From historic sites and downtown diversions to natural wonders and scenic attractions, the island of Oahu has much more to offer than just sun and sand. To inspire you to get out and explore, we offer a dozen of the island’s most memorable day trips.
Photo: Polynesian Cultural Center
Catch a Sunset and Some Fireworks
On Friday evenings, locals and in-the-know vacationers converge on Waikiki Beach in anticipation of the weekly fireworks show staged by the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel. The pyrotechnics kick off around 7:45 p.m., but for a double treat, come early to catch the sunset over the water. A prime spot for viewing and photographing the fireworks is from the pier in front of the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Find Inspiration at the Valley of the Temples
Buddhist, Shinto, Protestant and Catholic traditions coexist in this tranquil and scenic memorial garden, which is nestled into a valley at the foot of the Koolau Mountains on the eastern side of Oahu. A centerpiece of the memorial is the life-size recreation of an 11th-century Byodo-in Buddhist temple found in Uji, Japan. The garden-like grounds also hold a number of statues depicting saints, the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ. The setting provides a quiet, relaxing place for meditation. Photo: Robert S.D. Cross/Flickr
Immerse in The Sights and Scents Chinatown
This 20-block historic district in downtown Honolulu is not only one of the nation’s oldest Chinese-American communities, it is also a vibrant and inclusive community comprised of a mixture of native Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures. Here, vendors offering ethnic foods and herbal medicines share space with an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants that serve up a wide range of Pan-Pacific and Asian cuisines. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Climb to the Top of Diamond Head
The iconic profile of this long-extinct volcano is one of Hawaii’s most famous landmarks. Visitors can enter the crater, and follow a half-mile trail that winds up in the inner walls of the crater, passing through tunnels and hidden stairways to reach an elevated observation post that was once key to the city’s aerial defenses. Today, this watch post has been transformed into a viewing platform that provides sweeping views of Oahu’s southwestern shore. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Snorkel the Reefs at Haunama Bay
It’s Oahu’s most popular snorkeling destination, and for good reason. Set between encircling hillsides that create a pool of calm water, the bay’s seabed is filled with living corals that are home to thousands of colorful tropical fish. Because it is a State Park, Haunama enjoys protected status, and visitors are provided with showers, bathrooms, changing areas and a tram for those who don’t want to make the ten-minute walk to the water. Come early to get a good parking spot, and remember that the park is closed on Tuesdays. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Tour Historic Iolani Palace
Now a National Historic Landmark, this island landmark is the only official royal residence in the United States. Iolani was home to the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii, including King Kamehameha III. It later served as prison for overthrown Queen Liliuokalani, and was the capital in territorial times. Today, visitors can explore the meticulously restored building and grounds on their own, or join guided tours hosted by docents who recount the building’s history and lore. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Spend a Day at Kualoa Ranch
Nature preserve, cattle ranch, adventure park, movie set, wedding destination. The 4,000-acre Kualoa Ranch is all this and more. Set in a sacred valley on Oahu’s eastern shore, this expansive property has provided the setting for films such as Jurassic Park and Skull Island. With landscapes that range from forested hillsides and lush grasslands to a white sand beach, visitors can enjoy everything from horseback rides and ATV adventures to zip lines and catamaran cruises. Photo: Oahu Visitors Bureau
Hike to Manoa Falls
Once a muddy path known only to locals, the trail to this popular waterfall is now well maintained and covered in a coat of shoe-friendly gravel. These improvements haven’t spoiled the experience, as the route still winds through verdant rainforests and bamboo thickets as it follows a babbling stream to the 150-foot cascade. To find the trailhead, look for the parking area at the top of the Manoa Road. And you might want to bring a light rain jacket, because this is one of the wettest places in Hawaii. Photo: Canaan Barger/Flickr
Pay your Respects at Pearl Harbor
In one visit, history buffs can visit the sites where World War II both began and ended. The USS Arizona Memorial sits over the remains of the battleship, which was sunk by the Japanese raid of December 7, 1941, resulting in the US declaration of war. Also in the harbor is the decommissioned battleship Missouri, on which the Japanese signed terms of surrender on September 2, 1945. It’s an ever-popular tour, so it’s a good idea to reserve in advance. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Go Native at the Cultural Center
Hotel luaus don’t compare to the celebration staged at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Set on 42 acres surrounding a lagoon on Oahu’s North Shore, the center is a collection of authentic villages and exhibits representing the island cultures of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Easter Island. Visitors can take canoe tours, and attend the famous Ali’i Luau, which combines traditional Hawaiian food and entertainment with the story of Hawaii’s royal history. Photo: Skylar Nielsen/ Polynesian Cultural Center
Catch a Wave at Waikiki
You don’t have to be a pro to ride the waves at Waikiki. Unlike the challenging and sometimes treacherous surf of the island’s north shore, Waikiki’s gentle rollers are fun and novice friendly. Numerous shops and concessions along the beach offer board rentals and lessons, and vacationers can also grab a paddle and join an outrigger canoe crew for a thrilling ride. Photo: Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority
Take in Island Views at Tantalus Lookout
Some of the best views on Oahu are from the top of Mount Tantalus, and you don’t have to be a mountaineer to enjoy them. Four miles north of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, this 2,000-foot-high volcanic formation rises above forest canopies of Puu Ualakaa State Park to provide sweeping views of city and coast. A nine-mile scenic drive leads to the starting point for an easy half-mile loop trail that accesses the overlook. Many visitors come for the sunsets and stay to take in nighttime views of the city lights. Photo: Ge Nielissen/Flickr
From historic sites and downtown diversions to natural wonders and scenic attractions, the island of Oahu has much more to offer than just sun and sand. To inspire you to get out and explore, we offer a dozen of the island’s most memorable day trips.
