Oahu is where the most "action" takes place of all the islands. From worldwide known beaches to tourist attractions, there is so much to see and do in a limited time. To enjoy your visit in a non-tourist way, there's also a way to experience the island as a local.
Step 1
Go to the more popular beaches to locals. Two known beaches are Pipeline (located on the North Shore) and Sandy's Beach (located between Waimanalo and Hanauma Bay). Because it's easy for locals to tan anywhere, try to spend more time in the water than lying on the sand.
Step 2
Avoid Waikiki. Waikiki is the biggest tourist trap city of Oahu. It is filled with hotels, expensive shops, and people walking around the beach strip. Unless you're scouting for a place to stay, enjoy your trip and time somewhere else.
Step 3
Browse through farmer markets. On certain days of the week, you can find numerous of markets around Oahu. Farmer markets will give you the maximum experience in local vegetables and fruits. Chinatown, located in just off Nimitz Highway and Aloha Tower Marketplace, has a variety of markets including fish and Asian products.
Step 4
Eat local foods. Instead of going to an elegant steakhouse or recommended seafood restaurant, you can save a lot of money and get the most experience from eating local foods, such as plate lunches and musubis. Try to get a scoop of macaroni instead of fries. Discover new tastes of furikake (seaweed) and shoyu (soy sauce) on rice and chicken instead of getting a baked potato.
Step 5
Avoid tourist attractions. Aside from the catchy attractions, such as playing with dolphins at Sea Life Park or waiting in long lines at the Arizona Memorial, money and time takes a toll on your vacation. Your mind and gut will want to do everything until it's too late to enjoy Oahu as a local.
Tips
- It is best to rent a car to maximize going around the island. While it seems like a paradise to rent a convertible, go for a regular car with a top. It's not a good journey when you're caught in the rain while driving.
- Leave leis in hotel rooms, either on doorknobs or hanging by the window. Wearing a lei in public while trying to experience the island as a local flashes the word "tourist". The only exception to wear leis are for birthdays, going away gifts, or another special occasion. Don't flash or sport leis for a prolonged time.
- Be sure to have a map handy when asking for directions. Locals don't go by highway numbers, as they use the actual road names.
- Between August and December, enjoy a University of Hawaii football game at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is normally between 5 and 6:30 pm and getting there for a decent parking space depends on the popularity of the game. This is determined by who the rivals are and if it's a championship or bowl game.
