiki of the West Side" because there are small surf breaks everywhere, which can be a bit disappointing for advanced surfers but truly enjoyable for beginning surfers. The ocean area is divided into a swimming and a surfing section, which makes it an even more safer beach. To get to White Plains from Waikiki, you need to get into the H1 West Highway towards Waianae for about 35 minutes, then take exit 2 towards Kapolei/Kalaeloa. At the Makakilo Drive turn into Fort Barrette Road until you arrive into a 4 way stop sign onto F.D. Roosevelt Road, then take a left. Take the fourth right onto Coral Sea, then a left onto Tripoli and the first right takes you to White Plains Beach. The drive sounds much more complicated than it is actually.

Looking for a day trip idea during your stay in Oahu? Here are some ideas to get you started.**

Diving and Turtle Watching

** If you're looking for the best diving spots in the world, look no further than Oahu! There are plenty of diving spots such as Electric Beach, Shark's Cove and Hanuama Bay. Hanuama Bay is a marine sanctuary located in the direction of Hawaii Kai. You can get there easily by bus. Here you will find unintimidated reef fish, manta rays, sea turtles (honu in Hawaiian) and plenty of schools of colorful fish. Shark's Cove is an excellent snorkeling spot comparable to Hanauma Bay but free! It's a shallow reef cove almost exactly halfway in between Laie and Haliewa. Near Shark's Cove, on the right side of Kamehameha Highway if you're heading from Shark's Cove to Haliewa in the North Shore, there is a turtle habitat where Sea Turtles come us to feel the warmth of the sun and the warmth of the tourist's flash photography. You can also snorkel among the many sea turtles in this spot as long as the waves are small. Please don't touch the sea turtles, it's a federal offense and locals enforce this law aggressively. **

Chase the (Movie) Stars**

Hawaii has been the perfect setting for plenty of blockbusters so why not visit actual movie sets! At the top of the list is the Hukilau Cafe, this is the restaurant where Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore supposedly met in the movie "50 First Dates". Located in the North Shore, just about a block away from the Mormon Temple, it is worth a visit not only for a great photo opportunity but also for some amazing Spam and Eggs, as well as Banana Pancakes.

Another great stop in your date with movie stars is the Kualoa Ranch, where you can take ATV tours through lush, green valleys surrounded by the dramatic Kualoa mountains. The Kualoa mountains appear in "Jurassic Park", "Pearl Harbor" and TV series "Lost". Also horseback tours and Hummer tours are available. The Kualoa Ranch offers a great mix of Hawaiian Hollywood and of the great Hawaiian outdoors. **

Oahu's Chinatown

**Downtown Honolulu is also known as Chinatown. Here you will get immersed in an unique place that combines the old with the new, the East with the West, the trendy with the kitschy. You will find a trendy clothing store right next to a roast duck shop. This place is amazing! Oahu's Chinatown is very friendly to pedestrians and not so friendly for parking, so we recommend that you get there by bus. You will avoid time wasted on finding parking and save money on expensive parking at the downtown area. Carry sunblock lotion, a hat, and plenty of water because it gets pretty hot in the afternoon. If you're lucky to visit Oahu during the first Friday of a month, head to Oahu's Chinatown at 5 p.m. to experience "First Friday", a big block party where all the art stores feature their work and provide complimentary wine (after a small donation of $2 to $5). Don't miss it!

Contributors August 26, 2009

Oahu is the most urban developed and populated of the Hawaiian Islands with the more diverse variety of restaurants. Here's a list of suggestions to guide your dining decisions in Oahu. **

Chinese**

In Honolulu's Chinatown, you will find various Chinese restaurants. Two restaurants come particularly recommend: the Little Village Noodle House and the Legend Seafood Restaurant. The Little Village Noodle House is located at 1113 Smith Street and it provides free parking while dining at the restaurant. This restaurant does not serve alcohol, but its management allows you to bring beer and other alcoholic beverages without a cork fee. One of their signature dishes sure to please is The Mother of All Fried Rice.

The Legend Seafood Restaurant is located on the river side of the Chinese Cultural Plaza at 100 North Beretania Street. This is a great place to enjoy dim sum and local favorites are the taro shrimp ball and the salty mochi ball. Both restaurants are great for those dining on a budget.

Japanese

A sure crowd pleaser is Gyu-Kaku (Japanese BBQ dining) on 1221 Kapiolani Boulevard, opening Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. At Gyu-Kaku you will enjoy at each table an imported Japanese BBQ brazier where you will cook your marinated meats, chicken, fish and vegetables. Free parking is on the first and second floor of the parking building located on Hopaka Street.