There’s nothing like standing under the cool, cleansing flow of an outdoor shower set amid natural surroundings. While lathering up in bubbles, you might hear the songs of birds, monkeys chattering in the trees or the sea rolling ashore. Bringing you closer to nature and pictured here is a close up of a private courtyard outdoor shower at the Blancaneuax Lodge in Belize.
If your idea of a white Christmas involves ivory colored sands, accented by palm tree green and ocean blues, then you need to head for the tropics, where islanders celebrate the holiday season in unique ways that combine familiar traditions with elements of the local culture and setting. To help you start planning, here are six idyllic destinations where you can experience Christmas island style.
Christmas is a big event in Hawaii, but they do things island style. Santa sheds his polar garb in favor of board shorts and an Aloha shirt, and trades his sleigh in for an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins. Locals decorate palm trees with lights and sing carols in the Hawaiian language accompanied by ukulele, but they also cue up for the arrival of the Christmas ships that bring more traditional pines from the mainland. You may see locals adding a Santa hat to their swimsuits, and call out “Mele Kalikimaka” as they head to the beach. Christmas dinner is served luau-style, with a roast pig as the centerpiece. The best place to catch all the tropical traditions of the season is at Waikiki Beach, with a stay at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, where the trees are decorated with tiny flip flops and surfboards, and hula performers replace Christmas carolers. This is also where Santa paddles his outrigger canoe ashore each year to have breakfast with hotel guests.
At Oahu’s Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, the lobby Christmas tree provides a traditional reminder of the season, while ukulele tunes and bare feet proclaim: “you are in the islands.” Photo: Outrigger Waikiki
Forget the twelve days of Christmas. On the island of St. Kitts, the holiday season lasts from late November through the first of January. This is the time of the Sugar Mas, an island-wide celebration that combines elements of Carnival with English Yuletide traditions. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, streets are filled with a series of colorful parades and processions. Clowns, stilt-walking moko jumbies and troupes of street performers dance to the rhythms of soca and calypso music, while pageant contestants showcase elaborate costumes. Christmas provides a brief respite as families and friends gather for special holiday meals, then the party returns with J’ouvert, when costumed dancers fill the streets of Basseterre on Boxing Day. The six-week celebration culminates with the Grand Parade on January first. All are welcome at these street parties, but guests who want to mix revelry with relaxation might want to choose a quieter setting for their home base. A favorite is Belle Monte Farm, where cottages sit within a 400-acre farm on the foothills of Mount Liamuiga. This setting provides an authentic sense of local culture, while also reward palates with exceptional dining opportunities.
In St. Kitts, Christmas is a time to enjoy the island’s national dish, which showcases flavors of the island with stewed salt fish and spicy plantains, seasoned breadfruit and coconut dumplings. Photo: St. Kitts Tourism Authority
In the Islands of Fiji, the Christmas season is about family, fellowship and food. Beginning several weeks before Christmas Day, homes are decorated with candles, lamps and ribbons, and entire communities come together to sing and perform traditional dances. Christmas Eve is the time for traditional lovo feasts, and a special holiday dish is palusami, which is spiced mutton wrapped in leaves and cooked in coconut cream. On Christmas Day, most islanders head to church in the morning, then head to the beach for more food and fellowship. The best ways for visitors to tap into the community spirit is with a stay at a small property such as Navini Island Resort, which is located on a small coral cay near Malolo Island, and accommodates just 20 guests in ten traditional villas. On Christmas morning, the staff begins Christmas Day by singing carols outside of guest villas, and all are invited to partake in a Christmas service. In the evening, the kitchen also serves a traditional western Christmas dinner complete with plum pudding.
