Oahu

After 4 nights on Maui, we made the short flight to Oahu for 3 more nights. During COVID, it was the only island we could island hop into without additional restrictions. We again rented a car through Dollar Car rental. 

Waikiki

When you arrive on Oahu, you may be surprised at how big Waikiki is. There is a lot of upscale shopping and many restaurants. It's a big city on the beach! You'll definitely see Duke's. 

It's a fun place to grab some drinks and grub. Nearby, you'll find the statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.

 

We stayed at Hilton Waikiki Beach. It's within walking distance of everything in the area. Here's the view from our room.

I like to make dinner reservations when we travel. If plans change, I just cancel or modify the reservation. I like having the security of a plan. That first night, we went to Tiki's for dinner. We ended up having a lot of fun and listened to an awesome musician all night.

North Shore

The North Shore is a must when on Oahu. Check out Laniakea Beach, or Turtle Beach, to find some sunbathing turtles, eat at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, snorkel at Kuilima Cove, and grab some shave ice at Matsumoto's. 

Now, I hear these places can be crowded, but since we hit that sweet spot, it wasn't crowded for us. Perfect timing. 

Oahu and Waikiki is fun, but definitely has that big city feel. You can find quieter beaches on the island, or hit up the slower islands if that's more your jam.