Each year since 1986, if and when the conditions are just right, the Eddie Aikau surf meet is held at Waimea on Oahu’s North Shore.
Although famed for its big waves, only when there promises to be truly monster surf does the event come together and big wave surfers from all over join the locals in competing in this event. Unlike other big wave competition which allow for surfers to be towed into the waves, competitors here must paddle themselves out through the waves. The result is what many call the purest big wave surfing event around.
It can be hard for outsiders to catch this event — while regularly falling in January, the actual date is determined each year by wave conditions. The 2009/2010 event was held in mid-December and won by Greg Long. But visitors to Hawaii should probably always think about a visit to the North Shore as part of their itinerary. The big draw is the waves, but among other sites there is the North Shore Surf Museum and the pristine Waimea Valley. Both are included in the cost of a Go Oahu Card which is worth picking up no matter what part of Oahu you plan on visiting.
There are some amazing photos and video available of the most recent Eddie Aikau competitions and past events on Quicksilver site.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
Anyone visiting Oahu that wants to stretch their legs a bit should be sure not to miss the Manoa Valley. Although just a short trip from the hotels of Waikiki, you’ll feel worlds away as the trail takes you into the rainforest.
This hike is relatively easy and a great way to get into the Hawaiian Rainforest. Hikers are rewarded with views of a 150 foot waterfall in addition to the giant ferns, bamboo, and guava that grace the trail. Many visitors have said it feel like a throwback to the Hawaii of old.
Hikers are advised to remember that this is a rain forest, so although the trek is not very demanding, proper footwear is a good idea. Don’t wear anything that you would mind if its gets wet or muddy. Trails.com has an overview of the hike here.
Call 808-692-6399 to arrange a pick up from your hotel for the ride to the trail head, where you’ll be provided with water, binoculars, and snacks for the trail. The cost is $29.95 or it is free with you Go Oahu Card.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
Head to downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown every first Friday of the month and dive deep into Oahu’s vibrant art scene. At each “First Friday” you can interact with local artists and artisans sharing their work.
From paintings to powerful cultural exhibits, you’ll get to see a diverse sampling of Hawaii’s artists. Art galleries open their doors with exhibits, free entertainment, and light refreshments. There are numerous restaurants and bars open offering great food and live music. Discover a buzz of activity in the streets of Chinatown where people from all over Oahu come to see what’s new on the local art scene.
First Friday runs from 5pm to 9pm, so its a perfect way to wind up your day using a Go Oahu Card. See the First Friday website for all the latest on what’s happening at the next First Friday.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
Hey everyone, I’m beginning to upload videos all over the internet about the Go Card. You can find them on YouTube, Flickr, and other popular sites. We’re not going to make you scour the web, though. I’ll post them right here! Check out this video about the Makani Catamaran.The promotional footage they gave us included some cheesy background commercial that I also heard on the television in a commercial for acne treatment. No way was I going to use the same music, especially since we’re only posting these videos to the internet. If you liked the video, leave a comment, or check out other Go Card videos at our YouTube page.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
I admit it: when I heard about the 6th annual Waikiki Spam Jam, I pictured an angry mob of people complaining about the amount of junk in their email boxes. Au contraire, fellow travelers…
Spam Jam actually celebrates Hawaii’s love for that iconic canned meat product (Hawaii consumes almost seven million cans of Spam every year!). Last year’s festivities attracted over 20,000 people. This year’s event run 4 pm to 10 pm on Saturday, May 3. There’s a canned food drive, live entertainment, and a Mr./Ms. Spam Hawaii contest. Sounds like fun!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
Register as an individual walker, team, or join an existing team and help raise funds for HIV prevention and the Life Foundation, Hawaii’s oldest and largest AIDS organization. Head over to the bandstand for registration at 8 am on the day of the race and be ready to start walking at 9 am sharp.
You can also register ahead of time online, as well as donate to the AIDS walk on their site. Here’s to helping out a great cause that’s as easy and fun as a walk in the park!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
As an island out in the Pacific, Hawaii has a history and culture that are drastically different from the rest of the United States. Hawaii is one of only three U.S. states that were indepedent before joining (or being annexed by) the United States. It’s also the home to the only official state residence of royalty in the United States.
Iolani Palace is a designated historic landmark that has been lovingly restored and maintained by the people of Hawaii. Built in 1882, it was the official residence of the last two Hawaiian monarchs, King King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani. Volunteer guides take you through this grand historic building and tell stories from Hawaii’s royal past.
Hawaii Maritime Center traces Hawaii’s seaside history from its discovery by Polynesian navigators over 1,500 years ago to its whaling history to the present day. Visitors will find exhibits on the history of surfing, canoe racing, and more. They can also step aboard The Falls of Clyde, which is one the most famous ships in Hawaii’s history.
Queen Emma Summer Palace in lush Nuuanu Valley is the former home of Queen Emma, consort of King Kamehameha IV. It was built on the East Coast, then transported around Cape Horn by ship and assembled in Hawaii in 1848. Here you’ll see artifacts, furnishings, and personal items from the royal families of Hawaii.
What’s your favorite Oahu attraction? Leave a comment, and let us know!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
This is part 2 in a series of blog posts recounting my recent trip to Oahu. Catch up on part 1 here.
Relaxed and rejuvenated after a romantic Valentine’s dinner the previous night, the boyfriend and I headed to Iolani Palace and took the grand tour in the morning. Our volunteer tour guide Leilani was the perfect example of Hawaiian hospitality. She took tremendous pride in taking us around the palace and shared stories from Hawaii’s history (she even had some ancestors who worked in the palace).
Next we walked over to Makani Catamaran for their afternoon sail (note that this was a rather long walk, but we enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air). The crew served us lunch and drinks as we coasted along the coast of Oahu. We saw several dolphins and whales, but they moved too quickly for us to get a good photo! The best part was lying on the deck and feeling the sun and ocean breezes against my skin. They even had one part of the deck that is open netting so you can see (and feel) the water beneath.
Next we took TheBus back to our hotel to get ready for Germaine’s Luau. Our guide played the ukulele on the bus ride over, and the sunset was one of the best we saw on the entire trip. I also have to say that I enjoyed the vast selection of tropical drinks! All in all, a fun way to experience a Hawaiian luau.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
There will be an amateur competition with cowboys, cowgirls, keiki, and kapuna. Along with all the rodeo fun, there’ll be tons of a local food vendors with delicious snacks to try, as well as entertainment and handmade crafts.
The festival will be running from 12-5 pm on both days and is free to the public.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
For the eight remaining weeks of shows (unless the writer’s strike ends…), get together and share your love of the show with locals and tourists alike. We’d like to thank our friends over at the Hawaii Blog for posting about this new event.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
Kapiolani Park Photo uploaded by 
