The beach
This is our third time at Oahu, an island in Hawaii, where miles of lush greens, long and wide beaches, turquoise ocean touching blue sky. This is surfer’s heaven and vacationers paradise. Waikiki, its most well known beach, attracts tourists from all over the world, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, or just lying on the sands soaking up the sun. If you prefer quietness, head over to north shore, where the beaches are less crowded, but equally beautiful with long stretches of tidal pool and silky sands embracing you. On the east side, Secret Beach gained its fame from its hidden location not accessible by car. You’ll need to hike to experience its beauty and fun. On the west side, oceans are wilder, and surfing and snorkeling more adventurous.
The Valley
One of the most well-known spot at Oahu is Kualoa Ranch. Located on the east side of the island, Kualoa Ranch not only takes on nature carved stunning beauty, but also traditional polynesian culture. In the middle of mountain and ocean, the lush green and layers of landscape made it a popular movie scene. It appeared in Jurassic Park, George of the Jungle, Godzilla, and many more. The Hawaiians made sure it’s well protected and built sculptures of polynesian gods and huts symbolizing ancient culture. Multiple tours will take you to the heart of the ranch, exploring the jungle, lakes, visiting movies scenes and getting a bird view of small islands from higher elevation. Locals give the islands names: the turtle, mother and baby elephants, Chinaman’s hat. The lush green in the valley gradually merging into deep blue ocean, which extends into the sky faraway, a breath-taking view many visitors would long admire.