Cabaret Dancehall

Every year, Honolulu International Airport welcomes millions of visitors all the way from Japan and the US who are there to have their dream vacation. Soon after landing, most visitors hop in a cab or bus sent from the hotel and begin the journey past downtown Honolulu and on to their reservation at a Waikiki hotel. The attraction of Waikiki is nearly magnetic - the bustle of the busy streets, the long and extended beaches and the rich history of the land soon make the visitors hit the streets. The excitement of discovering Waikiki is so intense that most visitors never escape its imaginary borders. Approximately 6 million of these visitors miss the very sites that locals find so endearing, remaining within the two square miles of Waikiki.

If you are thinking of visiting Oahu then you should find this interesting.

Magic Island Beach Park – If you reach Ala Moana Shopping Center, this much loved park is situated across the street, on the west of Waikiki. Although it is called a park, it does in fact, contain three beeches, a substantial (3 miles) jogging path, plus tennis courts and many other attractions. A walk around the park will expose the center of Hawaiian culture - people with large extended families gather around hibachis, spending the day together with a good food and plenty of sun. This is a great place for a barbecue and considering the beaches are never overcrowded, it makes for a fantastic sun-filled day.

The Contemporary Museum Honolulu – This is located on a ridge at Makiki Heights Drive, and as you drive up the ridge, you see some panoramic views of Oahu, which most visitors usually miss. The relatively small museum offers changing exhibits in its five galleries and after traversing the galleries, visitors can wander out onto the sculpture gardens. 5 acres, includes sculptures as well as places for meditation, and can offer an unforgettable view of Honolulu.

Leong’s Cafe - Experiencing a Lu’au is more than just the entertainment it provides as some great traditional, local food can be enjoyed at one of these. Food lovers will appreciate Leong’s cafe which can be found easily as it is situated at 2343 North King Street. Some of the dishes, which keep the customers coming back, include kalua pig, lu’au stew, lomi lomi and more and as incredible as it may sound, this place is visited both by locals as well as tourists, for over 50 years.

Champion Malasadas - Hawaii has a local dish called Malasadas which have become so entrenched in the everyday lives of Hawaiins that they renamed Fat Tuesday and called it Malasadas Day. You can find Champion Malasadas, which is a famous bakery, along South Beretania Street. Although a Hawaiian treat, they are in fact Portuguese and are donuts without the hole and they are served with or without your favorite filling.

Honolulu Chinatown – Walk through the lanes of Chinatown and you start thinking where am I, and what era am I in? Everything from dim sum to fresh produce can be found here but it also has more modern treats to like the new Hip Lounge. Unusual and interesting produce and products can be purchased here, most of which you would be hard pushed to find in a normal American grocery. Guided walking tours are available for this historic district, but often the best way is to simply meander through the streets, stopping whenever your interest has been piqued.

In case you are keen to enjoy Oahu the way a local does, spend more time outside Waikiki. There are many places to visit but those mentioned above are well worth the effort even though there is so much that makes Hawaii a special destination.