If you’ve been following me along on Instagram, you know my feed has turned tropical in recent days. A couple weeks ago I took an impromptu solo trip to Oahu, Hawaii for some much needed fun in the sun. It was a quick trip, only 3 days, but I managed to pack quite a lot into that short amount of time. Since I was traveling alone, I was able to pack pretty light – no need for heels or dresses for nights out. I kept it simple and comfy with easy items for beach hopping and touring the island. Below is my packing list plus a few tips for visiting Hawaii in the winter.

 

LOOK 1: EXPLORING WAIKIKI

I started my solo trip in Waikiki. After landing in Honolulu in the afternoon, I shuttled over to my hotel, which I booked through AirBnb as I was waiting to take off in L.A.! Luckily, my last minute booking worked out and I met my host, Jade, and checked in without any problems.

I was anxious to get to the beach so I threw on my bathing suit and romper, similar to this one, and headed to Waikiki beach. I grabbed a sandwich on my way and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon watching the surfers catch waves as I waited for sunset.

After the sun went down, I left the beach in search of dinner. My plan was to try the popular noodle spot, Marukame Udon, but when I got there and found the line wrapped outside the door, I passed. Luckily, I stumbled upon the Blue Water Shrimp Truck at the corner of Kuhio Ave and Kaiulani Ave right down the block from my hotel (map it!).

I ordered the red snapper platter and had a lovely meal on the balcony in room overlooking the night lights of Waikiki. It was the perfect ending to my first night in Hawaii!

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LOOK 2: BEACH HOPPING ALONG THE NORTH SHORE

Day 2 of my trip started bright and early. 4am to be exact! My plan was to watch the sunrise at Makapu’u, which meant picking up my rental car to make it all the way back to the south east side of the island in time for sunrise at 7am. I put on white linen pants, a swimsuit, a loose fitting denim top and sun hat and hit the road! I wanted to be casual, comfy and wear something I could easily throw on and off while beach hopping throughout the day.

I wound up not making it all the way to Makapu’u. It requires about a 10 minute walk once you park and the sun was already starting to peak above the horizon. So instead, I pulled over at the nearby Sunrise Beach and watched the sun come up in solitude plus two cute dogs that were playing in the sand.

After capturing a colorful sunrise, I slowly started making my way up Oahu’s east coast with the goal of eventually making it to the North Shore. You can find my full guide to Oahu’s North Shore here.

I stopped several times along the way to snap photos of hidden beaches and lush mountains. Every time I spotted a view that made my heart skip a beat, I pulled over to check it out. And I of course had to make a quick pit stop at Ono Yo for a fresh açaí bowl before reaching the first beach.

I had the best day stopping at all the North Shore beaches, watching the epic waves roll in and wandering through the North Shore Marketplace. Before I knew it, it was time to head back to Waikiki for sunset! For more on visiting the North Shore, you can check out my full guide here.

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LOOK 3: SUNSET AT SEA

When I checked into my room on my first day, my host Jade invited me to join her along with her husband and some friends on their yacht for sunset in Waikiki. I was a tad apprehensive at first given that I was traveling solo, but the offer seemed too good to pass up!

After hitting rush hour traffic on my way back from the North Shore, I had just enough time to change into wide leg blue linen pants, a flowy pink top and sandals and pick up some snack and champagne before heading to the yacht harbor.

As I waited for Jade to arrive, a couple showed up on the dock where I was waiting. They couldn’t have been nicer and I felt at ease that I would be in good company.

Soon, Jade and her husband pulled up on their yacht and we all hopped on. By the time we set sail, our group had grown to 13 people. It was a mix of fellow travelers and friends who had all gathered to watch the fireworks display which happens each Friday in Waikiki. We spent about 3 hours getting to know each other, eating, drinking and dancing the night away! It was a such a fun way to spend my last night in Hawaii!

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The next day I packed my bags and headed back up to the North Shore to enjoy a few more hours of sun, sand and sea at Shark’s Cove before heading back to catch my evening flight from Honolulu. I still had some sand between my toes and salt water in my hair as the plane took off, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing! I’m so glad I decided to step outside my comfort zone and take a solo trip. It was my first time traveling alone, aside from a few day trips, in a while and it reminded me just how much fun solo travel can be!

 

Are you planning a trip to Hawaii? What’s in your carry-on? Have you taken a solo trip? What did you love most about it? Share your comments below!

 

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