Waimea Falls
Hubster and I got away for a few days of R & R recently,
and we chose Oahu. We both love the Caribbean and Europe, and I especially love Greece, but Oahu is so.....simple. Easy. Simply beautiful, simply relaxing,
simply wonderful in every way. Easy to get to, easy to get around. (Rent a car if you plan to leave the city.) People love to say things like: "Oh, man, you should go to Kuai! It's the cool new place to go." Or, "I just got back from Maui and I am so over it. They have totally sold out. I can't stand it anymore. Everyone goes there. Next time, I'm going to the big island." Or even, "Hawaii is so cliche. I prefer Fiji." Hubster and I go against the grain of fashionable opinion and return to Oahu (as well as the other Hawaiian islands) frequently, whenever we need a place for quiet peaceful pleasure. Great food,
gorgeous inspiring nature, friendly locals, pleasant climate (cool temps by Texas standards) and never a worry that your bank will
cut off your credit card even though you told them you were travelling overseas
(which actually happened to us – at the start of a 3 day weekend, naturally-
once in Italy.), no need to struggle in a foreign language, drive on the other side of the road, or make sure you have the right currency. The electrical outlets don't need chargers. If you know me at all, you know
how I love exotic travel – Greece, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the
Caribbean are all places I have been and will return to. Give me a falafel and a beer in Tel Aviv anytime. But sometimes, life is
overwhelming with responsibilities and you just need someplace to vacation that is easy- where you
don’t have to worry about drug cartels, terrorist bombings, figuring out train schedules or airport terminals, avoiding hurricanes, where to find coca-cola, or avoiding those post-Ramaden jihads. There are always plenty of new things to see
and do in a favorite place, no matter how many times you have visited, and Oahu is no exception.
Here are a few from our latest journey:
Why not have one, or both?
Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore Oahu
I have loved this place ever since my kids and I saw “Forgetting
Sarah Marshall” and decided we had to go there. Yes, it is pricey. I save all
year so I can afford it. But it is worth it. One of the most beautiful places
in the world, and a really pleasant 4 star hotel, too. Resort amenities such as
a spa, restaurants, golf, tennis, as well as lessons for all kinds of things –
scuba/padi cert, parasailing, whatever your pleasure. Day trips to tour various
local sites. Not only is there the hotel, but there are beach cottages which
you can rent if you want to bring the entire family. It used to be that TB was
full of the usual honeymooners and old folks, but this trip it was over-run by
young couples with babies. I just wish the resort could adapt to these changing
trends and have two pools: one that is for little kids only, and one that is 12+ adults only. Somebody brought a toddler
into that gorgeous pool, and the baby had a bowel movement in the water, which meant the pool was closed for
24 hours, afterwards. This is NOT what I paid a lot of money to come experience. Wasted
two whole days of tanning time. However, still plenty of lovely other things to
do on the North Shore.
North Shore Food Trucks
While I love fine dining, I also love mom-and-pop diners,
dives, drive-ins, road food, and local comfort food. The best vacation for me
balances both ends of the dining spectrum. To that end, sampling the North
Shore food trucks is a fun adventure. Giovanni’s is purportedly the best; while
many tourists seemed skeptical of the more exotic offerings, sticking with
teriyaki chicken, husbster and I went full-on exotic taste adventure and
ordered the spicy shrimp and some calamari and sushi appetizers. It did not
disappoint. Important caveat: get there early before they run out of shrimp (before
6pm) or all items entirely (7-7:30pm). I mean really early, like 5-5:30pm. My
snooty New York friends who make disparaging comments about dining before 8pm
would find the food trucks shuttered and dark if they tried that here.
Hawaiian Shave Ice
Shave Ice – not shaved ice – is also incredible. I don’t
know how they do it but it’s better than anything you’ve ever had in the mainland
states that claims to be shaved ice. Available at multiple North Shore
locations. Those wacky colors are exotic flavors like coconut, pineapple, and li hing mui, a Chinese salty-sweet plum flavor.
A typical plate lunch - this one with teriyaki chicken, fried fish, rice, and macaroni salad
Ted’s Bakery
I make a pilgrimage to Ted’s Bakery every time I am on Oahu.
When I first started going there, it was “undiscovered” and relatively quiet.
Now it has long lines, but is still worth it, for the pie alone if nothing
else. That’s some damn fine pie ! The
plate lunch – a common menu item at most local, mom and pop, food truck or
small café establishments, has a bargain price (for Hawaii) and the food
quantity is tremendous. Two ladies or 3 or 4 children could easily eat their
fill sharing one plate. This is not the time to go on a diet – these meals are
carb heavy. Do your dieting 6 weeks before you go, and eat your fill while you
are there. (Although, it must be noted, I hiked so much while in Hawaii that I
ate all I wanted and still came back a few pounds less.)
Haleiwa Town
Picture-book quaint, this is where you want to go for
restaurants, shopping, bars and beautiful sunsets.
Waimea Falls
This is a state park- you drive in, park, then hike in and
up the hillside to the water falls. Along the way, you can see all sorts of tropical
flora and fauna. A beautiful day spent in nature with an easy, paved hike.
There is also a go-cart to take you up or down if you are disabled, old, or
fat, like me. (I walked up, rode down-bad knees.)
Kawela Bay
North Shore Things to do -beaches
There is only one road, often only 2 lanes, that traverses
east to west along the north shore region. It will have stop-and-go traffic, be
mobbed with cars and people along the famous “Banzai Pipeline” section, but is
generally uncrowded elsewhere. By all means, everyone should visit the Pipeline
beach area at least once in a lifetime, and my teen sons had surfing lessons
there years ago. If, like me, you prefer more secluded spots away from the
crowds, you can find that too. Just note that many beaches, while free and open
to the public, do not have lifeguards or restroom facilities.
Parking/Driving conditions near banzai pipeline
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