For the past few years, I've dreamt of planning an out-of-state trip but never actually got around to it. Sometimes the money wasn't there or the people I invited couldn't get the vacation days. Everyone always seemed to be too busy with school or work or it just wasn't the right time. One thing I've learned: that there will never be a "right" time to travel. You just have to go.

This year I told myself that I would finally go on more trips and start seeing the world. Like most people, I don't know how many hours I've spent looking at instagram pictures of other peoples' adventures and travels. It's been said that a picture is worth 1,000 words, but there's simply not enough words to describe the feeling of being on top of a mountain, in a faraway place while pushing your boundaries. Nor can pictures ever fully capture the view from our own two eyes in that moment. Pictures can never fully express the feeling of triumph when we achieve a goal, whether its climbing a nineteen thousand foot mountain or just getting on a plane headed towards your dream vacation!

I started this year setting some goals for myself. One of those goals was to travel to at least 3 different states during 2016. I've read that most new year's resolutions fail by the time February rolls around. Sadly, it's probably true. The reason being is that most goals (exercise more, lose more weight, eat better, watch less tv, etc) are generic. They are not quantifiable, and therefore there is no definitive marker for success or failure. Notice that my goal is to visit at least 3 different places; a number which is certainly doable if planned properly, but also allows room for more. I am pleased to say that February has past, and I am still en route to my goal! I finally went to Hawaii!

Being an outdoor enthusiast, I made it a point to fit as many outdoor activities into my trip. But with four people, who may or may not always want to do the same things, planning which activities to do will not always be smooth sailing. As with most situations in life, compromise is what moves us along. Although we were not able to visit everything on my personal list, the group's list was filled with some amazing food! I for one, was not complaining about that!

Recap of my trip: Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Day 7

What I'd come back for & General Travel Advice and Recommendations

Day 1: Arrived at the AirBnB house and settled in.

The seatbelt lights lit up one final time and the stewardess had begun to tell all the passengers to buckle their seat belts. I opened the window and all I could think about was how surreal this moment was. Hawaii. I'm really here right now. The aerial view of Honolulu and the southern coast of Oahu was really like the pictures I've seen many times over online. This was surprising to me because I've been to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge countless times, and I've empathized with the people who've come to this tourist attraction hard pressed to see golden bridge on a beautiful warm sunny day but are instead greeted by a big red bridge covered in a deep dense fog.

The plane had landed at 3:22 PM on a sunny 75 degree day. So far so good. We made our way out of the airport terminals and picked up our rental car, ready to check out the AirBnB home we would be staying at for the duration of our trip.

Enter: James, our AirBnB host. Very friendly, surfer dude attitude, no shoes type of guy (sometimes we wore flip-flops). The room we would be staying in was large enough for 3 beds and had an amazing view of the backyard which had a small pool and an ocean access dock. According to James, the best part of this side of the house: the sunrise and sunsets..

Day 2: James was right, and we explore the northern coast of Oahu.

Just as James had said the evening prior, the sunrise was beautiful. This was what folks from an older generation called "a Kodak moment". #PostcardMaterial.

We packed up our gear and drove north towards Waimea Valley in search of waterfalls and swimming holes. The driving speed here was much slower than what we were used to in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 40 mph on the highway would almost certainly ignite road rage back home. But not here. Taking the scenic route on the green meadows along countryside pineapple farms was a nice break from the fast paced lives we had grown accustomed to in the mainland. Every beach we drove by was furnished with rich blue water and pristine white sand. We would've stopped at every one of them if only we had more time.

Waimea Valley is a short, 1-mile, semi-paved trail that traverses through multiple botanical gardens as well as several historical ancient Hawaiian living sites. The trail offers several paths and getting lost in the gardens is highly encouraged. The trail eventually leads to a waterfall which unfortunately was not roaring at this time of year, but still amazing to behold. The lake at the base of the waterfall is open to swimmers and there are lifeguards on duty who provide life vests for those who wish to jump in! Though the $16 ($12 with student ID) admission was steep for such a short excursion, it was well worth the money to help keep this park up and running since its upkeep is not maintained by the state.