Singing is a core element of Fijian culture. At Christmas time, traditional choirs may perform a mixture of Polynesian folk tunes and European carols. Photo: Chris McLennan/Tourism Fiji
In the two weeks leading up to Christmas, the island of Bora Bora is humming with preparations. The town of Vaitape becomes the site of Le Village de Noel—the Christmas Fair. Here on the town’s central square, vendors set up stalls that offer a wide variety of local products that includes shell and mother of pearl jewelry to hand-made clothing, colorful pottery and traditional musical instruments. The market overflows with local fruits and flowers, and crowds browse to the sounds of ukuleles and guitar music. An island-wide party takes place on the Saturday before Christmas, beginning with a parade of colorful floats, followed by a night of dancing and dining from ‘roulottes‘, the island’s iconic mobile restaurants. On Sunday, crowds gather once again for Christmas caroling, with performances from island choirs. Visitors can complement these public events with a private holiday celebration at the Four Seasons Resort, where the first class festive package begins with an arrival by private chartered jet and a stay at a premier over-water bungalow. Participants are treated to a special five- course dinner on Christmas Eve, and an even more sumptuous nine-course New Year’s Eve feast, followed by fireworks on the beach.
At the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, the deck at the Sunset Bar becomes the setting for memorable celebrations at Christmas time and New Years. Photo: Timothy Joyce/Flickr
On an island where Caribbean and British cultures blend with seamless ease, holiday traditions dating from the old country still hold sway. Radio stations play traditional carols, homes and businesses are decorated in festive arrays, downtown Bridgetown glows under red and green holiday lights, and even the traffic roundabouts are transformed to depict Christmas themes. Locals don their seasonal best to attend the annual Christmas morning service at Queen’s Park, with music performed by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band. Christmas dinner is another cherished tradition, and centerpieces of this meal are great cake, jug-jug and clove-studded ham. Jug-jug is a traditional dish inspired by the Scottish dish known as haggis. The Barbados version is made with pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs and salted meat. Great cake is a seasonal favorite made with dried fruits and generous quantities of liquor. Visitors can sample this traditional fare on the Christmas day luncheon at The Crane. This landmark hotel embraces the spirit of the season with lights, nightly caroling and special holiday menus.
The Barbados Royal Police Band ushers in the Christmas season with traditional Christmas tunes during the annual Caroling on the Green concert in St. James, Barbados. Photo: Andrew Browne/Barbados Tourism
The town of Key West lights up for the Christmas season—literally. There is the lighted boat parade, the lighted bicycle parade, the City Lights tour aboard the Old Town Trolley, and the Harbor Walk of Lights, featuring whimsical Christmas trees created from lobster traps, fishing floats and other nautical paraphernalia. Organized walking tours of the historic district visit festively lit inns and take in private homes decked out for the season. And not all the events are visual, as there are also performances of Christmas music, The Nutcracker Ballet, Handel’s Messiah, and more. And as expected from a town that loves its parties, Christmas celebrations meld into the island’s legendary New Year’s pageants and parades. Most festivities take place in the downtown district centered around Duval Street. The best place to stay for a Key West Christmas is the Pier House. Here, guests can enjoy a private swath of beach and spectacular sunsets yet are just a few blocks away from the action.
Like many of Key West’s downtown inns and guesthouses, the Dewey House Bed & Breakfast celebrates the holiday spirit with Christmas decorations and lights. Photo: Florida Keys News Bureau
The route winds along the eastern shore of Maui, taking in verdant forests, waterfalls and photo-worthy ocean views. On the map, it’s just 45 miles between the towns of Paia and Hana, but between the curves, the more than 50 one-lane bridges and the numerous scenic stops, it’s a route that deserves at least two to three hours to truly enjoy, plus a couple more hours for the return trip, or a continuation around the island’s southern coast. Better yet, plan for a full day, which will leave plenty of time to stop and take in the sights.
There are 50 bridges along the Hana Highway, many of which are one-lane wide. Each bridges a stream, and many provide drive-up viewing of waterfalls and pools. Photo: iStock
Soon after leaving Paia, you will pass by Hookipa Beach Park. This site draws some of the world’s best windsurfers and kite boarders, and if the riders are out, it might be worth a brief stop to watch the action. A more popular stop comes five miles later at the Huelo Lookout, where the site’s namesake fruit stand serves up refreshing fresh fruit smoothies. Also worth a stop is the Waikamoi Nature Trail, where passengers can stretch their legs on a mile- long trail that winds through eucalyptus and bamboo groves to reach a scenic overlook.
