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Oahu, Hawaii 2019 Vacation in Review: Things I Did, Places I Ate and Where I Stayed

February 12th, 2019 by Karen 20 Comments

Things I did, places I ate, and places I shopped on Oahu.

The Go-Go’s said it best… Vacation, all I ever wanted.

You guys, I miss Hawaii! Even though this trip wasn’t ideal (more on that in a sec), we still had fun, and I’m missin’ it as I sit here at my desk under three layers of clothes as I slowly turn into a human Popsicle.

Here’s what I did, where I stayed and what I ate.

But first…

1. The Kaiser Permanente Waipio Medical Office

On the second day of the trip, Connor came down with what seemed to be a cold, but it quickly got worse, so we went to the doctor and spent a long time with the pediatric staff at the Kaiser Waipio Clinic.

A nebulizer treatment and a chest X-ray later, and it turned out that Connor had pneumonia! Shout-out to Dr. Marumoto, Nurse Shawna and the whole staff at Kaiser for their care and kindness, and for trying to make a fish-bubble nebulizer mask fun for the Coywolf.

It’s really scary to have a sick kid while you’re traveling, and if it happens, FYI, you’ll probably be on the phone. A lot. So don’t forget your cell phone cable and charger. I had to call the insurance office first to figure out our coverage in Hawaii, and they assigned us a temporary patient number. Then I had to arrange a call to speak to an advice nurse and get a last-minute appointment at the closest clinic.

I’m glad we rented a car, which we almost didn’t do for this trip, because the clinic where we got our appointment wasn’t close to the resort. Overall, pretty scary and nerve-wracking.

2. Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club

My parents have a timeshare at Ko Olina on the western side of Oahu near Kapolei. The resort has a few pools, a secluded beach, a spa, restaurants, workout rooms and beautiful views of the ocean and a marina. They also have a packed calendar of activities for families, kids and adults.

After Connor was feeling better, our favorite activity was feeding the fish.

Kickin’ it with some koi

The Bronte Sisters

One great thing about the rooms is that many of them have a kitchen, a washer and a dryer. (Side note: You know you’re hella old when you go on vacation and one of your favorite things about the hotel is having a washer and dryer in your room.)

I like the western side of Oahu because it’s not as rainy as other parts of the island, and you’re more or less guaranteed sunshine. Only thing is…it’s REALLY far out there. Ko Olina, which is also right next to Disney’s Aulani, is at least an hour drive from most of the major tourist attractions on Oahu, like the North Shore, Honolulu, Hanauma Bay and Waikiki Beach (it’s a little closer to Pearl Harbor), so if you’re a first-time visitor, you’ll probably spend lots of time stuck in traffic. And the traffic is bad.

Of course, you could just stay at the resort…

Calgon, take me away!

Especially on Oahu, I recommend renting a car and planning to go places around the commute time traffic. In the case of Ko Olina, without a car, it’s easy to feel cut off. We rented a minivan this time, and even though we stayed close to the resort for most of the trip, it sure was convenient for getting groceries, sightseeing and running errands.

Things I particularly loved about the resort on this trip:

  • The Aquasize class at 10:30: This hour-long class is held in a big shallow pool, and it’s super fun! You jump in, put on a pair of these weird gloves that look like frog hands, and do resistance exercises to choreography as a teacher demonstrates the moves from the edge of the pool on dry land. The tunes are upbeat, too, and the time flies, so it doesn’t even feel like exercise!
  • Shave Ice Hut (next to the pool with the slide): I went three times! Their snow is about a 7 on the fineness scale (I just made that up), and they have got a good selection of local shave ice flavors like passion fruit (a.k.a. lilikoi), guava and pineapple.
  • The Starbucks in the hotel general store: The 2% latte is one of the smoothest I’ve ever slammed.
  • The koi pond: Ah… Connor and I spent SO MUCH TIME feeding the fish here. It was in the shade, and she loved it. Yes, of course we named all of the animals. If you visit, say hi to the Bronte sisters and King James for me (he’s the biggest orange koi; you can’t miss him).
There’s a tai chi class here in the morning.

3. Hawaii Kai

We also spent a few days on the other side of the island where El Hub’s parents live. It’s all the way on the opposite end of the island from Ko Olina in a quaint town called Hawaii Kai, which is also one of the places El Hub lived with his family when he was a kid, and he has many wonderful memories of the area, like the time 10-year-old El Hub found himself surrounded by a school of barracuda in a flood canal with nothing more than his little pink bucket to defend himself! LOL.