Lunch time. Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. If there was one food recommendation that I had heard time and time again, it was the shrimp trucks. The Hawaiian shrimp scampi, in lemon butter, spicy sauce, or both, is just amazing.

Our next destination was Turtle Beach, though sadly, we were there during a heavy swell, and thus there were no turtles to be found. As in all aspects of adventure, one must always have a backup plan for when the weather turns sour. Ours was Shark's Cove. Though the name may lead you to believe this concave would be filled with sharks, it is actually a very rocky section of the northern coast, which to me did not resemble the shape of any shark. However, there were plenty of small tide pools, as well as several large tide pools where one could swim. And swim we did. The ocean swell was getting heavy, and more water was spilling into the tide pools creating bubbles as the waves broke onto the rocks. I had never seen a more amazing event, nor could I have imagined literally sitting in the heart of it as it happened.

Day 3: Climbing the Lanikai Pillbox Trail and relaxing at Lanikai Beach.

Another beautiful day on the island and off to the mountains we went. An often recommended hiking spot, Lanikai Pillboxes Trail, was a short but worthwhile hike. The trail itself is only 1.2 miles long if you go from start to finish, however, most only climb to the peak (half a mile up from the trail head, 2nd "pillbox") and turn back. But not before taking plenty of selfies and scenic shots, and perhaps even eating lunch on the pillboxes while overlooking Lanikai Beach. You could, however, make your descent back down the mountain, and then have lunch while relaxing on the beach, like we did.

Our first real white sand beach. The water, though not as warm as I was hoping, was still a treat. It was much clearer than the ocean water I've seen growing up, and definitely much more bearable. No wetsuit needed here. Today was about relaxing and not worrying about what happens next.

Day 4: Hell's staircase or the world's best stair master?

"The Koko Crater Railway Trail takes hikers up 1,028 feet via its 1,048 railroad ties or “steps.” With many regulars clocking in at less than 30 minutes to the summit, it is a convenient stop for a morning workout." - Being808 team

Finding parking at the trail parking lot for Koko Crater was perhaps the only convenient part of this trail. Climbing those 1,048 steps, not so much. I've never been a fan of the stair-master at the gym, so I hope you can understand my lack of eagerness to climb this hellish railway track. However, its was recommended by many online, as well as personal friends, to take up this challenge. Some online sources claimed that it was possible to reach the summit in less than 30 minutes and I wanted to find out if I could do the same. Although I clocked in at about 34 minutes, another member of our group reached the peak in 25 minutes, proving to me first hand that it could be done.

This steep trek up the mountain will have you questioning your endurance and physical capacity if you're not accustomed to climbing high altitudes. Looking up while on this trail will be daunting the whole way, I assure you. This trail is also very popular, and therefore very crowded, so don't expect to come here looking for solitude because you will find disappointment. However, if you do decide to continue on this excursion, you will be rewarded with the amazing view from the summit. As with most abandoned buildings, the old bunkers near the summit are marred with graffiti. Whether this adds or takes away from the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Continuing upward, you will eventually find yourself atop an old heliport where you will be able to see the Hawaii Kai district, Koko Crater botanical garden, and Diamond Head in the distance, as well as the beaches and ridge lines long the south-eastern tip of the island.

Day 5: Swimming with the fishes.

Swimming in Hanauma Bay was probably the day I had been anticipating most during this trip. Since I had never gone snorkeling, nor swam near coral reefs, this day was very exciting for me. The weather was great, as it always seems to be in Hawaii, which made swimming or just laying on the beach very enjoyable. Though beautiful, the corals were not as colorful as seen on the nature shows, but rather they seemed to be bleached. This was a result of global warming. Its real folks. Though there was less algae in the corals and reefs, there were still plenty of fish for people to see. However, what I really wanted to see here were turtles, yet their elusiveness persisted.

