Every year, Honolulu International Airport welcomes millions of visitors all the way from Japan and the US who are there to have their dream vacation. Soon after landing, most visitors hop in a cab or bus sent from the hotel and begin the journey past downtown Honolulu and on to their reservation at a Waikiki hotel. The lure of Waikiki is nearly instant. It is so exciting to be in Waikiki that most visitors never escape its non-existent borders. Every year over 6 million visitors miss out of sights, which local residents find most winsome and all of them lie within a radius of 2 square miles of Waikiki.
For those travelers interested in seeing Oahu through its residents’ eyes, please read on.
Magic Island Beach Park - Located West of Waikiki this can be found not to far from the popular Ala Moana Shopping Mall. It may sound like a theme park but in actual fact it has two beaches, areas to run and play sports like tennis and much more. A leisurely stroll around the park would bring you closer to the essence of Hawaiian culture – where a large family with all the members spends a lively day together amidst delicious food and lots of sun. Magic Island beaches are unlike many, un-crowded so it can be a relaxing experience and many people decide to have a barbecue while they are there.
The Contemporary Museum Honolulu – This is located on a ridge at Makiki Heights Drive, and as you drive up the ridge, you see some panoramic views of Oahu, which most visitors usually miss. The relatively small museum offers changing exhibits in its five galleries and after traversing the galleries, visitors can wander out onto the sculpture gardens. The museum is at its best in this place - the gardens, which include sculptures and meditation points, extend over 3.
Leong’s Cafe - Many visitors look to a lu’au for more than entertainment especially when they are after some great Hawaiian food. Food lovers will appreciate Leong’s cafe which can be found easily as it is situated at 2343 North King Street. Some renowned cuisine that you get here includes kalua pig, lu’au stew, lomi lomi and more and both the local residents as well as foreign tourists have been frequenting this place for more than 5 decades.
Champion Malasadas - Hawaii has a local dish called Malasadas which have become so entrenched in the everyday lives of Hawaiins that they renamed Fat Tuesday and called it Malasadas Day. You can find Champion Malasadas, which is a famous bakery, along South Beretania Street. Anyone that enjoys donuts will like these (even though they do not have a hole) and they come with a variety of fillings or if you prefer, you can eat them without any type of filling.
Honolulu Chinatown – when you take a stroll down Chinatown, you would be transported to another era in terms of space and time. This is like being in a small part of China where you can obtain anything you would expect to find in the mainland Country. Most American stores do not carry the produce that is sold here so that is a treat in itself but this a great place to visit for few hours or even a whole day. Though guided walking tours are available the best way to explore this historical site is to walk at your own pace stopping whenever you see something that triggers your interest.
If you are interested in seeing Oahu through a locals eyes, be sure to spend some time outside of Waikiki. The places mentioned here are only a few but they are a good place to start but just embrace the island and you will not want to leave.