At several points along Maui’s eastern shore, the road to Hana hugs the island’s shoreline, providing drivers and passengers with sweeping ocean views. Photo: iStock
A must-do side trip comes after mile marker 16, where Keanae Road branches off to the east for a short detour to deliver sweeping views of surf- washed black lava cliffs. This side road also leads to Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread, which is famous for it’s namesake confection. Back on the main highway, you will pass through a series of valleys, each cut by a stream that is spanned by one of the route’s signature narrow bridges. This region holds a number of scenic waterfalls, each of which will tempt you to pause and fill your smart phone’s memory card with snapshots. If there is room to park near the bridge, adventurous hikers can negotiate a somewhat steep path to Wailuaiki Falls. An easier opportunity comes a half-mile farther on at Puaa Kaa State Wayside Park, where a short trail leads to waterfalls where swimmers can take a refreshing dip in the pool below. There’s one more must-do on the waterfall photos circuit just past mile marker 19, where Three Bears Falls cascades into a turquoise pool that can be seen from the highway bridge.
Upper Waikani Falls, also known as the Three Bears Falls, is a typical stopping point along the Hana Highway. The pool below the falls is a popular swimming spot. Photo: iStock
There are several more stops worth considering before you get to the town of Hana. Fresh juices, local coffees and baked treats await at the Nahiku Marketplace. Ka’eleku Cave is Maui’s largest and most accessible lava tube. Visitors are provided with flashlights to explore the cool interior of this cavern, and a marked pathway leads through the underground to unique geological formations. Near mile marker 31, the National Tropical Botanical Garden provides a chance to visit the sprawling ruins of Piilanihale Heiau, which is the largest ancient temple in the islands of Hawaii.
Mile 32 brings you to the town of Hana, but not the end of your road trip. A visit to this small village is a step back in time to the island’s bucolic roots. By now, it’s probably lunchtime, and you have options. The Hana Ranch Restaurant is a long time favorite, and The Preserve serves up authentic regional Hawaiian dishes. Vegans and vegetarians will enjoy Coconut Glen’s, and Huli Huli Chicken serves up a tasty version of its namesake dish. If a sit- down isn’t in order, there are usually a number of food trucks parked along the roadway near “downtown.”
If you turn around after touring Hana, you will be missing some of the route’s best sights. Hamoa Beach and Koki Beach are worth a stop, and a ten-mile drive brings you to one of the most-photographed waterfalls in Hawaii. The stream that flows from the heights of Mount Haleakala through the Oheo Gulch forms the cascades known as Seven Sacred Pools. The more adventurous will find a way to scramble down to the water. Otherwise, there are several viewpoints close to the bridge where you can snap some photos of the pools.
The cascades known as the Seven Sacred Pools are visible from the highway. More adventurous travelers follow a hillside path that leads down to the pools below. Photo: iStock
Many drivers turn around at the Oheo Gulch and retrace their route. Often, this is done in response to warnings from rental car companies that continuing past Lelekea Bay on the route known as the Piilani Highway will void the rental contract. In reality, this means that they may not provide roadside breakdown service on this more remote section of highway. There are a few short sections where the pavement gives way to dirt, but this section of the roadway is actually quite passible. As the highway passes into the rain shadow of two-mile-high Mount Haleakala, tropical greenery is replaced by grasslands, then rocky plains where only the hardiest of plants grow on the arid slopes.
Miles beyond the town of Hana, the roadway that continues around Maui’s southern coast passes through the arid lower slopes of Mount Haleakala. Photo: Michael Utech/iStock
Around the 41-mile mark, a short side road leads to the historic Palapala Hoomau Church, which is the site of Charles Lindbergh’s grave. The road then leads into ranch country, and by the time you finish rounding the island’s southern coast and make your way back north along the shoulder of Mount Haleakala, afternoon will likely turn to dusk. This is a good time to pause and take in sunset views from an elevation of 2,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean
We can’t all be surfing superstars. But even if you’ve never caught a wave, you can catch up with some of the best riders in the world during one of the many surfing competitions staged across the islands of Hawaii. If you are making plans to hit the beach and take in the action, here are five of the best events to watch.
November and December bring some of the planet’s largest and best surf to the north shore of Oahu. The world’s top riders come to challenge these waves, and to compete in three of the sport’s most prestigious events, known collectively as the Triple Crown. First in the lineup is the Hawaiian Pro in the small North Shore town of Haleiwa. Here, for two weeks in November, spectators line the beaches of Ali’i Beach Park to watch an international cast of surfers make their best moves. Two weeks later, the competition moves to the surf break known as Sunset, for the Vans World Cup. This legendary surf spot tests the world’s best on fast breaking walls of water that can rise two stories high. Come mid-December, the stakes are even higher at the Billabong Pipemasters, which draws more than 40 of the world’s most skilled big-wave riders to the infamous North Shore break known as the Banzai Pipeline. When conditions are right, this experts-only wave becomes the big stage where the best of the best risk it all for glory and six-figure prize money.
