I’ve lived on the island of Oahu, Hawaii for a couple of months now, and I have noticed that there are a couple of things when you move to a place as beautiful, naturally rich, and exciting as Hawaii. One of these things is that you get asked to be a tour guide for your friends, and for your friends of friends, who are visiting the island for their first or their fifth time. Now, let me just say that there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of friends who live on the island. I love seeing old friends and meeting new ones from all over the world. It’s just part of the deal when you move to a place like this.
Anyway, after being a tour guide a couple of times, I decided to sit down and put my one-week travel itinerary down on paper (or blog) to share with others and to get some new ideas from people that have lived here longer than I have. This itinerary contains the list of spots I would bring friends and family to on a typical one-week vacation. I tried to avoid the really crazy tourist spots and hit some of the cool local areas and restaurants.
Day One:
Start out day one with a foolproof plan with guaranteed sun, and get Waikiki out of the way early. Pick up guests from the airport, and drop off luggage at the hotel/hostel and freshen up a bit. Then head to Safeway/ABC Store and buy some drinks and head to Waikiki Beach for some sun.
Get some fresh fish for dinner, either a Poke
Then after dinner, chill out. Traveling can really wear you out, plus jet lag is a bitch.
Day Two:
Hike the Pill Box trail (short moderate hike with an awesome view) – Also if you are feeling ambitious this has the best sunrise on the island. Then after the hike, you can cool off on Lanikai Beach. This is truly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Day Three:
Head over to Hanauma Bay, for the best snorkeling in the world. Tip: Get there early, because if their parking lot fills up, then you can’t get in! When you get to the nature preserve, there is a fee for parking a vehicle on site. There is also a fee to enter the area. Once you pay for the entry fee there is also a mandatory video about conservation on the area that is required to be watched before you are allowed in the area.
Fun Fact: Blue Hawaii was filmed at Hanauma Bay!
Or you could hike, or just chill at a beach or w/e.
Then after hanging at Hanauma Bay, stop in Hawaii Kai for some Bubbies Ice Cream. Bubbies Ice Cream was recently featured in a Buzzfeed article titled “27 Ice Cream Shops You Need To Visit Before You Die.”
They specialize in Mochi Ice Cream, and it’s seriously amazing.
Day Four:
Kayak to the Mokulua Islands – One of our favorite things to do in Hawaii. It’s a two-mile kayak and takes about 45 mins to get there. You’ll be pooped, so you can chill out on the island.
Day Five:
Hike or chill on a beach or go to China Town. Depends on how we are feeling. This is the oldest China Town in the US – and they have some weird shit here.
Day Six:
Koko Head in the AM – this is a v challenging hike, but your butt will thank you
Waimanalo Beach Park – Beautiful beach and it’s got some chill waves
Then at night, try Mai Tai Booze Cruise on Waikiki. We saw dolphins last time I did this!
Day Seven:
Swap Meet in AM @ Aloha Stadium- This is a great place to get cheap souvenirs and shit.
Day Eight:
A day trip up to the North Shore. Stop at the Dole Plantation on the way up. I’ve never been there, as it’s a tourist attraction, but I’ve heard it’s fun.
Sunset Beach – Hands down. this is the best beach on the North Shore. Note: If you come here in the winter, the waves will be huge. I would not recommend getting in the water at all. In the summer months, this beach has great
Banzai Sushi for Happy Hour – Super great sushi place. You sit on the floor here! It also has a great Happy Hour.
Or, you can stop by the Food Trucks for food or Polynesian Cultural Center (Laie) for a Luau (Best Luau on Hawaii).
Last Day:
If you have time, you may want to go to the beach one last time before you leave. Preferably one close to Honolulu, like Ala Moana Beach. Paddle Board at Ala Moana beach
What do you think? Do you have any tips or ideas for things to do with a guest in Hawaii? Let me know in the comments below.