Aulani ~ A Favorite Family Vacation AROUND OAHU
With all the food, fun and beauty at Aulani, you can spend many happy days at the resort. But if you want to explore the beautiful island of Oahu, here are a few of my must-do picks.
Diamond Head
Located about an hour from Aulani, Diamond Head provides hiking with breathtaking views from the top of this inactive volcano overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Waikiki Beach. There are stairs and steep climbs on this hike as well as a lighted tunnel, and even though it is less than a mile to the summit, it can be strenuous. Reservations for parking and entry into the park must be made in advance. There is a small fee for entry. I do not enjoy heights, and there were spots along this trail that made me nervous, but I am glad I got to the top! For others with a fear of heights, there are railings, and you never have to go to the edges to get a good view.
There are multiple viewing points from the hike to the top of Diamond Head that all have stunning views!
Unrelated to the hike, there are pineapple smoothies (served in pineapples!) at the park entry. Get the smoothie! It was the best thing I had on the entire trip!
CLIMB works at Keana Farms
As a person with a healthy fear of heights, I never imagined trying ziplining, let alone recommending it, but at my children’s insistence, I gave it a shot. I LOVED it! Located about an hour from Aulani, on the North Shore of Oahu, CLIMB works is a 3-hour experience offering beautiful scenery, history of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture, and the thrilling ride on eight ziplines! Everything on this excursion was safety-focused, with intelligent, humorous, and helpful staff who took excellent care of everyone. It was an amazing, memorable time!
Near the end, I even felt comfortable enough to go upside-down!
Watch a Chicken Cross the Road
SERIOUSLY!
Chickens are all over Oahu, doing their chicken thing, leaving all the humans to wonder, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”
Pearl Harbor
The most powerful experience from Oahu was the visit to Pearl Harbor. I remember my Grandma sharing stories of where she was when she heard that Pearl Harbor had been attacked, as we will someday tell our grandchildren where we were on 9/11. Being present at this historic site in person was very impactful. The museum and guided audio tour were fantastic, with audio clips from some of the men stationed at Pearl Harbor and from people who lived around the area on that fateful day. The exhibits brought to life the size and scope of the attacks, making it easier to imagine the dichotomy between the gorgeous scenery as the backdrop for the horror of war. The most moving part, though, was the handwritten note from FDR’s “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” address in which he asks Congress for the formal declaration of war - something that has not occurred in the US since.
There are many other wonderful things to do on the island of Oahu, but these are a few of my favorites. I would love to go back and explore even more of this beautiful island!
Lacey Bordewick
Adventure Specialist Lacey loves travel and views it as a great way for families and friends to reconnect away from the hustle bustle of regular everyday life.
Travel is more than just time away, it’s time for adventure and magic.
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