Since 1978, Yanagi Sushi (762 Kapiolani Boulevard) has served quality Japanese dishes to its customers with the highest level of service. All of its chef staff received formal sushi chef training in Japan. This restaurant is prepared to serve groups from 2 to 30. Yanagi Sushi (or Yanagi's) is a local favorite and is always busy, so make sure to make your reservation at least a day in advance. Besides its excellent food, Yanagi's is known for its more than 400 photos on its walls of famous athletes, actors and actresses. **

Hawaiian**

If you're looking for Hawaiian food, you have to look for ono food (delicious in Hawaiian)! Therefore, Ono Hawaiian Foods (726 Kapahulu Avenue) is the top pick on Oahu. This restaurant serves Hawaiian dishes such as kalua pig and laulau so well, that in 1998 the Zagat Survey recognized this restaurant as one of America's Top Resturant Rated "Excellent". The place is quite small and there's always a line. However, the wait is very worthwhile, as Muhammad Ali himself dined here. **

Korean**

By far the top local choice is Seoul Jung Restaurant on 2460 Koa Ave. This restaurant is a bit hard to find because it is "hidden" on the second floor next to the banquet rooms of the Waikiki Resort Hotel. The Seoul Jung Restaurant serves great soups such as the sun dubu jigae (clam and other seafood with tofu soup) and the kimchee tofu soup. A popular lunch choice of great value is the lunch BBQ Combo that includes kalbi, beef jun and BBQ chicken.

Contributors July 22, 2009

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E Komo Mai! Welcome to Oahu! Getting around the island of Oahu is really simple with The Bus. The Bus is the name of the public bus transportation system in the island of Oahu and its buses are very easy to identify because of the bright rainbows that they have on the side. Unlike the other Hawaiian Islands, the island of Oahu is the only one that has a formal bus system, completely set with schedule and routes. So during your stay in Oahu, do take advantage of it because it is not only economical but also very practical.

FareThe Bus charges $2.00 per person and this fare includes one transfer ticket that entitles you to one transfer (to any bus line) within 2 hours of the purchase. Have your exact change ready because the bus drivers do not provide change.

ScheduleWhen using The Bus, be aware that the service usually stops around midnight and then resumes around 4 a.m. Please plan ahead your trip when using The Bus. A very good resource is the Google Transit web site because it includes all the bus routes and times of the island of Oahu. If you miss a bus after midnight, we suggest that you call a taxi cab. A very reliable company is The Cab at (808) 422-2222.

** Major Stations**

The major stations of The Bus are the ones at Ala Moana Center, Waikiki Beach (Kuhio and Kalakaua Avenues) and Honolulu's Downtown (also known as Chinatown).

Asking Directions to Locals

When asking directions to locals, remember these 2 words: makai and makua. A common way to give directions in Hawaii involves the use of makai and mauka. Makai means heading towards the ocean or shore, while mauka means heading towards the mountain or inland.

Contributors September 16, 2009

Oahu, the third largest island in Hawaii is the home of Honolulu. Filled with tourists, beaches and resorts there are lots of places to go and things to do on Oahu. There’s a mix of crowded and secluded beaches, plus many attractions such as Diamond Head and Valley of the Temples here. Sure, there are a lot of fun things to do here all day long, but if you’re looking for real fun you wait for the sun to go down.

Nightclubs and Bars

There are countless nightclubs in this area. Most are aimed towards the younger 20’s to 30’s ages and on certain nights require a cover charge. They act as venues for different bands and DJs and on any given night could have an event. To find out who is playing when you can check the venue website or local papers on your visit.

Play Bar

Play Bar is one of the nightclubs on the island that is mostly geared towards dancing and drinking. It’s a very casual club that caters to a good mix of tourists and locals. There’s no dress code here and they aren’t exclusive, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting in. The minimum age is 19 to get in but they check for ID for drinks. Play Bar often has drink specials so you can drink and party all night long if you wanted.

Pipeline Cafe

Pipeline Café is a warehouse that was turned into a nightclub. The first floor is for dancing with a mix of DJs playing any given night. The second floor is a sports bar with darts, pool, karaoke and a giant television showing the various sporting events for that night. This is another casual club that’s open to all patrons.

Other Nightclubs worth a visit are Rumors, Zanzabar and Ocean club.

Other Nightlife

Waikiki is the where all the action happens at all hours of the day and night. If you’re really at a lost as to where to go you can just walk up and down there and find a bar or club to your liking. Other than bars you can also catch shows at various venues around there. Waikiki Shell has a show there almost every night and if you’re lucky you might be able to catch a free hula at one of the hotels or luaus. Of course, the most popular nightlife activity is to sit on the beach and watch the sun set.

Here is an important list of practical things to know when visiting Hawaii.

