Best of Honolulu and Oahu: 14 Favorite Moments

By Jeanette Foster

Honolulu is filled with so many magic moments: the orange glow as the sun rises behind the outline of Diamond Head, the silvery reflection of the moon on the inky black waters of Waikiki at night, the intoxicating smell of plumeria flowers in the air, or the quiet whisper of bamboo dancing in the breeze. I hope this slideshow will help you find a few favorite moments of your own.

Photo Caption: A surfer at Waikiki Beach, Oahu.

If you think Waikiki is beautiful, wait until you see it from a boat. I strongly urge you to either take a boat cruise during the day or, for the more romantically inclined, take a sunset cruise and watch the sun go down and the lights of Waikiki and Honolulu come up. If you are prone to seasickness, try the Navatek cruise; a high-tech stabilizing device eliminates any bobbing around in the water.

Photo Caption: Boat cruises off the Waikiki shore offer spectacular views of the city's skyline.

I guarantee that you will never forget your reaction when you step on the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and look down at the dark oil oozing like dripping blood from the ship underneath. December 7, 1941, the day when the 608-foot (185m) Arizona sank in just 9 minutes after being bombed during the Japanese air raid, will no longer seem like something from a book.

People always ask me: "Where do I see the 'real' Hawaii?" I always send them to the Bishop Museum. Don't think dreary rooms with stuff crowded into cases - think living history, as in experiencing goose bumps as a deep booming voice breaks into Hawaiian chant when you enter the Hawaiian Hall, or excitement as you watch live performances of traditional hula. Created by a Hawaiian princess in 1899, it not only is the foremost repository for Hawaiian cultural artifacts, but also has a new Science Center, where you can step into the interior of an erupting volcano.

Photo Caption: Hawaiian Hall at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.

I've soaked up rays all over the globe, but nothing compares to the special experience of being kissed by the sun and serenaded by the sound of the tumbling surf while you lie on the soft sand of world-famous Waikiki Beach. My favorite place to put my beach mat is directly in front of the big, pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel (where the angle of the beach is perfect for sunning). It's also a great spot for people-watching. I recommend arriving early; by midday (when the rays are at their peak), it's towel-to-towel out there.

Photo Caption: Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Don't miss my favorite magical experience on Oahu: immersing yourself in the misty sunbeams, where colorful birds flit among giant ferns and hanging vines, while towering tropical trees form a thick canopy that shelters all below in cool shadows. The emerald world of the Manoa Falls trail is a true Eden, and it's also a very short hike (less than a mile) to a freshwater pool and waterfall.

Photo Caption: Adventurers re-energize themselves aside the soothing and spectacular Manoa Falls.

I love this underwater park, once a volcanic crater, because it's teeming with tropical fish and bordered by a 2,000-foot (610m) gold-sand beach. Plus, the bay's shallow water (10 ft./3m in places) is perfect for neophyte snorkelers. Arrive early to beat the crowds - and be aware that the bay is closed on Tuesday, when the fish have the day off.

Photo Caption: You can go eyeball-to-eyeball with exotic sea life while snorkeling in crystal clear Hanauma Bay.

See Waikiki and Honolulu from the top of Hawaii's most famous landmark, Diamond Head. Nearly everyone can handle this 1.4-mile (2.3km) round-trip hike, which goes up to the top of the 750-foot (229m) volcanic cone, where you have a 360-degree view of Oahu. Allow an hour for the trip up and back, bring $1 for the entry fee, and don't forget your camera.

Photo Caption: You have to pay a $1 fee to climb the 1.4 miles to the top of Diamond Head, but the view from the 750-foot summit is priceless.

When monstrous waves - some 30 feet (9.1m) tall - steamroll into Waimea Bay (Nov - Mar), I head out to the North Shore. Not only is it an amazing show, watching the best surfers in the world paddle out to challenge these freight trains, but it's also shocking to see how small they appear in the lip of the giant waves. My favorite part is feeling those waves when they break on the shore - the ground actually shakes and everyone on the beach is covered with salt-spray mist. And this unforgettable experience won't cost you a dime.

Photo Caption: A surfer walking along Oahu, Hawaii's North Shore.

I love dipping into the cultural sights and exotic experiences to be had in Honolulu's Chinatown. Wander through this several-square-block area with its jumble of Asian shops offering herbs, Chinese groceries, and acupuncture services. Be sure to check out the lei sellers on Maunakea Street (near N. Hotel St.), where Hawaii's finest leis go for as little as $5.

Photo Caption: Chinatown's Maunakea Street brims with vendors selling everything from herbs to acupuncture services to beautiful leis.

I think you can actually taste the islands by slurping shave ice. It's not quite a snow cone, but similar: ice is shaved and then an exotic flavor is poured over it. My favorite is li hing mui (lee hing mooee), or dried plum, with sweet Japanese adzuki beans hidden inside. This taste of tropcial paradise is available for cheap at Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleiwa.

Photo Caption: Head to Matsumoto's in Haleiwa for delicious shaved ices drenched in exotic flavors like guava and coconut.

Just before sunset, I head for the huge banyan tree at the Moana Surfrider's Banyan Veranda in Waikiki, order a libation, and sway to live Hawaiian music. Another quintessential sunset oasis is the Halekulani's House Without a Key, a sophisticated oceanfront lounge with wonderful hula and steel guitar music, a great view of Diamond Head, and the best mai tais on the island.

Photo Caption: Watch the sun set and listen to Hawaiian music at Duke's Canoe Club.

For something you most likely will see only in Hawaii, find a comfortable spot at Ala Wai Park, next to the canal, and watch hundreds of canoe paddlers re-create this centuries - old sport of taking traditional Hawaiian canoes out to sea. Or try it yourself off Waikiki Beach.

Photo Caption: The ancient Hawaiian sport of canoe paddling comes to life during race season, when hundreds of paddlers take to the open water.

Even though I have traveled throughout the Pacific, I still love spending a day (yes, plan for the entire day) at the Polynesian Cultural Center, a kind of living museum of Polynesia. Here you can see firsthand the lifestyles, songs, dance, costumes, and architecture of seven Pacific islands or archipelagos.

I'm not sure whether to categorize this as shopping or entertainment, but $1 will get you into the all-day Aloha Flea Market at the Aloha Stadium parking lot, where more than 1,000 vendors sell everything from junk to jewels. Half the fun is talking to the vendors and listening to their stories. Serious shoppers should go early for the best deals. Open Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6am to 3pm.

Photo Caption: You can find all kinds of Hawaiian trinkets at the Aloha Flea Market.