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Destination: Seven Days on Oahu
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You can drive all the way around this Hawaiian island in a few hours. Think what you can do in a week!
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BY MALIA BOYD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN KUNKEL
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The beach at Hanauma Bay Park; grilled ahi tacos at Duke's restaurant in Waikiki; a cruise on the Waikiki rigger.
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Travelers seeking a Hawaiian escape tend to overlook Oahu. Yes, it is more populated and developed than the other islands. But Oahu offers a balance of escape and engagement, history and modernity, urban and rural. With all the museums, ocean preserves, sailing, hiking and shopping, visitors can be as busy or as blissed-out as they choose. Here are our suggestions for how to spend your week.
DAY 1: Honolulu Highlights
Start at the newly renovated Bishop Museum (1525 Bernice St., Honolulu; 808-847-3511; bishopmuseum.org), where you’ll learn about the molten undersea beginnings of the island chain, follow the rise and demise of Hawaii’s royal family and see the battle being waged between native and invasive plants.
For lunch, try Aiea Bowl (99-115 Aiea Heights Dr.; 808-488-6854; lunch for two, $45*), an island favorite for dishes like seared furikake ahi (tuna) or loco moco (rice topped with a burger, gravy and an egg).
Then it’s on to nearby Pearl Harbor (nps.gov). You’ll get a thorough account of what happened on the day that will live in infamy: December 7, 1941, when the USS Arizona sank and took more than 1,100 servicemen to a watery grave.
A good tiki bar is surprisingly hard to find on Oahu, but La Mariana Sailing Club (50 Sand Island Access Rd.; 808-848-2800; dinner for two, $80) delivers, with standbys like Hawaiian pupu platters. Though it’s just off an industrial road, the location offers serene views of the turquoise waters. After your meal, visit the gift shop for all manner of island-themed novelties.
*Meal prices do not include drink, tax or tip.
DAY 2: Waikiki—Oahu’s South Shore
Since the 1800s, when Hawaiian royalty took their retreats in Waikiki, this beach southeast of downtown Honolulu has beguiled with its palm-fringed sands and beginner-friendly surf. Rent a surfboard or book a lesson with Waikiki Beach Boys (808-388-1510; waikikibeachservices.com; group surfing lesson, $60; private, $100).
For lunch, head to Duke’s, overlooking the famous beach (2335 Kalakaua Ave.; 808-922-2268; lunch buffet for two, $30). Complete your South Shore experience with a sunset sail aboard the Waikiki Rigger (docked at Gray’s Beach between the Waikiki Shore and the Halekulani Hotel; 808-922-2210; $39 per person). During the 90-minute ride, you’ll get all the mai tais you’d care to consume. For a casual dinner, try House Without a Key (Halekulani Hotel; 2199 Kalia Rd.; 808-923-2311; dinner for two, $85), where you can watch a graceful hula dancer perform.
DAY 3: Kailua Adventures
Kiteboarding is one of the more adventurous water sports, and Kailua is a great place to learn. To get there, drive 35 minutes north of Waikiki, through the lush Koolau mountains. Grab a picnic lunch at Kalapawai Market (306 S. Kalaheo Ave.; 808-262-3354; lunch for two, $20). Then head straight to the sifted-flour sands of Kailua Beach Park, where you’ve booked a lesson with Hawaiian WaterSports (167 Hamakua Dr.; 808-262-5483; hawaiianwatersports.com; from $179) and the dudes are waiting to teach you the basics.
At the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden (45-680 Luluku Rd.; 808-233-7323), in nearby Kaneohe, explore 400 acres of rare plants. After all that surfing and strolling, head to Pinky’s Pupu Bar & Grill (970 N. Kalaheo Ave.; 808-254-6255). This down-home restaurant is right by the Kawainui canal, so you can watch canoe paddlers and ducks passing by while you chow down on kalua pig nachos.
DAY 4: Diamond Head & Kaimana Beach
Get some perspective on Oahu’s iconic Diamond Head (hawaiistateparks.org) by climbing the dormant volcanic cone, on a paved trail with handrails. At the top, apart from a couple of old bunkers, there’s nothing but a nearly 180-degree view of the southern half of Oahu, from Koko Head in the east to the Waianae mountains, far in the west.
The climb can be hot and dry, so take a short ride to the Diamond Head Market & Grill (3158 Monsarrat Ave.; 808-732-0077; lunch for two, $30) for an updated version of the Hawaiian plate lunch and a big drink to go. Then head to the sea. Anywhere along the ocean side of Kapiolani Park is picnic perfect, with plenty of shade from a mix of ironwoods, banyans and coconut palms. And if you want to swim, walk east to spacious Kaimana Beach, where you can also watch surfers at play.