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Locals versus Hawaiian

In general, when referring to local people in Hawaii, refer to them as locals not Hawaiians. Not all locals are native Hawaiians because Hawaii has an eclectic mix of Eastern (Japanese, Chinese, Korean) and Western (Portuguese, Puerto Rican) cultures. When something is specific to the native Hawaiian culture, locals will surely point it out to you. Also, don't be afraid of the haole term (used to refer to people of white skin complexion). Even though this term used to be quite derogatory in the past, it has become a common term in day to day Hawaiian culture.**

The Bus**

The Bus refers to the public bus transportation system in Oahu. Oahu is the only Hawaiian island that has a formal bus system. The current bus fare is $2.00 and it allows you to get one transfer. Buses usually stop running after midnight so remember this if you're planning to go out late at night and come

There's more to do and see on Oahu than bars and beaches. From hiking and horseback riding to entertaining and/or educational theme parks, you'll find something for everyone on the most crowded - er, populated - island in Hawaii.

Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery

At Sea Life Park, Hawai‘i’s marine life comes alive in a dazzling display that will entertain and delight. Located just fifteen miles from Waikiki on O‘ahu’s beautiful and scenic Makapu‘u Point, Sea Life Park is a world-class marine attraction perched between the majestic Ko‘olau Mountain Range and breathtaking Makapu‘u Beach. See dolphins dance, sealions sing, and penguins perform in this magical place by the sea.

Included admission with the Go Oahu Card, a multi-attraction pass that allows entry to dozens of Oahu sights for a single price — a worthwhile buy if you're planning to combine the park with snorkelling tours, museums or a Pearl Harbor visit.

type: Other

tel: (808) 259-2500

url: www.sealifeparkhawaii.com

address: 41-202 Kalanian‘ole Hwy., #7, Waimanalo

E Komo Mai! Welcome to the the Hawaiian Islands, where the expression "lucky we live in Hawaii" is heard often. When it's sunny outside (which is most of the year), there's no excuse to be cooped up indoors. An abundance of beaches, hiking trails, bike and walking paths, and camping sites, make the island of Oahu one of the best places in the world to be physically active. Here's a list of the top 5 must do's during your stay in Oahu:**

Kayak to Mokulua Islands**

The beaches of Lanikai and Kalua are local favorites for all kinds of water sports, ranging from ocean swimming to snorkeling to surfing. The most recommended water sport in this zone is kayaking because the Mokulua Islands (Moku Nui and Moku Iki) are just a one mile kayak ride away from the shore of Lanikai beach and a two mile kayak ride from the shore of Kailua beach. Remember to pack sunblock lotion, plenty of water and a life jacket. Snorkel gear is optional but we highly recommend it. The Mokulua Islands are both state bird sanctuaries for more than 12 different types of seabirds. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts will be amazed. **

Iolani Palace**

Located in the heart of Honolulu's downtown district, Iolani Palace is the perfect start point to start your journey around this area packed with historical buildings and within walking distance of Oahu's Chinatown, the King Kamehameha I statue and the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Guests can visit this beautiful palace where King Kalakaua and his succesor, Queen Liliuokalani held lavish parties and conducted diplomatic affairs of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This palace holds plenty of historical tours and items that belonged to the Kings and Queens of the Hawaiian Islands. The Iolani Palace is open Tuesday through Saturday every week. **

Ala Moana Center**

Wait. Didn't we say that Oahu is a place for outdoor activities? You got that right! Ala Moana Center is the largest outdoor shopping mall in the world with about 2.1 million square feet of shopping extravaganza. Opened on August 13th, 1959, the Ala Moana Center can sometimes have even more visitors than Disneyland throughout the year! Located on 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard (between Atkinson Drive and Piikoi Street), it's very easy to access from more than 12 locations of the the Pink Line Trolley on Waikiki Beach. If you're driving, there is ample free parking on four levels. **

Historic Haleiwa Surf Town**

The easiest way to arrive to Haleiwa is to drive the H1 highway heading west. When arriving to the exit 8A, merge into the H2 highway towards the North in direction of Wahiawa/Mililani. Then take exit 8 to Wahiawa and follow the HI-99 highway for 12 miles following the signs to Haleiwa. This historic surf town will welcome with a old wooden sign where a surfer is riding a wave. Home of the Surf Museum, the Banzai Pipeline Beaches and Matsumoto Shave Ice, Haleiwa offers entertainment for everybody. Don't worry ladies, the North Shore Marketplace offers plenty of options to shop until you drop!

Hawaii Kai

Located on the eastern side of Oahu, the region of Hawaii Kai offers an eclectic mix of outdoor shopping centers, beach parks and water parks. There are several options to get to Hawaii Kai: you can take The Bus ($2 each way with one free transfer within 2 hours), drive your rental car or rent one of the popular mini coupes that can be found around Waikiki Beach. A good option to visit is the Sea Life Park where you can swim with dolphins. Another one is Sandy Beach at 8800 Kalanianaole Highway, also known as Sandy's, is a great spot to view adventurous body boarders and surfers dare-deviling very rough surf breaks.

Contributors August 10, 2009