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South Pacific Journey. Oahu, Hawaii. Honolulu, The North Shore, Ka'ena Point Trail. April 2025

 

🏙️ From Kauai Calm to Honolulu Hustle

After soaking up the peaceful vibes of Kauai, we boarded a short 45-minute flight ✈️ to Honolulu—and what a contrast! The calm, quiet beaches were suddenly replaced by a big, bustling city filled with noise, people, and energy.

🚍 Airport to City: What We Did (and What We Should’ve Done)

7th April 2025

Honolulu Airport was busy, and finding our way around was a little chaotic. We followed signs for public transport and hopped on 'TheBus' number 20. It was only $3 per person (cheaper than the $21 I’d seen online!), which was a win… but we soon realized it wasn’t the best choice with luggage. The bus was packed, and there was no space for our bags, and we were getting some annoyed looks.

💡 Travel Tip: If you have luggage, use Roberts Hawaii Shuttle or a taxi/rideshare. I later found out that The Bus doesn’t allow luggage that can’t fit on your lap.

🛍️ Ala Moana Confusion & a Taxi Rescue

We got off at the Ala Moana Center—a huge shopping mall—but couldn’t figure out how to get through to the other side (a classic travel moment 😅). So we flagged down a taxi, which ended up taking us just one block to our hotel. Oops!

🏨 Where We Stayed

We checked into The Renaissance Residences Honolulu, and it was perfect! Spacious, modern, and fully equipped—it felt like a mini home right in the heart of the city, with a gorgeous swimming pool area.

🌴 Magic Island & Windy Adventures

That afternoon, we took a walk to Magic Island—a man-made peninsula with calm beaches and amazing views. It was stunning, but so windy that I had to hang onto my hat! 🎩


We also wandered through Ala Moana Regional Park. While it felt a little neglected and had quite a few homeless encampments, it still had its charm—especially the enormous baobab trees 🌳, which felt almost African in this urban beach park setting.

🍽️ Dinner at the Chart House

That evening, we dined at Chart House Waikiki. Great atmosphere, solid food, and nice views of the marina. Definitely recommend for a relaxed dinner with a view. 🍷🌅

🏖️ Waikiki Wandering

8th April 2025

The next day, we walked all the way to Waikiki Beach—a must-see. We passed towering hotels, surf shops, and crowds of tourists, soaking in the classic Honolulu beach scene. 🏄‍♀️🌊







Later, we returned to Ala Moana Centre and grabbed Thai takeaway from the giant Makai Market Food Court. Quick and tasty. 🍜🥡

✅ Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Despite a few hiccups (like the bus-luggage mishap), we had a fantastic time exploring Honolulu. It was lively, walkable, and full of surprises. Here are my quick tips:

🌟 Travel Tips:

  • Don’t take The Bus with luggage—use a shuttle or taxi.

  • You can stay somewhere central, like the Renaissance, and walk to most sights.

  • Explore Magic Island for views and space to relax.

  • Be mindful in Ala Moana Park—it’s beautiful but can feel a bit rundown.

  • Eat at Chart House for a harbour views, relaxing dinner.

  • Don’t miss Waikiki Beach, yes! it’s touristy—but it’s iconic for a reason.

Aloha Adventures: Exploring Oahu 🌺🚗🌊

9th April 2025

Day 1: Car Hire Dispute, Pearl Harbour Fail, and Scenic Drives
It was a bit of a rollercoaster picking up the car from Honolulu. We were all set to pick up a car from Sixt at the airport, but,  things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. 😅 The car class I reserved wasn’t available, so they “upgraded” us to a sporty BMW… way too low to the ground for our comfort (we’re not exactly fans of car yoga just to get in and out!). 🚙

After some back and forth, and a rather robotic response from the lady at the desk, we were stuck with the decision: pay extra for the car we actually wanted or take the BMW. 🙄 Let’s just say Hawaii isn’t cheap, and "it’s what you should expect" was not the answer we were hoping for. 😤

But hey, we got it sorted eventually, by paying the extra and hit the road toward our accommodation: Beach Studio at Sharks Cove on the North Shore. First, though, we decided to make a stop at the Pearl Harbour Memorial. Sadly, I didn’t do my research—parking has to be booked in advance. 😩 So, off we went to drive around the island via the East Coast of Oahu, which turned out to be a STUNNING drive! 🌊🚗






Accommodation: Small but Perfect for the Location
Finally, we reached our little beach studio, and despite its compact size, it was clean, comfy, and had an unbeatable location—just a stone’s throw away from the beach 🌊 and local shops!  The only downside? It was raining.  But that didn’t stop us from getting out and exploring!

10th April 2025

Ka’ena Point: History Meets Nature
We decided to walk the 6 mile trail to Ka’ena Point 🌱, where you follow an old railway track and dirt track, it has a rich history, including WWII pillbox lookouts. Along the way, we saw some amazing wildlife, including albatross and monk seals. Definitely one of the highlights of our visit to Oahu. 








11 April 2025

Second Attempt: Pearl Harbour Memorial
the North side of the island was wet and raining so we took another shot at a Pearl Harbour visit (this time making sure we didn’t bring any bags, as they’re strictly prohibited!). 🙅‍♀️ At the entrance, a Marine crossed his arms and pointed to my camera case, saying, “No entry with that.” Ugh! Another $7 to store it in left luggage… but it was worth it. The memorial itself was very busy, but moving and educational—definitely worth the second attempt despite the intimidating staff!






Sundowners at Banzai Pipeline 🍹🌅
To wrap up our day, we grabbed some drinks and headed to Banzai Pipeline Beach for the most perfect sundowners 🌅🍹. The waves were huge, the sky was clear, and it was the ideal way to relax and enjoy our last evening at the north shore.








12 April 2025

Day 2: Last Day Adventures before French Polynesia 🌴✈️
This morning, we woke up early to take some final shots of the iconic North Shore beaches 📸 before heading off for our afternoon flight to French Polynesia.



We made a quick detour to the Dole Plantation 🍍—who doesn’t love learning all things pineapple? We got to see the pineapple maze and taste some delicious fresh pineapple ice cream! 😋🍦





Before we knew it, it was time to return the car and head to the airport for our flight. 

🌍 Hawaiian Airlines flies once a week to Papetee, French Polynesia, our next destination.
We were ready for the next part of our South Pacific adventure!

Tips for Oahu Travelers 🌺

  • Car Rentals: Book ahead and check your reservation, or you might end up with a sporty upgrade you don’t want! I did complain via an email, and did get the extra charge removed🏎️

  • Pearl Harbour: If you plan to visit, book parking and the memorial in advance! And leave all bags at home—seriously. 👜

  • Ka’ena Point: A beautiful and historic hike, perfect for nature lovers and history buffs. Bring a hat and sunscreen, even on a rainy day. 🧢

  • Banzai Pipeline Beach: If you're visiting during the winter months, the waves here are HUGE! Perfect for watching surfers, but not for swimming. 🌊🏄‍♀️

Next stop: French Polynesia! Can’t wait to share more of our adventures soon. 🌞🌴 

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Aloha for now! 🌺


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