Hawaiian Holiday

Time for a holiday in the sun!

Upon arriving in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, my mom and dad surprised my brother and I with a ride in a limo to our hotel! What a glamorous way to start my celebratory trip (I had just graduated from high school)!

A young woman with glasses, wearing a lei, sitting inside a vehicle, smiling and holding a smartphone in her hand.
View of clouds and sunset seen from an airplane window, with part of the aircraft's engine and wing visible.

Time at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort…

  • Silhouettes of tall palm trees against a sunset sky with light clouds.
  • Woman standing on a sandy beach during sunset, holding a drink, with people and sailboats in the background.
  • Pizza with green bell peppers, mushrooms, chicken, and cheese in a cardboard box.
  • Tall palm trees with green fronds against a clear blue sky near a high-rise building with balconies.
  • A person holding a disposable white coffee cup with a brown sleeve, outdoors with green foliage in the background.
  • A hotel with multiple floors surrounded by palm trees, with a pool in the foreground where people are swimming, and a clear blue sky overhead.

Of course, as soon as we could, we had to dive into the Hawaiian waters. Absolutely in awe by the fact that I was really in Hawaii, a place I had longed to visit for many, many years (watching the episodes of Full House that were set in Hawaii and Hawaii Five-O, made my urge to visit the island even more prominent). Our first dip happened to have a view of the infamous Diamond Head (mountain).

Beach scene with a tall white building on the left, palm trees, people walking by the shoreline, and a mountain in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A young woman with red hair in a blue swimsuit standing in the ocean close to the shore with a hotel and palm trees in the background on a sunny day.
Beachside scene with sandy pathway and lush green plants in the foreground, calm water with paddleboarders in the middle ground, and tall modern buildings with palm trees against a bright blue sky with a few clouds in the background.

The following day, we decided to head out and explore (more like shop). Walking distance from our hotel, was the shopping street, “Kalakaua Avenue” of Waikiki. The street was lined with designer names, ABC stores (if you know, you know) and places to eat. Here we experienced our first Cheesecake Factory… WOW! If you’re from America, or have been to one in the States, then you’ll know that it’s not just a place that sells cheesecake, but a restaurant that offers pages and pages of delicious meals, to satisfy every palette.

  • A tropical outdoor scene with palm trees, a decorated Christmas tree, and a stone-paved walkway, with people strolling in the background.
  • Person holding a Starbucks coffee cup with a decorative sleeve, pink and white orchids on a dark table, and another coffee cup in the background.
  • Street signs for Kalakaua Avenue and Ilikai Street against a backdrop of a tall white residential building, palm trees, streetlights, and traffic lights on a sunny day with clear blue sky.
  • A woman in a pink polka dot shirt, white skirt, and sunglasses standing under a sign that reads 'International Market Place' with additional text about 100 shops and restaurants. She is smiling and posing with her arms outstretched in front of a decorative entrance surrounded by large plants and trees.
  • A large decorated Christmas tree outdoors in a shopping center plaza, with ornaments, ribbons, and a top decoration, surrounded by tropical palm trees and modern buildings.
  • Entrance to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant with decorative archway, gold accents, and open doors.
  • Display of various jewelry items including necklaces, bracelets, and flowers at a market stall.
  • A city street lined with tall palm trees, high-rise buildings, and a walking path on a sunny day.

Something on our “to do” list for this trip, was to visit Kualoa Ranch. This ranch is known as a great filming location due to its stunning, rich greenery and mountainous surroundings. Hawaii Five-O, Jurassic World and 50 First Dates are only a few popular shows/movies that have been filmed there. Our tour of the ranch was not your typical one, we explored driving ATVs… so fun!!

  • A wooden sign with the words 'Kualoa Ranch' in front of lush green bushes and purple flowers, with towering green mountains under a partly cloudy sky in the background.
  • Close-up of a brown horse with a bridle, with lush green mountains and blue sky with clouds in the background.
  • A vehicle driving on a winding road through a lush green valley with mountains in the background and palm trees on the right side. Located at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii.
  • A palm tree leaning over a fence with a view of the ocean and blue sky in the background.
  • A hand making a shaka sign in front of a lush green valley with mountains under a cloudy sky.
  • A black Kawasaki utility terrain vehicle (UTV) parked on a dirt surface in a lush, green, mountainous landscape.
  • A young woman standing outdoors on a grassy area with mountains, water, and cloudy sky in the background.

