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If photos alone are not enough to get you to jump on a flight, once you hear all the fun things Hawaii has to offer, you will be ready to pack your bags and head to the airport.
Just about anywhere on the island, you are sure to have a beautiful view, but nothing beats the views from the top of Koko Head Trail, located in Oahu near Honolulu, it is absolutely breath taking! No, I mean it, the hike takes some work, but worth it. If the hike on the way up doesn’t leave you breathless, the views at the top will. It is a challenging hike, but you can always go at your own pace and really soak up the scenery. Lanikai pillbox Trail, also located in Oahu, has some amazing views as well and is a little easier of a hike if you want to work your way up to the Koko Head Trail. The best part is that the hike for both locations are free and open from sunrise to sunset. No matter what your schedule is, you can fit in a hike with a view.
When it comes to the beach, you really cannot go wrong with any, I mean, it is HAWAII!
If you are looking for the perfect mix of relaxation and fun, Waikiki beach is the place to be. During the day the beaches are perfect to soak up some sun or even parasail. You can grab a bite to eat at the famous Duke’s restaurant and hit the strip at night. Every Friday night they have a firework show over the water, which you really cannot compare to any other firework show you have ever seen. The adults can grab a Lava Flow and kids can chow down on Hawaii shaved ice and enjoy the show. It is one of my family’s favorite memories from when we had the pleasure to experience Hawaii ourselves.
If you want the ultimate Hawaii experience, you will want to check out Waimea Bay. You can try out some surfing, or if you are not feeling adventurous, you can watch the locals take on some waves. With surfing being the state sport, it is a given to see some surfing any day of the week. I myself couldn’t even stand on a board, but my oldest was riding in on waves by the end of her first day of trying. We both had a great time, nevertheless, and checked it off our “ must try” list for the trip.
Waimea Valley Falls is another must see if you are in the area. You hike through beautiful gardens and end up at the falls. Round trip for the hike is 3.5 miles. Don’t worry, you can stop for a swim in the falls if you want to cool off before you head back. It is great for all ages. We had children with us from the ages of 1 to 13 and they all had so much fun. It is stroller and wheelchair friendly too which was so nice. There are no reservations needed, however there is an entry fee, $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 4-12.
Not only can you swim the falls in Waimea, but you can also swim with sea turtles. You can book a private tour and make it a full day at Waimea Bay. You can get a tour of the area, swim with the turtle, and get to experience the local food all included with the tour. It is a little pricier compared to the falls, but how cool would it be to get up close and swim with the sea turtles? There was so much to do in the area we didn’t get to make the tour, so it is on our to do list for when we go back.
If you want a more relaxing beach experience, Bellows Beach is the place to go. The sand is as soft as powder and the water is like looking through glass. You can pack a cooler for the day, make a good playlist, bring a speaker, and relax. I still dream of the views we had at Bellow’s. It was unreal how beautiful and peaceful this beach was. I get jealous every time I think about people on the island being able to get off work and head to Bellow’s to end their day, what a life! It is located windward of Oahu and is part of the Air Force base on the island. It is not open to the public during the week, you would need a military ID to access the beach then, but it is open to the public on the weekend starting on Friday afternoons.
Sticking with the military theme, for those history buffs, the Pearl Harbor Memorial is another one in a lifetime experiences Hawaii has to offer. It is in Honolulu and open 7 days a week. There are several different tours you can pick from, and prices do vary depending on which you choose. It is recommended you plan ahead as spots do fill quickly daily since it is a huge tourist attraction. If you end up needing something to do to fill your time before your tour or after, once you have worked up an appetite, Honolulu has amazing food options. You must try the spam musubi while you are there. Do not let the name scare you away, it is fantastic, and you will not regret it! We made it our mission to find the best musubi while we were there. The verdict is still out on who had the best, each place had their own little twist on the dish making it impossible to decide.
If you want a break from the water, there are so many activities to do. There are coffee plantation tours, pineapple plantations tours, you can rent RTV’s for the day and explore the trails, there are ziplining courses, or even food truck parks. For me, other than the beach, getting to experience a luau at Parise Cove was my favorite activity during our trip. It was so entertaining, and you really get to enjoy the island culture this way.
To really get to experience all that the island has to offer, you need time. There is so much to do and see! If I could replan a trip back, the only thing I would change is to being there longer. I have been lucky enough to experience many vacations and trips within my life, but nothing has topped the trip to Hawaii and if you ever get the chance to visit, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
If Hawaii sounds as amazing as it is, then we want to invite you to check out our job board for our open Hawaii assignments. I know that when our travelers take assignments in paradise, they are always sending us pictures and telling us about their adventures. You can check out all the open assignments [here].
If Hawaii is not your jam, our HR specialist used to live in Colorado. She shares all of her favorite things to do along with some places to get good deals to hit the snow and have a great time while you are on your assignment in Colorado [here].
– Written by Junxion Med Staffing Lead Credentialing Specialist Macy Sas
