What better way to experience Oahu than to engage in a celebration of its rich history and tradition? Locals and tourists alike welcome the holiday each year on March 26th - the birthdate of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniani’ole Piikoi. Prince Kuhio was the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii who became the 1st Hawaiian delegate to the United States Congress. As delegate, he wrote the first Hawaii Statehood bill in 1919, and won the Hawaiian Homes Act in 1921 - which set aside 200,000 acres of land for Hawaiian Natives. Prince Kuhio Day not only honors the former royal, but it is also a love letter to the individuals and organizations that strive to perpetuate the unique Hawaiian culture and traditions. Make the most of your visit to Oahu attractions this month, and take part in the festivities. All events are free and open to the public! Prince Kuhio … [Read more...]
Valentine’s Day: Romantic Things to Do in Oahu
If you’re lucky enough to be in Oahu for Valentine’s Day, you should take advantage of the many opportunities on the island for romance! Breathtaking scenery, ample options for outdoor fun, and plenty of premier attractions lead to a surplus of fun and romantic things to do in Oahu to impress your date on Valentine’s Day. With the special day just a few days away, there’s little time to waste! Check out some of our favorite ideas for Valentine’s Day dates in Oahu. Experience the Allure of Secret Island Beach An afternoon at Secret Island Beach in Kualoa Ranch will undoubtedly make for a Valentine’s Day to remember. At this secluded beach with sweeping views of the Kaneohe Bay and Mokolii Island, how you use your time is up to you! Guests can spend three hours there with unlimited use of all facilities and activities, including kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, swimming, … [Read more...]
Oahu Attractions: Pro Bowl Preview
In January, there is one Oahu attraction enjoyed by local Hawaiians, visiting tourists, and television viewers alike: the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. This year, the NFL's all star game will be taking place on Sunday, January 27 with kick-off at 2 PM HST (7 PM EST). Players from 26 NFL teams will face off in front of more than 13 million viewers nationwide. Here's a look at how you can celebrate the game in Oahu this weekend: 2013 Pro Bowl Celebrations Since 1980, the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii has been home to the NFL's Pro Bowl Game, a showdown between the best players of its two leagues: the AFC and the NFC. Official Pro Bowl festivities begin on Friday with Eat the Street, a food truck rally close to downtown Honolulu. Over 40 food trucks and street vendors will be opening up at 4 PM featuring delicious tailgating-themed food representing every NFL city represented in the Pro Bowl. You … [Read more...]
Unique Oahu Attractions: Hallowbaloo Music & Arts Festival Returns for 5th Year of Mayhem
Combining Hawaii’s largest live music showcase with spirited Halloween revelry, Honolulu’s Hallowballo Music & Arts Festival is back for its fifth year—so we hope you’re ready to party! On the weekend of October 27th and 28th, Chinatown’s Art District will be brought to life with a mob of 15,000+ masqueraders and live music from over 40 bands. It's bound to be a rollicking good time for the 21+ crowd, though anyone can enjoy the free events that take place both days. This festival is one of the best Oahu attractions for music lovers! Free Street Festival Saturday’s Free Street Festival begins at 5:30 PM on Nu’uanu Avenue. Four outside stages will be set up for this year’s entertainment, which features headliner Delta Spirit, an alternative rock band from San Diego known for their use of unique instruments (think trash can lids) and soulful sound. Other highlights … [Read more...]
Things to Do in Oahu: Sailing the Pacific
When you are staying on an island, what better way is there to explore the landscape and seaside attractions than sailing? Public or private sailing trips not only put you in the middle of breathtaking ocean views, but also get you up-close and personal with Hawaii’s local waters wildlife. There’s lots of exploring to be done, and here top sailing-related things to do in Oahu: Makani Catamaran Sail The ultra-comfortable Makani Catamaran Sail two-hour cruise excels in its luxuries: each Makani catamaran is a U.S. Coast Guard certified vessel that offers a full bar, a covered cabin seating and pilothouse seating, an LCD TV and stereo system, and sunbathing nets. The cruise is offered as either a breakfast sail (with free donuts!) or an afternoon sail with refreshments to purchase. While you’re cruising the Oahu shores in their Makani, keep a look out for flying fish and sea … [Read more...]