Finalists in the Vans World Cup of Surfing pose with their trophies. This three-event series draws thousands of spectators to the north shore of Oahu each winter. Photo: Vans World Cup
The world’s oldest and most prestigious big-wave competition is known to most simply as “The Eddie.” This invitation-only event is named in honor of legendary Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau, who died heroically while saving lives during a storm. There is no fixed date for this competition, which could take place at any time between late December and the end of February, and only in years when conditions deliver ride able waves with faces that reach 30 to 40 feet in height. As many as 30,000 spectators will line the beach at Waimea Bay when the big swell does hit. Some two-dozen of the world’s best riders are invited to test their skills on the monster breaks.
The Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is a World Surf League special event that is only staged when wave face heights hit the range of 40-feet-plus. Photo: Quicksilver
Not all surf contests are about fame and fortune, and this is certainly the case for the world’s longest-running amateur wave riding event. The Haleiwa Open was created in 1970 by two Oahu locals as a good will gesture to visiting Japanese surfers. Over the decades, the event has attracted an increasingly diverse range of both local and international competitors, who gather to showcase their talents on the surf breaks of Ali’i Beach Park. With both long board and short board categories, and divisions for everyone from early-teens to the 60-year-plus grandmasters, the competition remains true to its amateur roots. Competitors and spectators mingle in a setting that has a hometown vibe, and proceeds from the event go to the Haleiwa Surf Center and the local community.
Winners in the short board division at the Haleiwa International Open. This event gives young up-and-coming surfers a chance to showcase their talents and enter the professional ranks. Photo: Haleiwa International Open
On the mainland, it’s all about high school and college sports. In Hawaii, people follow the standings of the favorites in the HSA. Founded in the early 1960s, The Hawaii Surfing Association forged an alliance of professional and amateur surfers, organized community and regional surfing teams, and worked for the promotion and betterment of the sport. Today, the association produces 11 amateur surfing competitions on the island of Oahu every year, and another five events a year on the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. The 10-month HSA Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series features a mix of short board, long board, body boarding and knee boarding divisions. Competitors in each discipline earn points toward an invitation to the State Championships, which takes place in late April at the Ala Moana Bowls surf break on Oahu’s southern shore.
A group of young competitors at a Hawaii Surfing Association event. The association stages amateur competitions across the state of Hawaii, with divisions for children as young as seven years of age. Photo: Hawaii Surfing Association
This eight-day celebration of the surfing lifestyle is named for Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Hawaii native revered as the father of modern surfing. OceanFest take place at Waikiki Beach, which is where Duke and his fellow beach boys first introduced the world to the sport of wave riding in the 1920s. Highlights of OceanFest include the World Championship of Tandem Surfing. For this unique subset of the sport, a two-person team rides Waikiki’s long gentle waves while performing a series of gymnastic-style tricks such as headstands and choreographed body lifts. The same waves provide the stage for the AccesSurf Duke’s Adaptive Surf Competition, which attracts some of the sport’s top disabled surfers. In addition to surfing, OceanFest features a variety of ocean sports that were close to Duke’s heart, including Paddleboard Racing, Swimming and Volleyball. The festival kicks off each year on the third week in August.
Don’t miss this video: “Gone to the Dogs” SurFUR Competition- https://youtu.be/YsZ4d-JqJSs
On Oahu, the place to be is Waikiki Beach. Or close to it. In reality, only a trio of hotels sits right on the sand. The rest are on the other side of Kalakaua Avenue. Some have water views, some are a short walk to the water, and others are a couple of blocks farther inland. If you are okay with being a couple of blocks from the sand, you can save a good bit on the room rates. And you won’t be slumming, especially if you stay in one of these three recently renovated hotels. All have been around for a while in one form or another, but have benefitted from a major facelift or a rebranding in the past couple of years.
The Shoreline was the epitome of tropical modernism when it opened in the 1970s on the corner of Seaside Avenue and Waikolu Way. When it came time for an update, the owners tapped award-winning designer Anthony Laurino. Rather than wipe the slate clean, he used his personal flair to transform the property with sleek, minimalist details that create a 21st century take on island chic, while also paying homage to the property’s 70s origins. Colors, fabrics and furnishings evoke a sense of crisp, clean minimalism, but not at the expense of comfort. Modern amenities such as electronics docking stations, flat-screen televisions and hotel wide Wi-Fi blend with timeless elements such as the natural wood accents, plush rugs and island inspired artwork.
