Travel to Hawaii: Celebrating My Birthday

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Have you been to Hawaii? Are you thinking about visiting or already planning a trip?

I decided to take a vacation trip to Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii for my birthday! This was a 5-day trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. Keep reading to get ideas on what to do while in Hawaii and where to eat while visiting Oahu, Hawaii. If you enjoy this blog post or have any questions, leave a comment below.

Let’s head to Hawaii for a fun birthday celebration!

Travel to Hawaii with me! Watch this Birthday Trip Vlog.

What are your favorite ways to celebrate your birthday?

I love traveling, especially to celebrate my birthday or the birthdays of my loved ones. This year we really wanted to make sure I went somewhere new for my birthday because it was going to be a big one this year!

Press play on this Hawaii 2022 vlog or keep reading for details on what to do while visiting Oahu, Honolulu.

In this blog, I’m sharing ideas for what to do in Hawaii for a week including what to do in Oahu and what to do in the Waikiki area of Honolulu Hawaii.

Hawaii was definitely one of the best trips yet!

It’s rare to feel like you’ve barely experienced even a tiny bit of a place when you’ve been there for at least a week. Hawaii repeatedly reminded me that I had to come back because there was just so much to do and experience in Honolulu, Hawaii alone.

GRWM Trip to Hawaii

Prior to leaving for Hawaii, I did what I could to eat somewhat healthier. I knew we’d be doing lots of physical activity and I wanted to be in shape for it. Also…

When you look good, you feel good!

Who doesn’t want to look and feel amazing on their birthday?

I also did my own braids for the very first time ever in my life!!!

To see what healthy meals I created at home or how doing my own braid for the very first time turned out, definitely watch the YouTube vlog.

I also went shopping..a lot leading up to the trip. In fact, a lot of the outfits that I wore during my trip to Hawaii were cute clothing from Amazon!

I mostly got activewear since we like to do adventures during vacations. I’ve linked the outfits below. They all felt super comfortable, looked great, and were perfect for being active. Lastly, I also linked any travel items I purchased and loved. This includes these clear suitcase covers that protected my beautiful luggage during travel.

Anyways, let’s get into the trip!

Traveling to Hawaii

My Hawaii travel vlog includes our actual experience flying to Hawaii and some of the cool public health moments I encountered during our travels. For instance, a super cute lactation station for mamas is located in the Hawaii airport.

As a public health professional, I’ve worked with organizations to get location rooms and similar private areas set up for nursing mothers. It was so good to see lactation options at the airport too and I loved how mobile they looked!

There are also ‘photoshoot opportunities’ everywhere you go, especially in places like airports. I loved seeing the Antigua flag (I’m Caribbean American) and found lots of cool artwork throughout the different airports. I also included some of these moments in the vlog!

My 5-Day Vacation in Hawaii

Our Stay in Oahu, Hawaii

We stayed in an Airbnb within Waikiki Hawaii aka Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii.

This location for our Airbnb was perfect because we were near lots of tourist shops like the ABC store, as well as walking distance from the beach, Zoo, and other local attractions depending on which end of Waikiki you stay at. We were closest to the mall but biked down to the other end where the beach and Zoo are.

What to Do in Hawaii

On our first day in Hawaii, we were pretty tired after traveling. We explored the local area on foot, grabbed some items from the convenience store, and headed to bed after a long dinner at a nearby restaurant. The convenience store that we went to often was the ABC store.

There were multiple ABC store locations along the streets of Waikiki, Honolulu which was perfect. It literally had everything and the people were so friendly. We definitely visited the store at least twice a day.

Rest is important and extra special during vacation.

After taking time to recharge a bit, the next day I headed out to explore Hawaii and enjoy some fun adventures around Oahu, Hawaii!

HUGE TIP: book your reservations ahead of time.

I’m not one to plan and book excursions prior to arriving at my destination, but it’s a must do when visiting Hawaii. I actually read this in a blog or saw it on a TikTok/YouTube prior to traveling and boy did it haunt me throughout my trip, haha!

Hawaii is one of those travel destinations where things book up FAST. I was in Hawaii during Spring Break and we were so lucky to be able to make our excursion reservations the day before whenever we found something we wanted to do. Even renting cars was tough and is in general for all destinations right now during the pandemic. Soo, try to make your excursion plans before you arrive and rent out a car beforehand too.