4. Places we ate

At Ko Olina, we mostly ate in the room because it had a kitchen, and because we had an unexpected bounty of food, because on our first day there, I started chatting with someone in the elevator who just happened to be leaving, and she gave us all the extra food her family got from Costco but couldn’t finish.

I did manage to also try some new places, though!

  • Romy’s Kahuka Prawns and Shrimp Hut: This one’s up on the North Shore, and there are several shrimp places up there (Giovanni’s, Fumi’s, etc.). But this is the best one IMHO, because the shrimp isn’t dripping in oil, and even the simple boiled shrimp is incredibly flavorful. I ordered one pound of boiled shrimp and was in frickin’ heaven.
  • Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery: This bakery is in “town,” a.k.a. Honolulu, in the old neighborhood of Kaimuki. They bake fresh malasadas, which are fluffy Portuguese doughnut holes dipped in sugar that melt in your mouth; cakes, cookies, and they make their own ice cream, too.
  • The Foodland poke bar: Foodland is a grocery store chain in Hawaii, and if you head to the seafood section, you’ll always see a long line of locals waiting to order poke, which is a dish of diced raw fish with other accouterments like seaweed, green onion and soy sauce, served either as an appetizer or a main course. Foodland is famous for it, and it’s fresh and delicious. They have several different varieties, and if you have no idea what to order, take a cue from the locals and get what they’re getting. I ordered a quarter pound of the limu poke (ahi with algae) and loved it.
  • Fresh Catch: This casual seafood place is also known for their poke. You can also order rice plates with two scoops of rice and a main dish, or you can do what I did, which was order individual poke and a side.

The strawberry cake bomb at Pipeline.


Where your sweet tooth goes to have a good ol’ time…

5. Where I shopped: The Kahala Mall

I had to do some shopping for friends and family on this trip and got most of it done at the Kahala Mall, which is a small-ish upscale mall just outside the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. El Hub’s parents live about 20 minutes away from it, and we went there quite a few times.

  • Long’s Drugs: Yes, as in the drugstore chain. It’s a great place to get local snacks like li hing mui, kakimochi, slippers (a.k.a. flip-flops), Kona coffee, snorkeling gear, boogie boards, macadamia nuts and…chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Tip: If you have a lot of gifts to get for people back home, pack them into a flat rate USPS box, and ship it back home. That way you don’t have to lug it with you to the airport.
  • Cinnamon Girl: This cute store has lots of mommy-and-me dresses and shirts. They’re pretty pricey (Um, did I really just spend $22 on a toddler’s t-shirt?), but the designs are different than the usual ABC store/Crazy Shirts/Local Motion designs. They’re atypically tropical.
  • SoHa Living: I could’ve spent all day and my whole budget in this Hawaii-themed home goods store. It’s a great place to get local souvenirs like wooden watercolor refrigerator magnets and unique cards, and everything’s a step above the tchotchkes at ABC stores and Long’s.
  • Up and Riding: A children’s clothing store with a surf and skate vibe. It’s on the pricier side, but I like that they have cute Hawaiian-style dresses and tees that aren’t the usual ones from the big brands.
Miss you much, Oahu!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Oahu, Hawaii 2019 Vacation in Review: Things I Did, Places I Ate and Where I Stayed / Originally published February 12th, 2019

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Comments

  1. Rachel says

    February 12th, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you for the thorough review! Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list and it would be especially nice to go in the middle of winter since it lasts so long here in North Dakota!

    Reply
  2. Tatiana says

    February 12th, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    Welcome home. I’m so sorry Connor was sick on this trip. It’s so scary when they’re sick away from home and so frustrating to deal with all the insurance calls and finding a doctor or clinic. I hope she’s feeling better now.
    It’s dang cold here in CA. I hate leaving the house in the morning to meet my trainer because it’s near freezing. I’m usually always hot, but this week I’ve been cold.
    We haven’t been to Oahu in nearly 20 years. Dear Husband’s old boss had a house in Lanikai that he let us use. It was the only time I cried on the plane on the way home because I didn’t want to leave. Lol.

    Reply
  3. Kerstin says

    February 12th, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    Hi Karen! I enjoyed reading your vacation recap! I hope Connor is feeling better! I am glad you enjoyed your trip and spent time with your family!

