Every year millions of visitors from Japan, mainland USA and
beyond land at Honolulu International Airport ready to begin
their vacation in paradise. Soon after landing, most visitors
hop in a cab or bus sent from the hotel and begin the journey
past downtown Honolulu and on to their reservation at a Waikiki
hotel.
The allure of Waikiki is immediate. The packed streets, sounds
of the beach, and exotic histories call to the traveler who soon
hits the streets. Venturing out in Waikiki can be quite
exciting. The streets are filled with foreign languages, throngs
of tourists are dressed in their beach best, and the beginning
of surf history can be seen at the end of the street. Waikiki
can be so exciting that many visitors never escape its imaginary
borders. Approximately 6 million of these visitors miss the very
sites that locals find so endearing, remaining within the two
square miles of Waikiki.
For those travelers interested in seeing Oahu through its
residents’ eyes, please read on.
Magic Island Beach Park - This popular park is located
just west of Waikiki, across the street from the Ala Moana
Shopping Center. The park includes two beaches, a three mile
jogging path, tennis courts, and more. A walk around the park
will expose the center of Hawaiian culture - the family. Large
extended families gather around hibachis, spending the day
together with a good food and plenty of sun. The beaches are
significantly less crowded, so for a great day, grab a barbecue
and head down to the beach at Magic Island!
The Contemporary Museum Honolulu - This small museum is
located high on a ridge at Makiki Heights Drive. The drive up
the ridge offers amazing vistas that would otherwise be missed
by most Oahu visitors. The relatively small museum offers
changing exhibits in its five galleries. After traversing the
galleries, visitors can wander out onto the sculpture gardens.
This is where the true glory of the museum is revealed. The 3.5
acres of sculpture and meditative gardens are open to the public
and offer some of the most amazing views of Honolulu.
Leong’s Cafe - Many visitors look to a lu’au for more
than entertainment; they are after some great Hawaiian food.
However, if you’re interested in real local style Hawaiian food,
you can’t beat Leong’s Cafe located at 2343 North King Street.
As a favorite for plate lunches, kalua pig, lu’au stew, lomi
lomi, and more, locals have been visiting this cafe for over 50
years!
Champion Malasadas - The local treat called Malasadas are
so popular that Fat Tuesday has been re-christened Malasada Day
throughout the Hawaiian Islands. One of the best and most famous
bakeries is Champion Malasadas located at 1926 South Beretania
Street. These light portuguese hole-less donuts come with and
without filling and are absolutely worth the effort in getting
them!
Honolulu Chinatown - A walk through the streets of
Chinatown in like a walk into another time and place. Whether
you are looking for dim sum, fresh produce, handmade leis, or
the new hip lounge, you are sure to find it in Chinatown. The
streets and shops are exotic, offering items not found in a
typical american grocery. Guided walking tours are available for
this historic district, but often the best way is to simply
meander through the streets, stopping whenever your interest has
been piqued.
If you are interested in seeing Oahu through a local’s eyes, be
sure to spend some time outside of Waikiki. Stop by some or all
of the spots listed above and see some of what truly makes
Hawaii special.
For more information and photos of Oahu, check out our Lanikai
Beach site and our
Honolulu Chinatown site and our Travel Photo
Gallery.
For more exciting destinations check out our Trip of
the Week Site
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