Rent Bikes While on Vacation

Riding bikes while on vacation is a favorite activity for my boyfriend and me. It’s also perfect for family or friend trips too. Many travel destinations and major cities in the US have bike rental stations throughout the neighborhoods.

The Waikiki, Hawaii area has multiple bike stations that you can conveniently rent. We headed to a nearby bike station and rented two. It was St. Patty’s Day, so we got to ride through the parade and ended up being part of it. That was so unexpected and fun!

On the way to Diamond Head Hike, we also saw the Waikiki beach and Zoo. Additionally, it was a great way to see a balance of local neighborhoods, as well as, ride through the tourist /downtown streets of Waikiki.

The bike ride to and from Diamond Head Hike was about 10 miles total. We decided not to bike the rest of the trip, but typically we would rent bikes more than once to see different areas.

Renting bikes is an example of a Public Health initiative. I saw many other public health examples on our bike ride to Diamond Head Hike. For instance, I also saw an outdoor exercise station that was likely set up by the local department of Parks and Recreation. I’ve worked for the Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as other organizations creating wellness resources like these. I love seeing the positive impact Public Health has and there are so many ways to work in the industry.

Do you bike while traveling?

We really enjoy biking while on vacations because locally it’s a good way to see everything going on, it’s not super expensive, and it's a healthy way to get around.

Hiking Diamond Head Hike

The Diamond Head Hike in Hawaii is such a gorgeous hike! It also seemed family-friendly. I saw so many families with children, older adults, and couples on the hike. And yes, everyone made it to the top! Hiking is one of my favorite activities, especially when getting started with being more physically active because you can go at your own pace while enjoying nature.

Once you arrive at Diamond Head Hike, there’s a visitors center, parking areas, a place to buy tickets, and a local food stand that has some pretty fresh options. I’ve added some more details below in my ‘what to eat’ section of this blog post.

Prior to entering Diamond Head Hike, there are also bathrooms, water fill-up stations, and plenty of opportunities to take photos amongst the land. I’d recommend bringing some water with you. It’s a long hike and you’ll likely stop often for breaks or to enjoy the scenery.

Again, the Diamond Head Hike is absolutely gorgeous, it’s a wonderful workout and definitely a good way to get exercise.

Parts of the hike include a dark cave, underground bunker, and so many other cool aspects that keep it interesting. Worried about getting lost? The trail is very clear and I saw tons of families with small children that were keeping up just fine. Some kids were even leading the way! Where do kids get so much energy? There are a lot of stairs and it’s definitely high up. I’d recommend bringing water to stay hydrated and applying sunscreen before you arrive. Otherwise, pack light and enjoy the Diamond Head Hike!

Local Events and Parades

It was St. Patrick’s Day, our second day in Hawaii. We were able to join the Hawaii St. Patrick's Day parade which was really cool. This year the holiday was on a weekday, but I did notice that on the weekend there are lots of local families and different group activities out on the beach. It wasn’t our plan to see the parade let alone join it, but it was very nice and I definitely would have stayed to watch if we hadn't planned to go to Diamond Head Hike. We did stop for a moment or two so check out the vlog to see clips of the performances!

Book Time at the Spa

Aloha Massage Spa is where we got our couples spa experience. We even met the owner and she was so sweet. This place is amazing and you should definitely visit it if you take a trip to Hawaii! We did so many wonderful activities while in Hawaii for my birthday, but going to the spa in Hawaii was definitely the top TWO for sure. This was my first time getting a spa treatment and I cannot wait to go back again.

I did a 60-minute couples massage. The room definitely set the vibe. There were essential oils, it was dimly lit and soft sounds were playing. Once the message started- oh my goodness it was so relaxing that I think I fell asleep a few times! Couples’ massages are so relaxing and just such a great experience for everyone. After our massage, we headed to get food from Fresh Catch which is close by.

Visit Pearl Harbor

This is a nice outdoor museum where you can learn about the history of Pearl Harbor.