    Reply
  4. Jade says

    February 13th, 2019 at 7:08 am

    This is amazing! The pictures are making me miss HI! I lived on Maui for a summer and it was amazing (I also worked 50-60 hrs/ wk so limited free time).

    Have you been to any of the other islands? This is making me realize I missed out on some key things like shaved ice and stores that weren’t the ABC store. I hope you had a great time and it wasn’t too scary with a sick child.

    Reply
  5. Barb says

    February 13th, 2019 at 11:31 am

    Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list! Your pictures are gorgeous! How was the flight home with Connor? She’s feeling better?

    Thanks for sharing! I’m sure Tabs missed you guys bunches and he’s happy you’re back 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Barb,

      She did great on the way back home because she was feeling so much better. I, on the other hand, spent the whole time trying not to be sick, because the turbulence was awful.

      Happy Valentine’s Day to you, by the way!

      Reply
  6. Michele DiCola says

    February 13th, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    Karen that was a wonderful review .
    Hawaii is one of our choices for our 50 th coming up . Wow so much has changed since we were there 50 years ago on my husbands R & R from Vietnam . I was pregnant and couldn’t fly beyond 5 months so we went in March . I loved it !
    So sorry Connor Claire was sick but glad she got the right attention .
    I’ve got a lot to think about now .

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      Hi Michele,

      I wish I could take a hot tub time machine and see how Hawaii was back then!

      Reply
  7. Chelsea says

    February 13th, 2019 at 5:18 pm

    Thank you for the post! Almost felt like I was there, even though it’s icy here! And not the delicious shaved kind of ice! It was Tokyo Drift here in Michigan LOL.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      I’m glad to have given you a little Hawaii sunshine. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Nancy says

    February 13th, 2019 at 11:10 pm

    So sorry to hear that Connor was sick! I’m glad she recovered quickly, and you guys were able to enjoy your vacation still. 🙂

    How did the malasadas at Pipeline compare with Leonard’s? Did you go to the Fresh Catch in Kapolei or near Hawaii Kai? I heard good things about Fresh Catch – it’s on my list for our next visit!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:47 pm

      Hi Nancy,

      I had this vision of us being at the beach and pool the whole time, but there will be other trips (hopefully) in the future, and hopefully then all of our immune systems will have the strength of steel!

      Anyway, I’ve had Leonard’s a few times and I prefer the ones at Pipeline. They’re less oily, and they’re fluffier. Literally melt in your mouth.

      Reply
  9. fern says

    February 14th, 2019 at 1:41 am

    Hi, Nancy! I live just a few minutes from Pipeline but grew up eating malasadas from Leonard’s. Having a Pipeline malasada will make you forget all about Leonard’s. TRUST.

    Also, there’s a Fresh Catch just downhill from Pipeline, also on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki, so you can go to Fresh Catch first (like after a day at the beach at Ala Moana or hiking Diamond Head) and then head to Pipeline for dessert!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      I went to the one on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. SUPER DELISH!

      Reply
  10. Linda Libra Loca says

    February 14th, 2019 at 3:03 am

    I am so sorry to hear that Connor was sick! Having a child sick is pretty scary anyway, and even more so when traveling.
    Linda Libra Loca recently posted … Laura Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation – Food

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:44 pm

      It is. She’s better now though.

      Reply
  11. Kim says

    February 14th, 2019 at 11:54 am

    So glad you had a great trip! I’m glad that there was a lot of sun and that Connor is on the mend. Unfortunately, I have a much better understanding of the dangers of pneumonia after last weekend so I’m thankful that Connor is an otherwise healthy little girl who was able to bounce back quickly. <3

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 14th, 2019 at 2:44 pm

      Oh no. What happened? I hope you’re OK.

      Reply
  12. Miki says

    February 15th, 2019 at 2:12 pm

    Oh no, what a bummer that she caught NUEMONIA! That is something awful. I’m glad she felt better sooner than later!
    Hmmm, I wonder if it would be worth it to suffer the traffic for the sunshine. That is really a brain numbing question haha.
    That secluded beach though! It’s so nice.
    When a hotel has a Starbucks in it, it’s just heaven. It may just be everything I need in a hotel 😁
    OMG the cake bomb … drooool.

    Reply
  13. Marty says

    February 15th, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    Oh…Hawaiian shave ice…I loved it. My mouth is watering! Reading this and enjoying your pictures makes me want to pick Oahu for my next big travel destination. I was there several years ago and loved every minute; it’s especially appealing right now that it’s 15 degrees here in central Illinois!!

    Reply

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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