oahu

After checking in at Aulani and letting the vacation vibes sink in (read: leis, lanai views, and a lazy river float), we knew we weren’t ready to dive straight into adventure mode just yet. Jet lag? Yeah, she was hanging on. So instead, we grabbed some cold drinks, queued up our island playlist, and set off on a mellow drive up the Windward Coast—destination: the beach with a front-row seat to the one and only Chinaman’s Hat (aka Mokoli‘i Island).

The route alone is worth the drive—lush green mountains on one side, endless Pacific blue on the other, and the kind of scenery that makes you want to pull over every five minutes for a photo. It was the perfect way to ease into O‘ahu’s magic without a packed itinerary. Just windows down, wind in our hair, and each other.

When we got to Kualoa Regional Park, we parked the car, kicked off our shoes, and wandered barefoot toward the shoreline. There it was: Chinaman’s Hat, rising out of the ocean like something out of a movie—quiet, serene, and totally surreal. No crowds, no rush. Just calm waves lapping the shore and a few palm trees swaying lazily in the breeze.

We laid out a towel, stretched out in the sun, and let the sounds of the island lull us into total relaxation. It was exactly what we needed—a slow moment to just be, soaking up the beauty around us (and maybe sneaking in a little nap).

The next morning, we traded our sandals for flippers and headed out for a snorkel adventure from the Ko’Olina Marina—just a short stroll from Aulani and totally worth the early wake‑up call (coffee in hand, of course).

We boarded a catamaran with sun on our shoulders and excitement in the air, cruising out into that dreamy blue water. Within minutes, we were surrounded by spinner dolphins, flipping and twirling like they were showing off just for us. It was pure island magic.

Our snorkel spot was a coral reef teeming with colorful fish, and yes—sea turtles! They glided right past us like gentle underwater locals, totally unbothered and completely beautiful. We floated side‑by‑side, pointing out little fish and soaking up every second of that peaceful underwater world.

Couples Tip: Book the morning tour—it’s less crowded, and the lighting is chef’s kiss for underwater photos.

Back on board, we dried off with fresh pineapple slices in hand and enjoyed a delicious lunch right on the deck—think grilled fish tacos, crisp salads, and more tropical fruit—while salty hair whipped in the breeze.

Then, as our bellies settled and the boat gently rocked, we curled up together on the trampolines at the bow, swapping stories of our favorite reef discoveries and dreaming up the rest of the day’s adventures. There’s something about that panoramic ocean view—plus a shared sense of awe—that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked the island’s best-kept secret, together.

Bright and early the next day, we laced up our hiking boots for the Crouching Lion Hike, a hidden gem perched above Kahana Bay on O‘ahu’s windward coast. The trail starts off gently through eucalyptus groves, but don’t let the calm fool you—those switchbacks really get your heart pumping (in a good way!).

As we climbed, the ocean views unfurled below us: the turquoise bay cradled by emerald hills, and Chinaman’s Hat peeking out in the distance. It was the perfect backdrop for a mid-hike snack break—think fresh fruit, trail mix, and plenty of water shared between the two of us. Each lookout felt like our own secret perch, and we couldn’t stop snapping photos (and stealing kisses) against that epic panorama.

Reaching the summit felt like a mini triumph together. We perched on the ridge, toes dangling over the edge, and just soaked in the vista—waves crashing below, palm-dotted coastline stretching forever, and a sense of “we did this” that made the effort totally worth it.

Couples Tip: Start before sunrise for cooler temps and a front-row seat to morning light hitting the bay—plus, you’ll beat the crowds and have the summit almost to yourselves.

The following morning, we climbed back into our car for a carefree cruise up to Waimea Bay, one of those classic O‘ahu surf spots that feels as mythic as it looks. The turquoise water was practically glowing, and while I lounged on the sand soaking up the sun, my husband couldn’t resist scaling the big rock cliff for a proper leap. Watching him sail through the air—splashing into the bay below with that “I-can’t-believe-I-did-that” grin—was equal parts thrilling and adorable.

After all that excitement, we headed back to our resort oasis for some well‑deserved downtime. We grabbed cocktails at a shaded tiki bar, then wandered the scenic pathway that weaves through the neighboring resorts—stopping for impromptu photos by the lily‑dotted lagoons and pausing whenever a hidden hammock caught our eye. By lunchtime, we’d worked up just enough appetite for Longboards—a little beachside shack with the friendliest staff. We dove right into their crispy coconut shrimp and fresh fish tacos, each bite a perfect balance of tropical sweetness and zesty island flavors. Sand between our toes, surf tunes in the air, and those bites hitting just right—it was the ultimate midday re‑fuel.

