O‘ahu 7D6N Auntie-Level Guide

🌺🏝️Print, screenshot, or tattoo this – it’s the Cliff-Notes to a flawless Hawai‘i first-timer week. 🏨 WHERE TO SLEEP Surf bums: Waikiki Marriott (quieter south end, board rental desk). IG addicts: Waikiki Westin – infinity pool faces Diamond Head, sunrise selfies on tap. Secret beach flex: Kahala Resort – Jennie-sand, 15 min Uber, private cove, same $$$ as beach-front big brands. 🏖️ BEACH BREAKDOWN Waikiki: surf schools, people-watch, DO NOT snorkel (sand + board fins = zero fish). Lanikai: powder-white + turquoise, sunrise slot (fewer crowds, cooler temps). Kailua next-door: actual reef, bring old bread – fish swarm you like Studio Ghibli. Tip: both Kailua/Lanikai parking is resident-only before 10 a.m. – Uber or TheBus from Ala Moana. 🤿 PLAYTIME (book before you pack!) Dolphin swim 🐬 – Indigo Ocean Hawaii (small boat, local captain, 90 % encounter rate). Hanauma Bay snorkel – reserve entry slot online 48 hrs ahead, arrive 7 a.m. line-free. Surf 101 🏄 – Moku Surfing (10 min cab), 2-hr lesson, stand-up rate 95 %, $100 incl. board. Parasail 🪂 – Hawaii Parasail (800 ft line), dip optional, Go-Pro mount ready. Skydive ✈️ – Skydive Hawaii (14 k ft, 60 sec free-fall), pick morning slot = fewer clouds. Jurassic Park tour 🎬 – Kualoa Ranch; book DIRECT (3rd-party resellers = no refund). 💝 SHOP TILL YOU DROP (tax 4 % only!) ABC Stores – every block = souvenir heaven. Must-haves: black-shell Hello Kitty, $1 shell necklace (cheaper than Temu!), island colour sarong (collect all hues). Luxury row – Royal Hawaiian Center & T Galleria Tiffany & HW special editions, ask Chinese-speaking SA for extra gift-wrap. 🍜 FEED ME LIST Marukame Udon – curry beef udon, tempura on the side, queue moves fast. Island Vintage Coffee – açaí bowl, soy sauce compatible. Maguro Spot – poke bowl to-go, no line before 11 a.m. Blue Water Shrimp – garlic-butter shrimp plate, beach-bench dining. Kona Coffee – grocery store bags <$8, airport price double. Nana’s Green Tea – ube & hojicha soft-serve, IG colour-pop. 🚌 GETTING AROUND TheBus app = $3 day pass, exact change only. Uber/Lyft plentiful except 3-5 p.m. hotel shift change. Turo convertibles = $60/day – circle-island wind-in-hair content. 🌅 One-Week Flow Day 1 land ➜ check-in ➜ sunset Waikiki + Marukame udn Day 2 sunrise Lanikai ➜ Kailua swim ➜ drive-around east coast shrimp truck Day 3 dolphin boat ➜ Vintage Coffee ➜ parasail Day 4 Hanauma Bay 7 a.m. ➜ Kualoa afternoon Day 5 sky-dive ➜ luxury shopping ➜ Blue Water shrimp dinner Day 6 chill beach ➜ ABC haul ➜ luau or sunset sail Day 7 coffee last look ➜ airport 2 hrs early (TSA PreCheck line moves). Pack light, shop heavy, book early, cancel never. Have the best week of your life – Auntie out. #US #Hawaii #Honolulu