Oahu Adventures: Weekend in Paradise
Earlier in March, before all the uncertainty and “new normal” around the Covid-19 pandemic settled in, I was lucky enough to spend 4-5 days in Oahu, Hawaii. The main purpose of of the trip was for my good friend Isabelle and her fiancé’s engagement shoot, but Kasey and I managed to make an adventure and a late birthday celebration out of it too. (Kasey was featured in my last blog post, so if you don’t know who she is, go check it out then come back here!) I asked Kasey sometime last winter if she wanted to explore the island with me, and I’m so glad she did because the two of us had a BLAST. We didn’t want to leave at all. In fact, we heard Bay Area’s announcement of the shelter in place that would go into effect on March 17 as we were getting ready to head to the airport for a flight back to the Bay the afternoon before. I wanted so badly to stay in Oahu, and so did Kasey. We both entertained the option for a while but knew deep down that it was unlikely, unfortunately.
I had been to Oahu (or more precisely, Honolulu) twice before but never got to see much of the island. Both times were with my family — the first time was probably when I was five or six — and let’s just say family trips are very different from my photography adventures. So naturally, I was excited to finally be able to explore the island right — and with one of my favorite gals, who is also familiar with the island. Before I dive into our trip to paradise, I want to give a quick thank you to Little Hawaii Rentals!
Little Hawaii took care of our transportation needs from the moment we landed; they picked us up from the airport in one of their large passenger-vans and took us to the car rental office that’s about 5 minutes away. As soon as we got out of the car, Melissa and her staff greeted us warmly and welcomed us with open arms (literally, as she gave us a big hug). Melissa and I had talked prior to our arrival, and she knew exactly what Kasey and I needed for our trip. She gave the two of us keys to one of their bigger SUVs, which was way more room than the two of us needed, but we weren’t complaining. The paperwork took no time either — we were all set and ready to head out in no more than 10 minutes. On top of their warm customer service and selection of suitable cars for your needs, Little Hawaii Rentals also has one of the more affordable pricing on the island. So next time you visit Oahu, consider renting from Little Hawaii Rentals. (And if you do, feel free to mention my name — I know Melissa will be so happy to hear that!) Besides renting the car from them, Kasey and I also had the opportunity to do a commercial shoot for their 16-passenger transit van — which was by far the LARGEST vehicle I’ve ever driven. That in itself was interesting and an experience, and it gave me a glimpse into vanlife!
Little Hawaii’s 16-passenger transit van we did a shoot for (NOT the SUV we rented)
Now, back to the adventures — From strenuous but epic hikes to delicious classic Hawaiian food to sunbathing on some of the prettiest beaches with the softest sand, this trip truly included everything: it was both an adventure and a mini getaway at the same time. We also experienced all kinds of weather during our time on Oahu: clear blue skies, moody conditions, thunderstorm rains, colorful clouds during sunset, and even double rainbows. I’ll be sharing the places we went, the spots we shot at, as well as the places we dined at, so you can plan your future Oahu adventure around what we did. But first, check out these Highlights on my Instagram stories to paint some additional visuals in your head so you can follow along below!
Hikes
Maili Pillbox (or formally, the Puu O Hulu Trail) \\ For those who don’t know, the east side of the island is often referred to as the prettier side by locals. I don’t know if I’d agree because I think North Shore is also very beautiful, but the east side of the island definitely offers more hikes and viewpoints. So the fact that this pillbox is on the west side of the island is already a treat. This was the first hike Kasey and I did, a couple hours after landing at the airport, because we wanted to pack as much adventure as we can on this trip. (Our friend Paul, who flew in from the Big Island to meet with us, also joined us for this hike and a few other adventures.) It’s a relatively short (< 1 mile one way) and moderate-level hike, but because it covers roughly a 680-foot gain in such a short distance, you will feel the burn in your legs and the sweat on your face. However, if you luck out with some cool ocean breeze, you’ll easily forget that you just did a sharp uphill hike in humid climate. Once at the top, you get an almost 360° view from Nanakuli south of you to Waianae valley north of you. If you do the hike before sunset like we did (and if the weather isn’t stormy), seeing the sun set into the horizon between sky and ocean would be the cherry on top.
