Oahu: Aloha Awaits
Oahu, is the most populated and most frequently visited Hawaiian island – with sun-soaked beaches, historic landmarks, and a laid-back charm that’s pure Hawaii. From war memorials to trolley rides, this trip packs in the best of the greater Honolulu area. Let’s dive into our adventure!
Day 1 – Waikiki
Our flight touched down at the Honolulu airport at 7:30am – but we couldn’t check-in to our hotel until 4:00pm. Thankfully, the front desk of our hotel confirmed our reservation and let us stow us luggage with them until check-in time. We opted NOT to rent a car on Oahu because we are staying in Waikiki where parking is hard to find and very expensive. Most hotels change $65-$80 per night for parking! We plan to leverage the Waikiki Trolley, one of the area’s Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus systems and tours with transportation.
Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Our base? The Courtyard Marriott Waikiki, an urban retreat just outside the hustle of Waikiki. With comfy rooms, a pool to beat the heat, and easy access to downtown, it was the perfect spot to recharge between excursions. The place is a tiny bit outdated, but the value can’t be beat. We ended up with a nice two-room suite with a kitchenette and balcony which was very convenient for our 4-night stay. It really is an ideal central location – easily walkable to Waikiki Beach, tons of restaurants, a shopping district and the main stop for the Waikiki Trolley.
Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Touring on the Blue Line Waikiki Trolley
Day one kicks off with the Blue Line of the Waikiki Trolley, a route nicknamed “Coastline & Local Grinds”. From Waikiki Beach to the Ala Moana Center, the open-air views are postcard-worthy over the course of our 2-hour ride. It’s a breezy way to scout the city’s edges before diving deeper. Along the way we see the statue of Duke Kahanamoku (father of modern surfing), the Makapuu Lighthouse, Eternity Beach (used in numerous films) as well as really beautiful ocean views.
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line-Duke Kahanamoku Statue
Blue Line-Makapuu Lighthouse
Blue Line-Makapuu Lighthouse
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line-Eternity Beach
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Blue Line – Waikiki Trolley
Lunch at Yard House
After trolley-hopping, hunger calls at Yard House. The Super Bowl is two days away and we are scouting out a place to watch it. Nestled in Waikiki’s shopping district, this spot dishes up massive beer lists—over 100 taps—and hearty plates like poke nachos or truffle fries. With just over 20 TVs, it’s a lively midday refuel with a Hawaii twist. The food was decent and we learn a LOT about how Waikiki celebrates the Super Bowl. Since the kicker for one of the teams is from Honolulu, there’s particular excitement this year. We’re told many sports bars are selling tickets ahead of time and they know of a few that have already sold out. The Yard House is NOT selling tickets, so it will be first-come, first-serve to get in. The game will start at 1pm-ish, this bar opens at 10am and expects to be at capacity by 10:15am. We really don’t want to spend 3 hours before the game and then another 3 to 4 hours for the game, so the quest begins to find somewhere else to watch the game! Our friendly bartender is super helpful telling us about several “off-the-tourist” radar bars we’d probably enjoy.
Yard House
Yard House
Walking around and Exploring Waikiki
After lunch we walk around and explore the area for a bit before deciding we want to get a little bit more to eat. We see signs in several restaurant windows advertising their plans for the Super Bowl.
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Exploring Waikiki
Kelly O’Neils
We stop in a little Irish pub called Kelly O’Neil’s (recommended by the last bartender) where we get a snack. This is more of a local’s, non-touristy place. Here we find the least expensive happy hour beers for our entire time in all of Hawaii ($4 a pint). When we ask about the Super Bowl, the bartender just rolls his eyes and points to the two TVs. He says it will be playing and we’d be welcome to watch here – but we’re not convinced this is the right vibe for us for the event.
It’s finally time to check-in to our hotel. With minimal sleep on the flight here, we are totally exhausted and hit the hay around 6pm (sleeping for almost 12 hours).
