Our fourth day in Oahu was another jam-packed one. The press trip I was invited to attend officially began last night and since every day of our remaining time in Hawaii has a different activity pre-planned by the Oahu Visitor’s Bureau, Ryan and I wanted to make sure to cram as many of our personal “must do” activities into the four days we had to ourselves beforehand.
Visiting the Pearl Harbor Memorial was high on both of our lists so we drove out to the site early yesterday morning. We arrived right at 8 a.m. and were anticipating a long wait time after reading a lot of reviews online. We were shocked when received tickets to the 9 a.m. tour of the USS Arizona. We were told that had we arrived at 8 a.m. two weeks ago, our wait time would’ve likely been close to 3.5 hours.
Ryan and I had no trouble filling our wait time and spent the hour we had before our tour walking around the grounds and reading all about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Though I obviously learned all about the attack on Pearl Harbor in history class when I was in school, visiting the memorial gave me a renewed level of respect for those who lost their lives or had their lives changed forever by the events surrounding December 7, 1941. I found the video we watched before taking a boat out to the USS Arizona memorial informational and captivating. The atmosphere at the memorial was one of sadness, respect and contemplation.
It was an emotional morning and Ryan and I left Pearl Harbor very glad we made it a point to visit the memorial.
Koko Head Crater Hike
After our time at Pearl Harbor, Ryan and I had another hike on our agenda for the day. A hike that took us straight UP!
The stairs you see behind me lead to the summit of Koko Crater. While the distance isn’t too long, this hike rises to an elevation of 1,200 feet and is just plain HARD. But it’s also pretty freakin’ badass.
When we began the hike we realized pretty quickly that it was going to kick our butts. Once we got to the halfway point, we were a sweaty mess. Though the incline was tough, the hike to the top included another obstacle.
Freaky!
When we came upon the bottomless stairs, I got rather nervous. I saw one man crawl up the stairs and I felt the need to bend over and steady myself more than once. The bottomless stairs thankfully do not cover a huge portion of the trail, but they sure do add a little pizazz to the hike!
Ryan and I took a few breathers on our way to the top, but made pretty good time and arrived at the summit sweaty, excited and absolutely blown away by the incredible views.
I felt like we were looking out of an airplane window. It was so, so gorgeous and the views made the hike to the top more than worth the effort.
While the hike to the top of the crater was a challenge thanks to the incline (I read one review that called the hike “Nature’s Stairmaster”), the hike back down was a bit freaky!
A little unnerving, no?
We made it to the bottom safe and sound and agreed that this hike was one of our favorite experiences of our trip so far. It was hard but so, so worth it to get to see such stunning views of Oahu.
Leonard’s Malasadas
As we were discussing lunch options in the car after our hike, something magical appeared.
When I asked you guys for recommendations about things to do and foods to try during our visit to Oahu, I read comment after comment telling me I had to try Leonard’s malasadas. I had no clue what malasadas were, but now that I do, I can say that I love them.
Just in case you’re in the dark about malasadas like I was, they’re large, fried balls of dough tossed in sugar and happiness.
The Leonard’s bakery food truck just happened to be parked right down the road from Koko Head Crater and we knew it was a sign. Ryan and I ordered half a dozen, thinking we’d split three and save three for later. Yeah, that didn’t happen. After our first bite we knew they’d be inhaled in no time at all.
While delicious, the malasadas weren’t exactly filling and didn’t do much to quell our hunger, so our hunt for a quick place to stop for lunch resumed.
We popped into Taco Del Mar and I ordered three carnitas tacos with guacamole.
I’ll pop back in again as soon as I can with a recap of last night’s press trip kick off. So much to share!
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Beautiful photos. Looks like you’re having a great trip. Have you seen the movie The Descendants? Sad story, but beautiful Hawaiian scenery!
That is an amazing movie! And really deals with some issues that I think are present in Hawaii. I really recommend it too!
