The Aloha State
Published June 20, 2023
Aloha from Hawaii! It's been a hot minute since I last travelled here, with the main reason being $$$ - it is certainly not a cheap trip, nor is it a short flight. However, we had a special occasion to attend (more on that later!) but also gave me reason to experience more of the hikes and views around the island in general. This was a short trip for me. It was essentially 3 days and 3 nights. How does that work? Well, you gain a lot of hours flying westward to Hawaii in the states, but you lose an entire day flying back into the state. Plan well, or the jet lag will get you!
Planning for my flights help to fit all into one carry-on and personal item to avoid any checked luggage. It shaves so much time off at the airport, and you can hit the ground running when you land! Also, TSA pre-check is 10/10 recommended if you can afford it. No need to remove shoes, belt, jacket, etc and the line moves considerably faster than the normal check-in lines
The Food
Let's start off with the food! It's a mix of Asian influence with a mix of American. And let's just say this - though Spam is a big staple, it was not created in Hawaii. It gained most of its traction during World War II, and has been part of Hawaiian cuisine since. Spam musubi can be found at each corner gas station, convenience store, as well as restaurants. It's a great snack, and if you get a couple, a meal.
Every corner had either a 7-Eleven or an ABC Store. An ABC store is a convenience store mixed with a gift shop, and those are found everywhere in Honolulu. We couldn't walk more than a block and not see one around. If all else fails, go to the ABC store for your needs!
The musubi I got was from Musubi Cafe, which was more specialized with all kinds of flavors. I didn't take too many photos here, as I was too busy chowing down!
Other notable choices were getting some lunch bento boxes in a working district in Honolulu, which was a bit off the beaten path on downtown Honolulu, but if you are looking for authentic, day-to-day meals, look no further than Takas Box Lunch. They provided bento boxes at an affordable price (approximately $12 USD pp) and you get a mix of meats/veggies on a bed of rice. It is filling and a great meal to tide you over while adjusting to the time.
If noodles are more your thing, Marukame Udon is also a great spot. It can get busy since it's directly in the middle of Waikiki, the main tourist area in Oahu. This place serves hand-made udon noodles with a variety of options as toppings/sides, which are mostly tempura style. I got the Kitsune Udon, which is a fried sweet tofu on udon noodles, with a side of tempura zucchini, tempura chicken thigh, and a spam musubi. Obviously, my eyes were bigger than my stomach, and I could barely get through the noodles and tofu. Musubi was a great snack to run away with!
The Views
Last visit to Oahu focused mainly on the city with minor excursions outside the ordinances, and this was due to not having a car rented last time. We were prepared this time, and had a car rental during our whole stay, so the [island] was our oyster! We journeyed to Manoa Falls/Manoa Falls Trail, which was 15 minutes from the city. Of course, we were there during the summer, and if you aren't aware, the islands can get pretty humid during the summer hours, which leads to three things to remember: (1) Stay hydrated. There will be a good amount of sweating (2) Sunscreen. Though the foliage covers much of the trail, melanoma is no joke. (3) Insect repellent. Humidity + heat = high mosquito count, so stay protected!
The hike starts on flatlands through an almost-jungle feel. The trail gets pretty muddy, so expect to get your shoes a little dirty during this whole trek. You'll get to see the lush greenery as you slowly ascend to get to the falls. When you start to ascend, the trail gets narrower and more rocky, so pacing yourself will do wonders - remember, this is a muddy/slippery path. It takes about an hour to get to the falls, which includes stopping to enjoy nature and to hydrate.
The waterfall, itself, can vary in intensity depending on how much rainfall the island received in recent history. The attendant at the entrance of the trails said this was a medium-level waterfall at this instant, so it's not a small trickle, but also not a flood hazard. If you know me, I do love chasing waterfalls, and seeing something this tall was worth seeing.
Our other hike was out on the more arid side of Oahu, with less tress and more of a desert feel. We journeyed to the eastern part of the island to for the Makapu'u Point Light House Trail, and this was definitely a different experience than Manoa Falls. With less trees to cover us, the rules of staying hydrated and covered in sunscreen was even more crucial. This was a slow and steady elevation gain, but we did not need to worry about rocks, as this was all paved. Taking about roughly 45 minutes to get to the lighthouse, we were welcomed with a beautiful panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean hugging the island, and we spent a few minutes there to take in all the beauty, and the much needed rest from the sun beaming down on us during the hike.
The Wedding
The driving factor was seeing two friends celebrate their lives together. They decided to have a destination wedding, and invited me as a guest.H ow could I say no? For privacy purposes, I'll leave any photos I took out of it, but do want to share that it was at Kualoa Ranch - yes, the same park that filmed the Jurassic Park series. Though the side where they filmed was the tourist side, the section for the wedding was in a more intimate setting with a great view of the ocean and Chinaman's Hat - an island just off the coast of Oahu.
And that was the trip! It was a very condensed vacation, but definitely enough time to enjoy parts of the island I did not get to see last time. I'll give it a few more years before I consider visiting again, with the main factor being budget. It is not a cheap trip, and I think there's more in the world for me to see. Where are we headed next? Signing off for now - enjoy some other photos taken from this trip if you made it this far!
