Oahu, Hawaii: Rainforests, Beaches, and Breathtaking Views

We’re lucky enough to be able to visit for the third time! This time we decided to spend about a week and a half on Oahu with our home-base in Waikiki. Compared to Kauai and the Big Island, our previous destinations, Oahu has a very different vibe, which I think is due to Honolulu being such a large city. Honolulu is filled with skyscrapers boasting ocean view apartments and large hotels. But as soon as you leave Waikiki or the downtown area, it gets much quieter and the natural beauty of the island takes over.

During our visit, we lucked out with the weather – it was forecasted to be rainy and overcast the whole time we were here, but instead we got sunny days with just the prettiest clouds. If I could, I’d do a whole Hawaii cloud appreciation post, but I think I’d be the only one interested in that, instead here’s one of my favorite cloud pictures from our trip.

Oahu is famous for its cloud covered mountains that are usually engulfed in a lot of rain but down at sea level in Waikiki, there are only a few drizzles. The slight sprinkle combined with the sunshine guarantees a rainbow (and in our case, a double rainbow).

We stayed at the Hilton Waikiki Beach hotel – a high rise building just a block away from Waikiki beach. This was the perfect location since it wasn’t in the heart of all the shops and restaurants of Waikiki so it was a lot quieter but still close enough to walk to dinner or for some window shopping. Having an ocean view room was the best part of staying in this hotel. Life doesn’t get much better than watching the sunset every evening with a glass of wine in hand. The hotel is a little dated and could use some face lifts but overall, our experience was really good, especially when it came to service.

Most of our trip consisted of hiking, exploring different beaches and parks, and of course, eating and drinking. To get the most out of your trip, we would highly recommend renting a car. It’ll make getting to different parts of the island easier and give you the flexibility to explore areas off the beaten path.

While heading to our planned destination for the day, we ended up stopping by several stalls on the road and a macadamia nut farm. There are lots of local shops with really awesome snacks and handmade wares – definitely check them out. We indulged ourselves in the rare treat of sugarcane juice and freshly cut pineapple slices at a local farmer’s market. Shaved ice and dole whip are other treats you must try.

Things to Do

Here are some of the highlights of our trip and our brief thoughts on each:

Manoa Falls Trail

This trail transports you directly into the center of a rainforest with some luscious greenery and beautiful bamboo groves as you make your way to the waterfall at the end of the trail.

Koko Head Railway Trail

One of the most difficult trails in Hawaii, I call this trail the stair master from hell. It’s only 1.4 miles roundtrip but has over a thousand steps each way and has an elevation gain of 1000 feet. Although difficult, the views at the top of the crater are beautiful and worth the huffing and puffing.

Diamond Head Crater Trail

If you’re looking for an easier hike with some awesome views, check this trail out. It’s also very close to Waikiki and you get a great view of the Honolulu skyline at the top.

Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail

This was the first hike we did in Oahu and it reminded us of some hikes up in the Bay Area. On the way up, you get 360 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and at the top you get a great lookout of the rugged coastline.

Kualoa Ranch

If you’re a movie buff, we highly recommend taking a tour of this ranch. All the Jurassic Park movies were filmed here as well as some scenes for Skull Island. You also get some great views from the comfort of an open-air truck.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

A must visit to honor the lives that were lost in the attack that launched the United States into World War II. Unfortunately, when we visited, the USS Arizona memorial was closed due to a safety issue but the museums and the surrounding area were open to explore.

Valley of the Temples & the Byodo-in Temple

A replica of an ancient Japanese temple, located in the middle of an expansive cemetery. The backdrop of lush mountains shrouded in misty clouds makes the temple a picture-perfect place to visit. The temple is beautiful and very peaceful. There are also swans and peacocks roaming the area.