Paddleboard Yoga

This was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had while on vacation, but also in general. Paddleboard yoga in Hawaii was definitely the top two best activities I did while in Hawaii, along with the visit to the spa. I was on cloud 1,000 after doing paddleboard yoga for the first time. In terms of adventure, paddleboarding is super chill (like relaxing!), gives you a moderate workout, and is a fun way to get your toes wet.

The entire experience was very spa-like and there were so many quiet moments, as well as cues for mindfulness. I actually had a few visions while meditating on my paddleboard. It was so powerful!

Paddleboard yoga is a good activity for beginners that are new to yoga and for those who are more regular practitioners of yoga.

I cannot wait to do paddleboard yoga again!

Scenic Tours/Drives

If you plan to rent a car, definitely try to book it before you arrive in Hawaii. As I mentioned before, reservations for anything go pretty fast in Hawaii, and in general, I’ve found that many travel destinations are experiencing car rental shortages during the pandemic.

Renting a car was great because it allowed us to explore the island freely and was probably cheaper than taking a Lyft or Uber everywhere. Gas is expensive, but it’s expensive everywhere in the US right now and I still think it was the cheaper option. We only filled up the gas tank once and it was nice for my boyfriend to be able to just drive anywhere. Of course, we did enjoy the occasional insight and company that our Lyft/Uber drivers provided during the rides we took. It was definitely nice to hear locals tell us about the island and give some recommendations.

The island also has a bus that seems to be very affordable and I think it travels throughout the island. The app MOOVIT supposedly provides information on which bus to take. I might try it for fun during a future visit to Hawaii!

One of the destinations we drove to was a state park. It was totally free and took quite some time to drive which made for a relaxing drive. As we got closer to the state park, the more the land really changed and we could also see a distant fog beyond the mountains. The road was super narrow and it was just such a beautiful view of all the mountains and nature.

The state park that we visited is Makapu’u Lookout. We got there pretty late but still had the opportunity to enjoy the amazing views and sunset.

Of course, after this state park, we headed to Teddy’s for dinner. Yum! Teddy’s was a favorite in terms of places to eat in Hawaii. I’ve added details about what I ate in Hawaii below.

Enjoy the Water (Waikiki Beach)

The Waikiki area is full of restaurant options, shopping, and lots to do on the beach. The Zoo is also nearby.

We did visit the Waikiki beach, but we also took full advantage of the pool and jacuzzi area that our Airbnb had. This was great because it was much more private compared to the beach, especially during the pandemic and spring break. Our pool and jacuzzi were available at night so that was also a huge bonus. This also made the experience very romantic.

What to Eat While in Hawaii

We ate so much food while in Oahu, Hawaii, and still haven’t scratched the surface of all the wonderful food options that Hawaii has to offer. As a favor to you (of course, but also myself, I’ll list some places at the end that are famous on Tik Tok/Instagram/YouTube famous that I did not get to during this first trip to Hawaii.

Here are some of the restaurants to eat at in Hawaii:

Honolulu Pineapple Co.

I’d recommend saving the stand as a treat for after your hike. The pineapple drinks make gorgeous props for photos!

Fresh Catch

You’ve probably seen Fresh Catch on Tiktok. Most of the menu is raw (poke), but since checking out the website I see there are also lots of options for cooked plates, specialty chef sauces, seafood, and plate lunches. I got the Ginger Ahi Tuna, Spicy Ahi Katsu, and the Pastele Stew. The last two are cooked dishes. I chose the Pastele Stew because reviews compared it to southern gumbo and indicated that it was Puerto Rican. My mother’s family is southern and makes great gumbo so I couldn’t wait to taste it. It was good!

The raw ginger ahi tuna was super fresh and delicious. There were so many different flavors to choose from for the raw ahi tuna. Like at least 8 different choices if not more. It was a carryout place and reminded me of the crab places we get fresh shrimp, fish, and crabs back home in Maryland.

UPDATE: While doing a bit of research to make sure I had the right details when writing this blog post, I read on the Fresh Catch website that the carryout/take-out situation is in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID. It sounds like some if not all Fresh Catch locations may typically offer dining-in options.

Teddy’s Bigger Burger

If you are in Hawaii, you MUST go to Teddy’s Bigger Burger. Please bring me back a few too. This is hands down the best burger I’ve ever had. I literally have been looking up the other locations and they are only available right now in Iowa (one place, and different locations throughout both Hawaii and Japan).

