Wanderlust: Hawaii Holiday

 Hawaii was magical and unforgettable.

The beautiful landscape, the inviting beaches, the towering palm trees and the smell of the salt ocean air draws you into another world - this is truly paradise. Hawaii is a place to experience with all the senses and it's is so picturesque that it's hard to take a bad photo.

There was only one week to fit all of our excursions in and the island is quite large, so make do with the time that you have. Here are my top 5 places that I’ve enjoyed and I hope you will find helpful too:

 1. Snorkel at Hanuama Bay – This was a local’s recommendation and I highly suggest you make this one of your top spots. Make sure you get here early because the crowds swarm in at 9am and scare away the fishes. Go further out and you might see a turtle. We bought an underwater camera with film (they still make these things!), but I recommend renting a go-pro for better quality photos and video.

2. Sushi - Eat sushi to your heart's content. I had sushi almost every day but I'm a fanatic. I recommend Suntory for traditional Japanese meals (it reminded me of the meals I would have in Japan) but I also enjoyed Doraku Sushi and Island Vintage Coffee for their Ahi Poke Bowl. The Poke bowl is made up of raw fish, seasonings,  and rice and feature the freshest fish in Hawaii. I have cravings for them ever since I've been back.

3.  Luau – I really enjoyed myself at a Luau. We went to the Chief's Luau and it's full of narrative, jokes, fire throwers and Hula dancers set against a beautiful backdrop. We had a feast of pit roasted pig, purple taro bread and local Hawaiian cuisine.

4. Diamond Head Crater - We got up early in the morning to hike all the way up the crater. Once the sun is overhead, it makes it harder to climb to the top and the trail gets overcrowded with people. The hike is worth it once you reach the top, and the reward is the spectacular views of the island.

5. Pali Lookout – We took a day excursion around Honolulu and we stopped at Pali lookout. This is such a beautiful lookout point, with panoramic views of O’ahu. This is quite breathtaking and the photos do not capture the natural beauty. Also, ladies, you’ll need to hold onto your skirts as it's extremely windy here.