Hawaii Travel: Oahu To-Do's

In 14 days *cue happy dance*, my girlfriend Sienna will be coming to Hawaii for the first time EVER to meet my family and spend Thanksgiving "playing tourist" with me. I wrote down a few things I'm going to take her around to do, so I thought I'd make a post for those of you who are planning or dreaming of visiting this magical place I call home!
This is a text-heavy post, but I promise it's worth it! Here are my FAVORITE places to eat and things to see or do on Oahu, my home island...

• LOCO MOCO PLATE FROM RAINBOW DRIVE INN: Although not the prettiest plate, this local favorite features two hamburger patties underneath overeasy eggs on top of rice, all smothered in amazingly 'ono (Hawaiian for "delicious") brown gravy. Bonus points if you mix the yolk and gravy in with your mac salad! 
• SHAVE ICE FROM ISLAND SNOW: Many visitors to Oahu make the mistake of traveling all the way to the North Shore for Matsumoto's shave ice. Even though their shave ice is very popular, my personal local favorite is from a little shop in Kailua. Local tip: try the lychee, lilikoi (passion fruit), and guava combination with ice cream and condensed milk! You won't be disappointed. 

• HAWAIIAN FOOD FROM HIGHWAY INN: Located downtown close to Ward, or in Waipahu, this local Hawaiian food joint is definitely the spot to go if you want authentic Hawaiian food made by locals for locals. Try the poke (raw fish cubes seasoned with salt and seaweed) bowl or the kalua pig combo plate!
• GARLIC SHRIMP FROM GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP TRUCK: Tie up your day soaking up the sun on the North Shore by heading back through Haleiwa town to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (located in the little parking area across the street from the Haleiwa McDonald's) to get their AMAZING garlic shrimp plate. Local tip: ask for an extra plate to throw your shrimp tails, and get choke extra napkins (choke is local slang for "a lot" or "excessive")!

• GUAVA CHIFFON PANCAKES FROM CINNAMON'S RESTAURANT: If you're in Waikiki or Kailua, make sure to check out Cinnamon's Restaurant for breakfast! Get their "island's best" guava chiffon pancakes with a side of fresh, local grown papaya to start your day off maika'i (Hawaiian for "good"). 

• PALI LOOKOUT: A beautiful view of Kaneohe and Kailua awaits you at the top of this lookout! You can drive up the winding road off of the Pali Tunnel to reach the parking lot for the lookout. Park and walk down a paved area to see this gem!
• SUNRISE LANIKAI PILLBOX HIKE: I do this hike at least once every few months just to remind myself of the beautiful place I'm so fortunate to call home. It's a short 20 minute stroll up a mountain, but make sure to bring a flashlight if you're doing this to greet the sun! 

• TOUR OF 'IOLANI PALACE: Want to visit the last restored castle in the United States? This historically rich National Landmark was the home of Hawaii's last reigning monarchs, Queen Lili'uokalani and King David Kalakaua. Take a break from the Hawaiian heat and learn a little about the amazing culture and history of old Hawaii!

• SNORKEL AT HANAUMA BAY: Perfect for families, this snorkel spot will give you up-close encounters with some of the most amazing marine life in Hawaii! Make sure to grab a water-proof camera to snap some photos!

• SPEND THE DAY AT SUNSET BEACH: Make a day out of this adventure! Drive to the North Shore to check out Sunset beach and be sure to stay for the main event - the spectacular sunset! Best done during the week when locals are at work, because this spot fills up quickly on the weekends. You won't want to miss it!

Hope that provides a little sneak peek into the magic of my home. Best of luck to those of you who plan to travel to Oahu in the future, near or far, and stay tuned for the #SCBinHI journals around Thanksgiving to check out what shenanigans Sienna and I get into! 2 weeks to go!