Updated July 1, 2021.

It’s Faraway Friday, and this week we’re jetting off to the Island of O’ahu! My husband and I needed a relaxing trip for our first anniversary, and we decided an island would probably be just the right pace to help us slow down and soak in the happiness of our first year of marriage. This is the trip that convinced us to take an easy-going island trip for our anniversary every year! Here are our top 10 reasons O’ahu should be on your “to travel” list.

10. The Hula Pie

If you follow my blog at all, it’s really no surprise that we’re having dessert first! The Hula Pie at Duke’s on Waikiki Beach is an iconic end to a satisfying island meal. That chocolate cookie crust, that macadamia nut ice cream, that fudge, those macadamia toppings, that whipped cream!

More here: What to Eat on O’ahu

9. The Duke Himself

That’s Duke Kahanamoku. Father of modern surfing, Olympic gold medalist, sheriff of O’ahu, waterman, whatever you call him, he is a hero in Hawaii! And he’s waiting to greet you on Waikiki Beach!

More here: Hawaii’s Best Adventures

8. The View

Always find the lighthouses. They have the best views.

More here: Books to Read Before Your Trip to Hawaii

7. Pearl Harbor

No trip to O’ahu is complete unless you visit Pearl Harbor. Their exhibits are meaningful, and the USS Arizona Memorial is worth the trip all in itself. Survivors from the Pearl Harbor Attacks can choose to be buried here with their comrades when they pass away. I had no idea about that until we visited.

Continue reading: Hawaii for History Lovers

6. The Local Fare

And we’re back to food! The happy island vibe permeates every aspect of life on O’ahu, and it even shows up in their breakfast! Tell me this doesn’t look like a little Hawaiian guy:

And this food truck shrimp might be the best I’ve ever had!

Get more: What to Eat on Waikiki

5. The Beach

Whether you want water sports, relaxation, or scenery, O’ahu has the right mix of all three!

More here: 5 Things You Forgot to Pack for Hawaii

4. Royalty

Hawaii is the only state with a royal palace! King Kamehameha I came from the Island of Hawai’i and unified the Hawaiian Islands in a battle culminating on O’ahu, and the successive royalty lived in the I’olani Palace in Honolulu. They even have a throne room!

More here: The Ultimate O’ahu Bucket List

3. Kalelekaʻanae

And speaking of unifying the Hawaiian Islands, you can visit the site of the Battle of Nu’uanu, where hundreds of warriors who preferred death to losing the battle chose to jump from the cliff.

More here: Books to Read Before Your Trip to Hawaii

2. Iconic Diamond Head

No place on O’ahu is quite as iconic as the Diamond Head crater. If you see an “establishing shot” of O’ahu in movies or on TV, it’s most likely a shot of Diamond Head crater similar to the one below!

More here: Hiking Hawaii: O’ahu

1. Sunsets

Nothing says “beautiful” like watching the sunset! And we saw some stunning ones over the water at Waikiki!

More here: What to Know Before You Visit the Hawaiian Islands

What do you think? Ready to buy a ticket to O’ahu yet? Check out my Hawaiian Islands Page for more!

Love this post? Pin it for later!