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A Local's Guide To Traveling In O'ahu

A local of Hawai'i's guide to food, beaches, and activities for your stay in the islands.

Hannah Rose Mitchell

Aug 14, 2019

DePaul University

Hannah Mitchell

Oah'u has a lot to offer that it may seem overwhelming. I am born and raised in O'ahu and have done most of what the island has available. This is a list of things that I like to do with my family when I visit home.

Food

Highway Inn

A plate lunch with kalua pork, fried rice, pork lau lau, haupia, sweet potato and lomi salmon.Hannah MItchell

Highway Inn offers an exquisite variety of authentic Hawaiian food in a restaurant setting. My favorite thing to have here is lomi salmon (a tomato and salmon mix), pork lau lau (pork wrapped in tea leaves), and kalua pork (pulled pork). It is located in Kaka'ako near Ala Moana Shopping Center.

Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood

A combination plate lunch with rice, macaroni salad, bbq chicken, and ribs.Hannah Mitchell

A pineapple smoothie served inside of a pineapple, topped with sliced pineapple, an edible flower, and un umbrella. Hannah MItchell

Blue water is local fusion food with some pizazz in a casual dinning setting. They have a menu filled with local favorites like bbq chicken. Unlike most bbq chicken, it is soaked in guava juice to give it a sweet taste. They also have fresh pineapple smoothies and coconut water that is picture perfect. Blue Water has multiple locations including in Ala Moana or Waikiki's Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Aoki's Shave Ice

Eating shave ice on a hot day is a great way to cool down.Hannah Mitchell

Haleiwa, a beach town on the north side of the island, is the perfect place to enjoy shave ice. It is refreshing in the Honolulu heat and only $3. You can mix and match tropical flavors, add ice cream and mochi balls. Adding vanilla ice cream is what most locals do.

Beaches

Hanauma Bay

The view from the top of Hanauma Bay.Hannah Mitchell

The view from the beach into the mountains.Hannah Mitchell

This beach is perfect for tourists that are unfamiliar with Hawaiian currents. It has a hidden rock wall that keeps out waves and keeps in beautiful fish. At Hanauma Bay for $6.50, beach goers can safely snorkel along side tropical fish. The beach is also located on a scenic route. This was my boyfriend's favorite part of the trip.

Cockroach Cove

The view of Cockroach cove from the entry point.Hannah MItchell

Cockroach cove has a lot of places to take nice photographs.Hannah MItchell

Near Hanauma Bay is a free beach that stills offers safety and beauty. There are slightly more waves here but it is still safe for children. There are also rocks that beachgoers can jump off into the water.

Activities

Polynesian Cultural Center

Polynesian Cultural Center looks like a movie set with its picture perfect scenery,Hannah Mitchell

Crew Members pose with guests for photos free of charge.Hannah Mitchell

Before leaving, we were able to paddle on a canoe.Hannah Mitchell

Polynesian Cultural Center is like an interactive museum. You will learn a lot about the culture and history of the different islands. You also can do activities like canoe paddling, fishing, weaving, and dancing. Tickets are $65 for adults but this place will have something to entertain you from open to close. There are also natives of the islands that work as tour guides here to help to keep it authentic.

Manoa Falls

The waterfall at Manoa Falls is breath taking for many hikers.Hannah MItchell

Manoa Falls is a mesmerizing hike to a waterfall. What I like about this hike is that it is family-friendly and manageable for those that do not consider themselves to be in shape or have hiking experience. Unlike many other hikes, Manoa Falls is located on the south side of the island and is close to Waikiki. Other hikes that are worth mentioning for those that enjoy more of a challenge is Koko Head (a long stairway with an incredible view), Maunawili (similar to Manoa Falls, it has a waterfall, but it is longer of a hike), and Pillboxes (a manageable hike with a view of the East Side).

Each of these activities are what I consider must-sees for the entire family. It will also give tourists something to do outside of the popularized Waikiki. Whether you have your trip booked or Oah'u is on the list, enjoy your travels!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Beaches

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"I don't want to do things. I want to not do things."

1. When you look at the syllabus and realize there are only three weeks of the semester left; even though the first day was LITERALLY yesterday.

2. You look at your grades and realize they probably aren't as high as they should be, which is a terrifying realization.

3. When you think to yourself at night, "tomorrow, I will wake up early and go to the library ALL day, and, hell, maybe after I'll go to the gym for a little bit, just to push myself that extra mile."

4. Tomorrow actually comes. The inevitable and overpowering sense of procrastination is too strong to overcome.

5. But you DO end up going to the library. Not all day though, but still, a while. But no, you do not go to the gym. Still, you made an effort, so you decide to treat yo' self.

6. When you realize you need to schedule a meeting with your adviser because you need to sign up for classes next semester. But you also realize that since you waited until the last minute, you're going to get stuck with all of the crappy classes.

7. When you low-key try to slip into conversation with your professors that you need extra credit because you're that desperate.

8. When it's already the third time you've seen your adviser in two days because you have no damn clue what you're doing and need all the help you can get.

9. When you apply for a job associated with your major even though you have no experience, but you just want to dive headfirst into the deep end of adulthood and get it over with.

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

1. Figuring out when to start

2. Searching through list after list to get everything you need

3. Shopping for deals

4. Getting bins to put everything in

5. Figuring what you can’t live without

6. Going through clothes to find what you need

7. Finding out your siblings took something from you

8. Fighting with your parents.

9. Trying to plan things with your roommate

10. The fear of forgetting something

11. Move in day

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

1. When you fail that midterm you studied so hard for.

2. When your crush finally texts back.

3. When payday comes around.

4. When you accidentally like someone's picture from 108 weeks ago.

5. When someone takes your unassigned assigned seat.

6. When your favorite character in your favorite TV series dies.

7. When that guy/girl you’ve been crushing on agrees to go on a date with you.

8. When you have so much to do, and such little motivation to do it.

9. When someone asks for your last fry.

10. When you try a new health-food craze.

11. When you get new clothing.

12. When you check your bank account.

13. When they're serving good food in the dining hall.

14. When someone tries to tell you what to do.

15. Or just your thoughts about life in general.

We all have that "I don't care" attitude.

1. Most students just take life day by day.

2. That means procrastinating, one day at a time.

3. College students don't mind dressing like crap sometimes.

4. In fact, dressing nice feels weird.

5. College students get so stressed that they contemplate dropping on a daily basis.

6. But most find another solution to deal with that stress.

7. And that solution can be pretty cheap. Anything over $5 is expensive.

8. One of the only things college students will spend money on is coffee.

9. College is just really expensive and you never forget how expensive it is.

10. But hey, we're getting a somewhat high-quality education, right?

11. We all really just want to pet dogs all day.

12. And eat pizza for every meal.

13. And stab the next person who asks us what we want to do with our life.

14. However, despite the stress and student loans, college is amazing and there's plenty of reasons to smile.

Thank you, April, for inspiring us with your wicked relatability.

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