The Honolulu Marathon
Did you know that Honolulu, Hawaii is home to one of the world’s ten largest marathon races? The Honolulu Marathon takes place on Sunday, December 11th this year, and in the past has averaged about 25,000 finishing runners. To put that number in perspective, that’s only about 10,000 less participants than compete in the world’s largest marathon in London. First held in 1973, the Honolulu Marathon has maintained popularity with marathoners partly because it requires no qualifying standards, has no limit on its number of runners, and has no time limit to finish the course. Another draw is its breathtaking ocean views; the majority of the Honolulu Marathon’s course runs along the beach, passing through such notable tourist attractions as Honolulu Harbor and the famous Waikiki Beach. Runners also pass by Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American land, and Diamond Head, … [Read more...]
Go Oahu Card Review
Lisa Weber of Adventures and Discoveries Hawaii has used both a Go Oahu Card (a by-the-day, all-inclusive Pass for sights and activities in Oahu) and the new Custom Oahu Explorer Pass (pick what you want to see and do, it gets put on a custom Pass). As Lisa describes it, both save you money on tours, activities, cruises, and outdoor activities. But depending on your travel style, you may want to choose one over the other. Lisa's advice is that if your are a "very active vacationer" then the Go Oahu Card is probably the right bet. If on the other hand, the Custom Explorer Pass is the way to go if "you don’t want to rush around and make sure you get in as many activities as possible each day you can just pre-pick your activities and know you are getting a great, pre-paid deal." Go Oahu Card has 30 attractions that it covers, while the Custom Oahu Explorer … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Your Oahu Vacation with the Go Oahu Card
Ready for your trip to Oahu? I’ll bet that being ready includes booking your flights and hotels and maybe even a rental car. If I said, “don’t do that, just go walk up and book all that stuff when you get there.” You’d think I was crazy. And you’d be right. Nobody walks up to the airline ticket counter and says “next flight to Honolulu please.” Even if they did have a seat, what kind of price do you think you’d be offered? Same thing goes with hotels and rental cars. Walk-up means risk of not getting what you want AND certainty of paying the absolute top dollar. So “ready” means you’ve got everything booked. You probably visited multiple sites to make sure you got not only what you wanted but also got it for the best possible price available. So flights, hotels, transport, all set. And I’m sure you’ve booked all the things you want to do too, right? If … [Read more...]
Kayak Oahu: Discover the Pristine Beauty of Oahu by Sea
For those of you looking to "dive right in" to your Oahu adventure, consider one of the many exciting water activities available with the Smart Destinations Go Oahu Card. Kayak Oahu For a very private outing, rent a tandem kayak, load it on your rental car and head to Kaneohe Bay. Here you can launch your kayak and paddle to a deserted island to swim, sun and snorkel away from the crowds. For a truly special exploration arrange a private custom guided kayak adventure along a secluded, scenic coastline complete with a picnic lunch. Or you can simply join a guided kayak tour to the Mokulua Islands for an equally fun but more budget mined option. Hanauma Bay Snorkel See the beauty and wonder of the coral reef in one of the region's most flourishing tropical habitats - the marine life conservation area of Hanauma Bay. This reef boasts more than 450 different species of exotic fish and … [Read more...]
First Friday Art Walk in Chinatown
Head to downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown every first Friday of the month and dive deep into Oahu’s vibrant art scene. At each “First Friday” you can interact with local artists and artisans sharing their work. From paintings to powerful cultural exhibits, you’ll get to see a diverse sampling of Hawaii’s artists. Art galleries open their doors with exhibits, free entertainment, and light refreshments. There are numerous restaurants and bars open offering great food and live music. Discover a buzz of activity in the streets of Chinatown where people from all over Oahu come to see what’s new on the local art scene. First Friday runs from 5pm to 9pm, so its a perfect way to wind up your day using a Go Oahu Card. See the First Friday website for all the latest on what's happening at the next First Friday. … [Read more...]
