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When I first visited Hawaii, I was fortunate enough to have my close friend as my guide as she was a resident of the island. Thirteen years later, I found myself seeking activities, almost as though I were a newcomer to Hawaii all over again.

Here is a list of what I ended up doing during my trip. Surprisingly, none of these activities required a reservation, except for the fifth one on the list.

1. Kailua Beach Park

412-444 Kawailoa Rd, Kailua, HI 96734

You might be wondering why not Waikiki Beach? Well, I definitely recommend checking out Waikiki Beach, but if you want a beach that’s more relaxing, check out Kailua Beach.

Parking on the weekdays is pretty easy and the location is only 30 minutes from Waikiki. The views here are incredible and you’ll find so much more room here where you’re not having to share a space right next to someone on the sand.

2. Nu’uanu Pali Lookout

Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside, Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817

On your way to Kailua Beach Park, definitely stop by Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. It’s only five miles north of Downtown Honolulu and it’s no wonder it’s one of Oahu's best scenic points. The panoramic views are absolutely breathtaking up here. 

I wasn’t expecting strong and howling winds up here, so that was a fun surprise coming from the super sunny beaches just 15 minutes ago. I was glad I had a light cardigan with me. Parking was plentiful, but there is a fee to park.

3. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

66-472 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

The food truck scene in Oahu is very popular, so I had to give one a try. Everytime I searched for “best food trucks in Oahu”, the first thing that popped up almost every single time was Giovanni’s Food Truck.

I love shrimp, so I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to try one of their famous garlic plates. I ordered the popular Shrimp Scampi plate and it was a whopping $15.00 plus tax. I was a little shocked at the price for a food truck dish, but it was worth the experience.

4. Royal Hawaiian Bakery

2259 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

This bakery is located inside the historic Royal Hawaiian Resort and its iconic pink exterior is super cute and picturesque. The bakery offers a variety of dishes in pink and I really wanted to try their pink pancakes, but I arrived a tad too late as their kitchen closes by noon.

Even though I missed out on the pink pancakes, I was glad I stopped by because the hotel itself was such a delight to walk around and sit down to soak in the views. It’s so breathtaking here and all the pink just made me smile. I would love to book a stay here someday.

5. Queens Waikiki Luau

2330 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

I’ve never been to a Luau and always envisioned attending a Luau on the beach. However this one was surprisingly located inside the International Market Place. A friend of mine who made the reservations also didn’t realize it was indoors.

Despite the mixup, we all still had a great time and the entertainment was fantastic. If you want to experience a Luau in a comfortable and easily accessible setting, this definitely isn’t a bad idea.

6. Laniakea Beach - Turtle Beach

574, 61-574 Pohaku Loa Way, Haleiwa, HI 96712

Laniakea Beach is nicknamed Turtle Beach and it’s a very popular attraction. It’s home to the Hawaiian green sea turtles and supposedly the best time to visit them is in the late morning. However, volunteers have reported that just before sunset is the best time.

Speaking of volunteers, there are dedicated volunteers here to help protect these majestic sea creatures. You’ll notice that they’ll put a little rope in front of or around each turtle to identify them and keep everyone at a safe distance.

There is a small dedicated parking lot, but as you can imagine, it gets pretty packed the later you go. You may have to circle around a few times like we did, so you’ll definitely need to be patient. Street parking is an option as well.

7. Dole Plantation

64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786

Hopefully, you are a pineapple fan because there is pineapple everything in Hawaii. The Dole Plantation has a ton of fun activities (Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Plantation Garden Tour, and the Pineapple Garden Maze), but if you just want to try their world-famous Dole Soft Serve it’s worth a visit.

The gift shop is massive and a great place to do some souvenir shopping. There were so many cute pineapple themed souvenirs like plush keychains and pineapple jam.

8. Pearl Harbor

1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818

This National Historic Landmark consists of five memorials commemorating the events around WWII and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Admission is free; however, there are certain exhibits that have a separate entrance fee.

Make sure to plan your day early because it’s a very popular attraction and if you plan to explore the USS Arizona Memorial, don’t forget to make a reservation online ($1.00 fee) ahead of time. Also, drink plenty of water and apply sunscreen. A lot of it is outdoors (with little to no shade) and the smaller exhibits don’t use much air conditioning, so it gets hot and stuffy.

9. Pupukea Beach Park AKA Shark’s Cove

59-727 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

The landscape here is gorgeous and a great place to either lay out or do some snorkeling. I didn’t do any snorkeling, but I did have a great time walking in the water and spotting schools of fish.

If you walk around, you’ll find so many little hidden nooks to hang out and enjoy the sun and water. I really enjoyed the intricate rock formations here. Walking around in flip flops was a bit challenging, so I would recommend wearing sandals that have straps with good traction.

10. Green World Coffee Farm

71-101 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786

This is a fun little stop and it’s only a mile down the street from the Dole Plantation. You can get free samples of coffee and walk around their cute little coffee farm. 

It’s great for a quick little pit stop as you drive around the island. The gift shop has a ton of coffee beans and you can also grab a light bite at their cafe.

TIPS:

Some notable changes since my last visit was the need for reservations at popular spots such as the Diamond Head Hike. It's important to plan ahead and check if your chosen activities require bookings.

If you are thinking about exploring the island by car, make sure to take advantage of the Shaka Guide App. This helpful app serves as an audio tour guide offering a wealth of engaging information that kept us entertained throughout our journey. Although I was initially unsure about purchasing the app, I’m glad I did because it made the drive that much more fun and enjoyable. It also provided fantastic driving directions.

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