All photos were taken by myself. Copyright ©yej002

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach, Room: Ocean front

We have a beautiful view of the entire ocean without any obstructions, and I love the weather here. The ocean looks like a painting in front of me; the colors are bright and clean.

Diamond Head (Hiking)

"Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu and known to Hawaiians as Lēʻahi. The Hawaiian name is most likely derived from lae plus ʻahi because the shape of the ridgeline resembles the shape of a tuna's dorsal fin." (Wikipedia)

I had a great time hiking up Diamond Head. From the observation deck at the mountain's summit, you can overlook the entirety of Waikiki Beach. Many tourists choose to wait here for the sunset, which casts a stunning glow on the beach, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. It's worth noting that as sunset approaches, it tends to get windy and a bit chilly on the mountain, so remember to bring a light jacket.

Hanauma Bay (Snorkeling)

"Hanauma is a marine embayment formed within a tuff ring and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands. Hanauma is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Island and has suffered somewhat from overtourism." (Wikipedia)

This was my first time snorkeling. The weather was perfect, and we saw many beautiful, colorful fish near the reef, including a few honus (Hawaiian Green sea turtles). If you plan to go diving in Hawaii, always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Otherwise, you might end up sunburned like I did (lesson learned).

By the way, I have a quirky joke for you: How can you prove in one sentence that you've been to Hawaii?

There's a unique reef triggerfish found in Hawaii, known as Humuhumu-nukunuku-āpuaʻa, which is the state fish of Hawaii.

A memorable name isn't it? Below is what it looks like (bottom left).

Kualoa Ranch (UTV tour)

I participated in a two-hour tour at Kualoa Ranch, where we drove off-road vehicles following a designated route. The ranch is expansive and has been a filming location for many famous movies, the most notable being Jurassic World. It boasts lush greenery and towering trees.

During the tour, I had the chance to taste the locally unique strawberry guava. Although only the size of a strawberry, it was incredibly sweet and delicious. Unfortunately, this variety of guava is not available in other parts of the United States, and it cannot be taken out of Hawaii.

For those planning to take the off-road vehicle tour, I recommend wearing clothes that you don't mind getting dusty, as the trails can be quite dusty.

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii is a truly worthwhile destination for those seeking to understand Hawaiian culture. Hawaii is primarily composed of six distinct islands, each with its own unique characteristics and culture. The Cultural Center offers an abundance of performances, allowing visitors to experience Hawaiian traditions in an immersive and direct way. The performances were so captivating that I kept forgetting to take photos. The lunch provided was delicious, especially the roast pig and grilled fish.

Finally, I highly recommend attending the evening show titled 'HĀ: Breath of Life.' Photography is not permitted during the performance, so I cannot provide any pictures. This show brilliantly encapsulates the cultural essence and features of Hawaii's six islands with traditional costumes and dances that are truly awe-inspiring. Most of the performers are students from the University of Hawaii. The host candidly informed us that by attending the show, we were supporting their education and expressed gratitude for our visit to Hawaii. So, come on, visit Hawaii and experience its rich culture firsthand.

The End

There are many beautiful places in Hawaii that I didn't have time to visit on this trip. Especially considering I only explored Oahu this time around. I'm eagerly looking forward to my next encounter with Hawaii.

All photos were taken by myself. Copyright ©yej002

"Loco moco is a dish featured in contemporary Hawaiian cuisine. There are many variations, but the traditional loco moco consists of white rice, topped with a hamburger, a fried egg, and brown gravy." (Wikipedia)

On this trip, I tried the loco moco at Aloha Table restaurant, reputed to be the best in Hawaii. It was indeed incredibly fragrant and delicious. The fried onions sprinkled on top and within the gravy were a perfect complement to the meat sauce and patty. Moreover, the patty seemed to be made of Wagyu beef, which was exceptionally juicy and bursting with the rich aromas of meat and butter.

The Waiahole Poi Factory is a quaint local eatery near the Kualoa Ranch. It's quite small and unassuming, and it doesn't even qualify as a restaurant since there's no indoor dining. However, this modest establishment offers some of the area's most renowned and delicious dishes. We tried the Laulau and Sweet Lady of Waiahole.

Laulau is pork wrapped in the leaves of a native Hawaiian plant and baked until the meat's savory flavor melds with the herbal fragrance of the leaves, resulting in a tender and juicy delicacy.

Sweet Lady of Waiahole is a dessert featuring taro (poi) ice cream paired with a taro-flavored sticky rice. The coolness of the ice cream contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the sticky rice, creating a delightful hot-and-cold sensation in your mouth. The taro used in the ice cream is a Hawaiian specialty known as poi, distinguished by a unique flavor that is distinctly different and sweeter than other varieties of taro.

On Oahu Island, there are many Japanese restaurants that serve tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet). After careful selection, we tried a place called Tonkatsu Tamafuji. Here, customers have the unique opportunity to grind sesame seeds in a bowl using a pestle, turning them into a coarse powder and fully releasing their aroma. Then, tonkatsu sauce is added to the sesame mixture, enhancing each bite of the pork cutlet with a captivating and delicious flavor. The quality of the tonkatsu itself is also exceptional. The thin, crispy crust becomes even crunchier after being deep-fried, while the juices of the pork are sealed within.

Every bite I took here was a delight, and I highly recommend this restaurant to all tonkatsu enthusiasts.

Giovanni's is a renowned local food truck, representing Hawaii's vibrant food truck culture. Like many tourists, I made it a point to visit. However, I must honestly say that apart from the deliciously flavored garlic shrimp, there wasn't anything particularly exceptional.

Due to Hawaii's proximity to Japan, Japanese cuisine has become an integral part of the Hawaiian culinary scene. We tried a Japanese yakitori restaurant called Tori Ton. Overall, it was quite delicious, though not markedly different from other yakitori places I've experienced elsewhere. If you're looking for a reliable yakitori restaurant, I would recommend this one.

There are many places to enjoy a poke bowl in Hawaii. After trying numerous spots, we realized there isn't much of a noticeable difference between them. Perhaps it's because Hawaii is surrounded by the sea, ensuring that all establishments have equally fresh ingredients. Additionally, poke seasoning is typically light, so the taste doesn't vary much from place to place. Anyway, you can't go wrong with any poke bowl on the island, and I don't have any specific recommendations.

On the island of Oahu, there's a coffee shop you absolutely must not miss - Island Vintage Coffee.

Not only is their brunch exceptionally good and delicious, but their coffee is also worth trying.

The Island Latte and Hawaiian Honey Latte, in particular, let you fully savor the unique taste of Hawaiian coffee. Hawaiian coffee beans have a very special aroma, which I find hard to describe due to the limitations of my language - it's just incredibly fragrant and delicious. When I left Hawaii, I even bought several packs of whole coffee beans from the shop to grind and brew at home with my coffee machine. I really love Hawaiian coffee.

By the way, if you are going to Island Vintage Coffee at Waikiki Beach, you should definitely try the Island Vintage Shave Ice, which is located right in front of Island Vintage Coffee. Their ice cream has a rich and creamy milk flavor that's absolutely delicious.