Aloha, friends! In this post, I'm sharing an overview of my two-day stay on the vibrant island of Oʻahu. This trip was about soaking up the sun on stunning beaches, enjoying the outdoors, indulging in retail therapy at luxury shops, and savoring the delicious local cuisine. This travel diary shares the highlights of my journey, showcasing the unique experiences and attractions that make Oʻahu so special.
Day 1: Arrival and Waikiki Wandering (Half Day)
My Oʻahu adventure began with a short flight from the Big Island. Departing the Big Island via a Hawaiian Airlines flight at 3 PM, I landed at the Honolulu Airport about twenty minutes later. My partner Björn and I quickly picked up our rental car from Hertz and headed straight to the Wayfinder Hotel in Waikiki. With traffic, we arrived at the hotel at 6 PM. This chic boutique hotel, recently revamped by Dovetail & Co. and managed by Springboard Hospitality, offers a modern and comfortable stay at a reasonable price. It's an excellent base for exploring O'ahu and currently averages only $250 a night (as of July 2023).
Initially, we only planned to stay one day on Oʻahu, so we booked a one-night stay at the pool house. The room (Pool House, Room 6) was spacious and equipped with a kitchenette, which was a pleasant surprise. The hotel's atmosphere was relaxed and inviting (especially the pool), and the staff were friendly and accommodating. It is worth noting that the pool house rooms do not have an elevator, so you must lug your suitcases up the stairwell. Thankfully, the staff were willing to help us with our luggage.
Once settled in, we grabbed our complimentary welcome drinks (say hi to Cedrick if he’s working!) and spent the next few hours unwinding by the pool and hot tub at the Wayfinder. The tiki torches around the pool added a warm, tropical ambiance that was the perfect introduction to Oʻahu. For dinner, we had delicious poke and fries from Redfish, a restaurant in the hotel serving poke by Foodland. The combination of the pool, the welcoming atmosphere, and the delicious food made for a perfect first evening on Oʻahu.
Day 2: Waikiki Beach and Luxury Shopping (Full Day)
Day two of my Oʻahu escapade commenced with a serene morning walk in Waikiki, soaking in the island's early morning tranquility. Waikiki is much different during the early morning hours—I'd recommend experiencing it. To fuel the day, we began by visiting Island Vintage Wine Bar for breakfast, where we indulged in the Beef Loco Moco, a Haupia Moana Açaí Bowl, and a Niu Cold Brew. I often jest that I'm an "Island Vintage stan" because I never miss an opportunity to visit when I'm in Hawaii (they have multiple locations across the islands). In Waikiki, you can have breakfast at Island Vintage Coffee and Island Vintage Wine Bar; they're in the same shopping center and next door to one another. The coffee shop is excellent for an on-the-go coffee or breakfast, but the lines are long—especially as the morning progresses—and there is minimal seating these days (the store was recently remodeled). To be more efficient, we always book a reservation at the wine bar next door; they serve the same menu (shh… we don't want everyone knowing!).
After breakfast, we ventured to the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The hotel stands out with its full-pink façade and luxurious design (they even have pink croissants!). After walking around Waikiki Beach, we returned to the hotel to check out… just to decide we wanted to extend our stay by one day. While we were initially a little bummed that our pool house room was already reserved, we were delighted and pleasantly surprised by the view in the new room (located in the main part of the hotel). The room we were given was also spacious, with two balconies facing the Ala Wai Canal and the mountains.
Part of the afternoon was dedicated to a unique aspect of Hawaiian tourism: shopping. Hawaii is known for its exclusive shopping discounts, with many stores offering 15-20% off, making it a shopper's paradise. From designer boutiques to local markets, the shopping scene in the Honolulu area is as diverse as it is rewarding. Here, you'll find both luxury brands and local crafts. While I enjoy a good designer discount, I also enjoy hand-made, local products—and I love supporting local businesses.
After shopping, it was going on 2:30 PM, so we grabbed lunch at Paia Fish Market. I've never had anything that tasted bad here, and I am obsessed with their ahi tuna quesadilla. Honestly, I don't know how it's possible that it's so good. I know—a tuna quesadilla sounds disgusting at first. But trust me, it's not.
After lunch, we spent the remainder of the day in Waikiki at the beach and the pool. It usually rains lightly once per day, which happened this day while we were at the pool—resulting in a spectacular rainbow over the Waikiki beach.
When the sun set, I treated myself to Hawaiian Shave Ice from Island Vintage Shave. Björn wanted real food and wanted Paia Fish Market again as takeout. I wasn't hungry, so I stopped at Duke's Lane Market next door to grab a snack for later. We took our food to go and enjoyed it back at the hotel on the balcony. The day concluded with a soothing pool and hot
Day 3: Ko Olina Beach and Departure (Half Day)
My final day on Oʻahu began with another delightful breakfast at Island Vintage Wine Bar. Instead of getting an açaí bowl, I switched it up on this day. I got their homemade coconut peanut butter on cranberry toast with papaya (which is also good--but I'd recommend getting the honey on the side or omitted). After a leisurely morning stroll around Waikiki and the beach, we packed up, checked out of the hotel, and headed westward to Ko Olina Beach.
Ko Olina is home to four lagoons, each offering a calm spot for swimming. We read online that there were differences in the lagoons, and some people had strong preferences for certain lagoons. We saw little difference on the day we visited. The water was light blue but cloudy on each (thus, it's impossible to see fish while snorkeling), and all the sand was about the same color and consistency. There's also a decent number of showers and at least three free public parking lots. The only difference was the vibe of the people at the different lagoons. We first spent some time at Lagoon 3 and had a little picnic with food from the Island Deli convenience store nearby. After our picnic, we headed to Lagoon 1 by the Four Seasons. Lagoon 1 has many beach chairs for Four Seasons guests that take up most of the space on the beach, but since Hawaiian beaches are all free by law, no one at the Four Seasons said anything to us for being there.
Right before the sunset, we found a spot at the bay's edge to watch the sunset over the water. It was a lovely "goodbye" to Hawaii.
Saying Goodbye
My two-day adventure on Oʻahu was a blend of relaxation, exploration, and indulgence. From luxury shopping and delectable dining to stunning beaches and breathtaking sunsets, every moment was a unique experience. Only have a couple of days to spend on Oʻahu, and want to make sure you hit all the big destinations? No worries, I've got you covered! Watch for one of my upcoming posts, where I'll share a handy guide tailored just for a complete Oʻahu visit. It's perfect for those planning to island-hop their way through Hawaii. Subscribe to my newsletter (below) to stay in the loop!
Have you been to Oʻahu and have a memorable experience to share? Leave a comment below or connect with me on Instagram; I'd love to hear about your Oʻahu experience!
Aloha,
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