View from top of Maili Pillbox hike
Koko Head Stairs \\ When I read the description of this hike, I thought to myself, “A trail of stairs straight shot to the top. My legs will burn and might feel like jello afterwards, but easy.” Turns out, NOT. At. All. Mind you, this was almost a 1000-foot elevation gain in almost one mile (one way). And the stairs? Oh, they were of various sizes and gaps that are actually from an abandoned railway track, no big deal. We had thought the Maili Pillbox hike was tiring enough, but oh no, that was a piece of cake compared to this! Koko Head was by far the most challenging hike I’ve ever done, because not only was it physically demanding (and I’m a very active individual who works out 5 or 6 times a week) but it was also quite dangerous at some spots. There was one part of the tracks where there was no ground beneath, so that if you miss a step and land in the gap instead, you would have fallen through, rolled down the cliff, and gotten badly injured. If I wasn’t a landscape/adventure photographer, I probably wouldn’t do this hike for how strenuous and risky it was. But to my surprise, there were still many people on these stairs — we also saw a few doing the hike two or three times — just what were they thinking… Anyway, as you saw in my Highlights, by the time it was time to head down the 1000+ steps, it was pretty much pitch black. It was hard enough going up those stairs, but going down was harder, scarier, and took twice as long. Thankfully, Kasey and I made it back down safely in one piece, but we were starving. And yes, our legs did feel like jello.
Beaches
Sunset Beach \\ My friend and her fiancé chose this spot for their engagement shoot (selected shots below!) — it’s their favorite spot on the island — and I’m SO glad they did because sunset on the west side of the island turned out to be gorgeous and very colorful that day. Even without a promising sunset, Sunset Beach was still beautiful. It’s got one of the clearest and pretties blue-teal waters I’ve ever seen as well as some of the finest and softest sand. See for yourself below! Tropical palm trees lined the shore, while many surfers rode the giant waves out in the ocean. After the incredible sunset we experienced, it was easy to see why it’s called Sunset Beach. If you only have time for one beach on the island, I’d highly suggest this one. Forget Waikiki, Sunset Beach is 100% worth the drive.
Cotton candy clouds (pastel flavored) complimented the teal waters
A very Instagram-worthy palm tree
Kailua Beach \\ One of the longer stretches of beaches, Kailua Beach is situated in Kailua Bay, which is known for its many water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, etc. Kasey and I were going to kayak in Kailua Bay, but unfortunately, it started raining and eventually turned into a storm that afternoon. Kailua and Lanikai Beach are fun parts of the eastern side of Oahu because you can see other tiny islands out in the ocean, the famous Moku Nui and Moku Iki, to be specific.
Kualoa Beach \\ The same thing here for Kualoa / Kualoa Rock Beach — it turned out to be stormy weather at the time we went so we didn’t say long. However, this part of the coast is right next to Kualoa Ranch, which is where they filmed Jurassic Park and many other Hollywood classics. So if you are into film, history, and entertainment, definitely check out this beach and this part of the island. The famous Chinaman’s Hat (it’s a tiny island of 12 acres) is also visible from this stretch of the coast.
Mokoliʻi aka the Chinaman’s Hat
Kualoa Ranch area from the air
Diamond Head Beach \\ The last beach Kasey and I went to, Diamond Head was more of a beach where we relaxed, sun-tanned, napped, and played in the water more than anything. We spent almost three hours here and definitely got our fill of a beach vacay/retreat. If you’re looking for a beach to play and relax at, this would be your bet. There were also many surfers here, so if you surf, this is probably your spot.
