Our two days in O’ahu, Hawaii, were an amazing start to our mum-daughter trip around the world. The island welcomed us with its jaw-dropping landscapes, idyllic beaches, and the warmest aloha spirit. I’ve got the best vivid memories of Kaydes playing at different beaches, her glee filling the air.
From the busy touristy streets of Waikiki, to the tranquil shores of the East Shore, every moment was filled with awe and excitement. Another great take-away was seeing a turtle very up close – never expected that, but it was magical! 🐢
So if this sounds like your thing, then read ahead and copy our trip, to do your own take of our adventures!
There’s also a handy map at the end.
Copy our Trip: Day 1
Morning: Arriving and Exploring Waikiki
Fortunately, we landed in O’ahu early in the morning, so I was eager to make the most of our short stay. We scored an early check-in at the OUTRIGGER, so we were able to nap for a few hours. I absolutely recommend staying here, its location, room size and hospitality were stellar! I go into it a bit more here.
After refreshing ourselves, we decided to explore the beautiful Waikiki Beach, taking in the stunning views and watching the surfers ride the waves.
Next was the nearby International Marketplace, where we admired the magnificent banyan trees! It’s also a great pitstop for food, and Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar hit the spot.
Afternoon: Ka’a’awa Beach
When researching for our Hawaii trip, I came across Flying the Nest’s vlog, and loved the look of Ka’a’awa Beach that they swam at! Needless to say it quickly joined our ‘must-go’ list, and I took us out there day 1!
As I can’t drive, we took an Uber there, but with plans to bus back later.
We had THE BEST afternoon there. The scenery is just to die for, with the absolutely perfect tall palm trees swaying in the breeze, the Ko’Olau ranges looking so lush, and then the glorious ocean lapping on to the golden shore. I know that’s adjective galore, but it really is just impossibly gorgeous! 😍
Kaydes enjoyed playing with sand, but mostly her sunscreen bottle more lol!
Afterwards we wandered more into the township of Ka’a’awa. At Coconut Guy and Girls, I treated us to some shave ice, a must-try in Hawaii. While I am a sweet tooth, it was a bit too sweet for my taste.
Evening: Kewalo Basin, Diamond Head and Fireworks
We then took the local bus back to Honolulu’s Kewalo Basin Marina. It was such a bonus to see Moorish Idol fish, and other tropical fish there! There’s a lovely park there too, where we enjoyed Waikiki views.
I deliberated about staying there for sunset, but I knew that I was running out of time to see ‘everything’, so we took a (cheaper!) Uber to Diamond Head Lighthouse and surrounds to catch the breathtaking sunset.
I walked/pushed Kaydes in her pram back to Waikiki, enjoying the dusk and watching surfers come in.
We ended Day 1, with the thrilling Friday night fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village. The vibrant bursts of colour lighting up the night sky were a spectacular sight, creating a magical end to our first day. Then back to the Hotel to crash out!
Copy our Trip: Day 2
Morning: Hilton Lagoon
Our second day began with a fun-filled morning at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon. The calm, shallow waters were perfect for Kaydes to splash around safely. Highly recommend for parents with young kids.
Mid-morning, we got another Uber to take us to Hale’iwa on the North Shore of O’ahu. Again, it was a little out of reach, so I reasoned that we would bus back again later.
Afternoon: Hale’iwa
I loved the little surfed-up town. It was a Saturday when we visited, so it was quite busy, but we still enjoyed lunch out at one of the restaurants, before going turtle spotting!
I originally was going to walk/push us to a beach that turtles liked, but it was around an hour away one-way. So I chatted to one of the waitresses, and she mentioned that Hale’iwa Beach Park can be really good.
And it really was! We went to the point, and I looked in the ocean and saw around 3 of them being pushed around by the waves. Then someone pointed out to one sleeping on the beach. So we quickly jaunted off to see it closer, and I loved how Kaydes could say ‘turtle’! It was a lot more than the last time she saw them in New Caledonia!
It was a truly memorable experience, and Kaydes was thrilled to see these gentle creatures up close.
Then it was sadly time for us to head back to Waikiki, to get ready for our red-eye flight to Seattle. The OUTRIGGER very kindly let us use a room to shower and refresh in.
I put our videos together and popped the vlog up on YouTube, and you can watch it here.
Have you visited O’ahu or planning to? Would you copy our trip?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! 🌴✨
Lore & Tempo is where motherhood meets adventure. I’m Ren – storyteller, explorer, and single mum in Wellington, New Zealand. I’ve been lucky enough to wander through 45 countries. 15 of them with my +1, Kaydes, either strapped to my front, on my hip, or running ahead on her own adventures. I created this space to share single parent life, travel tips, and the joy of exploring the world.