Kelly O’Neils
Kelly O’Neils
Kelly O’Neils
Day 2 – Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor: A Step Back in Time
No Oahu visitor skips Pearl Harbor. This historic site, a 20-minute drive from downtown, hums with solemn significance. The visitor center sets the stage with exhibits on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese surprise attack pulled the U.S. into WWII. It’s a must-see, blending history with reverence. It is truly special for us, having just visited Hiroshima, Japan 3 days earlier. So here we are now, at the place where WWII started for the US having just book-ended with the place where WWII ended for the US.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Our first stop at Pearl Harbor is the USS Arizona Memorial. We’ve secured tickets ahead of time for the short boat ride from the visitor center. Tickets sell out quickly days in advance, so it is important get them from recreation.gov. The boat takes us to this stark white structure, floating above the sunken battleship where 1,177 sailors and Marines rest. Oil still seeps from the wreck, shimmering on the water—a haunting reminder of the lives lost. It’s quiet, reflective, and deeply moving.
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor
Docked at Pearl Harbor, the USS Missouri—aka “Mighty Mo”—towers as a steel giant. This battleship, where Japan surrendered in 1945, offers deck tours that let you walk in history’s footsteps. Cannons, command bridges, and crew quarters bring the past alive.
USS Missouri
USS Missouri
USS Missouri
USS Missouri
USS Missouri
Ford Island – Pearl Harbor
Ford Island is Pearl Harbor’s heart, accessible by shuttle. It has been known as Rabbit Island, Marín’s Island, and Little Goats Island; its native Hawaiian name is Mokuʻumeʻume. In 1916, part of Ford Island was sold to the U.S. Army for use by an aviation division in Hawaii, and by 1939 the island was taken over by the U.S. Navy as a station for battleship and submarine maintenance. From the 1910s to the 1940s, the island continued to grow as a strategic center of operations for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean. Ford Island was at the center of the attack on Pearl Harbor and on the U.S. Pacific Fleet by the Imperial Japanese fleet on December 7, 1941. Home to the Missouri and an aviation museum, the island has been featured in films such as Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor.
Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island-Aviation Museum
Ford Island-Aviation Museum
Ford Island-Aviation Museum
Ford Island-Aviation Museum
Ford Island-Aviation Museum
USS Bowfin at Pearl Harbor
Next up is the USS Bowfin submarine, nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger.” This WWII submarine lets you duck into tight corridors, peering at torpedoes and bunks. It’s a claustrophobic peek into underwater warfare—and a tribute to the crew’s grit.
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
USN Bowfin
Dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, Waikiki
Dinner calls at Cheeseburger in Paradise, a Waikiki staple with oceanfront vibes. Juicy burgers—like the BBQ bacon masterpiece—can be paired with frosty tropical drinks. It’s casual, kitschy, and the perfect post-trolley feast. Our burgers were two of the finest we’ve had! We ordered onion rings (on the suggestion of our neighbors at the bar seats next to us) – and they were awesome! While they have too many TVs to count, we learn this place has a $100 cover charge for the Super Bowl. Too rich for our blood, we still need to search for a place to watch the game tomorrow.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Day 3 – Super Bowl Sunday
The super bowl broadcast doesn’t start until after 1pm local time so we have time in the morning to do some more touring on the Waikiki Trolley. As luck would have it, we can get both the green line and the red line in before the game starts.
Touring on the Green Line Waikiki Trolley
The Green Line Trolley (nicknamed “Destination Diamond Head”) zips us through Honolulu area’s natural wonders. Highlights of this 60 minutes ride include the Diamond Head Crater lookout and Kahala’s ritzy homes. It’s a scenic loop that swaps history for Oahu’s lush beauty. If you want to hike up Diamond Head, you need to get a time-entry ticket from recreation.gov. The only available timeslots would have conflicted with the game, so it’s just one of those things we won’t get to do.
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line-Interior of Diamond Head
Green Line view from Diamond Head
Green Line Diamond Head
Green Line Diamond Head
Green Line Diamond Head
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Green Line – Waikiki Trolley
Touring on the Red Line Waikiki Trolley
The Red Line Trolley (the route nicknamed “Heroes & Legends”) dives into Honolulu’s cultural core. The 110-minute ride includes short stops at Iolani Palace (the only royal palace in the US), the Punchbowl ((National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific), the King Kamehameha statue, the Aloha Tower in Honolulu Harbor and drives through Chinatown’s bustling streets. It’s a beautiful, colorful ride through the city’s regal and eclectic past.
