Mike's Travel Adventures
Oahu Things to Do
Bishop Museum
Maybe you are not one for museums., but you should definitely visit this one, If you are interested in Hawaiian culture, this multi-building, multi-floor museum is as amazing as it is very informative. You could literally spend all day here learning all there is to know about Hawaii. The parking lot is a nice size, compared to other locations.
Dole Plantation
Originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, Dole Plantation opened to the public as Hawaii’s “Pineapple Experience” in 1989. Today, Dole Plantation is one of Oahu’s most popular visitor attractions and welcomes more than one million visitors a year, providing enjoyable activities for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Plantation Garden Tour, and the Pineapple Garden Maze.
Hawaii Plantation
Located in historic Waipahu, local guides take you on a journey back to the early 1900s where you can experience more than 25 authentic plantation homes and structures featuring personal artifacts, clothing, furniture and art placed in their original settings. Unusual plants brought from China, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, Okinawa, Polynesia and the Philippines by immigrants from their native lands provide delicious fruit samples during the tour.
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Iolani Palace
ʻIolani Palace is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity and is recognized as the spiritual and physical multicultural epicenter of Hawaiʻi. Built in 1882 by King Kalākaua, ʻIolani Palace was the home of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence and the residence of the Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.
Queen Emmas Palace
Queen Emma Summer Palace or Hānaiakamalama, was the secluded mountain-home and summer retreat of Queen Emma of Hawai‘i from 1857 to 1885, her husband King Kamehameha IV and their son, Prince Albert Edward. Queen Emma inherited the home from her uncle, John Young II, son of John Young I an advisor to King Kamehameha I. Situated in the coolness of Nu‘uanu Valley, the home was used as a retreat for the royal family to escape downtown Honolulu and court life at ‘Iolani Palace.
Byodo-in Temple
The Byodo-In Temple, which translates to the “Temple of Equality" is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Built in 1963, the Byodo-In Temple is a Hawaii state landmark and one of the state's’ best kept secrets. A scale replica of a temple in Uji Japan and made entirely without nails, Byodo-in was dedicated in 1968 as a centennial commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaiʻi.
Halona Blow Hole
The Hālona Blowhole is one of Hawaii's natural wonders, It was created thousands of years ago when molten lava tubes were formed from volcanic eruptions. There appears to be ample parking, as people are constantly coming and going.
Honolulu Zoo
Nice zoo. I went around noon. It was sunny and hot out, so a lot of the animals were, of course, in the shade to beat the heat. I would definitely try to go early when it opens, so you have a better chance that the animals might be a little more active. The path is well marked around the zoo, leading you to all the different animals. You can also download a map to your phone. Its not that expensive, so its a nice place to go to unwind a little bit from your hectic, but enjoyable visit. Large shady areas to sit and rest, are in a several locations.
Lava Tube
This is a short lava tube that leads out to a great view of the coastline. You have to cross the highway to get to it, so be careful. It is just up the road about 200 feet over the guardrail from the Lana'i Lookout.
Sharks Cove
This cove got its name from a story that says that the outline of the reef outside the cove looks like a shark, when seen from above. It is a lava-rock beach on the North Shore of Oahu. There are beautiful underwater rock formations, and fish and sea turtles are usually in the cove. It is a favorite spot among snorkelers and scuba divers. It is a good idea to wear reef shoes because of the sharp coral reef that is everywhere. The lava has formed underwater caves and tunnels about 15 to 45 feet below the surface. These caves are a real thrill for experienced scuba divers. Please don't attempt to go in them if you are not Cavern Diver Certified.
China Wall
China Wall is a sea cliff located behind a neighborhood in Hawaii Kai. You can jump, swim, snorkel or just hang out and enjoy the view.
Hawaii Army Museum
U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii at Fort DeRussy was established in 1976 and is housed inside Battery Randolph, a former coast artillery fortification that mounted two 14-inch disappearing rifled guns. The museum honors the history of the Army in the Pacific centered on Hawaii's contributions to our nation's defense and its Army heritage.
Ho'0maluhia Botanical Garden
Walking through these beautiful 400 acres on the windward side of Oʻahu, you will come to agree that Hoʻomaluhia is rightfully named "a peaceful refuge." The garden in Kaneohe opened in 1982, and features plantings from major tropical regions around the world grouped geographically, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America, India & Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Hawaii, Polynesia, and Africa.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Housed in an authentic World War II-era hangar, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s Hangar 37 is home to the artifacts that tell the story of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and beyond. The Museum’s theater offers complimentary viewings of its award-winning 12-minute documentary, East Wind Rain every 15 minutes upon arrival. Once inside, visitors first enter a corridor that depicts life in the islands in the early 1940s, pre-war. Upon entering the 25,000 square foot exhibit area, guests are drawn into the moment of the attack with the authentic examples of the aircraft that appeared in the skies that fateful day, as well as maps and other artifacts from our collection that add depth to this captivating story.
Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 Sailors and Marines killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and commemorates the events of that day. Whether you have served in the military, or had someone in your family serve, you should try and make this visit be at the top of your list of things to see. These individuals died protecting our right to be free and they should be honored and not forgotten. It is a very somber experience and I truly hope you will visit this memorial while you are in Oahu.
Washington Palace
Washington Place has remained at the heart of Hawaiʻi’s Capitol in downtown Honolulu, Oʻahu. Best known as the home of Hawaiʻi’s beloved Queen Liliʻuokalani, this National Historic Landmark is the only official residence of a state governor in the United States that was also home to a monarch. Today, the home is managed by the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Accounting and General Services.