Travel: O'ahu, Hawai'i

O'ahu is one of the most popular spots to visit in Hawaii. In fact, when you say "Hawaii" to someone, it is almost always the white sandy beaches of Waikiki that come to mind.

Hawaii is comprised of 8 main islands, O'ahu being the most popular tourist destination. Honolulu is its largest city (and state capital) and occupies the southeast corner of the island. Near Honolulu, you will find the famous Waikiki Beach, extending from the Ala Wai Canal all the way to Diamond Head.

Other must-sees on O'ahu include Hanauma Bay, which is a perfect spot for snorkeling; the Dole Pinapple Plantation, not to mention the many private organizations offering an evening at a luau (I personally recommend Germaine's).

Hanauma Bay

Located just east of Honolulu, Hanauma Bay is a prime spot for snorkeling. This area is so popular, that at one point it was seeing up to 3 million visitors per year! The best time to go is in the early morning, or early afternoon, as they close the bay to visitors once the parking lot is full.

After paying a nominal fee of about $5-10 and viewing a short educational film about how to properly interact with the reef and wildlife, visitors are free to snorkel to their heart's content. Snorkel equipment can be rented right on the beach, and there is a gift shop which sells water-proof cameras, so don't forget to buy one before heading down the hill! And make sure you wear plenty of water-proof sunblock; you would by surprised how quickly time passes when you are absorbed in the beauty of the Bay.

The Dole Plantation

If you visit the Dole Plantation, do not leave without sampling some of the pinapple icecream! With a chunk of pinapple as garnish, I can honestly say I have never tasted anything like it, before or since.

The Dole Plantation offers a walking tour as well as a 2 mile train tour of the working plantation. And make sure you check out the garden maze! This is the world's largest maze (I'm proud to say that I completed it in just over 1 hour!) and promises fun for visitors of any age.

The Luau

Experience the history of pacific islanders at a Luau. I can only speak from my experience, so here is a run-down of the way Germaine's Luau is put together:

After being bussed to a remote location on the coast, we began the evening by the traditional presentation of the kalua pig, which is a pig roasted in an imu (underground oven) all day. This began with torches being lit and the conch shell blower announcing the arrival of the "King and Queen" of Hawaii, who were there to officially open the Luau. After the presentation of the kalua pig, we all made our way to the dinning area and enjoyed a great traditional Hawaiian meal. After the meal, their was a presentation of traditional dances- ranging from Hawaiian style, to Tahitian dance, dance from Fiji, as well as fire dancers. The entire evening was spectacular-- definitely something you don't want to miss if you are a first timer in Hawaii. One last thing- try the poi. You may not like it, but if you're going to go to a luau, you can't leave without trying it!

Other places you may want to visit:
-North shore: great for surfing and the beaches aren't as crowded as the ones in Honolulu and Waikiki
-Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial: Check out a bit of American war-time history at these sites
-The Honolulu Zoo: A short walk down from the stretch of hotels in Honolulu and a good way to spend an afternoon
-Waimea Falls Park: If you come during a dry season (as I did) the fall might not be running- but the gardens are still beautiful and definitely something to check out with your sweetheart.

Also, if you have the time, take a trip to some of the surrounding islands. A friend of mine, who lived on O'ahu and honeymooned on Kauai said the difference was like night and day. O'ahu, although still a great vacation spot, has become very commercialized and the smaller and less popular islands offer a more traditional Hawaiian experience.

One last tip: If you are staying in Honolulu or Waikiki, don't rent a car-- you can get a cheap one-day car rental if you want to travel out of town, but parking in Honolulu is scarce and expensive and you can walk just about anywhere.