This morning we woke up well rested at Disney Aulani and ready to enjoy a nice morning snorkel in the cove steps away from our room. The resorts rent boogie boards free of charge and they were the perfect lazy snorkeling accessory…we spent the morning floating around the cove admiring the wildlife that were relaxing almost as much as we were. We spent some time talking with a local who worked for the resort and he said there is a family of green sea turtles that often comes into the cove for some relaxation, so we headed towards the beach with our boogie boards and snorkel gear to look for the family of sea turtles! The tide was coming in, so visibility wasn’t great, but after a few minutes of searching we found a young green sea turtle in about 12-15 feet of water!
After our morning snorkel, we enjoyed the slides, lazy river, and many pools one last time before heading back east towards Waikiki. On our way, we stopped at Helena’s for some traditional Hawaiian food. This restaurant is a must-stop when you’re in Hawaii. Locals and tourists alike are well aware of this place, so there can be a wait, but it moves quickly and is well worth the wait. If you’re looking to try a little bit of everything, make sure to order Menu D!
Even after our big meal, we made sure to save room for some Ono Pops. Ono pops are fruit ice pops and their ingredients are all locally sourced here in the Hawaiian Islands. They’re sold in local supermarkets and there isn’t an actual storefront, but we actually went to their factory near Helena’s. The factory isn’t open to the public, but we showed up with puppy eyes and in need of some sweet sustenance, so they were nice enough to sell us a few pops out of their distribution center.
The only other area of Oahu we hadn’t explored yet was the southeast side, so we made our way towards Lanai lookout! This area of Oahu was the most volcanically active (Diamond Head, Koko Crater, etc.), and its landscape still shows remnants of the 30,000+ year dormancy that once gave Oahu its characteristic landmass. Because of this regions volcanic activity, we are now left with some of the most dramatic views and wildlife here. The layered rock still present shows the power of volcanism, with each layer representing a different period in the formation of what we now call the island of Oahu.
Along this winding road, there are numerous opportunities to stop off and appreciate the power of the geological history. You can pull off and at Halona Blowhole to marvel in the wonder of the Pacific Ocean’s crashing waves interacting with ancient lava tubes, or you can even climb to the peak of the ancient tuff cone of Koko Crater!
Just beyond the Halona Blowhole is Pele’s Chair. Pele is the Hawaiian volcano goddess and it is said that this was the last region she sat before moving on to create the remaining (younger) Hawaiian Islands, such as Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. Note: we now know there is a major hotspot burning through the middle of the Pacific Plate, and as this plate moves, new lava flows (seamounts and potential landmasses) are created. This was, however, the last region of volcanic activity on Oahu before tectonic plate movement caused the younger island southeast of Oahu to form.
After our self-guided tour of Oahu’s southeast volcanic craters, we stopped by Leonard’s Bakery (circa 1952) for some masaladas, or Portuguese doughnuts. They have other menu options, but this is what they’re really known for. They also have other flavors and fillings, but we opted to stick with the “original” as we’ve heard there’s really no need to mess with perfection. Leonard’s has a bakery just northeast of Waikiki, but we chose to go to their food truck closer to Koko Head Crater to avoid the massive lines…there were only a couple people at the food truck, so it worked out perfectly! Let’s be real, these doughnuts would’ve been worth the massive line at the main bakery…
After Leonard’s, we drove back to our hotel to rest after a long day of adventure. While our family took a little break, Joey and I went off to try some local beer at Beerlab Hawai’i. There are a number of breweries and microbreweries on the island of Oahu, particularly in the Waikiki and Honolulu area, but we chose Beerlab because of it experimental nature. They’re constantly trying new combinations and profiles, and with their limited capacity tanks, it’s rare there is a repeated style.
After a refreshing flight, we picked up some dinner at Joy Cup Noodle Mean, which specializes in Sichuan noodles. This definitely seemed like the go-to spot for locals, which is our favorite thing to find, and it did not disappoint. They even had a spice level choice that ranged from 0-14!
Tonight is our last night in Oahu! We were able to see and accomplish so many things on our itinerary, but I think we’ve both agreed that we’d enjoy another trip to this island. It has such a unique character, with the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and Waikiki, the surf culture of the North Shore, and the nature and geological presence in the southeast near Lanikai and Koko Crater, this island really does have it all. Tomorrow morning we’re heading to Kaua’i for our second island adventure, so make sure you stay posted!