Journey to Oahu - Embrace the Journey Travel

Have you been thinking about a journey to Oahu, Hawaii? There is so much to see and do on the island of Oahu. I and a few of our agents recently spent some time on Oahu touring resorts, shopping, and exploring the island before hopping on a flight to Maui for more resort tours and exploring.

Locations on the Island

Whether you want to be in the middle of the action of Waikiki and Honolulu or away from it all on the North Shore, there is a resort to fit everyone’s wants and needs. There is even Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa at Ko Olina!

You can relax on one of the many beaches on the island, hike Diamond Head, take surfing lessons, snorkel at Hanauma Bay, visit the historical sites of Pearl Harbor, or pay your respects to the almost 53,000 veterans (and eligible family members) at Punchbowl National Cemetery. There is definitely something for everyone to do!

Family Friendly

Families with kids will enjoy Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium. Sea Life Park is another favorite place to visit where guests can book experiences with dolphins or sea lions.

Getting Around the Island

It’s very easy to get around the island. The Bus is one way of getting from place to place.

It’s also great to rent a car to drive around and explore on your own. We spent some time driving from Waikiki to the North Shore. We loved seeing the beautiful scenery, food trucks, and houses along the way. We also made a stop at Kualoa Regional Park to see Mokoli’i, also known as Chinaman’s Hat Island, to take some pictures. Then, we ventured on to Turtle Bay Resort to explore the grounds. We were just in time for sunset. It was simply breathtaking!

North Shore

I love to visit the town of Haleiwa on the North Shore when I am on Oahu. A stop at Matsumoto Shave Ice is a must for me. Picking up souvenirs in Haleiwa is typically less expensive than in Honolulu or Waikiki also. Watching surfers at Banzai Pipeline is really neat. Also on the North Shore. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great way to learn about the different cultures of the nations of Polynesia through its living museum of 6 island villages. Guests can also enjoy a luau dinner show and buffet.

Aloha Stadium

Swap Meet & Marketplace at Aloha Stadium is also a great place to pick up some nice less expensive souvenirs. We purchased t-shirts for our family back home, beach towels, and more. There are over 400 vendors, crafters, and artisans.

Check on dates and times while you are there as it’s not open every day. There are also several options for food if you are hungry from all of the shopping.

Our agents loved shopping at ABC Stores. We bought some late night snacks there as well as some souvenirs. I tried their Spam Musubi and thought it was good. We visited a few different locations. It’s not hard to visit several locations as they seem to be everywhere!

Eating on the Island

There is no shortage of great food on Oahu. The pineapple and POG (passion fruit, orange, guava) juice are so refreshing and good. Our agents ate on Waikiki Beach at Barefoot Beach Café Waikiki. We all agreed the food was great and the prices weren’t bad either.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are some great food trucks along the roads also. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You just might find your new favorite dish!

When I travel, I do my best to eat the local food and I have ended up being glad that I did. The Hawaiian islands have some of the best food that I’ve tried. I was nervous about eating Poke, but oh my goodness it’s so good!