So Goran and the family spent some time on vacation and decided on Oahu. Haven't been there in a while, and have fond memories of a younger Goran enjoying the high life there in years past.

I spent two weeks there and decided to kind of go all out. Back in the day, I'd be okay with getting some dingy studio in some run down motel on Ala Moana. This time, with a little bit more change in the pockets, I decided to get a Hilton Penthouse right on the water. The views did not disappoint. Service was top notch. I'm talking new towels EVERY morning, macaroons on the pillows, and a toilet scrubbed clean and shiny. I have no complaints.



Walking around Honolulu, I notice a lot has changed. While the city is unquestionable nestled in the bosom of one of the most beautiful areas on the planet, it's undeniably become a city where there are haves, and have nots. Spending time at the International Market, you get to see the one of the biggest Saks Fifth Avenue stores I've seen outside of New York, yet mere 50 yards away, homeless are sitting in a circle, eating discarded food from the trash can, on the streets asking for spare change. It's not as bad as Anchorage, Alaska which I visited last year where you could clearly see the social fabric of Anchorage scarring the city. The blight wasn't obvious, more "under the table" if that makes sense. It just felt weird walking into a store selling $2,500 purses, then walking out and seeing a group of people snacking on half eaten rice bowls.



That being said, the water during my trip was amazing. I'm talking about warm enough to bathe in. I've spent time at the best beaches in the world, from Malibu, to Ko Samui, but Waikiki was just so warm, clean, and inviting. I spent hours a day swimming, enough that my shoulders were sore after 2-3 days. I even did some snorkeling around the island, and the fish are totally not scared of you. You can swim within feet of them, and they'll swim around you like you were another fish. Awesome. I did get burned the first couple of days. Apparently you should re-apply sun block every hour or so, not apply once and then swim for 3 hours. So as a result, Goran is sporting a decent island tan now.



I rented a nice SUV (Chevy Tahoe), and drove around the island seeing as many places as possible. One thing you'll notice about Oahu is that even though the temps are in the 80-90 degree range, you're not suffering. The reason is because the constant pleasant trade winds wash away the sweat, and you're never suffering or dripping wet from sweat. Still I'd recommend shorts and short sleeves. We explored North Shore, which is kind of like a country/farming area of Oahu. Got to eat Giovanni's Garlic Shrimp (of Food network fame), and it was worth the drive. The island is roughly 30-35 miles across, and honestly, with light traffic, you can drive around the entire island in less than 3 hours. One thing you'll notice is the really artificially low freeway speed limits, we're talking 50 MPH on the main highways. But part of that is because the freeways are very poorly designed. The on ramps don't seamlessly flow into traffic, it's more like short abrupt ramps that have you screaming for your life hoping some huge semi doesn't cream you as your enter the freeway.

That being said, driving around the island is undeniably scenic.



I went on a few boat cruises, ATV guided tours, and even did some attempted surfing (I caught MAYBE 1 wave out of 20). I can see the appeal of Hawaii as a family vacation spot. There is so much to do, the weather, for the most part, is always pleasant, and the people are friendly. I didn't experience the outright "Haole" hostility, maybe because my wife isn't white, but people were super friendly. So that was nice.

I did a lot of eating. One thing you'll notice is the seafood at every restaurant is fresh as fresh can be, I guess they have no excuse. My favorite place ended up being a place called Marukame Udon. It's a place that sells Japanese type udon noodles, and you pick tempura to put on top of your noodles. The price point is decent (under $12), and you get a good meal for the price. That being said, Oahu isn't cheap, and expect to pay 30-40% more for everyday food items (cans of coke, bags of chips, etc). Everything is afterall, shipped to the islands.



Would Goran go back again? More than likely. I actually did look at 3 properties with an agent while I was on Oahu. The real estate prices are extremely high. We're talking 1 bedroom condos being listed for over $500,000. I can't help but think it might be worth it though to own a piece of property in an area that is literally built for relaxation and recreation. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time, and it's a feeling that I definitely want to experience again.