From anchored & adrift’s current HQ in San Francisco, it seems like everyone went to Hawai’i for the holidays. Some had a particular island or even a particular resort they always visited and continued to frequent, and some had the island chosen for them because of a wedding, a family gathering, or another event. But if you have never planned your own trip to Hawai’i, where should you start? With eight main islands (and 137 recognized islands total) it can be overwhelming to try to pick one lush, tropical oasis over the other.
If you want to go to a gorgeous resort and disappear for a few days, you can truly go anywhere. If you want a mix of a little bit of everything from high-rise developments to isolated beaches, world history to local traditions, and ease of transport to hikes in the middle of nowhere, I suggest you visit O’ahu.
The Big Four
My first visit to Hawai’i was by cruise with a day in each of the four largest islands. While a cruise won’t let you explore everything that Hawai’i has to offer, cruisers of all ages and mobilities can tailor their choices of ship or individual excursions to create a fairly comprehensive Hawaiian experience. Whether you want to bike around a crater and zipline by waterfalls or take a leisurely hop-on, hop-off bus and a catamaran sailing, there are plenty of opportunities to dive into Hawai’i’s endless sights. For me, it was perfect for family time – and great as a reconnaissance mission for my next visit.
Here’s a quick, topline look at the Big Four of the Hawaiian Islands.
- Largest Hawaiian island at 4,028 mi with a population of about 187,000
- Major cities: Hilo, Kailua-Kona
- Known for: Kona coffee, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Gold Coast, black and green sand beaches
Maui – “The Valley Isle”
- Second-largest Hawaiian island at 727 mi² with a population of about 145,000
- Major cities: Makawao, Lahaina
- Known for: Haleakala crater, several beaches and waterfalls, scenic drives, Maui Ocean Center
O’ahu – “The Gathering Place”
- Third-largest Hawaiian island at 597 mi² with the largest population of about 955,000
- Home to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu
- Known for: Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Crater, Pearl Harbor, North Shore surfing, Iolani Palace, Koko Head Stairs, Kualoa Ranch
Kaua’i – “The Garden Island”
- Fourth-largest Hawaiian island at 552 mi² with a population of about 66,000
- Major cities: Lihue, Kapa’a
- Known for: Particularly wet climate, feral chickens and wild roosters (seriously, they’re everwhere), Hanalei Bay, Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon
Whichever island you end up visiting, there is a vast selection of very Hawai’i things to do. Try a helicopter tour; luau; catamaran sailing; river, grotto, or waterfall tours; a submarine excursion; lava beach visit; and snorkeling or scuba diving.
Why O’ahu?
Though wild chickens ruling the roost on Kaua’i, the straight-out-of-Moana scenery of Maui, and the simmering lava of Hawai’i all piqued my interest, O’ahu took the prize for all-around Best in Show for its ability to deliver whatever Hawaiian experience you and any possible travel partners are looking for.
History
You do not need this blog post to know the historical significance of Pearl Harbor. What I can share is that I was impressed by the order and efficiency of the $65 million Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, which was significantly expanded in 2011. The compound still seems sparkly and new, with National Park Service and US Navy representatives corralling about 1.8 million visitors to the USS Arizona per year. Purchase tickets in advance online for a designated tour time, which includes an excellent video introduction, US Navy-chartered boat ride to the memorial, 10-15 minutes on the memorial, and a return ride back. The Pearl Harbor Historic Site also includes the USS Bowfin submarine and the Battleship Missouri.
Less well-known internationally is the complex history of the Hawaiian islands. From Polynesian and Tahitian settlements, Kamehameha I’s unification of the Kingdom of Hawai’i, American missions and immigration, and the US annexation, Hawai’i has, to say it simply, gone through a lot. Visit Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, for a glimpse of the former Hawaiian monarchy, which is centrally located in Honolulu.
Resort Life
From famous Waikiki to hotel complexes around the island, O’ahu offers everything the glamcation side of you wants. Visit a resort like the Royal Hawaiian, one of Waikiki’s first and most famous destinations, known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” due to its pink stucco facade. It opened in 1927 and became an icon of the golden age of Hawaiian travel following the successful opening of steamer routes from the US. Their beachfront Mai Thai Bar has some of the best views of Diamond Head and Waikiki and the prices to match- splurging on a drink (possibly contained in a Royal Pineapple) at a table lining the beach is highly recommended.
Activities
Whatever land or watersport you want to do, O’ahu has it. In the greater Honolulu area, hike Diamond Peak or one of the trails in the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve, or venture deeper into the island. Surf with the masses at Waikiki, or head to North Shore for its world-famous waves.
Adventures
Speaking of the North Shore, renting a car and venturing to the different regions of O’ahu opens up a number of adventures. In addition to major waves, the North Shore is also home to golf courses and Kualoa Ranch, home to gorgeous trails for ziplining, horseback riding, and ATVs as well as the film locations for shows like “Lost.”
The Windward Coast, or the eastern side of the island, hosts breathtaking panoramas of mountain ranges, seaside cliffs, the Pacific Ocean, and occasional whales, as well as many more examples of Hawai’i’s beautiful beaches.
Two destinations just in the greater Honolulu area that caught my eye were Nu’Uanu Pali – a breathtaking hike with a lookout point that is about a 20 minute drive from Waikiki – and Koko Crater Railway Trail – a former railway track turned into a 1000+ step steep hike with a top- notch view at the top.
Transportation
Airport: HNL is the largest airport in Hawaii with flights to all of the major Hawaiian islands. It also has daily departures to Anchorage, Atlanta, Belllingham, Brisbane, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Guam, Haneda, Houston, Incheon, Kansai, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Nagoya, Narita, Newark, Oakland, Pago Pago, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle-Tacoma, Seoul, Sydney and Vancouver.
Road network: While many people visit Hawai’i to get away from urbanization and development, extensive developed roads are very helpful, especially for tourists, to visit some of Hawai’i’s more remote attractions. For example, on the Big Island we were warned about the traffic and occasionally the conditions on the two-lane roads that serve as the main arteries of the island for those interested in a scenic roadtrip or driving to any of the destinations highlighted above.
Ride-hailing apps: Maybe I have lived in both San Francisco and DC too long, but the option to be able to use Uber to zip from, for example, Waikiki to Pearl Harbor at a decent rate with all the regular ride-hailing perks of upfront costs, ride tracking, vehicle selection, etc. is great. As of March 2017, Uber is available on all four islands, with the longest and most established service available on Oahu.
You and Blue O’ahu
Ready to hop on Google Flights to plan your visit to Oahu? I sure am. Ike oe malaila – see you there!
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