Oah'u // #theonewhereweallgotoHawaii

Hawai'i Posts
Oah'u // #theonewhereweallgotoHawaii
Kaua'i // Coconut Coast + North
Kaua'i // Favorite Memory + Hike
Kaua'i // The Na Pali Coast
Kaua'i // Hiking Highs
Kaua'i // South + West

Last October, on a chilly autumn afternoon, the fare sale war started. Twitter notifications alerted us that Delta was having a huge sale fare to Hawai'i from certain United hubs across the country. Then, two hours later, United matched that sale fare from some of the Delta hubs across the country. Game on.

The United fares from MSP-HNL were $397 per person round trip, a crazy good deal to paradise from the Midwest. The only other time (aside from the $90 mistake fares towards the end of December) we had ever seen them that low was in 2010, when we booked tickets at $470 round trip for our first anniversary. The fall 2013 sales lasted about 20 hours, and in that time, we along with seven other friends decided to vacation together. It was a risk booking flights 10 months out, and a few months later, two of our friends had to change plans for a family wedding (and were missed dearly on this trip!).

In the months preceding the fare sale, we had talked loosely about taking a vacation somewhere together, but never in our wildest dreams did we imagine Hawai'i would be the destination. It was so much fun to plan a trip together, and we would do it all again in a heartbeat. To be able to spend a week or so together, as friends living life together was so much fun. And in true Friends style, we used #theonewhereweallgotoHawaii to document the adventures on Instagram. But in all seriousness, we are so thankful for the time we were able to spend and grow together with this group.

"True friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken, fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get a friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are, they'll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control it and manage it and manufacture it, then it's something else, but if it's really love, really friendship, it's a little scary around the edges." -Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines

The first three days of the trip were spent on Oah'u, and we packed in as much as possible. Our days were filled with hikes and beaches and the rental SUV to capacity with luggage.

The first night, we (Adam, Nick, Peter, Matt, and I) flew in and stayed at the Hyatt Place Waikiki thanks to Pete's Ultimate Rewards points (12,000 points). 

Jared and Skyler flew in the next evening, and we stayed two nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach. Adam and I each had two free weekend nights to use which worked out well to have two rooms right next to one another. 

The property was huge! We kept busy and sadly, did not have a chance to even use the pools or get to Waikiki. We did however frequent the Starbucks in the mornings for breakfast (each room got a $20 credit to use each day because of Hilton Gold Status), and the views of the city from the balcony were pretty incredible too.

☼ Sunken Island in Kaneohe Bay

One of our (the Kramers) favorite things to do on Oah'u is to kayak out to this sandbar about a mile off the coast at low tide (rentals here). Backed by the Ko'olau Mountain Range, the sandbar is about 1 mile wide and 3 miles long, the perfect place to play, swim, and toss around a frisbee. 

☼ Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail

As much as we would have loved to hike the Stairway to Heaven or Haiku Stairs, we decided against it as the hike is still technically closed, requires getting up at 2 a.m. to avoid the guard stationed at the trailhead and there are fines if you get caught. We did learn that there is a legal hike on the other side that brings you to the same viewpoint, but after seeing videos and images, the trail and height kind of freaked me out. Seriously, Google it. This hike looks absolutely sick and intriguing all at the same time.

Anyways, we opted to play it safe and hike the Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail instead. Parking is on the street in a residential area, and it was a nice 4 miles round trip with 2,000 foot elevation gain. The views were beautiful and although the top was cloud-covered, I would do it all over again. 

On clear days, Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i can be seen at the top. We just saw clouds that day.

☼ Koko Head

In 2011, we started this hike, but Matt had a horrible migraine caused by a combination of not drinking enough water and not applying enough sunscreen. This was the hike that eluded him last time, and Matt was so ready to conquer it this time around.

When we finished the Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail, we were ready to hike nearby Koko Head right away. It is pretty much straight up for 0.75 miles and 1,200 feet to the top. Pretty sure Pete thought we were crazy for doing these hikes back-to-back, but it was so worth it. Thanks for your patience with us Pete!

1,048 steps later taking in this view.

☼ Diamond Head

The next morning, we started the first full day as a group hiking Diamond Head, after Starbucks of course.     

It is only .7 miles up with 760 feet of elevation gain, but the views of Honolulu and the Crater are spectacular from here.

☼ Driving around the Island.

We spent the rest of the day driving around the island and making stops along the way, before ending at a luau on the leeward side.

Rock formations and waves on the southeastern side of the island.

Taking in the windward views at Makapu'u Lookout.

We did stop at Bellows Beach (open to the general public on the weekends), but it was closed for military training that day. I would have loved to spend some time at the beautiful windward beaches (Bellows, Kailua, or Lanikai), but we were running short on time to make it fully around the island and to the evening luau.

Cheesesteaks at Pepper's Place in Kailua for lunch.

A stop at Goodwill to pick-up Hawaiian shirts and a boogie board.

☼ Waimea Bay

Matt and I loved this beach and the turquoise water the last time we were here in the spring months. This time around, it was nothing to write home about. I love the palm trees here, but the water and waves, or lack-there-of were no fun this time around. It was by far the calmest water I have seen here ever, and no surfers in sight. Come winter, it will be unrecognizable with huge swells compared to the calmer months.

☼ Laniakean Beach 

We were on a mission to spot the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles or Honu a least once while in the islands. Success!

Skyler loves these beauties as much as I do!

Jared got some excellent footage as well thanks to the Go Pro.

☼ Germaine's Luau

To end the day, we celebrated and feasted together as Ohana. I can still taste the pork, smell the ocean, hear the island beats, and feel the cool breeze, all memories etched in my mind now.

Jared rocked the hula and the coconut bra.

☼ Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S Arizona Memorial

With every visit, we continue to learn more about this day and World War II. There is so much to read and see here, and the reminder of it all cultivates a heart of gratitude and patriotism for the country in which we live. Never forget. This day and the men who perished. And the many others that have followed since. We are all in this together.

Lunch at Costco. Definitely not healthy, but quick and cost-effective. 

☼ Halona Beach Cove or Cockroach Cove

It's no secret that we LOVE swimming holes and places tucked away. This place is just that. At the Halona Blowhole lookout turn-off, this little pocket of sand and sea is tucked into a cove. Since it was summer, it was safer to swim close to shore, and we had a blast cooling down in the ocean and jumping off the rocks into the water before catching an early evening flight to Kaua'i.

Aloha until next time Oah'u. 

And Mahalo Skyler for some of these pictures.