Places To Visit in Oahu Hawaii
Every year, Honolulu International Airport welcomes millions of visitors all the way from Japan and the US who are there to have their dream vacation. After they have made their way through the airport, the vast majority will be heading towards the Waikiki area of the island.The attraction of Waikiki is nearly magnetic - the bustle of the busy streets, the long and extended beaches and the rich history of the land soon make the visitors hit the streets. Venturing out in Waikiki can be quite exciting - Waikiki can be so exciting that many visitors never escape its imaginary borders. Approximately 6 million of these visitors miss the very sites that locals find so endearing, remaining within the two square miles of Waikiki.
If you are a visitor who would like to get a taste of Oahu through the eyes of a resident, this article may be of special interest to you.
Magic Island Beach Park – Located just opposite to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, this is a very popular attraction lying west of Waikiki. The park includes two beaches, a three mile jogging path, tennis courts, and more. If you want to have a taste of the typical Hawaiian culture, take a walk round the park and y would find large families along with their extended families, enjoying a day of togetherness with lots of good food and plenty of sunshine. This is a great place for a barbecue and considering the beaches are never overcrowded, it makes for a fantastic sun-filled day.
At the top of Makiki Heights Drive there is a tiny museum called the Contemporary Museum of Honolulu where visitors benefit from the fantastic views this place can offer. It may not be large but there is enough space to house 5 galleries and after a tour they can relax in the extensive gardens. Many people visit just to marvel at the gardens and the views that can be experienced from them and, as they are set in over three acres you shouldn’t find them too crowded.
Leong’s Cafe - Many visitors look to a lu’au for more than entertainment especially when they are after some great Hawaiian food.However, if you’re interested in real local style Hawaiian food, you can’t beat Leong’s Cafe located at 2343 North King Street. Here they have been serving the Hawaiian population for in excess of five decades with traditional dishes enjoyed by many.
Champion Malasadas - Hawaii has a local dish called Malasadas which have become so entrenched in the everyday lives of Hawaiins that they renamed Fat Tuesday and called it Malasadas Day.The bakery that goes by the name ‘Champion Malasadas’ can be found along South Berertania Street, it is the most famous throughout the island.Worth every penny that you spend on it, these Portuguese donuts do not have a hole and you can have it with or without fillings and they are extremely lightweight.
Honolulu Chinatown – when you take a stroll down Chinatown, you would be transported to another era in terms of space and time.Irrespective of what you are looking for, Chinatown can offer dim sum, fresh produce, handmade leis or the ultra modern lounges. Unusual and interesting produce and products can be purchased here, most of which you would be hard pushed to find in a normal American grocery. While you could always take a guided walking tour of the place the wisest thing to do is to go for a walk by yourself, walking leisurely and only stopping to see something, which tickles your areas of interest.
In case you are keen to enjoy Oahu the way a local does, spend more time outside Waikiki.Explore all or some of the points of interest as mentioned above and you would know why Hawaii is called a paradise on earth. If you found this article interesting you can check out Taj Mahal photos.