Diamond Head Lighthouse by the beach from the air
Restaurants
Kalapawai Cafe & Deli \\ Kasey and I met up with my friend Isabelle and her fiancé Andrew for dinner after our pillbox hike — a great choice to ease into the classic Hawaiian cuisine on our first day here! Even though a search on Google will tell you that this is a market or a deli or a cafe, don’t worry, it is open for dinner as well. And if you can, I’d suggest to go during dinner because all the items on the menu were so appetizing — granted, Paul, Kasey, and I were also physically spent and hungry from our hike earlier. I didn’t take any photos at this restaurant (not even on my phone), but know that my plate was cleaned nicely and my tummy was very happy.
da Cove Health and Bar Cafe \\ If you visit Hawaii and don’t eat acai bowls, did you really go to Hawaii? If you are part of the odd anomaly that doesn’t like acai bowls, you are missing out! But if you do, definitely check out da Cove — this place is acai bowl and smoothie heaven. It’s got your regular acai options with Hawaii flavors thrown into them. The portion sizes may look small, but you will definitely feel full after finishing your bowl — it’s packed with many health and superfoods afterall. Pro-tip: Bring cash because they don’t take credit cards, although I remember there being an ATM machine inside (but don’t quote me on that).
Leonard’s Bakery \\ Malasadas, malasadas, malasadas!!! Now, if you don’t know what I just shouted, these are Portuguese donuts that’s coated/rolled in sugar after they’re fried and often have stuffed filling/flavor too. I’m not much of a fan of donuts, but these were so good and made me wanting seconds. Biting into these fluffy, warm malasadas reminded me of all the heavenly natas I had in Portugal last winter. The Portuguese really do know how to make their pastries and sweets. The OG Leonard’s is just about a mile from da Cove above, so consider going to both of these places at once / in the same day! Another heads-up, there’s usually a line here, but it moves fairly quickly and you should be able to be in and out within ~30 minutes.
Please tolerate lighting and quality of these taken on my phone
Island Brew Coffeehouse \\ If I lived in the vicinity of Honolulu, I would make this my go-to breakfast/brunch spot with all my friends. From the great menu selection (which includes A TON of coffee and tea options, by the way) to the helpful customer service to the chic and colorful decor, Island Brew Coffeehouse was a delight to dine at. It was so good that Kasey and I went back the very next day again (we had to try as many of the menu items as possible!). Their special take on Eggs Benedict might just be my favorite thing ever — instead of the usual English muffin, Eggs Beni is their own sweet bread warmed in a skillet and topped with avocado! You won’t regret this dish, trust me.
Acai Bowl
Eggs Beni
Mayas Tapas & Wine \\ I also didn’t take any photos here (dim lighting and we were STARVING), but it was one of the best restaurants I’ve been to as well! All the items on the menu were special and unique — you can tell the chef really put time and thought into creating these dishes. I’d give their plating/presentation an A+ and the taste/quality an A (only because they were a bit salty for my taste). The ambience of Mayas’ during the night time and its location (near North Shore) make it a great choice for a romantic getaway from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the island (particularly Honolulu). If you are visiting Hawaii with your significant other, I’d suggest coming here for a fancy-esque dinner after some sunset strolls at the beautiful Sunset Beach. [;
Plantation Tavern \\ Our last meal on the island! Also… I just realized that it was the last restaurant meal I had since the Covid shelter-in-place because I’d been cooking all my meals at home and haven’t ordered take-out or delivery. Wow. Well, this was definitely a good meal to end the trip and a great “last supper” until further notice. Like the Kalapawai Cafe & Deli, Plantation Tavern’s got the local flavors blended into your classic dishes. I want to say this is a seafood-based restaurant because their seafood is fresh and delish, but there are also several chicken and beef dishes (and vegetarian options, of course). Whatever your preference is, I’d say you’ll definitely be more than satisfied here — not to mention their portions are quite large!
Random but majestic waterfalls we saw towering behind people’s backyard while driving through a residential area
Wrapping it Up
Annnd that’s it! This post ended up being longer than I expected because it was EVERYTHING together all at once — epic adventure, birthday celebration, girls get-away, and just a nice mini vacay! I hope you were all able to follow along and now have some (new) ideas for your future itinerary to Oahu. It’s been a while since I — and many of us, I’m sure — have been adventuring, and writing this blog post reminded me of how much I enjoy being on the road and made me realize how much I miss my friends. Hopefully, stay-at-home restrictions will be eased or lifted soon and national/state parks reopened as well so we can all go on another adventure! Until then, I hope you’re all doing well and staying healthy. Thanks for reading and see you on the next post!