Oahu. Beaches, shopping and living the life. Part I: the city

Everything is better at the beach. Even rain, I quoted while looking out the airplane window at the gloomy clouds crowning the island’s mountains.

We were approaching Oahu, a place that had been on my bucket list for quite some time.

An avid traveller, I hadn’t done too much research on the island as I wanted to let it surprise me but I knew it was famous for its beaches. And designer shopping. Looks like shopping it is, I said to myself politely greeting the dark sky that was welcoming us as we landed… but I was secretly hoping the weather would turn around and Oahu would have a chance to show me its beauty.

A most welcoming island, Oahu has accommodation for every pocket, from hotels to airbnb though the prices fluctuate based on the season. For those seeking to avoid crowds and get fair rates, the best months to visit Oahu are April, May, September and October. I chose to stay in a hotel close to Waikiki beach because I thought it was in the heart of everything. And I was not mistaken.

Enter Waikiki and you are welcomed by a world of luxury brands with stores such as Miu Miu, Chanel and Gucci. The avid shoppers will find many more designer stores as well as handcrafted souvenir ones on Kalakaua Avenue, Kuhio Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard. Shopping is so famous in Oahu that there is a special bus stopping at each shopping paradise. A few places that should not be missed are T Galeria, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Royal Hawaiian Center and International Market Place.

Renting a car is always the best thing to do on any island of Hawaii but Oahu has a very good and reliable public transportation network so if you want to save some money or are too lazy to drive, don’t be shy and use it. I am a walker and doing that in Honolulu was a must for me. It gave me the chance to look at the architecture and discover the hidden gems.

One of the pit stops I recommend, perhaps while on a break from surfing, is visiting the Aloha Tower, a lighthouse considered one of the landmarks of the state of Hawaii. Opened on September 11, 1926 the tower is located at Pier 9 of Honolulu Harbor.

Some say the Aloha Tower is for Hawaii what the Statue of Liberty is for New York. The entrance is free and you get a history lesson and a very nice view over the city.

Stop in front of Aliiolani Hale (home to the Hawaii State Supreme Court) across from Iolani Palace and say hello to King Kamehameha I, the founder and first ruler of Hawaii.

A great warrior, diplomat and leader, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. Upon seeing him and after hearing so many legends and true stories while I was visiting the Big Island, I almost jumped up in an attempt to shake his hand.

Washington Place below is where Queen Liliʻuokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Later it became the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii. Now it is a National Historic Landmark.

Just across the street, the Eternal Flame Memorial burns endlessly in remembrance of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

St Andrew’s Cathedral or the King’s and Queen’s church (Kamehameha I King, of course, who was responsible for bringing the Anglican beliefs to Hawaii) welcomes me. I am tired after walking for so long and I take refuge for a few minutes, escaping the heat.

Kawaiahaʻo Church, popularly known as the Hawaii’s Westminster Abbey, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1962. The name comes from the Hawaiian noun phrase Ka wai a Haʻo (the water of Haʻo), because its location was that of a spring and freshwater pool in the care of a High Chieftess Haʻo. Today, Kawaiahaʻo continues to use the Hawaiian language for parts of the service. It is one of the oldest standing Christian places of worship in Hawaii (the oldest is Mokuaikaua Church on the Big Island).

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to hike Diamond Head. I recommend doing this in the morning to avoid the heat. If you are in good shape, it should take around 30 minutes and the view from the top is well worth the effort.

If you enjoyed the stroll in Honolulu, make sure you check out the next post to catch a glimpse at the raw beauty Oahu has to offer: its beaches and the ocean.