Oahu Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Jen is on a Journey

Find Your Perfect Beach Experience: Oahu, Hawaii

May 15, 2013 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

Back in 2011, we took our whole family to Oahu. The island had so much to offer in terms of gorgeous beaches, shopping, history, and traditional island tranquility. There were a few beaches we visited that were completely isolated short of a few locals which was a nice twist from the often busy and crowded spots in Waikiki.

One of our favorites was Kaupō Beach, near Makapuʻu at the eastern end of the island. With Rabbit Island as a back drop, we shot many photos here and our youngest loved the sand-bottom pools perfect for little ones. One other family was there and it was peaceful and warm, and just a great spot to relax after one of our drives about the island.

Here is a guide for more great beaches whether you’re traveling with your family, looking for adventure, or looking for a little romance on beautiful Oahu thanks to Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.

Summer in Hawaii: Free Things to Do on Each Island

June 19, 2012 by The Mom Jen 4 Comments

Did you know that you can enjoy many things in Hawaii on a budget or free? Whether it’s hiking, watching parades, or learning to snorkel, there’s lots to do every day. With its open-air living and open-arms hospitality, Outrigger’s Hawaii bustles with things to do that don’t cost a dime. So go ahead, take a few vacation days. You’ve earned it and we’ll help you save with our great rates on condos and hotels in all the right places. Here are some ideas from Outrigger ohana to help you plan a free itinerary on each island.

OAHU
1 Farmers Markets: There’s a farmers market open somewhere on the island nearly every day of the week. Find fresh-picked produce and locally sourced products. Browsing and sampling are free!
2 Picnic on the beach: Drive around the island to find a terrific spot for a day at the beach. Some favorites:Ala Moana Beach Park, Kailua Beach Park, Waimanalo Beach Park, Waimea Bay Beach Park.
3 Makapuu Lighthouse Trail: The path leading to the lighthouse is paved and there’s a beautiful view in all directions when you get there. It’s a fairly easy hike for kids and even out-of-shape adults.
4 First Friday: Downtown Honolulu hosts a street party on the first Friday of every month. Wander into art galleries, shops, and bars. Lots of live music and late night fun!
5 Festivals and Parades: No matter what time of year, there’s a celebration going on! Some upcoming events: Kamehameha Day Parade (June), Ukulele Festival (July), Slack-key Guitar Festival (August).

MAUI

1 Road to Hana: 52 curvy miles of stunning scenery. On the way, stop at Keanae Landing Fruit Stand and get shave ice and Aunty Sandy’s banana bread!
2 Historic Lahaina Tour: Travel back to 19th century whaling days with a self-guided walking tour of Lahaina town’s well-preserved historic sites. Print Lahaina tour map
3 Windsurfing at Hookipa: Watching windsurfers skim across waves is an exciting spectator sport. And it doesn’t get better than at this famous spot on Maui’s north shore.
4 Snorkeling: There are many superb snorkeling sites accessible from the highway on a drive around the island. Here are some recommended Maui snorkeling sites
5 Kapalua Resort Hiking Trails: This has got to be one of the best free things to do on Maui. There are over 25 miles of well-maintained coastal and mountain hiking and walking trails to explore. Download map of Kapalua hiking trails

KAUAI

1 Obon Festivals: Obon is celebrated at many Buddhist temples on the island with lively traditional Japanese singing, folk dancing, taiko drumming and local food! June – August.
2 Ke Ala Hele Makalae Coastal Path: There are two sections to this east Kauai walking and cycling path. Great views and ocean breezes!
3 Kauai’s North Shore: Drive all the way to the end of the road to Ke’e Beach for snorkeling. Along the way stop at the Hanalei Valley overlook to snap photos. Pick up lunch and do a little shopping in Hanalei town.
4 Kokee State Park Trails: Hike a mile or two or more of the 50+ miles of trails. Different experiences await: ocean vistas, waterfall pools, Berry Flat forest or hike deep into Waimea Canyon.
5 Lawai International Center: This cultural and spiritual center located in Lawai is an oasis for peaceful reflection. Open on the second and last Sunday of every month.

HAWAII, THE BIG ISLAND

1 Snorkeling:Two favorite spots on the Kona Coast are Kealakekua Bay and Kahaluu Beach Park. The reef fish and coral formations are simply stunning to see in the clear waters.
2 Lava Rock Graffiti: Create a crazy message using white coral rocks on black lava beds along Queen Kaahumanu Highway heading toward the Kohala Coast. It’s an eco-friendly way to shout out on vacation!
3 Mauna Kea Star Gazing: Scan the heavens through the lens of a high-powered telescope 9,300 feet above sea level. Bundle up, it’s cold up there! Viewing is available every night at the Mauna Kea observatory visitor center.
4 Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park: Visit well-preserved heiau and archelogical sites. Park rangers provide a short talk on the location’s historical significance. The park’s annual cultural festival is June 29 – July 1.
5 Fishponds at Mauna Lani: These beautifully maintained ponds were used for farming fish in ancient Hawaii. It is a spiritual place and the setting is lovely for morning walks.

What are you waiting for, pack your bags and explore the free things to do on each island!

