Oahu] Feel the local charm of Oahu in Waipahu! Introducing the city's charm and recommended attractions.

Oahu, Hawaii's most popular resort island

Hawaii attracts tourists from all over the world, but Oahu is the most visited of all. There is a wealth of activities that can be easily experienced in the great outdoors, such as mountains, canyons, and waterfalls, not to mention the ocean and beaches.

 

What is Oahu like?

Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands and is home to most of Hawaii's population. Temperatures are stable throughout the year, ranging from 24°C to 30°C. The seasons are roughly divided into summer (dry season) and winter (rainy season).

Winter is the rainy season, but it is only a few showers, so you can enjoy ocean and mountain activities all year round. Rainbows often appear after the rain.

 

How to get to Oahu

A direct flight to Oahu takes about 6.5 to 7 hours.

Flight times vary depending on the airport from which you depart, and the return trip takes about an hour longer due to air currents. Most flights are made in the evening or midnight, crossing the date line and arriving in Honolulu early in the morning or late in the afternoon at the latest.

 

Attractions of Oahu

Each area of Oahu has its own unique characteristics, from the central area where you can enjoy the Hawaiian atmosphere of a beach resort, to the celebrity Kahala with its mansions, the popular Ko Olina with its Disney Resort, and the nostalgic North Shore where you can catch a glimpse of local people's lives. Each area of Oahu has its own unique characteristics.

 

Beautiful beaches and vast wilderness

Oahu has many beautiful beaches. Waikiki Beach stretches for about three kilometers, and Diamond Head can be seen lying across the beach as if watching over it.

Resort hotels line the beachfront, and if you stay in a room with an ocean view or a view of Diamond Head, you will enjoy a beautiful view during your stay.

Oahu is also a great place to enjoy the great outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Outlying areas such as Kualoa Ranch, an area revered as sacred land, offer a different kind of experience, such as a jungle experience.

 

One of the world's leading resorts

The first hotel built in Waikiki was the Moana Hotel in 1901. Since then, hotels and commercial facilities have gradually gathered and the area has developed into a beach resort.

The Moana Hotel is still going strong as the Moana Surfrider, a luxury hotel that many people have come to love. In the courtyard, a 100-year-old banyan tree makes its presence felt.

It is one of the world's leading resort destinations, blending the historic with the new, from the hotels with such a long history to those that have just opened.

 

Shopping and restaurants are also recommended

On Oahu, you can also enjoy shopping and visiting restaurants. From high-brand shopping at Ala Moana Center and outlet malls, to browsing for local goods and sweets at Wal-Mart and Don Quijote, or looking for made-in-Hawaii souvenirs at morning markets and other farmers' markets, you can have fun wherever you go.

You can also line up at a popular pancake store, buy a popular sweet from a long-established bakery, or taste a tropical drink unique to the tropics...the choices are endless, from a small snack to a nice restaurant, you will have a hard time deciding where to eat.

 

What kind of place is Waipahu?

Waipahu, located in south-central Oahu, is about a 30-minute drive west of Waikiki. Even if you are not familiar with Waipahu, you may have heard of Waikele Premium Outlets.

Waipahu, now famous for its outlets and world-renowned golf courses, was once famous for its sugar plantations. Pearl Harbor and other tourist attractions are also located in this area.

 

Access to Waipahu

If you are renting a car, take H-1 from Waikiki toward Pearl Harbor. After crossing the junction with Pearl City and H-2, Waipahu is next.

Bus route 42 from Waikiki and bus 40 from Ala Moana run to Waipahu.

 

Waipahu Attraction

Oahu's attractions are not limited to resorts. If you venture to the historic Waipahu area, you will find a different kind of charm.

 

You can feel the local atmosphere.

There are supermarkets and Filipino-owned markets that are a part of local life, such as Wal-Mart and Don Quijote. At the markets, you will find producer-direct vegetables, freshly landed seafood, delicatessen stores, and eateries offering bakery and other snacks, giving you a sense of the local people's lifestyle.

Also, the swap meet at Aloha Stadium features 400 local stores, so you may be able to buy some bargain souvenirs.

 

You can feel the history.

The sugar industry flourished toward the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and Waipahu was the site of flourishing plantations.

The Plantation Museum in Waipahu recreates the life of these immigrants and the conditions they lived during that time. The Plantation Museum in Waipahu recreates the life of these immigrants and the history of Hawaii.

 

You may discover new charms of Hawaii!