Though I once again did not come across any turtles, there was still a lot to see in the reefs. Schools of Convict Tangs and Yellowfin Goatfish are prevalent here, but there are a wide array of Butterflyfish, Surgeonfish, Snappers, Wrasse, Parrotfish and several other interesting species. Here is a fuller list of the many fish in Hanauma Bay. Though I found a majority of them, I did not find them all. Perhaps you will have better luck than I did, if so, let me know in the comments below!

A few things to note about Hanauma Bay:

Before being allowed to enter the beach, everyone is required to watch a 9 minute video about coral conservation and etiquette for swimming near the reefs.
Hanauma Bay gets packed quickly, if you can't get there before 10am, you might want to try coming back in the afternoon because the parking lot fills up quickly. There is also a $1 parking lot fee per vehicle and a $7.50 admission fee per person.
Most arrive before 9 am in order to secure a parking spot, however, there is also a shuttle service between Waikiki and Hanauma Bay. This shuttle will cost $25 for adults, $20 for children, and is free for infants.
Snorkel and fins rentals are available at the beach. If you don't like the idea of using rented gear, you can also purchase new mouthpieces there too. No need to purchase everything beforehand and lug it around with you.

Day 6: Exploring the Byodo-In Temple, Pika Puka trail, and Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail.

After a relaxing day at the beach, it was time to kick it up a notch and get back into the wild. But not before exploring some scenic spots and taking time to appreciate where we are and what we have.

Our day started with a long scenic drive headed northeast along Pali Highway. This drive gave me ample time to reflect on our trip thus far, and how many things we've accomplished in such short time. Though I believe, in general, we have more fun by doing sporadic adventures, having goals planned out for your trip gives you the sense of accomplishment. By looking at the world map, at least 100 Oahu's could fit inside California. And yet, for such a relatively small place, there is a remarkable amount of adventure, sightseeing, and tranquility to be found there.

This is especially true about the Byodo-In Temple. Though surrounded by residential housing and city establishments just miles away, the Byodo-In Temple manages to keep its serene presence on this highly touristized island. Perhaps this is done with help from their five foot tall, three ton brass, bon-sho (sacred bell). When struck, the bell permeates a sound of deep calm and peace, meant to cleanse the mind of evil and temptation, and is thought to bring happiness, blessings and a long life. Inside the temple itself, sits a golden statue of the Buddha towering nine feet. This temple is a place for serenity, for private thought and inner peace, and is a place of worship for practicing Buddhists. Outside the temple, there are hundreds of giant Koi in the pond, as well as black swans, peacocks, turtles, and other small animals.

After spending some time at the temple, we were off to our next destination. Someplace less serene and more intimidating. The Pali Puka trail is a very short, very steep, and somewhat dangerous trail. Generally closed to the public, this trail is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for those with acrophobia. You start off by finding the literal "hole in the wall" and bypassing the warning sign. You will very quickly be engulfed by a bamboo forest, and the only way is up. Once past the bamboo forest, the trail becomes narrow, and you will often find yourself balancing and grabbing onto branches or small ropes (found throughout the trail), as you make your way up to the summit. There are sections where you are walking on the cliff side and one wrong move could be your last.. That being said, take extreme caution and you will be rewarded with the breathtaking view at the Pali Puka (hole in the cliff). Here you can see the eastern side of Oahu, overlooking the Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden, the Kawainui Marsh, the Kaneohe and Kailua districts, as well as the Marine Corps Base. This trail takes about 30 minutes to reach the Puka where most people stop and turn back, though there is another section that is even more dangerous if you really want to reach the very top. Rock climbing will be required for the last portion, and is not advised unless you are an expert/professional level climber. It is very windy up there.

As soon as we finished our descent, we were off onto another adventure. This time, some place much more casual, the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail. This very scenic, 2.5 miles roundtrip hike, takes you up a paved road on the southeastern most tip of the island. The trail is known for its scenic view of the eastern coast, the lighthouse for which the trail is named, and the occasional whales that surface here. We were fortunate enough to see see two whales surface while we were here, though being so far away, it was hard to see the details. The view from the top of the trail was amazing as always. Looking into the deep blue water of Hawaii is something that will never get old. Perhaps the only view that can rival the top of the trail, was at the bottom of the cliff, at the Makapu'u Tidepools. The trail down to the tide pools is very steep, rocky, and unkept. Unfortunately, we did not make our way down there but only observed from above. The next time I visit Oahu, I will definitely make it a point to get to those tide pools!

