Hawaii 🌺 | Oahu Honolulu Self-Driving Travel Guide

Your first stop in Hawaii is Honolulu Airport 🛬, located on Oahu—the most bustling and commercialized of the Hawaiian islands. It offers great shopping and food, but be aware of traffic jams! Remember to allow extra time when heading to pre-booked attractions. 👍🏻 Highly Recommend: Kualoa Ranch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not only can you experience the movie scenes from Jurassic Park 🦖, but there are also plenty of fun activities like horseback riding and ATV adventures. The landscape ranges from dense tropical rainforests to open valleys, blue coastlines, and white sandy beaches—scenery is incredibly layered throughout the drive. For a more relaxed visit, opt for the Movie Tour package (90 minutes). The guides are humorous and full of fun facts! 👍🏻 Waikiki Main Street ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Some say it’s overly commercialized, but it gives major California vibes—lined with tall palm trees 🌴 and luxury brand stores. Walking down this street feels like stepping into an episode of Sex and the City 🛍️. Perfect for some retail therapy! The little garden inside the Royal Hawaiian Center is also beautiful. This street is packed with great food. Highly recommend this brunch spot: 🥣 Island Vintage Coffee Waikiki Went back twice! ✅ Their brunch series—Panini with shrimp and avocado, and black truffle eggs Benedict—are delicious. ❌ Skip the Hawaii honey latte… way too sweet! Prices in the U.S. have risen post-pandemic, and brunch/coffee here cost 2-3 times more than in China, but this place is worth it—at least it’s tasty! 👍🏻 Pearl Harbor ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Even if you’re not a military enthusiast, visiting Pearl Harbor brings world history books to life. Highly recommend the USS Missouri Memorial 🛳️—you can board this legendary battleship that took part in WWII, the Korean War, the Iraq War, and witnessed Japan’s surrender in WWII. Allow at least one hour to explore. The ship is enormous, like a mini-city that hosted over 2,000 people living, dining, working, and fighting. Well-preserved areas include living quarters, kitchens, rest areas, and combat zones—it’s impressive even for non-military folks. Other places you can consider based on your schedule: 📍 Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden – Drive-through only 🚗🌴. The entrance has a mysterious tropical vibe, but the route is short and you can’t stop. 📍 Diamond Head – Great for hiking ⛰️. The summit offers panoramic views of the city and ocean. 📍 Halona Blowhole Lookout – Spectacular wave views 🌊 📍 Enjoy shopping? Check out the outlets and Costco. But luxury goods in the U.S. aren’t the best value anymore—price increases and no tax refund make it less appealing than Europe. 📍 Hanauma Bay – We didn’t manage to get a booking 😢 Tips 🥥 Parking on Oahu is the most complicated and expensive among the Hawaiian islands. Recommend downloading the Park Smarter app—you can find parking spots and extend parking time right from your phone. #Hawaii #Honolulu #Oahu #HawaiiTravel #HawaiianFood