Brief Summary
During our stay on O‘ahu, we explored the island with few plans, enjoying beaches, bus rides, local food, neighbourhood walks, and simple daily routines. Memorable moments included Kailua Beach, the North Shore, Koko Crater, and quiet evenings by the ocean. The trip reinforced a simple lesson: when we stop overplanning and stay open to the unexpected, life often unfolds in rewarding and enjoyable ways.
Miscellaneous Notes
Travel dates: 2026-06-03 - 2026-06-13
Flights: Air Canada
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
Car Rental: None
Transportation: On foot and HOLO card (US$35 for 7 days) on TheBus.
Travel package by Costco: $4,455.70
Included Extras: $215 Digital Costco Shop CardDigital, Waived mandatory daily resort fee included
2026-06-13 (Sat)
We started our day with delicious malasadas and hotel coffee, followed by a refreshing swim at our beach. We then strolled around the main streets, enjoyed fish burgers at Paia Fish Market, and sipped mai-tais and Asahi in the hotel lobby. A shuttle picked us up for the airport, and we had a smooth check-in and customs crossing. Our flight was uneventful, and we landed safely. We arrived home safely, and it was a wonderful, happy day.
2026-06-12 (Fri)
The Holo pass expires today at noon. We enjoyed some malasadas and hotel coffee on the balcony.
The Pan Pacific festival was happening, featuring incredible Japanese drumming and Hawaiian/Polynesian dance performances.
2026-06-11 (Thu)
Breakfast was baked goods from the Halekulani Bakery and Starbucks coffee in a pleasant part of town. We wandered through buildings and shops, window shopping and discovering places we had never noticed before.
We relaxed at the Royal Hawaiian waterfront and looked at beverage menu: mai-tai for US$40. Later, we walked to a historic hotel and sat in its inner courtyard, where we decided to take a bus to Sea Life Park.
The bus ride followed the shoreline and passed through affluent neighbourhoods. The destination was a beautiful surprise, ocean views, beaches, and lookout points. We briefly looked at the Sea Life Park entrance but spent most of our time enjoying the scenery. The long bus ride was well worth it.
The return trip felt longer because we had to wait for a transfer. Back in town, we explored the mall and considered a Greek restaurant before deciding on fish burgers at Paia Fish Market. Excellent food.
We took our meal back to the hotel and later went for our nightly walk. Instead of staying on the main street, we sat quietly on the beach and watched the ocean.
Our bus pass expires at noon tomorrow.
With little planning, we had a great day and accomplished things that had previously seemed difficult or unlikely. The insight: don’t overthink or overplan. Take a step in the direction you want to go, and the next steps will reveal themselves. Enjoy the process and make small adjustments along the way.
2026-06-10 (Wed)
Today marks my wife’s 27th anniversary of arriving in Vancouver and our 27th anniversary of sharing the same pillow.
Malasadas for breakfast.
We took a bus to Kailua with no rigid plan, only an open mind and ready to be surprised.
The town has Whole Foods, a Japanese specialty store, an organic food market, and Target. The Manoa Chocolate factory and tasting room were excellent, as was the local Paia Fish Market. We sampled many chocolates; the single-origin Hawaiian varieties were remarkably different and mostly excellent. The cocoa juice was refreshing and delicious.
Lunch was outstanding. The charbroiled mahi-mahi was excellent, and the ono burger was surprisingly just as good. Their signature sauce was particularly tasty.
We walked to Kailua Beach Park. The route to the beach showcased one of the nicest parts of town, especially the long straight road leading to the ocean. The sand was incredibly fine, and the water was a beautiful turquoise. We floated in the warm ocean and enjoyed the soft sandy bottom.
At Kalapawai Market, a historic landmark dating to 1932, we had a rice beer. A heavy rain shower passed quickly. We happily walked back toward town and boarded the bus without waiting. Along the way we enjoyed lush green landscapes from the bus window.
Back at Ala Moana, we sampled cookies before catching the bus to Waikīkī.
For dinner, we picked up discounted simmered mackerel with miso and ginger from Mitsuwa Marketplace. Delicious.
We spent the evening in our room. Another lovely day on O‘ahu.
2026-06-09 (Tue)
A day of rest.
Coffee in the room, an açai bowl from Island Vintage Coffee, and then off to the beach.
The sand and turquoise water were wonderful. We floated for a couple of hours and relaxed under a complimentary umbrella.
Lunch was at Marugame Udon. Afterwards we returned to the room for showers, rest, coffee, and beer.
At last, we managed to spend the morning swimming and enjoying the beach while taking the hot afternoon easy.
