Aside from beautiful beaches, Pearl Harbor, and Diamond Head, Oahu offers five activities for visitors that provide a great look at the island's culture and nature.
First, have dim sum in one of Honolulu's authentic Chinese restaurants, especially in Chinatown. Mei Sum, 65 North Pauahi Street, is a bustling, rather local place with great, although not over friendly, service. The dim sum menu is traditional but inexpensive. For a group of six, a pants-stretching lunch will cost only about $40, but be sure to take the items you want when you see them – you may find that your favorite items have run out by the time the cart makes it back around.
A walk in Chinatown is the perfect thing to do after a meal, so activity number two is a shopping trip in the Mauna Kea Marketplace, 1120 Maunakea Street. Shoppers and lookers alike will feel like they’ve stepped out of the U.S. and into a real Chinese market. The Marketplace boasts shops of every kind as well as a food court and grocery area. Jewelry and jade items are extremely low priced, with pearls going for a bargain, even after a negotiation with the shopkeeper. Chinese clothing items, such as pajamas, kimonos, and slippers, are also abundant and inexpensive – a pair of slippers will cost around $6. Even if you’re not planning on buying anything, check out the seafood area to see lobsters, crab, eel, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Tantalus Mountain
In addition to Chinatown, visitors to Honolulu should take the time to drive up Tantalus Road on Tantalus Mountain to learn about Oahu's distinct ecosystem. Tantalus Mountain is part of the foothills of the Koolau Mountain range and the road itself takes you up to about two thousand feet. There are plenty of scenic pull-offs and lookouts along the way to stop, take in the fresh air, and get spectacular views of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu below. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Tantalus Mountain is that as you go higher, you become part of a separate microclimate. Up on the mountain, rain is common at certain times of the year, but you’ll note that the beach below is under clear blue skies. You may also feel the temperature drop as you move up to the two thousand foot level. To experience two separate climates in one half-hour drive is very unique – and an informative addition to any trip to Oahu.
A Luau and Kailua Beach
Item number four on your list will be to attend a staged luau, such as the one at Paradise Cove on the leeward side of Oahu. Some visitors may find this “corny”, but in all honesty it’s a great way to taste Polynesian food, learn a little about the history of the Hawaiian Islands, and watch various styles of island dancing.
Finally, to round off your trip to Oahu, it’s necessary to go to Kailua Beach, on the east side of the island. Kailua Beach is sometimes referred to as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But before you dip your toes in the crystal clear water, try having lunch or a cocktail at Buzz’s Steakhouse Lanikai, 413 Kawailoa Road, right across the street from the beach. Buzz’s is a Hawaiian landmark, with “hang loose” service and great food. Since all of these activities are within close distance to Honolulu, your trip can be less big-city and more of what beautiful Oahu has to offer.
The copyright of the article What to See and Do on Oahu, Hawaii in Hawaii Travel is owned by Chris Amisano. Permission to republish What to See and Do on Oahu, Hawaii in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
