How to Spend Two Days on Oahu
A trip to the Hawaiian islands is a vacation of a lifetime. If you are visiting more than one island, you may only have a precious few days on each one. It is obviously impossible to see everything. So, here's how to see the most spectacular sights on Oahu and skip the ones that are only mildly interesting.
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Things You'll Need
- Rental car
- Camera
- Oahu guidebook with map
- Sunblock
- A swimsuit
- A change of clothes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
Instructions
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Rent a car and get a good guidebook with a map (see resources below). Rental cars are very cheap in Hawaii because business is booming year-round. Skip the bus tours that cart you around like a herd of sheep. With a car, you can go your own pace and stop whenever you see something interesting.
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2
Visit Pearl Harbor first thing in the morning. Arrive 45 minutes before it opens because the tours fill up fast. Then go next door to the USS Missouri and take the guided tour. It is worth it to spend the extra few buck on the tour because you will get much more out of it.
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3
Hop on H-1 and drive past Honolulu to Diamond Head State monument. The climb up and down the crater takes about an hour and a half and is worth it for the view.
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4
Make your way east on route 72 to Hanuama Bay for some great snorkeling. Spend a few hours there swimming with the fish and the turtles in the coral reefs. You can rent snorkeling equipment and put your belongings in a locker while you're there. Then drive to Halona Blow Hole. This is a great place to spot whales and sea turtles and to hop around on the rocks. Continue along the coast and then cut back to the city on route 61. Make sure to stop at the Pali lookout for a breathtaking view.
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On day two, cut across the island on route 63. You will go through a tunnel that goes right through the mountain range. Then make your way north along route 83, stopping briefly for views and pictures along the way. Spend some time at the Pupukea Beach Park in northern Oahu, which provides stunning views of waves crashing against the shore. Bring a picnic and take lots of pictures. Then head back toward Honolulu on route 99. Stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation to see some pineapple plants and try some samples. They also offer tours and have a giant maze.
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When you get home, make a scrapbook with pictures from all the things you did.
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Tips & Warnings
Minimize the time you spend in Honolulu. The city is a nightmare to drive in and Waikiki Beach is overrated.
Rather than spending precious time looking for food, get lunch at a Subway sandwich shop along the way.
In addition to spectacular ocean shots, try to get close-up photos of flowers. The flower of Hawaii are georgeous and will complement your landscape shots in your photo album.
Wear a shirt while swimming to avoid a nasty sunburn.
Bring plenty of water if you hike up Diamond Head. It can get hot and there is nowhere to stop for water.
Do not try to drive along the west coast of Oahu. The roads are not paved and driving on them will violate your rental car contract.
It is illegal to approach or touch a sea turtle.
