6.22.2016


Hey everyone, I'm back! Did ya miss me? I was gone for nine days, but somehow when I'm on vacation and not reading blogs, I get this feeling. Like I've been missing out, even though I had an amazing time and didn't want to come back. It was great to unplug, and it has made me realize how much time I spend on social media and my computer. Don't get me wrong, I love it! But sometimes you need to take a break and recharge so you can feel inspired again.

We went to two islands this trip, the first being Oahu. It was my second time there, but my first with Nate. The Hawaiian islands are so beautiful that I really just want to dedicate this post to sharing its natural beauty with you. I didn't filter any of these photos, and they were all taken on my phone. Oahu is more like San Diego in that it combines a city atmosphere with golden beaches. Though we stayed in Waikiki, my favorite part of the island is the east side and north shore. You still encounter plenty of tourists, but it doesn't feel as overwhelming as Waikiki and Honolulu. It has more of that local vibe that I love, and the beaches are much more pristine. I would recommend going to Oahu if you want a fast-paced island experience with plenty of things to do and see. I just don't remember it being so crowded when my friends and I went in December of 2014 (you can read about that here). Maybe the Summer has something to do with it? Regardless, we had a wonderful time!















If you're on Oahu you have to:

  • Eat at Lucky Belly in Honolulu. Your belly will definitely feel lucky. 
  • Visit the north shore including Haleiwa.
  • Rent a car for a couple days and explore the island, stopping along the way.
  • Do some shopping at Ala Moana Center.
  • Visit Pearl Harbor.
  • Be prepared to do lots of walking.

I'll be back on Friday with our re-cap of Maui. I hope you're all doing well and staying cool in this heat! I'm playing catch-up on blog reading, but I missed so much that I'm just starting with recent posts :)

12 comments:

  1. OMG so happy you went before me but we were planning on only doing Maui I need to figure out how they are from each other because now I want to go to Oahu as well.

    xo
    PinkSole

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    1. The biggest difference in my humble opinion is the pace of life. Maui is slower, more relaxed, and definitely more beautiful. I feel bad saying that but I truly think the beaches in Maui are much nicer. However, Oahu is so much fun! In Honolulu and Waikiki, people stay up all hours of the night. Bars, clubs, and some restaurants are open late unlike Maui where unless you go to a certain part of the island, you're in bed by 10 :) Hope this helps! I'll explain more on Friday in my Maui recap! If you can do both, I would ;)

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  2. I went in 2009, and these pics take me right back! I'm so glad to hear you had a lovely time, and can't wait for the next trip recap!!

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    1. Oh good, I'm glad these made you happy and brought back memories!

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  3. Welcome back! Everything looks gorgeous!

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  4. It seemed like you were gone for a LOOOONG time! But I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation an your photos are beautiful! It's definitely nice to disconnect and I'm glad you were able to do that. Welcome back!
    Gina || On the Daily Express

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    1. I know, it felt short to us but all of our friends and family were saying the same thing about being gone so long! It was a much needed vacation :)

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  5. Welcome back! We did miss you. I am glad you got to unplug. I know what you mean of feeling like you are missing out though. It's tough to resist and truly unplug. Love the photos! When we went to Hawaii, we went to Maui, so it is fun to see the other islands.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  6. Do you have any recs on fun bars by the beach? I'm going to Waikiki in August! Thanks!

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    1. Great question! I'm happy you asked because I didn't mention two of my favorite outdoor bars in Waikiki. One is at the outrigger hotel and is called dukes. I got that giant blended mojito there that I pictured above. The view is great, and usually there's live music at night.

      My second spot is called tikis and it's very much in line with a traditional tiki bar. Well maybe not traditional, but it's really fun. Good drinks and great coconut shrimp! They are famous for that. This one isn't on the water but right across the street! Great view. You'll love these ;)

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