Crazy Hiker Chick: Aloha from Oahu

I'm going to put on my travel agent hat and blog about my week on Oahu. Needless to say there was some hiking involved. First of all, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the island of Oahu especially beyond the "concrete jungle" of Waikiki. The windward / east side of Oahu is really gorgeous with lush green mountains. Waikiki beach was entertaining and once I staked out my little spot on the beach the crowds didn't bother me. In fact some of the entertainment was watching groups of young Japanese tourists posing for pictures of themselves at the ocean's edge. I would guess that 85% of tourists to Honolulu are from Japan. Better practice some Japanese greetings like Konnichiwa for Hello. The calm and shallow waters of Waikiki bay was the perfect spot to learn how to paddle board. Check that activity off my bucket list. A lesson will cost around $50 for 30 minutes - OUCH! To just rent a board and paddle to teach yourself is only $20 for an hour. Do I look like a complete dork??

The Polynesian Culture Center is an activity on Oahu that everyone should do at least once. My first visit was 30 years ago and it was time for a repeat. The students of BYU Hawaii do an excellent job introducing the different cultures of the major islands of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. The proceeds from admission go to fund scholarships and tuition for the students and once they graduate they return to their home countries to work. These kids told us over and over how much they appreciated us coming to visit the Polynesian Culture Center. Check out the PCC's website for package prices and more info: http://polynesianculturalcenter.com

The evening show is an hour and a half long production entitled "HA, Breath of Life". It was okay, too long really and I prefer the traditional Hawaiian hula with some fire dancers. There is a beautiful LDS temple to visit while you are in the neighborhood of the PCC.

Next, on to Diamond Head Crater.

Diamond Head is the crown jewel of the Waikiki landscape and another item on my bucket list. From the trailhead to the summit of Diamond Head Crater is 1.6 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 560 feet which includes a set of 99 steep stairs. The trail to the summit was built in 1908 as part of the U.S. Army Coastal defense system. Unfortunately it was a little rainy on the morning of our hike so we didn't have the great views of Waikiki. I'll do this one again on my next visit to Oahu!

Hawaii is a tropical island, right! So chances are it will rain. Don't let a little rain stop your fun - rent a car and go exploring. Here are some rainy day activities. 1) Visit the Valley of the Temples on Oahu's windward / east side. This is where you will find the tranquil Byodo-In Temple which is located just off the Kahekili Highway.

2) Head to the North Shore with a stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. The little train ride on the Pineapple Express was kind of hokey (quite the tourist trap), but it was interesting to see how pineapples are grown. The gift shop was really nice and the 100,000 square foot hedge maze looked kind of cool.

The North Shore is most famous for the monster waves that entice expert surfers from around the globe. It is worth the drive up just to see the waves. The North Shore also has awesome fresh fruit stands, fresh shrimp trucks and the very best Hawaiian shave ice. 3) Final stop on our rainy day excursion was to hike to Waimea Falls. This is a very easy 1.5 mile roundtrip hike through a lovely botanical garden. The entrance fee is $15 per person. (a little pricey) You must wear a life vest to swim at the falls and they are provided at no additional charge. Take the time to explore the gardens and check out all the exotic plants.