The rooftop pool at the Shoreline Hotel is a compact but convenient space where guests can take a refreshing dip, relax and enjoy skyline views of the city. Photo: Shoreline Hotel
The beach is just two blocks away, and guests also have the option of an intimate rooftop pool. A wealth of shopping and dining opportunities are also within easy walking distance. Closer to home is the in-house dining room of Heavenly Life Style, which channels another trend from the 70s, the health food moment. This all day cafe and diner creates menus around organic vegetables and meats, and fresh local seafood. There is also a coffee station and a small business center near the lobby, but for most guests, the main attraction of the Shoreline is convenience and price. And the fact that this 125-room property is now one of the hippest in Waikiki is certainly a bonus.
A king bed room with partial ocean views at the Shoreline Hotel incorporates 70s-inspired colors and patterns into a sleek, modern- minimalist design. Photo: Shoreline Hotel
This boutique hotel lives up to the promise in its name. Step into the open- air lobby and you are transported to a quiet tropical oasis where you are surrounded and soothed by lush native plants accented by a koi fish and turtle pond. When this vintage property was acquired by the Aqua group in 2012, they began a multi-year, $2.5 million update that replaced a dated and admittedly drab décor with brighter color schemes, upgraded bedding and modern electronics such as flat-screen televisions, Bose stereo systems and in-room PlayStation consoles. Bathrooms also received full updates, which included jetted tubs. Each room offers a private balcony, and in addition to double and king-bed rooms, there are junior and one-bedroom suites with private kitchens and sitting areas.
The open-air upper lobby of the Aqua Oasis Hotel features lush fern beds and native plants that help evoke a sense of detached calm in an urban setting. Photo: Aqua Oasis
All guests enjoy a complimentary Continental breakfast, morning newspapers and property-wide Wi-Fi. There is a compact pool and sundeck for those who don’t feel like hitting the beach, and the hotel operates a shuttle service to the shopping, dining and entertainment action in Ala Moana. But guests don’t need to travel far to enjoy one of Waikiki’s most trending restaurants. Adjacent to the lobby is Agalico Waikiki. In a setting of modern-rustic ambient, Agalico’s culinary team serves diners an eclectic menu that blends Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine with an added island twist. As a perk, guests staying at Aqua Oasis receive a 10 percent discount at the restaurant.
A king room at the Aqua Oasis Hotel showcases the bright new décor and furnishings that the designers describe as “urban loft meets Hawaii.” Photo: Aqua Oasis
The Swim Club doesn’t just pay homage to 1960s beach culture; it takes a deep dive into this classic era. When the property formerly known as the Hokele Suites reopened in the spring of 2017, it was not just remodeled, it was fully reimagined. Rooms evoke a retro vibe with fabric headboards from Hawaiian clothes designer Tori Richard and wallpaper handcrafted by Honolulu native Andrew Mau. Other surf shack worthy details include reed ceilings, batten walls, island artwork and retro-look woodwork. A stay at the Swim Club can be a group or family affair, as the hotel offers a mix of one room bungalows and one, two, and three-bedroom suites.
The poolside bar at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club is the hotel’s social hub, where guests are often joined by local artists, musicians and writers. Photo: Mariko Reed/Surfjack
As might be expected from a property with Swim Club in its name, the hotel pool at Surfjack isn’t just for dipping after a trip to the beach. The words “Wish you Were Here” are embedded into the bottom of the pool, and for many guests it is the place to be, whether gathering for libations during the happy hour adult swim session, taking in an open-air movie premier on the big screen above the pool deck, or attending one of the regular talks hosted by local or visiting artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, architects, professors, chefs, and more. The Swim Club’s onsite restaurant, Mahina & Sun’s, is the work of renowned island chef Ed Kenney, who is known for reimagining and elevating traditional Hawaiian home cooking, and for utilizing local, organic ingredients. Also on site is the Olive & Oliver Boutique, where guests can stock up on unique beach apparel and accessories to get into the island mood.
Every element of the rooms at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club was chosen to evoke a connection to the classic surf culture of the 1960s. Photo: Surfjack
Maui’s Hana Highway is famous for its coastal views, bridges and waterfalls. One of the most scenic of these falls lies just beyond Mile Marker 19. It’s hard to miss, as the trio of cascades known as Three Bear Falls are clearly visible from the bridge over the Wailua Nui Stream.
Most drivers slow or pause on the bridge to snap a photo of the falls, which flow into a sparkling pool, and are perfectly framed by luxuriant greenery. Those with a sense of adventure and a bit more time on their hands can continue on for a couple hundreds yards to a small parking area, then walk back to the bridge to enter a thicket of red torch ginger and negotiate a rocky path down to the water. In the wet season, the pool is deep enough for a dip, and the water is crystal clear.
Oahu’s Waikiki Beach was America’s original island vacation destination, and for more than 70 years, it remained a go-to destination for everyone from honeymooners to baby boomers. Now, there’s a new wave of urban energy sweeping through the entire Waikiki district, from the iconic beach to the Ala Wai waterway. Trendy new shops, galleries and eateries are springing up, and some of the area’s established hotels have responded with updates and re-imaginings. Here are three of the latest properties sporting new looks and even new names.