WOW! I got a little dizzy sitting at my desk looking at the picture of those stairs! WOW!
Incredible photos – and the food looks pretty fantastic, too!
oh gosh, I would have been scared to go back down! And I probably would have eaten a malasada even though it has gluten, it looks soooo good!
What an incredible day! I don’t know if I could have made that hike myself just out of fear concerning the trip down!
Wow! What a view! Those stairs would have freaked me out! lol
That hike looks amazing! I always forget that the way down is often worse than the way up. It’s so backwards!
Everything looks absolutely amazing! So Jealous 🙂
Those views definitely would have made the hike worth it!
I’ve never heard of malasadas before either…from your description, they sound kind of like round elephant ears?
Gosh what a super busy day! Sounds like the Pearl harbor memorial affected you the way the holocaust memorial in Berlin affected me. I had known it was horrible before I went but the memorial really impacted my view of it.
I’m so jealous of this trip. Love that white dress, too. I’ve never heard of malasadas, but the Leonard’s box is so retro-cute!
So glad you got to do this! We hiked there in November 🙂
http://shiawaselife.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/cuckoo-for-koko-head/
You are the cutest thing ever. Simply adorable!
I remember visiting Pearl Harbor about 7 years back. This post brings back so many good memories of the time I spent in Hawaii with my family. It’s such a beautiful place, and I wish I could go back.
Those malasadas looks delicious! I definitely would consume as many as you guys lol.
Wow. Your most beautiful photos yet. Every post is blowing me away! Living vicariously, that’s for sure!
That hike looks amazing!!! I would definitely be on knees at the bottomless part!!!
I can’t believe you guys tackled that hike! What badasses! ;p The view from the top definitely looks like it was worth it.
I want to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial so badly! That attack is probably one of the most devastating in history, but it makes me proud of our veterans and soldiers who lay down their lives for our protection. As meh as the movie “Pearl Harbor” was, I love the message behind it.
And that is one sick hike! Yikes! Amazing views, though! And thoughs malasadas look amazing. Want one now. 😀
That hike looks so scary! But so fun too! And those views…seriously can’t get any better than that.
i’ve only done that hike once. (i crawled across the ladder) i had to rest so many times!!! i knew you and ryan would kill that hike though!
That crater hike just went on my “some day” list. What I find funny is that you will jump off a small cliff into the water which I could NEVER do. 🙂
Lovely photos. I am really enjoying reading about the experiences.
I love history, so I’m sure I’d love the Pearl Harbor tour as well!
The views from your hike were amazing!
That hike looks TERRIFYING. But that view is so gorgeous, so it must have been worth it 😛
Oh my gosh, those “stairs” look so scary! That’s really awesome that you guys took on that challenge – the views are seriously incredible. I don’t think I’d have been able to make it back down, though!
Even looking at your pictures from the hike makes me nervous! I would have gotten to the stairs and turned right around. No way Jose.
I went two Koko Head two weeks ago with one of my friends, and she did the entire hike with her 3 year old son on her back in a backpack!! She’s pretty badass:)
Oh my gosh, what a beautiful (but scary) hike up those stairs. We had a similar (but much shorter) hike like that while in the Cinque Terre hiking between the five cities.
WOW, what views! I think it’s awesome you hit up Pearl Harbor too–I want to go there so bad. It’s such a piece of history that I want to see/experience. Such sad events<–but hopefully we've learned from it!
LOVE your fitness top, p.s. Cute color.
Nature’s stairmaster is right! Wow that looks freaky and fantasmic!
That hike looks incredible! I want to go on vacation with you two…that’s totally cool with you right? 😉
LOVE that pic of you and the stairs! Very cool. That is definitely something that I’ll have to put on my to do list when I make it to Oahu. Now, if you ever make it to Maui, you NEED to do the bike ride down the Haleakala Volcano. AMAZING. Such an adrenaline rush.
You two are such a FIT and GOOD LOOKING couple!!! looks like a blast.