In this way, Waipahu is a place where you can feel Hawaii differently from the standard Hawaii sightseeing and discover new attractions.

 

Popular attractions in Waipahu

Here are some of the best places to visit in Waipahu.

 

Hawaii Plantation Village

Waipahu has an outdoor museum called Hawaii Plantation Village.

As the sugar industry flourished in the early 1900s, many workers were needed, and many immigrants were brought in from abroad to labor on the sugar cane plantations.

Here, visitors can catch a glimpse of how immigrants lived during the plantation era. Visitors can see the houses that immigrants from Okinawa, Japan, China, Portugal, the Philippines, and other countries lived in, as well as the stores, barbershop, and administrative offices used by the immigrants.

 

Reasons for popularity

There is a 1.5-hour guided tour that allows visitors to explore the simple, self-sufficient lifestyle of the people of that time and the streets of that time, followed by the opportunity to try and buy local products such as taro, plumeria, pigeon peas, and sugar cane.

Halloween events, including special haunted plantation tours, will be held on weekends in October. Adult admission is $15, children ages 4-11 are $6, and admission is free for ages 3 and under.

 

Access

If you are driving from Waikiki, take H-1 west and exit at Exit 7 (Waipahu).

Take the exit and turn left at the traffic light onto Paiwa Street and continue down the street, then turn right at the fifth traffic light onto Waipahu Street. Continue down Waipahu Street until you see a wire fence on your left.

You will see a sign that says Hawaii Plantation Village. By bus, from the Ala Moana Shopping Center or Waikiki in Honolulu, take bus #42 to Waipahu.

You can also take the Express Bus (express bus), called the E, from any of the four bus stops on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki, which will get you there faster. You can get off at the Waipahu Transit Center and transfer or walk from there.

Walking takes about 10 minutes, and the nearest bus stop is the first stop for the No. 43 bus (Monday-Friday only) or the third stop for the 432 bus.

 

Waikele Country Club

Waikele Country Club is a golf course designed by world-renowned designer Ted Robinson. The beautiful course is interspersed with large and small lakes and waterfalls, and offers views of Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Ocean, and other Hawaiian landscapes.

 

Reasons for popularity

There are several possible reasons for the popularity of the golf course here, including the fact that it was created by Ted Robinson, a golf course design specialist, and that it is easy to use because of its resort-like atmosphere and reasonable rates.

Another reason is that it is conveniently located next to an outlet mall and about 30 minutes from Waikiki, and has facilities and services such as a clubhouse, restaurant, driving range, golf apparel store, and rental services.

 

Access

Waikele Country Club is located next to Waikele Premium Outlets, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. Considering the golf start time, it is best to rent a car or take a cab.

If you are driving from Waikiki, take H-1 west to Exit 7 and turn right on Paiwa Street. 0.4 miles later, you will see the Waikele Country Club on your right, and turn right onto Paioa Place, Turn right onto Paioa Place and you will arrive at the entrance of Waikele Country Club.

 

Waikele Premium Outlets

The Waikele Premium Outlets are the most popular outlet on Oahu. It is a 30-minute drive from Waikiki and is the only outlet on Oahu.

It is not so large in scale, but it is inexpensive anyway, so it is a place that cannot be missed by those who are here for shopping.

 

Reasons for popularity

It houses more than 50 stores, mainly American brands, and some products are discounted by 60% to 70% of the price purchased in Japan.

You may also be able to get Hawaii exclusive items. Be sure to stop by the Information Center to get a coupon book when you show your shuttle ticket or JCB card.

 

Access

To get there by car, go west on H-1, get off at Exit 7, turn right, and go north one block.

If you are going by bus, you can take the Express Bus (express bus) that leaves from the Kuhio Avenue bus stop in Waikiki. Country Express! Westbound to Eva Beach (toward Ala Moana).

There are four bus stops that stop at Kuhio Avenue, so check to see if the bus stop sign says "E".

After exiting the H-1 freeway (expressway), get off at the first bus stop (Paiwa St + Hiapo St) (takes about 1 hour). From the bus stop across the street, take the #433 bus and get off at the second stop; Waikele Premium Outlets is across the street; the #433 bus is every 40 minutes depending on the time of day, so those in good spirits can walk.

There is also a sightseeing trolley from Waikiki to the outlet malls, so many tourists use that service.

