Whenever I visit Oʻahu, I’m reminded that this island holds two very different worlds. There’s the Oʻahu that most visitors know, Waikīkī’s shimmering beaches, crowded shopping streets, and the postcard version of Hawaiʻi. And then there’s the Oʻahu I’ve grown to fall in love with – the one that tells a deeper story of a living, breathing culture whose roots run centuries deep.
Whenever I visit Oʻahu, I’m reminded that this island holds two very different worlds. There’s the Oʻahu that most visitors know, Waikīkī’s shimmering beaches, crowded shopping streets, and the postcard version of Hawaiʻi. And then there’s the Oʻahu I’ve grown to fall in love with – the one that tells a deeper story of a living, breathing culture whose roots run centuries deep.
As someone who’s spent nearly two decades working in travel, I’ve come to realize that truly meaningful experiences begin with curiosity and respect. The more I’ve learned about Native Hawaiian history and values, the more I’ve understood that connecting to place means learning its stories—of people, power, spirituality, and resilience. Oʻahu, in particular, is full of places where these stories still live and where visitors can begin to see Hawaiʻi not as a product, but as a home.
ʻIolani Palace — Where the Past Still Breathes
Walking up the grand steps of ʻIolani Palace in downtown Honolulu always gives me chills. It’s the only royal palace in the United States, yet it feels distinctly Hawaiian: Graceful, symbolic, and filled with mana (spiritual energy).
I had the opportunity to visit the palace and learn about its history and about Queen Liliʻuokalani’s story. If you visit, I highly recommend the White Glove Tour, where you get to step beyond the ropes, and learn about the stories of the monarchs who shaped Hawaiʻi’s destiny from a Palace Historian. In the attic, you have a unique opportunity to put on a pair of white gloves and hold a piece of royal history in your hands, seeing just how fragile and precious cultural preservation really is. The care that goes into protecting each artifact is an act of love. For the ancestors, and for future generations who deserve to know their story.
Bishop Museum — Guardians of Polynesian Heritage
Just a short drive away sits the Bishop Museum, founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop—the last descendant of the Kamehameha dynasty.
Walking through its galleries, I was struck by how the space feels less like a museum and more like a heartbeat of Pacific identity. The stories of navigation, astronomy, and community woven through its exhibits reminded me that the Hawaiian people are not just caretakers of this land, they are voyagers, scientists, philosophers, and poets. Each display is a window into how culture and ecology are intertwined; learning here deepens my respect for how knowledge has always flowed from land to sea and back again.
Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau — Sacred Ground Above the Sea
High above Waimea Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore, Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau stretches across two acres of windswept bluff, Oʻahu’s largest heiau, or temple. From this vantage point, you can see the power of the sea below and feel the reverence of a site that once anchored the religious and political life of Waimea Valley.
Once a major site of ceremony and leadership, this heiau anchored the social and political life of Waimea Valley. Even now, centuries later, the air feels heavy with reverence. There are no ticket booths or souvenir stands here, just interpretive signs, open trails, and a sense of quiet invitation to stand still and listen. It reminded me that cultural preservation doesn’t always mean restoring or building. Sometimes, it means simply letting a sacred place continue to exist undisturbed.
Queen Emma Summer Palace — A Glimpse Into Royal Grace
Hidden in the lush coolness of Nuʻuanu Valley, Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, Hānaiakamalama, is a small but meaningful window into royal life. It was never meant for grandeur; it was a retreat. A place where Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV came to rest, reflect, and reconnect with the land and their people.
Now preserved as a museum, the palace still holds original furnishings and personal items of the royal family. Though temporarily closed for renovations, the space continues to represent the warmth and humanity of Hawaiʻi’s monarchy. When it reopens, a docent-led tour, which is usually $20 for general admission, provides a touching window into royal domestic life. A reminder that Hawaiʻi’s rulers were also stewards of community and culture.
The Waikīkī Historic Trail — Rediscovering Place Through Story
Even in the heart of Waikīkī, where high-rises now line the shore, echoes of the past remain. The Waikīkī Historic Trail, founded on the research of Dr. George Kanahele and the nonprofit NaHHA, was designed to restore the Hawaiianness of Waikīkī. Its distinctive surfboard markers guide visitors through sacred sites (wahi pana), telling stories of aliʻi, healers, fishponds, and ancient surf breaks that once defined this area.
Now entering a new era of revitalization, the Trail is being updated to incorporate 21st-century technology and multi-language accessibility—ensuring that these indigenous narratives remain alive and interactive for generations to come. To walk the trail is to remember that Waikīkī’s beauty is not just its beach, but its deep cultural roots. Learn more at waikikihistorictrail.org
Each of these places – palace, museum, heiau, home, trail – teaches me something new about what it means to be in relationship with Hawaiʻi. They remind me that travel isn’t about checking sights off a list; it’s about deepening understanding. When we learn the stories behind the land and the people who have cared for it, we begin to see Hawaiʻi not as a destination to consume, but as a living culture to respect. These sites aren’t just about history, they’re about connection, identity, and resilience.
Education is the bridge that turns visitors into stewards. The more we know, the more we care. And the more we care, the more we protect. That, to me, is the true meaning of regenerative travel.