The biggest news on the Waikiki waterfront is the re-emergence of the Hawaii Prince Hotel as the Prince Waikiki. The eight-month, $55 million update of this waterfront landmark began with a fresh look to the hotel lobby, which now showcases original artworks such as the signature copper centerpiece sculpture created by Kaili Chun. Also on display through the hotel are a series of abstract paintings by native Hawaiian artist Solomon Enos, and more than 800 original copper sculptures and ornamental fixtures created through the collaborative creation of artists, employees, and guests. The property-wide update includes the Prince Waikiki Club lounge and a new infinity pool with direct ocean views. The hotel’s 563 guest rooms and suites also enjoy expansive water views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Refreshed room decors feature natural materials, including marble, rich woods and fine fabrics, with a color palette chosen to reinforce the sand, sea and sunset environment.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are a hallmark of guest rooms at the Prince Waikiki. The recent hotel-wide renovation included a complete re-imagining of guest room décor. Photo: Prince Waikiki
Diners enjoy sweeping sunset views at the hotel’s signature 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar, which focuses on fresh island cuisines created by Chef de Cuisine Joseph Almoguera. A new bar adjacent to the dining room offers craft cocktails and small bites. The Prince Waikiki’s location is convenient to Honolulu’s most iconic districts, including Chinatown, Kaka Ako, Ala Moana and Waikiki. Recreational amenities include the Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay- designed 27-hole Hawaii Prince Golf Club. The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is adjacent to the hotel, and all the water sports of Waikiki Beach are nearby.
The teak decked pool area at the Prince Waikiki provides sweeping views of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The beach is a short walk away. Photo: Jim Doyle/Prince Waikiki
Honolulu’s Kuhio Avenue is enjoying a renaissance, with hip and trendy shops and restaurants popping up around the recently redeveloped International Market Place. In the middle of it all is the vintage hotel once known as the Aqua Waikiki Wave, which reemerged in early 2017 as the Laylow. The sweeping $60 million renovation represents both an update and a return to the property’s roots. The hotel’s revamped personality blends Hawaiian style with a mid-century aesthetic. The design team’s stated goal was “to create an urban oasis that evokes an experience you might have had in the ’50s or ’60s, yet at the same time is updated, hip and cool.” The lobby sets the stage with terracotta breezeblock walls sculpted in graphic patterns reminiscent of Hawaiian tapa designs and open to the trade winds. The theme continues throughout the hotel, with furnishings and accents created from refurbished antiques, reclaimed woods, and design accent pieces by midcentury modern classics.
Rooms at the Laylow feature a mid-century Hawaiian modernist theme that makes use of natural fabrics and woods, while also offering cutting-edge amenities. Photo: Ramon Purcell/Laylow
The 186 guestrooms and 65 suites evoke a sense of laid-back luxury, with clean minimalist design and color palettes based on warm earth tones offset by cobalt and pink to reflect the tropical environment. Monstera leaf wallpaper, surf nostalgia and vintage memorabilia complete the scene. But while the design is mid- century, the amenities are cutting edge; as rooms feature high- speed Internet, smart TVs and full connectivity for personal electronic devices. Each room has one or two king beds and private lanais. The hotel includes a private pool sequestered in a garden setting, and a 24-hour fitness center. The Laylow’s signature restaurant, Hideout, showcases reimagined Pacific Rim classics based on locally sourced ingredients. The dining space extends to an open-air lanai overlooking Kuhio Avenue, where twin fire pits, pune`e beds and private cabanas provide an intimate setting for live musical performances.
The pool area at the Laylow creates an urban oasis in the heart of Waikiki’s trendiest district. The adjacent bar dispenses artisanal cocktails and craft beers. Photo: Ramon Purcell/Laylow
This boutique, off-beach property has long been a favorite with families and travelers who appreciate both value and the personal service and attention of a smaller resort. In 2016, the hotel underwent a series of design refreshments imagined by San Francisco based designer Anthony Laurino, who created an island- chic motif described as “warm, comfortable and fun”. The revamped lobby now features furniture and accents made from native Hawaiian monkey pod wood, and arriving guests are greeted with snacks and a personal welcome. Just off the lobby, a new game room stocked with board games and other social entertainment provides a gathering place where guests can meet and mingle.