2026-06-08 (Mon)
Today marks the 27th anniversary of my arrival in Vancouver.
We took a bus to Dole Plantation and then continued to Hale‘iwa on O‘ahu’s North Shore.
We walked through the small pineapple garden and read about the plantation’s history. We enjoyed two servings of Dole Whip, one after the other. Very satisfying.
The gift shop was typical, and the train ride did not seem especially appealing, so we continued to the North Shore.
The area brought back old memories. We stopped at Da Seafood Cartel and shared a 16-ounce ceviche, refreshing, flavourful, and delicious.
We strolled along the main street, browsed shops, enjoyed an iced Americano, and admired the ocean views. After walking a little farther, we caught a bus outside town and transferred to the main route back to Honolulu.
Waikīkī was lively as always. We picked up pizza from Luigi’s, enjoyed it with a beer, and headed out for our nightly walk.
It was a pleasant day. Time spent on the bus also gave us a glimpse of some of Honolulu’s less privileged neighbourhoods.
2026-06-07 (Sun)
Mitsuwa Marketplace is one of our favourite places in Honolulu. Kuhio Avenue is the street I most enjoy walking each morning. It gives me the feeling of being in Japan while still being in North America—a unique experience.
A light rain was falling. Despite the early hour on a Sunday morning, people were already out and about. It was still a pleasant walk.
Malasadas and Starbucks coffee for breakfast.
We took a complicated bus route to Koko Marina and then walked to the trail head for Koko Crater. The trail climbs 1,048 steps straight up a steep hillside.
We took photos but decided not to attempt the climb because of our knee issues. The nearby shooting range was noisy, but it was interesting to watch people begin and complete the hike.
We walked down to the shopping area, bought malasadas from Leonard’s, and briefly considered a burger and beer at Kona Brewing before postponing the idea.
On the way to another shopping centre, we stopped at a nearby beach. I floated in the water for about fifteen minutes before noticing that I had become quite red from the sun.
After our beach break, we continued to another mall that included a Costco. We decided on poke and, with few alternatives, some chips. We ate beside the canal and enjoyed the view.
While planning our return to town, a rough-looking man helped us board the correct bus and make the proper transfer. Despite appearances, he turned out to be kind and helpful.
The journey to Koko Crater and the marina was long, but we enjoyed the experience.
Back at the hotel, we refreshed ourselves with a cold beer and a mimosa. Later we walked along the canal into town and returned through the grand hotels and beautiful scenery.
Tired, we showered and rested in bed.
Allowing things to unfold naturally, and remaining open to interactions with unexpected people, turned out to be rewarding and enjoyable.
My right knee still hurts, but I feel it is improving.
2026-06-06 (Sat)
We took the bus to the Saturday Market, where we enjoyed fresh pastries and excellent Lebanese food. For $22, we shared a wrap filled with herbs, goat cheese, onions, cucumber, and olives, served with a yogurt dip. Very tasty.
We spent time in the Ward District, a contemporary area with a subtle Japanese feel. We bought pineapples at Whole Foods, wandered through the shops, admired a Grand Seiko watch, and picked up a Supima cotton T-shirt for $9.90.
Later, we wandered through Ala Moana Park and Magic Island. It was a wonderful afternoon.
I realized that it takes at least three visits to fully discover and appreciate a place like Hawaii‘i. The same may be true of many things in life. When you relax, time seems to expand, allowing you to notice and enjoy more.
Dinner was from Paia Fish Market, accompanied by a cold beer.
2026-06-05 (Fri)
A trip to Costco—nothing particularly memorable.
Later, we took a swim in the ocean at sunset. The water was warm and relaxing.
I realized that swimming in Hawaii‘i had once been a form of stress relief. Now, with little stress to relieve, I simply enjoyed the gentle waves and the lukewarm water.
2026-06-04 (Thu)
It feels wonderful to be in the ocean—so far from home, yet surrounded by something that feels strangely familiar.
Earlier, we walked northwest along Kuhio Avenue. It has just enough of a Japanese atmosphere to feel transported, while remaining distinctly North American. A unique experience that seems to transcend geographical boundaries.
A six-pack of Asahi accompanied local fish and chips. Brewed in the United States and discounted by two dollars, it was chilled to perfection, so we gladly took it.
I felt an urge to write—to record whatever was on my mind and transfer fleeting thoughts into a permanent form.
Will these notes ever become coherent enough to make sense? I do not know. What I do know is that I want to preserve the impressions and imaginings of each day.
My right knee hurts and continues to bother me.
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