When I think about yesterday there are 10,000 things I could blog about because we crammed so many sights, activities and adventures in one day. It was incredible and we had a BLAST!
Our day began with a 5.5 mile sunrise run around Waikiki. Ryan and I still aren’t completely adjusted to the time change and have been waking up ridiculously early despite our best efforts to sleep in. Awaking extra early on vacation has its perks though and our run yesterday morning was the best run I’ve had in a very long time.
It was so peaceful running around Waikiki as the sun came up. Ryan and I were both surprised at just how many other runners we saw out so early. It seems like Oahu is a very active island which is really neat.
Waimea Falls
After our run, a quick rinse off in the shower and a speedy breakfast at the Honolulu Coffee Company’s adorable store located in the Moana Surfrider hotel, we hopped in the car and drove out to Waimea Falls, our first destination of the day.
Many of you recommended checking out Waimea Falls and I can see why!
The walk to the falls was a little less than a mile and meandered through a beautiful botanical garden.
Everything was so lush and vibrant.
We arrived at Waimea Valley right when it opened at 9 a.m. and were the first ones there, which was pretty cool since it felt like we had the gardens to ourselves. When we made it to the waterfall, the charismatic lifeguard at the falls seemed excited to have his first visitors of the day and encouraged us to swim before more people arrived. How often do you have a gorgeous waterfall to yourselves without the help of Chris Harrison?
Before we got into the water, the lifeguard asked us if we heard about any of the legends surrounding the falls and began telling us some super creepy stories about human sacrifices and spirits. The water below the falls wasn’t very clear and apparently the depth reaches 30 feet. The deep, murky water, coupled with the freaky stories from the lifeguard had me spooked and Ryan amped!
As Ryan and I waded into the water alone, I had a billion creepy thoughts going though my head and kept feeling like something was going to grab my legs and pull me under. Clearly, I cannot handle scary stories (or scary movies). The drains at the bottom of pools always freaked me out as a little girl. I don’t mind deep water and love scuba diving, but tell me a scary story and then make me swim in water where the clarity is so poor that I can’t see below my stomach and I turn into a big baby.
Obviously nothing grabbed my legs and I had a good time splashing around with Ryan.
I feel like you can still see the nervousness on my face in the above picture! Or maybe I was just cold? The water was 72 degrees, but I didn’t really notice the temperature because I was too concerned with the sprits below the water who were coming up to eat my soul.
The lifeguard was really fun to talk after we were done swimming and was full of facts and information. When I asked him about how many rescues he makes, he said that lifeguards at the falls typically make between three and seven saves a day. I was shocked! I was a lifeguard at a community pool for four years and only witnessed one rescue the entire time. Swim safe, my friends!
Waimea Bay
After our time at the falls, we drove across the street for the most exhilarating activity of our trip so far.
Rock jumping!
This activity became a MUST for me after Karli tweeted a picture to me of her jumping off the rocks on Monday. It looked so awesome and I was sold the minute I saw her picture.
Ryan took the plunge first…
And then I jumped!
SO freakin’ fun!!!
I thought I would be much more nervous about jumping off the rocks, but once I got up there, I found myself feeling so, so excited. It was a blast!!!
Shark’s Cove
Our next stop of the day took us to Shark’s Cove for some snorkeling. 
We saw a lot of fish and sea urchins and the visibility was great! The water was cold, so I didn’t last very long and my grumbling tummy told me it was time for lunch.
Lunch
Ryan and I grabbed lunch at Kono’s, a casual, local restaurant located in Haleiwa.
I ordered the avocado salad with papaya dressing and we ate our meals outside at a picnic table which was perfect.
Gotta love a salad that incorporates half of an avocado!
After lunch we knew we had to try Matsumoto’s shave ice after reading so many of your comments that absolutely raved about this sweet treat.
I’ll be honest when I say I wasn’t all that intrigued since I am not the biggest fan of snow cones, shave ice or Italian ice. If I’m going to eat something cold and sweet, I want it to be creamy, like ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Well, I am a changed woman. This stuff was out of control!
I ordered a Matsumoto (pineapple, coconut and lemon) with ice cream (served below the shave ice) and could not stop raving about the flavors. Most of the colors didn’t match the flavors at all, which I found really amusing. Coconut was pink and pineapple was blue! Pineapple was my absolute favorite.
I kept the pineapple lovin’ going as we headed back to our hotel when we made a pit stop at the Dole Plantation.