I went to Teddys at least twice. I even canceled reservations at a nice restaurant to have Teddys instead of a fancy birthday dinner. Wild right? It’s just that good! You definitely have to try Teddy’s!!!

My favorite burger was the Kaneohe, but definitely watch this TikTok on Teddy’s to see what I ate.

Hawaiian BBQ

I heard Hawaii has wonderful BBQ, so I did DoorDash some pulled pork sandwiches from a local restaurant. I definitely saved the barbeque sauces for later because they were unlike any other barbeque sauce I’ve had. Not sure if they were unique to this restaurant or the island, but yum!

There are a lot of Hawaiian BBQ restaurants, the one I ordered from was Bob’s-B-Que.

My boyfriend and I ordered curly fries and the pulled pork sandwich island style.

Other Places

Honestly, I love to try new cuisines or restaurants while visiting a new place, especially while on vacation, but it was nice on this trip to go to familiar franchise restaurants. It also saved us a lot of time when trying to vet the restaurant or decide what we wanted to eat. This was crucial during moments where hunger hit hard, haha!

ABC Stores

This is the name of the convenience or tourist store that we frequented while on the island. It literally had everything we needed including fresh food options like fruits, phone chargers, and alcohol if you drink. There were multiple locations along the main roads of the Waikiki area. These aren’t healthy, but I loved drinking the different mln sodas I would find locally. I even featured a few in the vlog! If you’ve ever had Ramune soda then that’s definitely what I’d compare these to.

Ala Moana Center (Mall)

This mall is amazing! Amazing!!!! It has four floors and includes both indoor and outdoor stores. There are over 350 stores and restaurants. We headed here after paddleboard yoga for some lunch. There were so many restaurant options and the shopping was INCREDIBLE.

Here are some of the popular places I didn’t try but definitely have on my list:

Things to Do In Hawaii

Polynesian Cultural Center

This could be an entire day of activities including performances, a luau, and an evening fire!

Pillbox Hike
Bishop Museum
Koko Crater Lookout Hike

What to Eat in Hawaii

The Shake Shack

There is a location in the Waikiki area within a hotel and there is a location on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. I recommend visiting the North Shore location for beautiful photos!

Rainbow Drive-In

We rode past this while biking! It’s close to Diamond Head Hike.

Leonard’s Bakery
Tropical Tribe

Great for acai bowls and other plant-based treats.

Banzai Susi (North Shore Oahu)
Guava Smoke
Matsumo’s Shave Ice (North Shore Oahu)
Kona Coffee / B Patisserie
Shimazu Shave Ice
Farm to Barn (North Shore Oahu)

Looks so fresh and healthy! YUM!

Waiola Shave Ice
Zippy’s
Island Vintage Shave Ice
Kono’s
Duke’s
Musubi Cafe
Cuckoo Coconuts Waikiki
Surf n Salsa

The tacos look so good!

Cream Pot
Arvo
Dole Plantation

What foods would you want to try in Hawaii?

We had so many leftovers throughout this trip which was another good reason to choose an Airbnb while staying in Hawaii for a 5-day vacation.

Hawaii is amazing and I’ll definitely be back. There is so much nature and beautiful experiences to have. It’s definitely not a place where you can experience everything in even two trips let alone one.

What would you do based on this list?

Have you been to Hawaii? Leave a comment below on suggestions for what to do during our next visit!

As promised, here are links to the clothes I loved wearing during this trip to Hawaii:

Amazon Vacation Mini Haul

1) Cropped Sports Bra Tops

Shop this item

I have it in pink, blue, and leopard black! They are super cute and provide light support which is great for a casual walk, hike, or bike riding. I think I’ll also wear mine to golf. I don’t think this will be the most supportive for yoga, but I also have large boobs, so I need that extra security.

2) High Waisted Butt Lifting Yoga Pants/Leggings

Shop this item

I got two and also plan to order the black with pockets!

3) Pleated Tennis Skirt with Pockets and Built-in Shorts

Shop this item

These are very girly and comfortable. I’m obsessed with the hidden pockets. They fit my phone an dare sleek which is perfect. I’ll probably gw a few more colors in these skirts.