Red Line – State Buildings
Red Line – Eternal Flame Memorial
Red Line – Waikiki Trolley
View from the Punch Bowl Area
Red Line – Punch Bowl
View from the Punch Bowl Area
Punch Bowl
Punch Bowl
Red line – Honolulu
China Town
China Town
China Town
Iolani Palace – King Kamehameha Statue
Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace
Red Line – Honolulu
Watching the Super Bowl at Rivals Sportsbar
Super Bowl Sunday finds us at Rivals Sportsbar in Waikiki. Right across the street from our hotel, this bar only had a $20 cover charge and had a maximum capacity of 75 people. We had checked it out the night before and knew it opened at noon, so that was only 1 hour before kick-off. We arrived there at 11:45 and only 20 people were waiting in line. Rivals turned out to be the best “score” of the day as the actual game was very one-sided. With several big screens, cold beers, and great food, we share a table with Jodie & Richard, another vacationing couple. They were supposed to be on a plane home, but their flight was canceled – so they landed with us and we had a blast together!
Rivals Super Bowl
Rivals Super Bowl
Rivals Super Bowl
Rivals Super Bowl
Day 4 – A Day at the Beach and a Sunset Cruise
Waikiki Beach
For our last day on Oahu, we decide to spend part of the day at Waikiki Beach. No Waikiki trip skips Waikiki Beach (or should skip). This iconic stretch of golden sand, framed by Diamond Head, buzzes with surfers, swimmers, and sun-seekers. It is a mostly man-made beach stretching for 2 miles. Sand is imported from California every few years when restoration is needed (erosion claims about one foot of beach per year).
Duke Kahanamoku became a well-known surfer in Waikiki. After competing in the Olympics, many people around the world wanted to learn to surf. Duke’s influence made Waikiki beach a surfing hotspot. “Dukes”, a club in Waikiki named for Kahanamoku, helped Don Ho produce music and hosted the longest-running show in Waikiki.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Tango Diner Honolulu
Ou sunset cruise begins at 5pm and we decide we will walk the mile to the docks to make sure we can find the place and then find a place near the docks for an early dinner. It turns out there are slim pickings in the docks area and finally, after internet searches and only finding closed or fast-food places, we ask someone and they point us to a place that doesn’t look like much from the outside. We enter around 4pm and the greeter asks us if we have a reservation – which seems odd in the off-the beat location. Little did we know, this place got BUSY within 30 minutes. Tango Contemporary Café serves up modern Hawaiian eats—think miso-glazed salmon or loco moco—with a chic twist. The menu was small but the taste was big. This is apparently a favorite for locals and is therefore a tasty detour off the tourist trail.
Tango Contemporary Café
Tango Contemporary Café
Sunset Cruise in Waikiki
We’ve managed to book a sunset cruise with Living Ocean Tours that (bonus) allows passengers to BYOB! While the boat can hold up to 40 passengers, we are blessed to be in the shoulder season and only share our ride with 21 other people. As dusk falls, the sunset cruise off Waikiki paints the sky in oranges and pinks. We spot dolphins and toast Oahu’s magic as we watch the Waikiki skyline glowing against the Pacific. Unforgettable.
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Sunset Cruise
Summary
Honolulu & Waikiki blend it all — history at Pearl Harbor, trolley adventures, beach bliss, and island eats. From the Missouri’s decks to Waikiki’s shores, every moment feels alive with Oahu’s spirit. We did see a good portion of the southwest and southern shores of Oahu – but never made it to the north or east. In all honesty, there isn’t much draw for us to return. We feel like we did what mattered to us on the island. And since we aren’t big fans of crowded areas and touristy-things, and the Honolulu/Waikiki area is crowded & touristy, we doubt we’ll return. We are, however, very glad we experienced it.
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We are now off to Kauai, our next island in our Hawaii adventure. .
We visited four of Hawaii’s Islands. Which is your favorite Hawaiian Island? Drop it below—we’d love to hear your take!
Here are links to our other Hawaiian Adventures:
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