Photography: Oahu from the Air

March 16, 2012 by The Mom Jen 4 Comments

Just a few pics of Diamond Head on Oahu and the Honolulu coast from our recent trip to the islands. Stunning if I do say so myself.

Doesn’t it make you want to get in a plane and head to the islands?! I love these shots of Oahu from the air!

Oahu Excursions: Kualoa Ranch Tour Review

October 7, 2011 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

Our recent family vacation on Oahu included a fantastic trip to the Kualoa Ranch. This historic cattle ranch is located on the windward side of the Island, a scenic 45 minute drive from Waikiki, looking out to the coast and Chinaman’s Hat . We arrived about an hour before our Movie Location Tour which allowed us to stroll through the spacious gift shop and meander around the ranch headquarters. This is the starting point for a variety of horseback, ATV, jungle, movie site and ocean tours.

Upon presenting our movie site tour pass to the driver we were ushered onto a rustic bus with a friendly “aloha”. Kind memories of elementary school field trips flooded through my mind as we chose our seats and lowered the windows. Our tour began with a leisurely roll through the historic beginnings of Kualoa. In 1850 King Kamehameha III sold 622 acres to his personal advisor Dr. Gerritt P. Judd. We rolled by the remains of the old sugar mill, and a small herd of long horn cattle posed for pictures as we passed.

Our driver provided a lively history of the ranch and was sure to point out the remnants of the World War II airstrip and bunkers, one of which he claimed was his house. As the bus climbed around the western end of the picturesque ridge of steep sharp mountains that gave the ranch its name (Kualoa means “long back” in Hawaiian) we were treated to endless views of the Pacific Ocean and the coast of Oahu.

The bus stopped at a large concrete bunker overlooking the Rainbow Coast where we walked through a gallery of movie posters and memorabilia from shows filmed on the ranch including a submarine prop from the TV show LOST. Back into the bus and we rolled into the beautiful Ka’a’awa Valley, one of the most filmed locations in Hawaii. Still an active cattle ranch, film crews come to this valley for the quintessential tropical Island back drop.

The bus bumped along the dirt roads as our driver pointed out scenes from numerous movies and TV shows filmed on the ranch. A dead tree from “Jurassic Park”, giant footprints from “Godzilla”, a bunker from “Windtalkers” and off in the distance a set from the upcoming sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth where among the most memorable sites we passed.

As our bus rambled back toward headquarters we passed tour groups on ATV’s, horses and 6 wheeled jungle vehicles. Together with the ocean and beach adventures offered by the ranch there is sure to be an activity that everyone will enjoy. Ancient Hawaiians considered Kualoa a sacred place of refuge and sanctuary, and our family would like to thank the Judd family and their descendents for preserving and sharing this special part of the island with us.

Our tickets were hosted, all opinions, ours.

Oahu Excursions: MaiTa’i Catamaran Sail Review

September 22, 2011 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

Oahu Excursions: MaiTai’i Catamaran Sail Review

My kids have never been on a sail boat. Their faces lit up when we told them we were going to go out on a Catamaran, just before they asked, “what’s a Catamaran?” A vessel (as a sailboat) with twin hulls and usually a deck or superstructure connecting the hulls is what my husband mustered up for the kids, I continued to say sailboat. With a beach-side boarding, you’ll find the infamous green sails of MaiTa’i Catamaran on Waikiki Beach between the Halekulani Hotel and Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. With seating for 47 passengers, we were eager for this trip our whole family could enjoy!

Boarding barefoot in the sand and water, you are greeted by a fun crew who are full of great information and will keep the 90 minute Tradewind Sail exciting and memorable! My son who gets a tad motion sick was prepared with his Dramamine and we all found some great seats. Drinks are extra and cash only, so if you are inclined don’t forget your money. We took the 11am sail so that we could get off and head straight to lunch and still have out day ahead of us. Plus, it was the coolest time of day, we wanted to avoid getting over heated.

Surprise, the cool breeze, the water spraying you over the edge, you are anything but hot on this Cat! What an adventure, with the speed of the boat picking up after we coasted out past the surfers, the kids eyes widened and the views were phenomenal. We headed south past Diamond Head and got such incredible pictures, we almost felt we visited the crater (which we never got to). The waters turned from aqua to aquamarine to turquoise, to royal then deep blue and still so clear that we saw sea turtles, fish, and even flying fish miles out!

We all could move about the boat, though we could not sit on the trampolines like my husband and I did on another island’s sail. But, at the very front tip, the younger kids and my husband sat and enjoy the breeze and cool water splash them like the best water ride ever! I sat back with my oldest (who now takes Dramamine on boats!) and shot photos.

With my cell phone camera securely packed away, we used our digital Canon and tried to keep it dry. A compartment area between seats could hold items, so when the water sprayed harder I kept my camera in that area. With sliding around and a few huge splashes, the holding area filled with water and soaked my Canon. It has since succumbed to the water, but luckily we rescued the SD card with all our photos! If you can purchase a waterproof camera for this excursion, I’d suggest it!

The sail was amazing and the kids thought it was incredible. For 90 minutes and $28/aduults $14/children (12 & under), and children under 3 are free, it’s a really reasonable excursion your family can enjoy on Oahu!

Tickets were complimentary, all opinions are our own.