We decided to hit the pause button on exploration and committed to a full-on resort day at Aulani—and wow, what a blast. We claimed prime real estate on the white‑sand beach, diving into those gentle waves and soaking up the sunshine between shared cocktails. Then it was off to the waterpark side of paradise: zooming down twisting waterslides, whooping as we plunged into cool pools, and racing each other on the double‑tube slides (spoiler alert: he won by, like, half a second). We even sneaked in a few lazy‑river laps, drifting arm‑in‑arm under swaying palms and pretending the rest of the world didn’t exist. By the time we flopped into lounge chairs with salty hair and giggly smiles, it was clear that sometimes the best adventures are the ones you make right where you are—even if “where you are” is pure Disney‑meets‑island magic.

As the sun dipped low, we capped off our resort play day with an elegant dinner at ‘Ama ‘Ama, Aulani’s beachfront fine‑dining spot. We settled into a table on the open‑air lanai, listening to the gentle surf as we sipped on signature mai tais. The menu was a seafood lover’s dream—think macadamia‑crusted ono, miso‑glazed sea bass, and a vibrant lomi‑lomi salmon salad—each dish artfully plated and bursting with island flavors. With the sky turning rose and gold over the water, it was the perfect, romantic finale to a day of sun‑soaked fun.

One of our favorite days was escaping to O‘ahu’s legendary North Shore, where the pace slows down and island culture shines. We spent the morning wandering through surf shops in Haleʻiwa—trying on boardshorts, ogling handcrafted surfboards, and scoring a few sweet tees that still make us feel beach‑ready back home. By lunchtime, the food trucks in the parking lot were calling our names: we split garlic shrimp platters, piled our plates high with fresh poke bowls, and toasted to the view of rolling waves just beyond the pavement.

As afternoon rolled in, we ducked into a few local art galleries, marveling at vibrant island‑inspired paintings, hand‑thrown ceramics, and jewelry made from shells and sea glass. When the sun was at its peak, there was only one way to cool down—Matsumoto Shave Ice, of course. We went bold with lilikoi (passion fruit), and those tropical‑tart flavors were the perfect sweet treat.
As golden hour approached, we made our way back into town for sunset dinner at Haleʻiwa Joe’s. From their famous macadamia‑encrusted mahi to a chilled glass of white wine, it was the ideal “cheers to the North Shore” moment—complete with ocean breezes, swaying palms, and each other’s company.

After dinner, we couldn’t resist chasing one more North Shore moment—so we drove a few miles up the coast to Sunset Beach, where we parked the car, grabbed our sandals, and watched the sky ignite in pinks and purples. There’s something about the roar of the surf against that dramatic shoreline that felt almost cinematic. Hand in hand, we listened to the pounding waves, breathed in the salty air, and agreed: no day could end more perfectly than this.

From the moment we touched down, O‘ahu dazzled our taste buds at every turn—from roadside poke shacks dishing out the freshest ahi to elegant luaus serving up melt‑in‑your‑mouth kalua pork and poi, the island’s flavors are as warm and inviting as its people. Each meal felt like a celebration of the sea and the land: tangy lomi‑lomi salmon bursting with tomato and onion, silky miso‑glazed fish that flaked perfectly under our forks, and tropical fruit desserts that were as vibrant in color as they were in taste. But the pièce de résistance came on our final night at Mina’s Fish House—a hidden gem right next door to Aulani. The menu read like a love letter to Hawaiian waters: detailed descriptions of every catch, inventive preparations that honored local traditions, and plates so artfully composed they looked like ocean‑inspired canvases. We toasted the sunset with the wildest cocktail of the trip—served in a gleaming Spam can that somehow felt both cheeky and quintessentially island—and savored each bite as the sky melted from coral to indigo over the Pacific. It was an unforgettable finale, the kind of dinner that lingers in your memory (and on your palate) long after the last forkful.

As we packed our bags and took one last look at that brilliant Pacific horizon, we couldn’t help but feel our hearts already halfway back on Oʻahu. From the magic of Aulani’s aloha-infused luxury to the thrill of snorkeling alongside turtles and dolphins, the laid‑back charm of North Shore surf towns, and those unforgettable meals—especially our final feast at Mina’s Fish House—every moment was a reminder of why this island captures your soul. Thank you, Oʻahu, for the sunsets that stole our breath, the flavors that danced on our tongues, and the adventures we shared hand‑in‑hand. We’re already dreaming of our return—more waves to ride, more hidden beaches to discover, and, of course, one more round of cocktails in a Spam can as the sun dips into the sea. Until next time, aloha and mahalo for memories we’ll treasure forever.