Jason West Traveller

Although an International destination, Honolulu is frequented by mainly Americans and Japanese and each year millions visit here. Once they have made their way through the airport they will catch a cab and make their way past downtown Honolulu towards Waikiki. The allure of Waikiki is immediate - the packed streets, sounds of the beach, and exotic histories call to the traveler who soon hits the streets. Venturing out in Waikiki can be quite exciting - Waikiki can be so exciting that many visitors never escape its imaginary 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.

Visitors who would like to experience Oahu through the eyes of its residents, kindly read on.

Magic Island Beach Park - This popular park is located just west of Waikiki, across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center. What are the points of attraction in this park? It has two beaches, a jogging path stretching up to 3 miles, tennis courts and much more. If you want to have a taste of the typical Hawaiian culture, take a walk round the park and y would find large families along with their extended families, enjoying a day of togetherness with lots of good food and plenty of sunshine. The beaches are significantly less crowded, so for a great day, grab a barbecue and head down to the beach at Magic Island!

At the top of Makiki Heights Drive there is a tiny museum called the Contemporary Museum of Honolulu where visitors benefit from the fantastic views this place can offer. The exquisite exhibits in this somewhat small museum keep changing in the 5 galleries and when you have finished viewing these, you could go outdoors for a walk in to the sculpture gardens. Many people visit just to marvel at the gardens and the views that can be experienced from them and, as they are set in over three acres you shouldn’t find them too crowded.

Leong’s Café – Visitors who are hunting for some unforgettable Hawaiian cuisine, treat a lu’au as something more than just entertainment. Leong’s Cafe (along North king Street) can offer this type of experience and is a fantastic place to go if you want to experience the true taste of Hawaiian food. Many local dishes are served here and it is always good to know that it is a favorite venue for many locals - it has been open for over fifty years.

Champion Malasadas - The local treat called Malasadas are so popular that Fat Tuesday has been re-christened Malasada Day throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The bakery that goes by the name ‘Champion Malasadas’ can be found along South Berertania Street, it is the most famous throughout the island. These are essentially very light donuts without any hole in the middle, with or without fillings, Portuguese in origin, and are worth every mile that you walk to get it.

Honolulu Chinatown – when you take a stroll down Chinatown, you would be transported to another era in terms of space and time. Everything from dim sum to fresh produce can be found here but it also has more modern treats to like the new Hip Lounge. Unusual and interesting produce and products can be purchased here, most of which you would be hard pushed to find in a normal American grocery. While you could always take a guided walking tour of the place the wisest thing to do is to go for a walk by yourself, walking leisurely and only stopping to see something, which tickles your areas of 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.