I’m so glad you hit up Koko Head! I vacationed in Hawaii this past June and hiked that, too! One of my best frieds from high school moved to Hawaii to work at Pearl Harbor and she gave me all of the insider’s tips on where to hike – Koko Head included! You should also hit up Islander Cafe in waikiki for their amazing acai bowl! I know it’s in the center of all things touristy, but it’s amazing and the best I’ve ever had (in fact, I’m having my own version of theirs right now!
Wow what a view!!! My husband and I hiked a similar set of rail road ties in Manitou Springs, CO last summer. It is an old cog rail way and is straight up for about 1.2 miles. They do not recommend going down, as several people have been impaled and died on the rebar from the old rail ties. There is a trail nearby that climbs Pike’s Peak to take back down. It’s called the Manitou Incline, and if you are ever in the Colorado Springs area, it is a must do!! It was tough, but so gorgeous from the top.
Definitely reminds me of the Manitou Incline. That was killer!!!
sounds like you had a blast..beautiful scenes…great company…and food. Loved it.
Love the pics! Gorgeous scenery and amazing looking food!! 🙂
Alright, so I know that you’re on this trip for promotion purposes — well, I have to say that it’s totally working. I seriously NEED to go to Hawaii. Climbing the Koko Head crater is now on my bucket list. Wow! Simply spectacular!!
ha! the press trip part technically didn’t start until today, but i must say oahu is really a wonderful place! perfect if you are looking for a gorgeous destination with a lot of activity!
Coincidentally I just hiked the Manitou Incline today!
I see it was already mentioned, but I wanted to add a little about the incline just outside of Colorado Springs, in a little town called Manitou Springs. It is a 1 mile hike straight up starting at the elevation of 6,574 ft ending at 8,585 ft. It’s ridiculous, but amazing! The altitude makes it even more challenging, but I think ya’ll would love it. I’ve hiked back down it many times, but the 4 mile Barr Trail down is beautiful and worth it. Just google “the incline” and you’ll get some great images.
I would LOVE the visit the Pearl Harbor memorial one day. It looks like it would be something that I would remember forever, like the Holocaust museum.
The hike up to the top made my hands sweat- just thinking of the height, especially the see through planks. EEK! I don’t know if I could of done it…but I agree, the views from the top must of made it all worth it! I hope you continue to enjoy your trip 🙂
Ahh as if I didn’t want to go to Hawaii enough already… now I desire to go even more! One day I shall 🙂 Those pictures are gorgeous, what wonderful sights you and Ryan are seeing, tasty food to eat (hey there doughnuts) and just so many things I am jealous of! Can’t wait to read more about your adventures
That hike looks so cool! I am dying to do it!
It’s reall nice to hear how much you and Ryan appreciated the Pearl Harbor site, so many people around our age wouldn’t even visit.
Those tacos look so good!
I have been to Hawaii twice now and never heard of that hike before. I will definitely be adding it on the ‘must do’ for next time!
I’m so jealous. Your pictures and adventures keep getting better!! I think I’m going to make Hawaii one of my next destinations now:)…what’s the temperature like there at this time of year?
The picture of the climb down the mountain looks absolutely petrifying! Hahaha
I live on Oahu and love challenging myself to the Koko Head hike! Those “stairs” are actually old railroad tracks! 🙂
Lovely pictures!
How do you pack your dresses so that they don’t end up wrinkled when you wear them? Or do you use an iron when you arrive at your hotel?
Wow! That food looks AMAZING. I LOVE hikes. I think I could get used to a hike in Hawaii. What a wonderful vacation!
I have to agree that the hike would be worth every steep and bottomless stair to see a view like that. So breathtaking!!
That hike looks incredibly fun, and incredibly scary at the same time! It looks like you were climbing a ladder straight up a mountain! Haha
Those views are stunning! I have been to Hawaii a zillion times and have never done that hike, I don’t know why. Looks amazing!