Hawaii Five-Ohhh! Oahu top 5 must-sees
When Mr LML and I planned a trip to New York, we thought the perfect stopover to break up the long flight home was Hawaii, and I didn’t need much convincing to turn it into a seven-day vacation! After a few days amongst the buzz of Waikiki, we were ready to get out of town and explore the rest of Oahu by car.
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned road trip, and we loved the idea of stopping wherever we wanted to explore the island at our own place. Here are my top five picks for must-see spots around Oahu.
1. Hanauma Bay
Only a 20-minute drive east of Waikiki you will find Hanauma Bay, home to some of Hawaii’s best coral reef snorkelling. You can swim with a wide array of sea life in crystal-clear waters, and if you’re lucky you may see a green sea turtle or two. The view on the walk down to the beach is also spectacular, so don’t forget a camera!
Hot tip – Get there early, as there are often long lines and the water gets murky later in the day once there are a lot of people swimming.
Hanauma Bay
2. Sea Life Park
Our next stop was Sea Life Park. We did the Dolphin Royal Swim, which I highly recommend as you get to spend over half an hour in the water with the dolphins (including two rides on them!). We also went to the Chief’s Luau, which was a fantastic celebration of Polynesian culture (along with a lot of eating, drinking, and dancing into the night!).
Me with my new BFF! I’m on the left…
The Chief’s Luau.
3. Lanikai Beach and Kailua
Consistently rated amongst the best beaches in the world (and with its turquoise water and fine white sand it was by far my fave on Oahu), Lanikai Beach is located in buzzing Kailua. It is a must-see and whether you stay for an hour or a day you will find plenty to do, with sailboards and kayaks available for hire. Make sure to pop into Kailua town for lunch, where you’ll find a collection of laid-back cafes with quality local produce.
Lanikai Beach.
4. Turtle Bay Resort and the North Shore
As you hit the North Shore you will start to see a number of shaved ice, shrimp, and fresh coconut trucks on the side of the road, which you must stop and try! You’ll also find the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort (where the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall was filmed). Every room has an ocean view and the resort offers many activities, including two golf courses and a spa. We had dinner at Lei Leis on the golf course, which Mr LML rated as having ‘the best ribs in Hawaii’. If you have the time, a few nights at the resort is a great way to relax at the end of a holiday.
Food trucks and stalls on the North Shore
The view from our balcony -Turtle Bay Resort
5. Haleiwa and Banzai Pipeline
On your way from Turtle Bay to the town of Haleiwa you’ll pass Ehukai Beach Park, home to the legendary Banzai Pipeline where Oahu’s big wave surfing competitions are held. Haleiwa is a funky, surfy town with a great vibe, and the old plantation town character is preserved in many of the buildings. There’s a number of fantastic places to grab a bite, and the galleries at Marketplace are definitely worth a visit.
Haleiwa
Ehukai Beach Park
No big waves in the summer – Banzai Pipeline
A road trip is a fantastic way to see Hawaii. Breathtaking scenery, picture-perfect beaches, towering mountains and laid-back surfy towns full of friendly locals all make for one relaxing holiday! The island is small, so you could easily drive around in a day, or take your time and stay a night or two on the North Shore.
Have you been to Oahu? Tell us your must-sees in the comments!
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