You can spend a lifetime somewhere and not really see it. In our case, we spent three years on Oahu and didn’t get to everything. Some would say we didn’t make it a priority. Others would say we were leaving things to do next time. Either way, here are a few things that we didn’t get to.
‘Iolani Palace – the only royal palace within the United States, ‘Iolani palace was home to King David Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani. Built in 1879, this opulent building served as the official residence for the Hawaiian monarchy until it was overthrown in 1893. It also served as the state capitol building. For the last four decades, it has been a museum.
Eat the Street – Street food in Hawaii! Eat the Street has been held monthly since 2011 and features foods by local vendors.
Polynesian Cultural Center – Maybe it’s the long drive to Laie. Maybe it’s the thought of a sober luau. Regardless, we haven’t made it there yet. The Polynesian Cultural Center is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of the staff are students at the neighboring Hawaii campus of Brigham Young University. Within the 42 acres of this Polynesian theme park are several villages. Each village highlights the architecture, music, and culture of a Polynesian culture such as Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga.
Koko Head Crater – A lot of stairs. Koko Head is famous for the views from the top. But there are over a thousand steps on the way up, and that’s too many for me. If you go, go early before the heat gets too bad.
Surf on Waikiki Beach – Over four million tourists visit Oahu each year. Most of them stay on Waikiki. I can’t blame them, it is a great beach. So nice that it used to be reserved for Hawaiian royalty. But I’ve learned what lots of locals already know – it’s not the only nice beach on the island. We go to the beach all the time. Some beaches have turtles, some are good for snorkeling, and some are good for just laying around. So far we’ve managed to have our island life without the crowds of Waikiki.
Maybe we’ll hit a few of these before we leave. Maybe we’ll leave them for another time. If you have a favorite, or a regret about one you missed, leave a comment.