Thread by @nomadicmatt

I was in Oahu last week and want to share my thoughts:

1. Waikiki is a tourist hell hole with terrible beaches.
2. Diamond Head is overrated. On an island with so many good hikes, skip it.
3. The North Shore is what you imagine Oahu to be like and was my favorite area.

/1

4. There are SOOOOOO many food trucks around the island. It's amazing. Eat there all the time. They were cheap too.
5. Honolulu isn't so bad. It's more local and some good bars.
6. The east side of the island had my favorite beaches.
7. Skip Ko'Olina. It's just resorts.

/2

8. Oahu isn't going to be cheap but if you stick to the food trucks, avoid Wakiki, drink where the locals are, and do all the free nature stuff, you can get by without spending a fortune.
9. Hike, hike, hike, hike!

/3

10. The Shirokiya Japan Village Walk was my favorite place. Cool experience and lots of good food. Also, $2 beers!
11. Kaka'ako is the hip new area of town. Lots of great murals, restaurants, and bars.
12. To really see the island, you definitely need to rent a car.

/4

Overall, #Oahu was really awesome. I loved my week there. If I could do it again, I wouldn't drive around all the time but base myself in the south for a few days and then the north and just do day excursions. Also, the better diving route is going counterclockwise. #hawaii

/end