I’ve now been in Hawaii for just about 50 hours, and am in the airport getting ready to head over to the gate and get my flight back home. This was a much longer visit than the 3.5 hours from last week, and I have to say it was really pushing my upper limits for a visit to Oahu. I still didn’t manage to see the Arizona memorial, which is something I’ll probably stop by for at some point. And if the $260 fares come up again I’ll almost certainly book one because the mileage value is great, but I have very little desire to come back to Oahu.
I spent the vast majority of my one full day here underwater. The diving was OK, but not great. But at least it was something to do. Beyond that and sitting on a manufactured beach that so many people seem to love for no discernable reasons, I can’t figure out why people like to visit this island. The beach isn’t that great. At all. Then again, the number of folks I saw on the planes for whom this was a “once in a lifetime” type of trip was pretty high. Too bad, as those folks could benefit from seeing better (and closer) islands if that’s really what they are looking for in a vacation.
Anyways, enough of my ranting about Oahu. There actually were some good things from the trip, including a decent, cheap hotel I got through Priceline, the aforementioned diving and my learning to use the local bus system. More to come on all that in future posts. In the meantime, enjoy some pictures from my diving and from folks out on the beach.
A flurry of hair, water and body board on the waves
A sea turtle leaving the cleaning station, with fish in tow
A local fisherman at sunset
Yeah, he blends. Actually, he did blend in pretty well before I spooked him and he settled in this location for his photo shoot.
Riding the waves
Headed out to sea, and right past me.
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Enjoying the underwater photos in particular!
As an Oahu resident, I take offense to your synopsis of Oahu. If you can’t see why some people love it, perhaps you should look closer. Understood that cookie cutter tourists love the manufactured beach and just saying that ‘they’ve been to hawaii/waikiki’, but there is still much that is special about Oahu. There are many fantastic beaches outside of the tourist areas.
Aloha.
I’m sure that there are other things to do beyond Waikiki. Actually, on my last visit there I had a decent time driving up the east coast to the north shore, the shrimp trucks and back down through the center of the island. But that doesn’t change the fact that the vast majority of the people going stay in Waikiki and see nothing more of the island, nor does it change that I find that part of the island pretty bad and unappealing.
And since there is a dearth of tourist infrastructure outside of Waikiki it is incredibly difficult for people to experience those other parts of the island.
A dearth of tourist infrastructure outside waikiki? Not exactly sure what you’re looking to find that is ‘not waikiki’ but is laden with tourist infrastructure. The enjoyment of the rest of the island is because the rest of it is NOT waikiki. I have no idea what you’re comparing Oahu to that is so much better.
As far as tourists not venturing outside of Waikiki, that is a farce. I’m sure there are many who don’t, but I hardly believe that it is the majority. Dole Plantation, Haleiwa Town, the shrimp trucks are all crowded with tourists every day of the year.
There are unbelievably beautiful beaches on the west, north, and east sides of the island.
Finding vacation enjoyment in Oahu is easy.