Honolulu

I was 10 years old. I couldn’t appreciate it! I want to go back as an adult, with a boyfriend! This is one sexy, fun place – perfect for young people just wanting to have fun.

That time was a first for MANY things. My first (and only) munching on a sugar cane experience…eating fresh pineapples from the fields, kona coffee, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, SUSHI: California rolls (didn’t like them at the time!)

I can’t wait to go back!

I was blessed enough to visit here twice. Once in 2001, and then again in 2005.

Be sure to go to the Shrimp Shack – a great place for lunch on the North Shore…and was even featured on the Food Network at one time!

I was looking for a job. I got a call back, but ended up deciding against it. Still beautiful, and sometimes I wish I would have moved there.

The first time we went to Hawaii, we stayed on Oahu the whole time; more specifically, Waikiki. We stayed at the Aqua Aloha – for the price, it was quite nice, as it had stuff like a fridge, kitchen sink, coffee machine, and tableware. There was a little grocery store next door where we bought fresh papaya, mango, apple bananas, pineapple… the list goes on. Saved a lot of money, and it was delicious! The fresh produce from Hawaii really is better than anything I’ve ever had on the mainland.

The next time we go, we will probably try to rent a house on the North Shore and get a rental car. Waikiki is OK, but it is VERY touristy and crowded. There are at least 3 Coach stores within a few miles of each other. It feels like Manhattan, but with a really nice beach. The North Shore is different though. You can get delicious shrimp cooked in a broken down schoolbus by some giant that calls you “brah”, for much cheaper than a meal in Waikiki.

The Polynesian Cultural Center was excellent, although you can probably skip the luau, especially if you’ve been to one before. I DEFINITELY recommend hiking Diamond Head (we did this at sunrise, very nice) and maybe doing a group tour of some waterfalls. We hiked to Manoa falls, saw where The Hatch is from “Lost”, and I climbed a huge banyan tree. Pearl Harbor is also a must-see, but make sure you go early! We did a lot of group/guided tour things – I think next time, we will probably just explore more by ourselves and leave more time to just relax.