All rooms at the Coconut Waikiki include private balconies and kitchen areas. The property delivers the convenience of central location combined with the casual intimacy of a smaller hotel. Photo: Coconut Waikiki
As part of the design refresh, guest rooms received fresh color schemes, along with new drapes, linens, patio furniture and furniture coverings. All rooms include private balconies and kitchenettes with a microwave, sink, refrigerator, cutlery and dishes. Daily complimentary breakfast is served around a pair of communal tables that encourage socialization. Just off the lobby, the heated pool enjoys new landscaping and updated deck furniture. Next to the pool deck, guests can make use of a new barbecue facility, which hotel staff will prep for use for those who want to stay in and cook out.
The lobby area at the Coconut Waikiki creates a bright and welcoming space for arrivals. Here the adjacent pool, barbecue deck and game room create spaces for gatherings and socialization. Photo: Coconut Waikiki
There are a number of places around the world where you can observe whales from the deck of a tour boat. Far rarer are opportunities to paddle a kayak up close and personal to meet one of these magnificent marine mammals at eye level. And rarest of all are locations where these kayak encounters take place in warm tropical waters. Here are three places where paddlers and whales mingle.
The world’s number one destination for kayak whale encounters is the island of Maui. Each year, as many as 10,000 humpback whales travel south from the arctic to breed, birth and nurse newborns in Hawaiian waters. The greatest numbers of whales are often seen off the western shores of Maui, where calm seas and warm water prove a comfortable habitat for whales, and relaxing surface conditions for humans.
Maui’s western shore is sheltered from prevailing trade winds by the island’s tall mountains, creating calm kayaking conditions for whale watching. Photo: Pixaby
Whale watching tours are offered aboard all types of sail and powerboats, but also allowed within this whale sanctuary are more personal encounters aboard self-powered craft. Several outfitters lead guided kayak trips into the whale sanctuary, where encounters can begin less than a mile from shore. As is the case with tour boats, kayakers are not allowed to approach within 100 yards of whales. The whales are free to approach humans, and are much more likely to swim close to a small, silent kayak than they would a tour boat with engine idling. Whales visit Hawaiian waters from November to May, with February and March being prime time for almost guaranteed interactions.
A whale tail breaks the surface in the calm waters off Maui’s western shore. This is a prime area for whale watching by kayak. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority
Some 200 miles north of the resorts of Cabo San Lucas, the historic port town of Loreto is the launching point for day trips and extended tours along the rugged coast of the Baja Peninsula. With dramatic cliffs, deserted islands and inviting blue waters, this is a bucket list paddling experience at any time of the year. Winter brings the added bonus of whales, which migrate along the coasts, and find shelter in the protected waters of the Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
The Sea of Cortez attracts seasonal migrations of grey and humpback whales, and is home to many more species of smaller whales and marine mammals. Photo: Pixaby
Gray whales are the most frequent visitors to these waters, but they are sometimes joined by the world’s largest animal, the blue whale. There’s always a chance of seeing a spouting whale on a day trip, but more popular are the multi-day paddling tours that transit the coast. These fully guided and supported excursions not only provide ongoing chances for whale sightings, but also bring dolphins and sea lions into the mix. Best of all, you don’t have to be a grizzled kayak veteran to participate, because many tours set a leisurely pace, and are shadowed by a support boat. At days end, paddlers stop at waterfront lodges or are treated to beachfront cookouts while guides do all the work of setting up a camp by the ocean.
In the coastal waters of the Sea of Cortez, a kayaker is treated to a once in a lifetime encounter with a 30-foot whale shark. Photo: Marie Humphrey/Flickr
The islands of Tonga are off the beaten path, but that doesn’t deter travelers who come from around the world for a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with humpback whales in clear Pacific water. A majority of these encounters take place in the sheltered waters of the Vava’u Island group, which also happens to be a world-class kayaking destination.
Paddling safaris through the islands of Tonga may include overnight camping stops on uninhabited beaches or day breaks for lunch and beach barbeques. Photo: Friendly Island Kayak Company/Flickr
Paddlers sign up for island hopping itineraries that include snorkeling on coral reefs, camping on uninhabited islands, and visits to local villages. And in the months between July and October, there’s a good chance of seeing whales while paddling. This is Tonga’s dry season, when seas are calmest and temperatures are mild. Anyone making the trip should certainly sign up for a swimming encounter. Adding a kayak tour will increase the chances to see humpbacks in the wild, without the time limitations that are placed on in water encounters.
Kayaks sit ready on a sandbar in the islands of Tonga. This area is one of only a few in the world where paddlers can come face to face with whales. Photo: Photo: Friendly Island Kayak Company/Flickr
On April 22, the natural world takes center stage as humans around the globe pause to reflect on the importance of protecting and enhancing the ecosystems we share with all other living creatures. Here, a colorful little red-eyed tree frog from the rainforests of Costa Rica serves as a visual reminder of the diverse, beautiful and sometimes-fragile nature of the planet Earth and its inhabitants.
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