Review: One Sweet Weekend in Honolulu

Aloha from Honolulu International Airport, where picturesque mountains rest behind luminous window frames, and long hallways are open to receive the fresh Hawaiian breeze. After a whirlwind Honolulu weekend, I am relaxing in the American Airlines terminal, enjoying a local beer, and anticipating a relaxing flight home on American Airlines flight number 0162.

On Friday evening, I arrived on the island of Oahu just in time for the colorful sunset over the surrounding Pacific Ocean. By dinnertime, I had checked into Waikiki Grand Hotel by Castle and was greeted by a sweetheart of a receptionist. As a self-described "Condotel" (the building is split between condo owners and resort room rentals), Waikiki Grand Hotel offers a charming boutique-style experience only a stone's throw from the ocean. Balconies offer panoramic views of Diamond Head and the water, as well as an exclusive sneak peak into the luscious landscape of the Honolulu Zoo, where flamingos hula dance to the soft sounds of the waves crashing on the nearby shore. Guests of the hotel (as well as visitors) are invited to visit the new luxury nail spa, which celebrated its grand opening in the resort's lobby this month. The hotel also offers guests an exclusive swimming pool, a whirlpool spa, and private tanning on their rooftop sundeck. If you're looking for somewhere friendly and fun, and in the middle of all of the island action, Waikiki Grand Hotel is the perfect spot!

Perhaps the most frequented amenity of the resort is Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, the LGBT-friendly bar located on its second floor. With happy hour from 10am-7pm (and specialty drinks costing a mere $5-$7), Hula's is the kind of bar where the bartenders refer to you by name, and keep conversations and delicious cocktails flowing. While their Mai Tai is delicious, Hula's mojitos and pineapple upside-down cake martinis were my favorites. (Thanks to Alex, the cute bartender, for his recommendation!) Hula's offers live music Monday-Friday at 6pm, late-night dancers, and other activities like Sunday Yoga and "all-you-can-drink" catamaran tours on occasion. Although the bar flies a rainbow flag, I found an equal number of straight as LGBT patrons during my visits.

Now, finding something to do in Honolulu isn't difficult, nor is finding the time to do it! When you're traveling from the mainland US, you're likely jet-lagged from the 3-6 hour time difference, depending on the time zone you're visiting from. This means waking in time to catch sunrise on the beach is a no-brainer. Fitness enthusiasts can join the locals as they freely jog up and down Kalakaua Ave, passing the statues, plaques and stories of Hawaiian life documented along the beach. Surfing is a popular sport for both beginners and experts, and surfboard rentals and lessons are offered everywhere sand can be found. Excursions, such as scuba diving, parasailing, and jet skiing, are also advertised in most stores and hotels on the island.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, checking out the local treats is a favorite part of every adventure. At Lawson Station, located at 2255 Kalakaua Ave (near the Sheraton Waikiki), I found a handful of tasty flavors of Hawaiian Shave Ice and Pineapple Dole Whip, which are two of my all-time favorite treats! I also made not one, but two trips to the Honolulu Cookie Company. In their stores, which appear as regularly as coffee shops in a big city, they offer generous samples of their tiny pineapple-shaped shortbread cookies, which are just too tasty for words. My favorite cookie selections are the White Chocolate Kona Coffee and Butter Macadamia flavors, but my husband was head-over-heels about the dark chocolate collection I brought home for him.

Saturday afternoon, I made a trip across the island to the Polynesian Cultural Center (located in Laie), where I explored the many treasures of the South Pacific. While touring the authentic villages of Samoa, Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Tahiti and Tonga, I mingled with the six Polynesian cultures, seeing demonstrations of their arts, watching lively parades, and even taking a beautiful boat ride down a river. At dinnertime, I enjoyed the center's lavish Island Buffet, which featured sweet and sour pork, ocean-fresh mahi mahi, salads, soups and pineapple bars. The evening ended with an incredible luau, featuring dozens of talented local dancers, who used their elegant and graceful movements to tell their stories.

As I returned to Waikiki, my trip ended just as it began: with a delicious drink from Hula's, and a friendly greeting from the staff at Waikiki Grand Hotel. On my next visit, I'm looking forward to a parasailing adventure. What's on your travel bucket list?

All photos courtesy of Kyle Christopher Photography.

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