YOU HAD ME AT ALOHA
Drinking in the Hawaiian spirit on the paradise island of O‘ahu
By Richard Jones
There’s a word you’ll hear and see a lot in Hawaii. Taken literally, ‘Aloha’ means ‘breath of life’, but it is also used by the islanders’ to say hello and goodbye. But, more importantly, it is the foundation of the ‘Aloha Spirit’, a guiding principle promoting peace, warmth and unity among the Hawaiian people.
During my week-long trip to O‘ahu, the third-largest and most populated of the islands, I received the warmest of welcomes and appreciated why their way of life not only draws in tourists but is a tropical muse and cultural hub for musicians, filmmakers and artists.
It’s a long way to Hawaii from the UK – around 7,200 miles. Thankfully, I was booked on a United Airlines flight in their Polaris business-class cabin from London Heathrow to San Francisco, and then onto Honolulu in First. The near 20-hour journey literally flew by and I arrived on O‘ahu feeling surprisingly fresh, although the inevitable jet lag reared its head the following day.
My stay in Hawaii was split between two hotels in the world-famous Waikīkī Beach neighbourhood of Honolulu. After a jumping in an Uber, I checked into an ocean view room at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel amid the high-end shops and fine-dining spots on Kalakaua Avenue. My 24th-floor room was decorated in a subtle Hawaiian theme, while the balcony looked out onto the main strip, with views of the Diamond Head volcanic cone and the beach at sunrise and sunset.
Waikīkī is one of the most iconic beaches in the world, and was a magnet for surfers well before the Beach Boys sang about it in the 1960s. Each morning, I would start with a breakfast bagel and coffee from Hawaiian Aroma Caffé in the hotel lobby before strolling through Surfboard Alley to marvel at the surfers catching the early-morning waves.
Throughout the day, there is plenty to see and do near the Beachcomber. If you’re looking for shopping, there’s a Macy’s store and the International Market Place a few doors down, while the colourful stalls at Duke’s Marketplace sell good-value Hawaiian shirts, handmade jewellery and trinkets. Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium and Kapiolani Park are good for days out, but I’d highly recommend renting a car or jumping in a bus or taxi up to Kualoa Ranch on the east coast of O‘ahu.
This beautiful area is a rich source of inspiration for filmmakers, with scenes from Jurassic World, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Kong: Skull Island and Lost being shot there in recent years. I used my GetYourGuide app and booked a transfer to the ranch before embarking on an open-air jungle tour as the guide showed us the local flora and fauna and statues of gods in the mountains, stream beds and lush green hills of the Hakipu’u rainforest.
For history buffs, there is only one place to go on O‘ahu.
During a trip to Pearl Harbor, I heard all about the infamous events of Sunday, December 7, 1941, when the Japanese launched a surprise attack the naval base, plunging the United States into the Second World War. I took a boat trip to the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines killed on board the sunken battleship, and also looked around the labyrinthine decks of the USS Missouri, the vessel where the Japanese surrender ceremonies took place in 1945.
If you’re after a bit of exercise, it’s a good 90-minute walk from Waikīkī up to the Diamond Head calcite crystal crater which dominates the skyline on O‘ahu’s south east coast. To enter the State Park, make sure you book an online ticket beforehand. Although Waikīkī is famous for its surfing, it is a hive of activity in the evening, with street performers popping up on Kalakaua Avenue. I booked a seat in the intimate Beachcomber theatre to watch Hawaii’s most exciting show, Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana ,which takes inspiration from the islands’ rich history, natural beauty and Aloha Spirit. The breathtaking show’s stand-out acts included a rola bola surfer, an aerial lyra act by the moon goddess, and a death-defying wheel of life. For a post-show drink, I chatted to friendly locals and fellow holidaymakers in Yard House, Kelley O’Neil’s Irish pub and Suzie Wong’s dive bar.
For the second half of the week, my base was a spectacular ocean-front room at the family friendly OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort, which has just undergone a stunning $80million renovation. Walking through the hotel, you’ll notice ocean-inspired modern art adorning the walls, including a few pieces by Hawaiian native Herb Kãne. The food and drink at the Reef is also very special.
As well as breakfast, light bites and cocktails in the V47 Club Lounge, I dined at Monkeypod Kitchen, where server Megan treated me to a fish stew with a couple of mai tais, apparently voted best on the island. At the centre of OUTRIGGER Reef is its nine-foot-deep pool, and burgers, snacks and drinks are available at Kani Ka Pila Grille.
During the evening, the bar turns into an al fresco restaurant with extra seating, and I sat down for crispy pork belly with ginger soy glaze and rice, followed by their signature caramelised pineapple crème brûlée. If you want to see O‘ahu from the ocean, there are a few boat trips worth checking out.
The Vida Mia morning coffee cruise takes you on board the vintage vessel which appeared in the first season of The White Lotus, while later in the day, a 90-minute sunset sail aboard the gorgeous Na Hoku 2 Catamaran takes in views of Honolulu’s skyline, Ala Moana beach and Kaka’ako waterfront.
As I’ve already pointed out, Hawaii has long been an inspiration for people from the arts.
And two of the highlights of my week were seeing a pair of singer/songwriters over at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beach Resort. Kailua-based Irie Love was in town to perform at Blue Note Hawaii and I sat down with a lobster carbonara and a beer to listen to tracks from her new album. The following day, Honolulu-born Henry Kapono was on stage at Duke’s Waikīkī, the bar and restaurant named after legendary Olympic gold medal-winning surfer Duke Kahanamoku. Even before the Grammy-nominated legend took to the stage for his regular Sunday-afternoon slot, there was a vibrant atmosphere at the Barefoot Bar, as surfers strolled in with boards tucked under their arms to join holidaymakers dolled up ready for the night.
I pulled up a chair to enjoy the music with a few mai tais and sunset mules, along with Korean sticky ribs and salad from the buffet.
Kapono, 77, has been playing island classics and iconic covers at the venue for the past 32 years.
And although he chose not to introduce himself with the usual ‘Aloha’ greeting I’d now become accustomed to – he began his set with a cool guitar instrumental – Kapono is living proof that the famous Hawaiian spirit is still strong.
FACTBOX
Richard Jones was a guest of OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels and split his stay between OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel and OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu. To book, go to outrigger.com
To find out more about tourism in Hawaii, see gohawaii.com
GetYourGuide enables you to book activities in Hawaii and other popular destinations around the world. See getyourguide.com
Richard flew to Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu via San Francisco from London Heathrow with United Airlines. Return fares in economy from £1482 and in United Polaris from £7981 based on departures in May 2026. To book, visit united.com
Holiday Extras is the market leader in UK airport parking, hotels, lounges and transfers. For more information, go to holidayextras.com
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