When Parker got the chance to interview for a residency position in Hawaii last year and it happened to be over Thanksgiving break, we knew we had to jump at the chance to go. Neither of us had been and it was at the top of our bucket list of places to visit. Being the beach-and-sunshine-loving girl that I am, I wasn't about to let him go to Hawaii without me so we made an entire week trip out of it and it was AMAZING!
Pro traveling tip: If you live within driving distance from an airport in Canada, US Thanksgiving is a great time to travel because you likely have time off and can fly out of Canada for way less $$ since it's not a holiday there. We've flown both to Hawaii and Cancun out of Toronto over American Thanksgiving and it's saved us significant moolah.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Honolulu that was about a 10-minute walk to Waikiki Beach and rented a car through Turo. Having a car on the island was so helpful but finding parking was probably our biggest stressor the entire trip. Other than that, everything else was super smooth and so much fun!
Some of our favorite things we did and saw were:
+ Diamond Head hike
+ Hanauma Bay for snorkeling
+Waimea Falls - this was my first time swimming in a legit waterfall and it was so much fun! We also loved just walking around and looking at all of the different plants. A lot of movies were filmed here so it was fun to see that, too!
+ Waikiki Beach just to hang out but also to see the fireworks they set off there every week
+ Sunset Beach
+ Dole Plantation - we did the little train ride and the maze and of course got some Dole Whip. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
+ Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Train - we were very out of shape when we went to Hawaii (both of us were about 20 lbs heavier than we are now/had previously been due to living in other people's houses for the 4 months prior to this trip and eating out for almost every single meal and not exercising) so this hike was hard even though it was a paved path lol. My calves have never burned so much in all my life. On our way down, we scrambled down the side of the mountain into the tide pools and went swimming and it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced.
+ Manoa Falls hike.
+ Leonard's Bakery
+ Watched surfers at the Banzai Pipeline beach area. They were unreal! The waves get crazy big on the North Shore at the of year we visited and these surfers were amazing! We could have sat there and watched them all day.
+ Pearl Harbor - I loved every minute of exploring this place even though we couldn't go onto the memorial that the boat takes you to, it was still so cool to hear about the history.
+ Get shaved ice - I think all shaved ice is created equal lol. We went to Island Shave Ice & Creamery and it was delicious but I think you could probably get it anywhere and not be disappointed!
+ We ate a few random places that I have no idea what they are called but they were all good! Also, ate at McDonald's a few times because it was close to where we stayed, it was cheap and so easy.
+ Ko'olina Bay Beaches
Hawaii is as dreamy as everyone says it is! The weather was amazing the entire time we were there and we still talk about this trip often. While we don't have any specific plans booked to go back, we can't wait to visit again!
Pro traveling tip: If you live within driving distance from an airport in Canada, US Thanksgiving is a great time to travel because you likely have time off and can fly out of Canada for way less $$ since it's not a holiday there. We've flown both to Hawaii and Cancun out of Toronto over American Thanksgiving and it's saved us significant moolah.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Honolulu that was about a 10-minute walk to Waikiki Beach and rented a car through Turo. Having a car on the island was so helpful but finding parking was probably our biggest stressor the entire trip. Other than that, everything else was super smooth and so much fun!
In my element!
Some of our favorite things we did and saw were:
+ Diamond Head hike
+ Hanauma Bay for snorkeling
+Waimea Falls - this was my first time swimming in a legit waterfall and it was so much fun! We also loved just walking around and looking at all of the different plants. A lot of movies were filmed here so it was fun to see that, too!
+ Waikiki Beach just to hang out but also to see the fireworks they set off there every week
+ Sunset Beach
+ Dole Plantation - we did the little train ride and the maze and of course got some Dole Whip. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
+ Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Train - we were very out of shape when we went to Hawaii (both of us were about 20 lbs heavier than we are now/had previously been due to living in other people's houses for the 4 months prior to this trip and eating out for almost every single meal and not exercising) so this hike was hard even though it was a paved path lol. My calves have never burned so much in all my life. On our way down, we scrambled down the side of the mountain into the tide pools and went swimming and it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced.
+ Manoa Falls hike.
+ Leonard's Bakery
+ Watched surfers at the Banzai Pipeline beach area. They were unreal! The waves get crazy big on the North Shore at the of year we visited and these surfers were amazing! We could have sat there and watched them all day.
+ Pearl Harbor - I loved every minute of exploring this place even though we couldn't go onto the memorial that the boat takes you to, it was still so cool to hear about the history.
+ Get shaved ice - I think all shaved ice is created equal lol. We went to Island Shave Ice & Creamery and it was delicious but I think you could probably get it anywhere and not be disappointed!
+ We ate a few random places that I have no idea what they are called but they were all good! Also, ate at McDonald's a few times because it was close to where we stayed, it was cheap and so easy.
+ Ko'olina Bay Beaches
Hawaii is as dreamy as everyone says it is! The weather was amazing the entire time we were there and we still talk about this trip often. While we don't have any specific plans booked to go back, we can't wait to visit again!
And what would a #hollingsworthtravels vacation be without a video?!!! This one was so fun to put together, yet again. They're all fun! Reliving the vacations this way is magical and I love it! Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo, Chelan
What an awesome trip. I'd loooove to visit Hawaii one of these days!
ReplyDeletecan I hire you to make our traveling videos?
ReplyDelete