Day 7: In the land of dinosaurs.

Having spent a week in Hawaii, I was not looking forward to going back to work, though I doubt many of us who come home from a vacation ever are. Fortunately, we planned to finish the trip on a highlight with ATVing at Kuala Ranch (where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park)! I've gone ATVing before and was very excited to let loose on the ranch, until I was told that the ATVs were modified to go no faster than 12 mph and it was actually a guided tour, and not a free-roam ranch. But when life gives you lemons, you hang back and make sure you're at the back end of the line (where there's less supervision) so you can do the things they told you not to do like no-hands driving and standing up when you hit turns while recording on a go-pro! [I do not encourage breaking the rules. Please respect the property, the ATVs and the Ranch itself. And do not put yourself, or others, in harm's way.]

During the tour, Hawaii weather finally turned sour, and it started to rain down on us. Though many of the others on the tour were not happy with the rain, I was ecstatic! This was what I believed ATVing should be; letting loose on the trail and getting muddy! The rain was fairly cold for Hawaiin standards, but by no means as cold as the rain back in San Francisco. Ponchos were provided for those who wanted them, but I found it to be more enjoyable without it. There were several stops during the tour including landmarks where certain scenes from the movie, Jurassic Park, and the show, Lost, were filmed. Driving around in the ranch also had some amazing scenic views of the mountain sides, the eastern coast, the Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park forest, and even some Moai statues.

What I'd come back for

Though we accomplished a lot in six days, there are still many things I wanted to do during our trip. On vacations, there are a lot of factors in planning and prioritizing the group's goals so it is up to you to get the most out of your time and money, regardless of where you go. We chose to do what worked best for the group's interest, and so not every point of interest was visited. The following is a list of places I would like to explore on my next trip back to Oahu!

Manoa Falls: jurassic park forest leading to a small waterfall and shallow pool
Lulumahu Falls: short and muddy hike leads to waterfall and shallow pool
Maunawili Falls: long and muddy trail leads to waterfall and deep pool
Olomana Hike: 3 peak, technical hike with rock climbing after the first peak
Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven): closed to the public, very dangerous hike
Crouching Lion: short hike leads to more dangerous Pu'u Manamana trail
Kahana Bay Beach Park: smaller, more secluded beach with tree swings
Makapu'u Tidepools: large "bathtub" tidepools on the eastern coast
Ko'Olina Lagoon: pristine resort lagoon

General Travel Advice and Recommendations

Housing:

AirBnB is more versatile and generally cheaper than hotels. Details will vary, as some will open their whole home to guests, some will have multiple guests staying there at the same time, some will provide food or amenities like washer/dryer, etc. Read all the details and inquire with the host before booking a site! I like AirBnB over hotels because of the price and convenience. You can also find locations near your most important Points of Interests and plan around that. Also, depending on whether you book a home or apartment, they may have car parking available, which most hotels would charge for.

Planning:

Planning every minute of your trip can be stressful, difficult, and probably impossible. My advice is to pick and choose your top activities/POIs, and spread them out throughout your trip, and sprinkle in some smaller POIs whenever convenient. Unless you are not limited by time, it would probably be most efficient to choose your POIs near one another as well. Time spent driving back and forth during a vacation is time wasted.
Communicate with your group and decide together, what activities/POIs are most important so that everyone will have the most enjoyable time as possible. No one wants to travel with others who are just not into it and will bring the mood down. You're on a vacation!

Packing:

Packing "essentials" is a touchy subject. Some are more comfortable having everything they could possibly need for a week, even if the trip is only two days. That being said, I've found that it is much easier traveling light and not having to deal with the hassle of lugging so much around. Bring the essentials, the real essentials, and just buy everything else at your destination. You're on a vacation, you're going to spend money. So why not just purchase the small things there? If needed, you can always mail back the items that won't fit in your luggage when you head home.