Hi Guys! I’m so excited to share with you bits and pieces from our recent trip to Hawaii! I have to begin by saying that 3 years ago in July we went to the Big Island for our Honeymoon and it was the most beautiful island I’ve ever seen. So naturally before booking this trip we considered going back but decided to go for somewhere where we had never been together, so we chose Oahu. Little did we know a few months after booking the trip (read my Blog Post on how to save money when traveling) the Big Island’s volcanos began to erupt! We we’re lucky to have a destination that is safe to travel to.
STAY. We stayed at the brand new Alohilani Resort in Waikiki Beach right in the middle of all the action, which is exactly what we wanted. Only a few steps away from the most perfect beach and close to Honolulu’s best shops & restaurants. I was surprised by the fact that it it seemed like no one ever went to sleep, surf all day and party all night! This seemed to be the theme and we we’re happy to follow it, haha!
The decor at the Hotel was on point. Modern and yet so cozy. It has the most beautiful open rooftop in between both towers where the bar and pool are located. We basically lived there for 5 days. Tan, eat, sleep, drink, repeat. Not to mention live music and watching the sunset in the evenings. Yes, we lived our best lives on that roof!
EAT. Honolulu is considered one of the best spots in the world to satisfy all your cravings! From the world’s top of the line restaurants to the best street truck’s food you’ve ever tasted. All in one spot. We knew we were there for the food (and a million other things but) yes, mainly the FOOD so we tried it ALL. These are the places we loved and still dream about – my mouth is watering as we speak.
MOMOSAN WAIKIKI
BEST FISH TACOS IN HAWAII Food Truck
PLAY. The first thing we did when getting to the Island was to rent a Jeep. We’ve made it tradition to take off the roof and drive the entire island the first day we’re there. It’s always a blast and my favorite way to take it all in. It’s also a great idea to explore on your first day, no matter the destination. This gives you a better idea of everything that’s there to see and help you decide where to spend the most time, where’s the action at, where to shop and most importantly where to snap the best photos. JK, JK, but really, it gives a head start and helps you make the most out of your vacation.
We drove the entire Island of Oahu in about 6 hours, including all the stops we made. We first found the best cold brew KONA coffee made by a local and sold right by the beach, so freaking good. If you’ve had it before you exactly what I’m talking about – Heaven on Earth. If you haven’t yet, I truly hope you can get your hands on some pretty soon!
Then drove up to the North Shore, pretty popular spot. The way there was beautiful and it felt like an adventure! Driving through the rolling hills which are covered in the brightest green grass and feeling the breeze from coming from the ocean was such a freeing feeling. But that time we we’re pretty hungry so we stopped and ate some of the local grilled chicken, which apparently is a ‘thing’.
On our way back to the Hotel we stopped by Pearl Harbor which is located on the South Side of the Island. Most of you don’t know this but my husband loves to study History and probably knows more facts than any teacher I know. So it was a treat for me to have him share all of the details of what when down while standing right there. Thrilling and sad but amazing to see how much everything has changed and how far we’ve come.
The next day we decided to hike up to Diamond Head, a must while in Oahu. Even though I train consistently I felt like dying on my way up. If you know me you know I’m dramating when it comes to these things but I’ll get it done, specially when I have my husband cheering me on all the way to the top haha! Did I mention he’s a trainer?! So lucky me, made it alive and did a little victory dance once I saw the incredible views of the entire Island! So beautiful to see such bright colors all around. We just sat there and made our own little picnic. It felt surreal.
SHOP. I wasn’t expecting to shop on this trip. Ok, who am I kidding! I totally was but I was definitely NOT expecting such amazing shopping areas. You can basically expect any brand of any kind to be well installed in Honolulu, the best part? Taxes are way, waaaaay lower than in California so that was a plus. Let’s just say, we definitely did some damage.
While looking for something more unique, we wondered off of the main strip and found the cutest Boutique Shop with the best beach and resort wear brands. It’s called Turquoise, if you’re ever there, go check it out!
It was a great time all around, we ate and drank the best of everything and I hope to be back in Hawaii very, very soon! But for now, I’m curious, have you been to Hawaii? If so, where do you suggest we go next?!
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