If you only had ONE week in Oahu, this is where I’d take you…
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📍 Oahu, Hawaii
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Most people land in Waikiki and never leave. But Oahu is an entire island, and every corner of it looks completely different. This is the version of Oahu worth coming back for.
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What to put on your list:
🌊 Watch the surf at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore. In winter the waves are genuinely terrifying. In summer it’s calm enough to swim.
🌺 Walk the North Shore strip in Haleiwa. Shave ice, local shops, and the kind of small-town vibe you don’t expect from Hawaii.
🏙 Hit Waikiki for at least one sunset. It’s touristy, yes, but it’s iconic for a reason.
🌿 Visit the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe. Free to enter, mountains in every direction, and the greenest place on the island.
🏛 Stop at Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of the Temples. It looks like it belongs in Japan and most people drive right past it.
🤙 Drive the east coast through Waimanalo and Kailua. Fewer crowds, turquoise water, and some of the best beach views you’ll find anywhere in the US.
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Pro tip: Rent a car. You can’t experience this island without one.
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Have you been to Oahu, or is it still on the list?
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