Hawaii is a place I have heard a lot about and always wanted to visit. It’s renowned for its beauty and peaceful way of life. I decided for my first time experiencing Hawaii, to visit the island of Oahu and stay in the famous Waikiki Beach.

I arrived in Oahu after a 13 hour flight from NY with a layover in Dallas, Texas. Uber and Lyft both operate on the island so it was easy to have one pick me up and take me to my hotel. I chose to stay at the Hilton Waikiki Beach.

The view from my hotel room was a breathtaking scenic view of the mountains. The Hilton Waikiki Beach is a beautiful hotel with a rooftop pool and restaurant on site. The front desk is very welcoming and more than happy to give recommendations for your stay.

My first full day in Oahu was spent on a circle island tour. We visited several locations on the island to get a feel for the different parts of Oahu. I was able to experience Hanauma Bay, Valley of the Temples, and even the place where they shot Jurassic Park! We also visited the Dole Plantation, (which I loved since my favorite fruit is pineapple!)

Another day was spent at Pearl Harbor. It was sobering seeing the accounts of those who were there in the museums. The main grounds have museums and submarine tours. There is also a boat that takes you over to the USS Arizona. Before going there, we were shown a film on what happened that day, and that really put things into perspective.

Another important part of Hawaiian culture is Iolani Palace, which is a major part of Hawaiian culture, as it was the royal residence for Hawaiian rulers. You are able to go on a self-guided audio tour throughout the palace but you must take your shoes off and wear the slippers they provide to protect the floors.

You can’t visit Hawaii without attending a luau and my first one was such a fun and amazing time! The Chief’s Luau encourage visitor participation so taking pictures with the dancers, starting fires and making your own headbands were activities before the main event. The show itself was wonderful from the hula dancers, fire spinners and jokes from the Chief.

Spending a day at Waikiki Beach is a must and I did make a friend or two (Thanks Bumble!), who introduced me to Waikiki Beach day life and nightlife. From the beach itself to karaoke bars, nightlife in Waikiki is always a good time.