Finish your day at the off-the-tourist-radar sushi spot Tokurri Tei (449 Kapahulu Ave.; 808-732-6480; dinner for two, $50). For a classic dessert, go down the road to Leonard’s Bakery (933 Kapahulu Ave.; 808-737-5591), which has been delighting local families with its Portuguese malasadas since 1952.
DAY 5: Well-Preserved Eastern Oahu
One of the island’s greatest assets is the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, at Oahu’s southeasternmost point (808-396-4229). Because of its protected nature, the bay is teeming with tropical fish. You can rent snorkel gear on-site or bring your own. Get there early to avoid the crowds that gather later in the day.
After a morning of snorkeling, nothing tastes better than a massive burger, fries and a chocolate shake at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers (7192 Kalanianaole Hwy.; 808-394-9100; lunch for two, $30). Walk it off on the trail to the scenic Makapuu Lighthouse, where you can watch paragliders mingling in the breeze with frigate birds along the rugged shoreline. If you’re there between November and April, you’ll almost certainly see humpback whales and their calves.
Polish off your day at Roy’s (6600 Kalanianaole Hwy.; 808-923-7697; prix fixe dinner for two, $72), an upscale eatery serving seasonally focused Hawaiian fusion cuisine.
DAY 6: Explore the North Shore
In winter, the North Shore is known for its towering waves. By springtime, though, the surf has usually settled enough for those who prefer to spend their day lolling, snorkeling and jumping off the big black rock at Waimea Bay. If you’re burned out on the beach, walk the paved trails at Waimea Valley (59-864 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808-638-7766; waimeavalley.net). When you reach the park’s waterfalls, you can float in a deep freshwater pool.
For lunch, pop into Waialua Bakery (66-200 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808-637-9079; lunch for two, $20) in Haleiwa for a turkey-cranberry sandwich. Save room for a treat at Matsumoto Shave Ice (66-087 Kamehameha Hwy.).
Then browse in Haleiwa’s ramshackle shops for surf gear. At the end of the day, head to the superlative Opal Thai Food for dinner (66-460 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808-381-8091; dinner for two, $45).
DAY 7: Go Downtown Honolulu
On a tour of Iolani Palace, you’ll see the only palace in the country to be used as a residence by reigning monarchs (364 S. King St.; 808-522-0822; iolanipalace.org). The place has an intriguing history: The last queen of Hawaii was held prisoner there after she was forced to abdicate her throne in 1895.
A short walk away, take in works by Hawaiian artists at the Hawaii State Art Museum. Even lunch is a work of art at the museum’s restaurant, Downtown (250 Hotel St.; 808-536-5900; hawaiistateartmuseum.org; lunch for two, $55).
After strolling through the business district, you’ll enter the city’s diminutive Chinatown. Check out the cacophonous marketplace, where you might pick up some fun silk tchotchkes. For dinner, order dried string beans and Singapore rice noodles at Little Village Noodle House (1113 Smith St.; 808-545-3008; dinner for two, $60). The end of a week on Oahu doesn’t get any better.
STAY
RCI affiliated resorts on Oahu include:
AULANI, DISNEY VACATION CLUB VILLAS, KO OLINA, HAWAI`I DV11
Enchanting entertainment with renowned Disney service at this new resort celebrating Hawaiian culture. Kids will enjoy tubing on the lazy river, while adults can watch the sunset from a whirlpool. 92-1185 Ali'inui Dr., Kapole
IMPERIAL HAWAII VACATION CLUB 2605
High-rise resort with panoramic views and beach amenities. 205 Lewers St., Honolulu
Member Reviews:
“Beautiful ocean-view rooms. The staff was fun.”
“Steps from the beach. Near great restaurants.”
For complete member reviews (as member reviews have been condensed) and additional resort listings, visit RCI.com or call 800-338-7777 (Weeks) or 877-968-7476 (Points). Club Members, please call your specific Club or RCI telephone number.
Non-RCI affiliated resorts:
WAIKIKI PARC HOTEL
In the heart of Waikiki, across the street from the posh Halekulani, with 297 spacious rooms and a branch of the renowned Nobu restaurant. 2233 Helumoa Rd., Honolulu; 800-422-0450; waikikiparc.com; doubles from $285 per night
AQUA LOTUS HONOLULU
This chic Balinese-style 50-room hotel is situated on the Gold Coast, far from the crowds of Waikiki and next to Kaimana Beach. 2885 Kalakaua Ave.; 808-922-1700; aquaresorts.com; doubles from $199 per night
TURTLE BAY RESORT
The 375-room resort recently appeared in the movie Soul Surfer. Guests can ride horses, surf and enjoy the secluded location on the green North Shore. 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku; 808-293-6000; turtlebayresort.com; doubles from $235 per night
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.
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Published: Spring 2012
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