Ryan and I shared a cup of the Dole whip before walking around the plantation and loved every bite.
We didn’t have much time to change and get ready for dinner, but I’ll be back with a recap of our incredible meal in a bit!
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I rarely comment, but I had to tell you how fantastic you look. Your hard work in the gym has really paid off. I need to do everything you do!
I used to live on the island of Oahu near Waikiki! Enjoy your stay!
I think Hawaii might be one of the few places that I would have no problem getting motivated to run on vacation! I think I will pretend that’s where I am for my run this evening!
Definitely a place I still need to visit – looks beautiful!
1. I loved the Chris Harrison reference (so true right?!) even though the first time I read it, I read CHRIS HANSON (a la predator)
2. I cannot believe someone would comment and tell you how to stand…the nerve of some people!
Omg I would have been freaked out too by the murky water! I also have an irrational fear of open water… Lol but the cliff jumping looks awesome! I did that in lake superior and loved it! Lol little chillier though.
Your trip looks like so much fun! I am so jealous!
Coward that I am, you will never catch me rock climbing. You should go to the police museum. There’s a whole exhibit about the real Charlie Chan. I learned that this week from Rochelle’s Classic Movie Blog http://outofthepastcfb.blogspot.com/. Since I come here to look at the food, I must say that the salad looked delish, and the whip was intriguing. Did it have little pieces of pineapple in it?
Wow wow wow! So much fun!!! Your rock jumping took me back to my study abroad days jumping off rocks in Capri!!!! Ahh those were the days
Awesome vacay pics so far! And I’m soooo jealous of your amazing figure!
Looks like you guys are keeping yourselves busy. That ice thing looks tasty- I’m with you in that I prefer creamy over ice.
I love dole ! Did you do the maze !(:
Sounds like an awesome vacay so far! That avocado salad looked amazing…want!
What a fun day! PS, you have a wonderful blog! I can’t get enough of it lately. You can tell you sure have a passion for writing!
I love your bikini! Where did you get it???
I was just visiting a friend in Hawaii in June and she lives right near Kono’s! Their iced coffee is AMAZING…it’s vanilla macademia nut and it’s like crack. We did the rock jumping too!
The rock jumping looks so fun! I have spent a lot of time on Oahu but never done anything like that!
Ah, reading your vacation posts make me really miss Hawaii! I was there two years ago, spent 5 days in Waikiki and 5 days on the North Shore. It was one of the best trips ever and I miss it!
If you have time, try the garlic shrimp at Giovanni’s shrimp truck on the North Shore!
I love reading your adventures! It’s bringing me back to our trip in dec/january. We stayed at the Moana Surfrider!
And totally agree with Allison! Go to the Shrimp truck! It’s almost terrifying ordering food because it looks so graffitied and dirty! haha
But the shrimp is awesome. Just make sure you peel it before chomping down on your first bite :-/ Shrimp shell isn’t a pleasant surprise in your mouth full of food.
Oh my god, looks like such a fun day! I was always slightly freaked by the drain at the bottom of the pool too! And honestly, the shower drain as well. Something about them just seems sinister and scary!
Thank you so much for this post. I grew up in Hawaii and you just hit on so many of my favorite things about Oahu. It seriously brought tears to my eyes. Love it!
Umm…Your bodies are UNREAL. Dayummm. Looks like you are having an amazing time!!! 🙂
Love Oahu! Did waimea and shave ice. You must grab some L and L “plate lunch”…….most authentic and delish meat and rice!
This is so funny, I am in Oahu right now too, reading along with you – and doing lots of the same things. We were at Shark’s Cove for snorkeling on the same day. I will have to try the rock jumping and the hike to Waimea falls. 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your trip, it is beautiful here!
I thought someone would have asked where you got your bathing suit!?!? lol I didn’t see the question – so I’ll ask! Where? It’s so cute with the fringe! 🙂
thanks! it’s from target.
So I’m watching LOST for the first time ever, because I’m way behind the times, and spotted these falls in an episode 🙂
Your bikini is gorgeous! Where is it from?
By the way, LOVING all of the Hawaii blog posts! Makes me wish the holidays would come sooner!!
thank you, rebecca! it’s from target.
We just did both the Falls and the Rock Jumping this weekend thanks to your recommendation! It was a BLAST! It was $15/each to get into the Waimea Falls, but I think it was totally worth it!