A Self-Care Vacation in O’ahu Hawaii
When you get invited to Hawaii, it’s hard to pass up. So when our friends decided to get married in O’ahu I started to plan. I had never been to O’ahu but I had been to Maui and from my past experience, Hawaii is an amazing place to recharge and enjoy nature. If you are looking for self-care vacation ideas, then Hawaii is a perfect place to start!
We traveled to O’ahu in March and I was told that it was more city-like than Maui, and they were right. I was caught off guard by how many tall buildings there were and that there were chickens everywhere! We stayed in Waikiki along with the rest of the wedding guests but had the opportunity to visit other parts of the island. Here are my first impressions of the areas we visited and some of the stops that I would recommend if you are planning a trip to this area.
Waikiki
This area was a great place to stay for something like a wedding. We stayed in an Airbnb that was part of a hotel and was two blocks from the beach. This was great as we were able to walk down to the main strip to eat or walk the coastline. The Waikiki Beach main strip is filled with shops, restaurants, and hotels, and is very walkable. It is very touristy with an ABC store on every corner, but the easy access was really nice. Here are some of the places we checked out that I would recommend:
Maui Brewing - a great spot to hang with friends with live music and shuffleboard.
Moana Surfrider Westin Resort - This historic site was the first hotel built on the island, it is beautiful to walk through. We relaxed out on the back patio in rocking chairs in front of a large beautiful banyan tree.
Furusato Sushi - a great sushi spot!
Breakfast at Dukes
Leonard’s Bakery for delicious donuts!
Goofy Cafe and Dine - delicious breakfast!
Island Vintage Coffee
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Kono’s - breakfast burritos!
North Shore
We did take a day trip to drive towards North Shore and made stops at a coffee farm and the Dole Plantation. The Green World Coffee Farm was small but had a big selection of different types of coffees, which made for great souvenirs and gifts for family members.
The Dole Plantation was our next stop and it was rather touristy. We did get a dole whip which is always delicious. It seemed like there were some fun activities like a botanical garden and a train tour but they cost extra and we weren’t in the mood to spend the money. I am sure those activities might have made it more worth it if you were willing to pay for them.
We then stopped in the town of Hale’iwa and grabbed some lunch. This was a cute area with shops and places to eat. I would have spent more time there if we had it. We finally made it to the North Shore beach and it was beautiful. I find it really calming to sit at the beach and this beach was breathtaking. I could have spent hours there but we had to head back for dinner plans.
Kualoa Ranch
Our friends got married at Kualoa Ranch and it was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to. It was a gorgeous part of the island and it fits what I usually think of when I think of Hawaii, lush green and beautiful ocean views. We decided to return to this spot to take a movie tour. This ranch has been the filming location for many movies and TV shows including Jurassic World, Lost, and 50 First Dates. This tour was fantastic! We had an amazing tour guide and she took us all around the property sharing the filming spots, and allowed us to walk around and take photos. This was by far one of my favorite activities of the trip. I highly recommend taking a tour here! There are many different types of tours, so check them out and choose one that fits your interests.
Chinatown
We didn’t get to spend much time in this area but we found a Tiki Bar called Skull and Crown Trading. We celebrated our last night here. The food was great and the drinks were beautiful! As we walked around there were many shops and restaurants. It looked like an interesting part of town and I would totally visit it if I went back.
Self-Care in O’ahu
Hawaii is a perfect place to prioritize self-care. The location is beautiful and will immediately provide some “Space” wellness. Here are some other ways to make this a great self-care vacation . . .
Physical Wellness
Go on a hike - there are many local hikes but a popular one is the Ehukai Pillbox Hike
Eat some healthy foods - the area is known for its fish and their smoothie bowls
Get a massage
Go snorkeling or scuba diving
Do yoga on the beach
Emotional/Mental Wellness
Take a walk on the beach or sit somewhere and watch the ocean
Visit the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Visit your hotel’s spa for a service
Spend a day at North Shore
Social Wellness
Grab drinks and meet new people at Maui Brewing
Go on a sunset sail
Go on a tour like at Kualoa Ranch
Walk the Waikiki beach strip
Educational Wellness
Read up on the Hawaiian culture - I did this as we arrived and was fascinated with the history of the island
Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center
Visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Learn something new like surfing or Hula
Attend a Hula performance
Overall, I left Hawaii feeling recharged and questioning if it was possible to move to Hawaii. Hawaii is a great place to visit to get away and improve your overall wellness. It’s a great family trip, solo trip, romantic trip, and this time a great group trip. I would visit O’ahu in the future when I’m feeling the need for a self-care vacation!