Visiting Honolulu is much more than visiting a big city. Before I stepped off the plane onto the island, I thought the tropical paradise would be limited to me experiencing just Waikiki, but I quickly learned that I had access to much, much more—I could see the entire island! What I didn’t know is that when people say they are going to visit Honolulu, they can easily get from place to place all around Oahu. From one side of the island to the other, it may only take only a couple hours drive.

This is my photoblog of my first trip to Honolulu — for more info on what to see in Hawaii, check out our guides!

1. Try Poke Bowls — No, Seriously!

We booked our trip to celebrate our 3rd year wedding anniversary, but also to see a good friend who lives in Waikiki. Lucky for us, our friend, Tanner was able to play as tour-guide during our visit. As soon as we landed, the first thing we did was pick up poke-bowls and walk to Waikiki beach to touch the ocean. The color of the water blew my mind.

2. Walk Down Waikiki — Enjoy an Açaí Bowl

I had never seen such radiant turquoise in my life. It really was stunning as I remembered always imagining that the photos I had seen of Waikiki being overly saturated by photo-editing, but the photos truly does not do justice to seeing the water for yourself. Between bites of fresh ahi-tuna with spicy mayo, we waded through the warm water absorbing all the sights and sounds of Hawaii’s most touristy beach. We didn’t want to spend long there, as Oahu is full of much more beautiful and secluded beaches. But we knew we had to at least experience a bit of Waikiki, especially in just arriving. Wading into the water was like a warm hello, a welcoming hug from the island.

3. Travel Like a Local and Meet Someone New

The spirit of the island is that of community. Everyone we met made us feel like we belonged there from the moment we arrived. After finishing our Poke-bowls, we found a new friend at Kaimana’s Beach, just down the way from Waikiki. After enjoying a couple beers at Kaimana’s and taking in the view, Matt took it upon himself to offer showing us some of his favorite spots around the island. I can’t think of anywhere else on earth that has people like this, who will drop everything at a simple hello and befriend you in an instant.

We came to Hawaii with nothing planned and nothing pertinently scheduled so as to truly encompass the meaning of Aloha, the Hawaiian laid-back spirit towards life. So, at the offer of seeing the island through a new friend’s eyes, we took it to heart and accepted to meet up the next day.

4. Take it Off at Polo Beach

After a cheap but delicious breakfast of spam musubi from the neighborhood 7-11, our new friend Matt, Michael and I piled into Tanner’s car to embark across the island to a place we had just heard about, Polo Beach. Known to locals as not only an LGBTQ+ friendly location, but also a popular clothing-optional stretch of pristine golden sand on Oahu’s Northern coast.

5. Relax and Take Time to Soak in the Spirit of Aloha

Umbrella and snacks-in-hand, we found an open space and set-up our camp for the day. Often when we travel, we try to fit in as much as possible and see absolutely everything there is to see. Reflecting on trips like that, I’m reminded of how tired I’ve returned home and feel sometimes like, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” On our second day on Oahu, I started to understand the appeal and draw of the island. It’s a place I can finally unwind and relax. I didn’t feel the same rush of needing to go and experience absolutely everything that the island had to offer. I felt perfectly content, sitting on a beach surrounded by crystal blue water, feeling the sun on my face and in the company of good friends. In a word, paradise. In an experience, more than I could ever express on paper. Friends of our friends arrived at Polo Beach to join us, one of them gifting us a home-grown mango from his tree.

6. Hike to Ka’ena Point and See Laysan Albatross

Since we were already in the area, we decided to hike to Ka’ena Point, the westernmost edge of Oahu. Known for its remote coastal lava-crusted shoreline, Ka’ena Point’s rugged hiking trails lead to incredibly beautiful vistas providing Oahu’s largest Laysan albatross sanctuary. The hike in total is 3 miles to the edge, and 3 miles back to the starting point on the North Shore. We watched the sunset as giant albatross flew overhead, and it truly was a sight I’ll never forget.

7. Explore Oahu’s North Shore and Visit Lanikai Beach

Following our adventurous hike to the Western Point, we made plans to explore more of Oahu’s North Shore the following day, including seeing the famed Lanikai Beach. The destination certainly did not disappoint, as the color and clarity of the water exceeded even what we had seen at Waikiki or Polo Beach. The small islands Moku Nui and Moku Iki provided further magic to the backdrop as we sat perched on the sand.

8. Visit Halona Beach Cove for Epic Photos

We stopped at Halona Beach Cove to find a crater-like beach surrounded by steep and rocky cliffs. Many were taking advantage of the last hours of sunlight snorkeling in the turquoise waters.

9. Take a Catamaran Sailing Cruise from Waikiki Beach

Though lounging and experiencing some of Oahu’s best beaches was a definite highlight of the trip, there was so much more to experience. On our last full day on the island, our friend Tanner surprised us with a catamaran sailing cruise along with friends we had met during our trip. The day-cruise departed from Waikiki Beach and sailed around the bay, providing plenty of drinks to enjoy as we marveled at the view of the city from a different perspective.

10. Check Out Honolulu’s Best Gay Bars

To cap off the trip, we went out to experience the nightlife with our newfound Hawaiian chosen family.

To start the evening with a happy hour drink, head to Lulu’s for beachside cocktails. Just around the corner, Hula’s is a very popular gay bar that many end their night at. We loved spending our evenings here, listening to Kylie Mynogue, Spice Girls, and all our pop favorites, it’s a fun and quintessentially cute place to meet others. Other popular locations include Tapas, Bacchus Waikiki, and Wang Chung’s for Karaoke!

Even though we stayed just a week on the island, it felt like we had been there for years. We connected closely with those we met incredibly fast, and that wasn’t just because we like to meet new people when we travel. It’s because of the laid-back and friendly Hawaiian way of life, and the idea that all who walk on this earth are connected in some way or another. As a relatively small island, Oahu is a tight-knit community—and though it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the USA, the community is still incredibly welcoming. So if you find yourself on the island, let go of any sense of strict planning, allow yourself to make a new friend, and go with the flow with that incredible Hawaiian sense of Aloha.