• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Snippets
  • Competitions
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Be Seen
    • Jobs in The Central West
  • Features
    • Rural Round Up
    • Loving Local Living
    • Wellness Wise
    • My Place
    • Real Estate
    • Recipe of the Week
  • Sports
    • Canowindra Bowls Club
    • Canowindra Junior Rugby League
    • Canowindra Senior Rugby League
    • Cricket
    • Footy Tipping Competition
    • Golf
    • Rugby Union
    • Swimming Club
    • Touch Football Results
    • Tennis
    • Other
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with Us
    • Testimonials
    • Subscribe to the Phoenix
    • Submit an Article
    • Previous Print Editions

The Canowindra Phoenix

Your free weekly guide to what's happening in and around Canowindra.

You are here: Home / Articles / O’ahu for beginners

O’ahu for beginners

17 March, 2014 By editor

Screen Shot 2014-03-17 at 12.08.25 PM

In Hawaiian, O’ahu means ‘the gathering place’. This is not surprising, the island feels slightly more Asian than American and is a veritable melting pot of ethnicities, language, custom and cuisine.

Given the short period of time I was in Hawaii, I remained on the island of O’ahu which promised a broad range of experiences. There was the excitement of the ‘city’ in Honolulu but if you prefer a slower pace, do as I did and head straight to the fabled North Shore which is a 50 minute drive from Honolulu Airport.

Stretching for over 11 kilometres, the beaches along the North Shore are home to the world’s major surfing competitions. During my visit the swell offshore peaked at 30 foot. It was spectacular to watch and has put the quaint nearby town of Haleiwa ‘on the map’ so to speak.

Be sure to visit the ‘North Shore Marketplace’ in Haleiwa. It is a small collection of local shops and art galleries showcasing Hawaiian culture.

On your way, stop at Teds Bakery at Sunset Beach. This local hotspot is a great option for breakfast or to stock up on sweet treats like their famous Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie.

It was great to see a lot of support for local producers. Farm stalls specializing in fresh fruits and local shrimp trucks dot the coastal highway. My favourite is without doubt Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. Not to be missed this local institution dishes up garlic and olive oil scampi with rice. Delicious.

After four relaxing days in Turtle Bay it was on to Honolulu. In an attempt to convey what iconic Waikiki beach is like I’ve adopted the summation, ‘it’s a cross between Las Vegas and Surfers Paradise’.

Like Vegas, this too is a city that doesn’t sleep. Most shopping malls and stores are open until 11pm and restaurants and bars serve patrons until much later. Like Surfers Paradise, the main esplanade runs parallel to the beach, upon which hundreds of resorts and hotels have been established – offering something for everyone!

Despite the imaginable chaos, there is a very real feeling of Fun. Everyone who visits is there to have a good time, and they do.

The one attraction I would say is not to be missed is the USS Arizona Memorial at the World War Two Valor in the Pacific National Monument and the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. To avoid the queues it is best to go first thing in the morning or to book tickets online via the US National Parks Service. Tours are free and extremely informative. The USS Arizona Memorial is uniquely both a memorial and tomb. 2,341 honored servicemen of the US Army, Navy and Marine Corp who gave their lives on 7 December 1941, are buried in the ship’s hull over which the Memorial has been erected.

For those who have more time I’d also recommend heading to the ‘big’ island of Hawai’I. It’s next on my list and is known as the island of adventure. Hawai’I is home to Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Otherwise, Maui with its pristine beaches is also popular, repeatedly voted ‘Best Island’ by numerous publications.

General tips for getting around and about in O’ahu:

  • Hire a car if you’re heading out of Honolulu – it is extremely affordable compared to prices here in Australia and makes it so much easier to get around. Most hotels and resorts offer self-parking facilities so you don’t have to opt for valet.
  • Use the trams (known as ‘trolleys’) in and around Honolulu. Adult fares are $2 per journey/ one way and the routes take you to all the major spots.

Some favourites in and around Honolulu:

  • Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial Tour – rated the #1 thing to do in Honolulu by Trip Advisor.
  • Waikele Outlet – outlet shopping like you’ve never seen it before. Located just 15 miles west of Honolulu you can stock up on anything you might need from head to toe, literally. Sunglasses to sneakers this is big brands at unheard of prices.
  • Dukes Waikiki – offers three beachside dining options and live music.
  • Doraku Sushi – a lovely restaurant in the heart of Honolulu.
  • Waikiki Starlight Luau – no trip to Hawaii is complete without partaking in a Luau. I highly recommend the Starlight Luau hosted by Hilton Hawaiian Village, it is feast of music, color, food, dance and Polynesian culture.

Filed Under: Articles, General Interest, Travel

More News

Staying ‘Home’ For Australia Day

21 January, 2021 By editor

It seems fitting that the name Canowindra comes from the Wiradjuri word meaning home. Canowindra has … [Read More...]

Cabonne Shire Australia Day 2021 Event Information

21 January, 2021 By editor

… [Read More...]

Much To Celebrate

21 January, 2021 By editor

Graham and Debbie Rice had a big week this week, celebrating 46 years of marriage on Monday and … [Read More...]

More articles in this section

  • Happy New Year – From Montrose House
  • Live Music Going Ahead In The New Year
  • Montrose House

More Food & Wine

ANZAC Treat

23 April, 2020 By editor

Caramel ANZAC Slice SLICE • 2 Cups Plain Flour • 2 Cups Brown Sugar • 2 Cups Rolled Oats • 1 … [Read More...]

Enjoy a Cold Christmas Pudding!

16 December, 2015 By editor

Ingredients 2.25 litre vanilla ice cream 2 x 125 punnets of pistachio kernels 1 teaspoon … [Read More...]

The Bite…Coffee Culture

8 July, 2015 By editor

It is a fair generalisation that Australians are culturally obsessed with their coffee. Across the … [Read More...]

More articles in this section

  • The Bite…Winter Warmers
  • In The Vines…Philip Shaw’s New Cellar Door
  • The Bite…Orange Cafe Culture

More Sport

The Canowindra rugby league football club

21 January, 2021 By editor

The season launch for the Canowindra Rugby Football Club’s centenary year was held last week at the Canowindra Bowling Club. This year marks an incredible 100 years of play by the Tigers in Canowindra. Speeches were heard from club president Andrew Whatman and coaches Kevin, Cal and Mick. Ed Clyburn spoke on behalf of the […]

Latest Print Edition

Click here to download the recent issue (617) of The Canowindra Phoenix (2.1mb PDF) 21st January 2021

AWARDED 2018 BEST BUSINESS IN CABONNE

Stay Connected

The Canowindra Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

likeusonfacebook

Canowindra Booklet

Click here to download the 2018 Canowindra Booklet – Explore “The Place You Call Home” Like a Local

Central West Rural Round Up Booklet

Click here to download the Central West Rural Round Up Booklet

Search the Phoenix

Recent Articles

  • Bangaroo Bridge Officially Open 21 January, 2021
  • Staying ‘Home’ For Australia Day 21 January, 2021
  • Letters 21 January, 2021

Contact the Phoenix

Street Address: 84 Gaskill Street Canowindra NSW 2804 Postal Address: PO Box 203 Canowindra NSW 2804 Phone: (02) 6344 1846 Email: editor@canowindraphoenix.com.au or sales@canowindraphoenix.com.au View our Privacy Policy. View our Conflict Resolution Process. View our Ethics and Complaints Policy. Want to advertise with us? Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Receive The Phoenix via Email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2021 · Website setup and support: CompleteWPCare