After a picturesque drive, we arrived at the place where surfers from around the world go (the North Shore of Oahu). One thing about Oahu, is you can drive around the entire island in only a few hours, which is great for a day trip. We spent the day driving and exploring… so beautiful!!

North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii
View of a suburban neighborhood with houses, greenery, and mountains in the background under a blue sky with some clouds, taken from a moving vehicle on a highway.
  • Hand holding a bag of Aloha Aloha Pineapple Glazed Cashews with the label visible, showing 3 ounces net weight and a green banner indicating it is made in Hawaii.
  • Signboard titled Pineapple Variety Garden with information about pineapple varieties in a garden with small pineapple plants.
  • A woman standing on the side step of a silver Jeep parked near a lake with green mountains and a blue sky in the background.
  • Signboard for Leonard's bakery with directional signs for malasadas, pão-doce, and customer parking, located near a street with cars and pedestrians.
  • A person holds a donut with powdered sugar and a small dollop of butter inside. There are two more donuts on a napkin, one sliced open, showing its soft interior. A pink coffee cup is in the background.

The Pearl Harbour National Memorial is one of the most popular and well-known spots on the island of Oahu. It was lovely to see the way the island showed respect to an important part of history. We also stopped at the Pearl Harbour Aviation Museum.

A young woman with curly red hair in a blue tank top and denim shorts standing next to a sign that reads 'Pearl Harbor National Memorial' at sunset, with a building and palm trees in the background.
A large military ship with antennas and radar equipment docked in port under a clear blue sky.
Aerospace control tower with red and white stripes, small airplane replica with military star emblem, palm trees, and clear blue sky.
A woman walking towards a large military battleship in a sunny outdoor setting, with the sun shining brightly in the sky and a palm tree on the right side.
View from a boat showing the wake in water and a naval ship near the horizon under a clear blue sky.

For the final leg of our tropical vacation, we spent a few days staying at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. It was extremely exciting for us, since we’re Disney fans.

Our time at Aulani was spent sitting next to the pool, tubing down water slides, stand-up paddle boarding and of course attending a luau. The luau was amazing! From the food to the performances (even the activities)… we enjoyed it very very much.

A tall hotel building with balconies and wooden railings, surrounded by palm trees and green foliage under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A young woman with curly red hair, glasses, wearing a brown floral top and a necklace, smiling and holding a blue-green cocktail with a straw at an outdoor restaurant or gathering.
  • A woman standing on a balcony during sunset with decorative string lights and greenery, in an urban tropical setting.
  • Night view of a lit swimming pool with lounge chairs, palm trees, and a tall hotel building with warm lights in the background.
  • A young woman with curly red hair wearing a flower crown and smiling at a restaurant. She is dressed in a pink top and a cream cardigan, sitting at a table with a plate of salad and utensils. The restaurant has a cozy ambiance with white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and floral decorations.
  • A performer on a raised platform wearing a red dress and floral headpiece, dancing with arms raised, in front of an audience seated at tables with glowing candles, outdoors at night.
  • A tropical pool scene with people swimming and relaxing. Tall palm trees and lush greenery surround the pool area with lounge chairs and umbrellas, under a partly cloudy sky.
  • Indoor lobby with high, arched ceiling, large stained glass window, orange hanging lights, wooden walls, and a stone floor. Several people are walking and standing near double glass doors decorated with Christmas garlands.
  • A young woman with curly red hair, wearing a brown top, blue pants, and a black beaded necklace, smiling at an outdoor event with a tropical backdrop. In the background, are people seated at tables and a stage that resembles a wooden ship with a band performing, surrounded by palm trees.
  • Outdoor dining area with tables and chairs on grass, surrounded by tropical trees, under a clear blue sky, with a small stage or platform with a boat-shaped structure and stage lights.
  • Close-up of a cupcake decorated with a Santa hat, chocolate ears with sprinkles, and a vanilla base, held by a hand outdoors at a poolside with umbrellas and people in the background.
  • A young woman with red hair wearing a white cap and a blue floral long sleeve shirt, smiling, floats on a yellow inflatable tube in a pool surrounded by rocks and green trees, with a tall hotel building in the background.
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