Places to Eat

Here are the restaurants we visited and some of the dishes we recommend at each place:

Casual/Lunch

Paia Fish Market

The long line out the door speaks for itself – this place is crazy good and the portions are huge, especially for the prices. This fish market serves up different types of grilled fish with your choice of side. We had lunch and dinner here three times and had the blackened salmon and the Cajun style salmon, both with the Cajun rice. Both were delicious and the fish was cooked to perfection each time. If you want an awesome seafood meal, definitely check this place out, but be prepared to wait in line, especially in the evening.

Ono Seafood

Another excellent place for a fresh seafood lunch, but in poke style. This poke takeout place is popular with the locals and has been a staple since 1995. We got the shoyu ahi and spicy ahi poke bowls. Each poke had a distinct flavor while still highlighting the fresh fish.

Momosan

We stopped here for a late lunch after a long day of hiking and were not disappointed. Known for its ramen, we actually ordered the poke bowl and a veggie ramen. The flavors of both dishes were great and satisfied our craving for a quick, light lunch. If you want to try something new, they also serve up a “frozen” Kirin beer which is a beer with a frozen topping.

Formal/Dinner

Orchids at Halekulani

This was our first dinner in Waikiki and it was absolutely amazing. Not only was each dish that we ordered incredibly flavorful, but the ambience and setting were beautiful. This restaurant is located in the Halekulani resort which is set right on the beach and the restaurant opens up to the ocean where you can see sailboats slowly cruising by. We recommend ordering the tuna tartare, the octopus and the tiramisu and coconut cake for dessert (please order two desserts, it’s totally worth it, trust us!).

Herringbone

This chain has locations in La Jolla and Santa Ana with each one offering a different menu based on the local delicacies. The vibe at the Waikiki location was similar to the one in La Jolla – it’s beautifully decorated with a sea theme. Our favorite dish here was the mussels in a tikka masala sauce.

MW Restaurant

We tried to snag a reservation here for dinner, but they were booked up till February but we luckily got a spot for lunch and wow, each dish here was bursting with flavor. For lunch, they offer a prix fixe menu for $32 per person which includes an appetizer, main entrée, and a dessert. Their menu changes every day based on the fresh ingredients available, and it definitely shows in the dishes. Our favorite dishes were the lobster bisque and the mochi crusted kona kampachi.

Michel’s at the Colony Surf

Located in a beachfront resort, the vibes were very similar to Orchids but the dishes are traditional French with a Mediterranean twist. Definitely try out one (or two!) of their cocktails – we had a color changing gin & tonic. Their signature dish is the lobster bisque which is flambéed table side and has an amazing flavor. For entrées, we recommend the beef wellington and the salmon crusted with Portobello mushrooms.

Wasabi Bistro

A cozy, traditional Japanese restaurant serving up fresh sushi and some innovative small plates. We highly recommend having the wasabi no. 1 special and the baked scallop special. We had never tasted anything like it on the mainland and would go back just for these dishes. Also, try the Japanese cheesecake served with mochi ice cream, it’s the perfect dish to end your meal and plus they have different flavors every day.

Blind Ox

A speakeasy with a great outdoor seating area and serving some of the best tapas I’ve had (even compared to what I ate in Spain). Being a speakeasy, you have to get at least one round of cocktails. They focus on whiskey but have some very innovative drinks with gin and vodka too. For dinner, we really enjoyed the lobster rolls, scallops, and the nori shrimp, but honestly everything we ordered was delicious.

TBD… by Vikram Garg

We had our Christmas dinner here and they were serving a prix fixe menu with an optional wine tasting. We started with an apple cider aperitif which was a refreshing way to start the meal. The salmon lox we had as an appetizer was some of the best salmon we’ve had – it was just melting in our mouth. It was paired with a wasabi sauce which was a great balance to the fatty salmon. We had the lobster and the short ribs for dinner which were both delicious. Each dish had a slight Asian fusion twist to it and had all of us trying to guess the different flavors in the dish. If you want a special dinner out, definitely give this restaurant a try, you won’t be disappointed.