 

Honolulu Kitchen

Honolulu Kitchen is a popular manapua restaurant. Manapua is a Hawaiian-style steamed bun, made popular by Chinese immigrants. The red pork filling is the standard.

 

Reasons for popularity

Honolulu Kitchen's manapua menu offers a whopping 32 varieties! The variety ranges from side dishes such as dumplings and honey chicken to desserts.

This store also offers manapua tastings, so first-timers can make their selections with ease. The fried manapua is smaller than usual, but is recommended for its crispy, freshly fried surface.

 

Access

If you are driving, go west on H-1 to exit 8B, turn left on Farlington Highway and follow the road. When you come to Awarau Street, enter the mall on the left side of the street.

Honolulu Kitchen is located there. The trip takes about 30 minutes.

If you are traveling from Waikiki by local bus, we recommend taking the "E" express bus. Since the "E" is an express bus, it stops at a limited number of bus stops. Please check to see if the "E" is listed on the signboard at the bus stop.

Get off at Waipahu Transit Center and walk 4 minutes. The trip takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

 

Tanioca's Seafood & Catering

This delicatessen is rumored to be Hawaii's No. 1 poke store.

There is a long line even before the store opens, and the restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious poke as well as other delicacies. The line is long, but the turnover is fast, so you can buy without much trouble.

You may purchase it on your way to the outlet or while changing buses.

 

Reasons for popularity

The tuna, which is purchased at the market every morning, is fresh and has a good texture.

You can taste a fusion of modern local flavors and nostalgic dishes from the plantation era. It's a great way to mingle with the locals and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

After 2:00 p.m., poke is in short supply, so getting there early is recommended. There are two types of poke and you can choose between white or brown rice.

Sushi rice is also available for an additional charge. Spicy Ahi Poke" and "Shoyu Ahi Poke" are two of our most popular dishes.

 

Access

If you are driving, go west on H-1 to exit 8B, turn left on Farlington Highway and follow the road. As soon as you cross a small river, turn left into the mall, or you can also turn left onto Awarau Street.

This is the same mall as Honolulu Kitchen introduced earlier. If you are going from Waikiki by local bus, you can take the "E" express bus.

Since it is an express bus, the number of bus stops is limited.

Check the bus stop signs to see if the express bus stops there. Get off at Waipahu Transit Center and walk for 4 minutes. The trip takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

 

Activity experiences are popular on Oahu

You can try any activity for the first time on Oahu. If there is something you have been curious about, this is a great opportunity to experience it.

 

Recommended Tours

Here are three recommended tours.

 

Experience Diving
Departing from the Phantom Island Kaneohe Bay Sandbar

The area around Sandbar, famous for its shallow waters, is an excellent dive site. This tour starts from the sandbar and takes you to a coral reef point teeming with colorful tropical fish.

A Japanese instructor will accompany you and take time to practice on the surface and gradually become accustomed to the water so that first-timers can feel at ease. Once you have become accustomed to the water, you will dive for the first 30 minutes. You will see many fish and, if you are lucky, sea turtles.

The second dive will last 30 to 40 minutes as well, and since you are accustomed to the first dive, you will have more time to enjoy the ocean scenery on the second dive. After the dive, there will be a snack and drink break on the boat, after which you will return. The fee is $188.

 

skydiving

This is a skydiving tour by Pacific Skydiving Center. Skydive from a maximum altitude of over 4,000 meters without oxygen supplement!

You can enjoy the thrilling free fall for about 1 minute and the spectacular view of Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and other Hawaiian landscapes after opening the parachute. Japanese-language guidance is available. The fee is $197.91.

 

Horseback Riding Experience A walk on the North Shore seaside

This is a tour to experience horseback riding by the sea at Hawaii Polo Oceanfront Trail Rise on the North Shore. It feels great to sway on a horse in the ocean breeze on the white sandy beaches of the North Shore.

The horses are trained for polo competitions, so you can enjoy riding in peace. The key point of this tour is to enjoy the sunset. The blue sky gradually changes to the color of the setting sun, and even the mountains and the ocean change color. Please enjoy the sound of the waves as you sway on your horse and enjoy this special time.

*Sunset may not be visible due to weather conditions. The fee is $123.56.

 

summary

How was your introduction to Waipahu?

While the standard Hawaii sightseeing is fun, coming to the Waipahu area will give you a chance to experience Hawaii's history and diverse immigrant culture, and will give you a different kind of memory of your trip. You can also explore Waipahu while you are shopping.