101 things I love about Hawaii (Part II)

26. Waikiki. If you’ve ever received a postcard from Hawaii, chances are it’s of the most famous beach in the world—Waikiki. I used to be a skeptic about postcard images of such a beach with “that” many people, until I saw for myself the sea of humans at Waikiki, whether it’s a Wednesday or a Saturday, whether high noon or when the sun is about to set. A 2-mile crescent of white sand, Waikiki draws vacationers and local residents year-round.

Waikiki, which literally means “spouting waters” in Hawaiian and is labeled the surfing capital of the world, is one of more than 130 sun-kissed beaches on Oahu. It is an amazing place for those who love the beach or activities in those beaches such as surfing, body-boarding, swimming, canoeing, sailing, or snorkeling. It is also ideal for hanging out, or just to marvel at the blue expanse of the Pacific, watch people wait for the next wave, have a tan, or go on sunset walks.

27. Surfboards. I’ve never seen so many of them in one place, other than at Waikiki.

28. Getting splashed. Believe it or not, I went to a lot of beaches on Oahu—from Waikiki to North Shore and even Lanikai—without getting wet unless I count getting splashed by a wave while watching surfers at Waikiki on a lovely Saturday afternoon. I don’t have special skills when it comes to water. It already gives me too much joy just watching people loving their water sports, and admiring the shimmering blue waters accentuated by mountains and clear skies—and frame them in my photographs. (If you think living on Saipan for over a decade would at least encourage a non-swimmer to learn how to swim, think again).

29. Hail to the Duke. Don’t miss a photo of, or with, the lei-draped statue of Duke Kahanamoku—the father of modern surfing—at Waikiki Beach. The legendary Duke was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming, a Hollywood actor, a Hawaiian folk hero, a lawman, a beach volleyball player, and businessman.

30. Sun bathers. Waikiki, along with any other beaches on Oahu, is a sun tanners’ haven.

31. Diamond Head crater. Waikiki’s gorgeous backdrop is the Diamond Head crater, one of Oahu’s enduring landmarks. It is one of the most photographed volcanoes in the world, estimated to be over 200,000 years old but has been extinct for about 150,000 years. British sailors in the early 1800s spotted the volcano and saw how the calcite crystals in the lava rock shimmered from a distance. The British thought they had discovered a huge mountain containing millions of diamonds, thus the name.

32. Climbing Diamond Head. Hiking to the summit of the 760-foot Diamond Head was a priority on my list. We passed by an access tunnel that bored through the crater, leading us to the visitor center. It didn’t matter that we started the Saturday hike at an unholy hour because the trail never runs out of hikers from all parts of the world. The trail was dry, and we walked under the direct sun about 95 percent of the time. Thank heaven for the bottled water.

After walking on rocks and gravel and some paved spots, we came up to a 225-foot tunnel, followed by a steep 99-step stairs and then a 76-step spiral staircase. Along the way, I was snapping photos of the trails, the hikers and everything there was to photograph. I also used the photo stops to rest. The incredible view from the summit, overlooking Waikiki and Ouahu’s west side, was worth the hike. The sun and wind were pervasive at the summit, but they couldn’t wipe off that big smile on my face.

33. War remnants. Diamond Head crater has former military bunkers dating back before World War II. They reminded me of Saipan.

34. Under the tree. One of the best things after a hike is to be able to rest on a bench under the shade of a tree while birds try to mingle with humans against the backdrop of the crater.

35. Celebrating my birthday. I got another year older in Hawaii on July 16. I have made it a personal tradition to celebrate my birthday in a new place or outside Saipan every year. Hiking the Diamond Head was just one of those things that made my day eventful.

36. Wired world. In this day and age, you can’t escape the birthday greetings regardless of the time zone you’re in, unless you want to throw away your mobile phone or laptop.

37. Aloha shirts. They come in all colors and sizes, and you see them worn or on display at shops. Hawaii’s iconic Aloha shirts are often brilliantly colored with floral patterns or generic Polynesian motifs and are worn as casual, informal wear.

38. Duke’s Waikiki. We ended up at Duke’s after a leisurely walk on the white sand of Waikiki Beach after hiking Diamond Head. They say it’s always hard to get the best seats at Duke’s (so called to honor The Duke) but because it was my lucky day, we had a great view of the water, Diamond Head, and the Hawaiian band playing at the time.

39. ‘Pink Hotel.’ While most hotels in Waikiki look modern and blend together when seen from a distance, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel will always be a standout; after all, it won’t be called the “Pink Palace” for nothing. It was first opened in 1927 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places, built on a site that King Kamehameha I used as a playground after he conquered Oahu.

40. Sheraton Moana. Only one other beachfront hotel was built earlier than the “Pink Hotel,” and that’s the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel. It opened on March 11, 1901.

41. Margarita on the rocks. No two margarita on the rocks tasted exactly the same in the bars we went to on Oahu.

42. Ahi poke. Where else should you go for an authentic Hawaiian ahi poke than in Hawaii? Poke typically consists of yellowfin tuna marinated in sea salt, a small amount of soy sauce, sesame oil, limu seaweed, and chopped chili pepper. I am still craving for it. With or without rice.

43. Island music. There’s always that lovely Hawaiian music in the background, adding to the festive mood at Waikiki.

44. Teddy Bear World. Though I was curious about it the first time I passed by the Teddy Bear World, I didn’t get the chance to actually visit it. But the large display windows already tell you what to expect inside the gift shop—teddy bears in different costumes, telling you different stories.

45. Hula dancer statues. If you pass by the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, you may want to snap photos of the three hula dancer statues.

46. Trump Tower. On my first Friday on Oahu, my friend brought me to a sixth floor lounge at the Trump International Hotel and Tower to get a good view of the every-Friday-fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the lovely sunset. Such an evening of fun and laughter over cocktail drinks.

47. Sarento’s Top of the ‘I’. This restaurant and bar at Ilikai Hotel & Suites not only has sweeping views of the Waikiki Marina and the city, but is also a nice spot to watch the sunset and the Friday night fireworks. The experience of sipping your cocktail drinks on the 30th floor while watching the transformation of the city skyline when darkness falls was worth the long walk to get to the hotel.

48. International Market Place. This open-air center in the middle of Waikiki is a shopper’s mecca under the canopy of a century-old banyan tree. With over 130 shops and carts, this is a good place to buy souvenirs or gifts. It also features a variety of local and international cuisine, free Hawaiian entertainment, and amusing street performers.

49. It’s a small world. And it was at the International Market Place where I saw Joeten-Kiyu Public Library executive director John Oliver Gonzales and his family. I never thought I’d see familiar Saipan faces during my visit to Oahu.

50. Being a tourist. Nothing beats the feeling of being a tourist in Hawaii. And no press deadlines, no interviews, no rush to reply to emails. I enjoyed every moment of it.