I LIVED in a hostel dorm room in Hawaii for four months, and it was the best decision I ever made. In March 2021, my college friend and I sat in a bar in Nashville and spontaneously booked a three-week trip to Oahu, Hawaii , which turned into a four-month move and left us wanting to stay for the rest of our lives. Layne and I left the concrete walls of our college dorm rooms and arrived in the tropical heaven in May 2021, right as pandemic protocols were being lifted.
We checked in at the Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel and were escorted to our four-person female-only dorm. Our first full day visiting the island life changed everything. The two of us met a group of other guests through the hostel’s Whatsapp group chat and made plans to hike Koko Head Crater , a 1.
6-mile hike on the east side of the island. READ MORE ON HAWAII Throughout the summer, I hiked dozens of trails and waterfalls. Here are a few of my favorites, and the top-rated hikes on All Trails Lanikai Pillbox Hike: The 0.
9-mile trail near Kailua Beach is rated as "Moderate" on All Trails . I recommend going early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat and crowds Manoa Falls: The 1.7-mile trail near Honolulu is rated "Easy" on All Trails .
The trail is often closed during the rainy season, so be sure to check before heading over Diamond Head Crater: The 1.9-mile trail is arguably one of the most popular trails on the island. Non-Hawaii residents must book a time slot to hike the trail and pay a fee beforehand.
The trail is rated "Hard" on All Trails , but I would argue it's more moderate. Just be sure to hydrate! Although Layne and I were painfully hungover from the night before, the view at the top of the crater made the treacherous hike worth it. Looking over the crystal clear water and the beautiful Hanauma Bay , we knew we needed to stay longer than the few weeks we had planned.
After spending that evening at the rocky Sandy's Beach, hitchhiking back to town, and eating dinner on Waikiki beach, we began researching places hiring in town. In 2021, many businesses in Oahu were still struggling to bounce back from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and were desperate for employees, so luckily, we secured jobs at a smoothie shop near our hostel, Tucker and Bevy. Renting an apartment was out of the question, as the average rent price on Oahu is around $1,600, so we had no choice but to stay at the hostel for the next few months.
We booked another three months at the Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel, paying a discounted price of $32 per night to share a four-bed dorm room with two strangers. Throughout the next few months, I formed lifelong friendships with people at the hostel, local Hawaiians I met along the way, and my coworkers from Tucker and Bevy. Once I wrapped up my 5 am to 2 pm shift, I usually spent the latter half of the day meeting with friends to explore beaches such as Lanikai or go cliff jumping at Waimea Bay on the North Shore.
Want to stray from the Waikiki strip? Here are my favorites of the top-rated Oahu beaches, according to Hawaii Guide. Lanikai Beach Kailua Beach Park Diamond Head Beach Waimanalo Beach Sunset Beach Makapu'u Beach Park Every Thursday night, a group of us would gather for delicious burgers and cheap cocktails at our favorite quirky dive bar, Suzie Wong’s Hideaway, which sits hidden behind a 7-Eleven at the end of the Waikiki strip. Adrenaline-packed moments climbing mountains and sun-soaked beach days aside, one of the most memorable moments from my time in Hawaii was toward the beginning of my trip.
In mid-May, my core friend group from the hostel and I sat on China Walls, a stretch of lava-rock ledges and cliffs above the ocean. We spent the evening watching the sunset while surfers caught waves we could never imagine surfing. All around us, high school students wore their caps, gowns, and leis as they took graduation pictures.
Taking in the beautiful scenery, surrounded by a group of people I grew so close to within just a few weeks, I never felt more grateful. Of course, that moment of peace didn't last long once we realized the last bus of the night was in 15 minutes. We ended the night sprinting one mile to catch the bus and celebrated making it there in time with cheap drinks from the ABC store and Loco Mocos from Rainbow Drive-In.
When visiting Oahu, don't forget to try local Hawaiian food. Here are some dishes to try, and my favorite places to get them. Loco Moco A loco moco typically consists of two hamburger patties, an over-easy egg, gravy and white rice Favorite spot: Rainbow Drive-In Poke Poke is a bowl of raw fish sometimes mixed with rice and other vegetables Favorite spot: Maguro Spot Spam Musubi Musubi is a small bite made up of rice and spam wrapped in seaweed Musubis can be picked up at most convenience stores across the island for only $2 Kalua Pork I recommend getting Kono's Hawaiian Bowl which includes Kalua Pork, cabbage, white rice and their signature Guava sauce Favorite spot: Kono's TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY Since that first trip, I've returned to the island several times to visit friends and to get some more burgers at Suzie Wong's, of course.
Walking away from my four months living in Oahu, I left with so much more than friends I now consider family and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. When you visit Hawaii, make sure to be aware of your ecological footprint. Here are some of the best ways you can be a better tourist, according to the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii.
Book through sustainable tour operators on Oahu Recommended operators: Hawaii Tours and Activities Pearl Harbor Tours And You Creations Pick up after yourself, don't leave any garbage behind Avoid interacting with wildlife If you're looking to give back, search for volunteer opportunities on the island That summer, I learned the importance of being mindful of your impact as a tourist and how to reduce your ecological footprint. Tourism still makes up around 25% of Oahu’s economy, making it a vital industry for the state, so it's up to those visiting to help preserve the island's beauty. Throughout my time there, I’ve had countless conversations with locals about the island's over-tourism problem and how those who want to visit can help.
The Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii encourages tourists to "travel pono," meaning to travel consciously and respectfully. According to its website, the association “seeks to serve as the conduit between the tourism industry and community-based conservation efforts.” Read More on The US Sun It's dedicated to promoting “sustainable tourism through innovative initiatives and programs aimed at protecting [Hawaii's] natural and cultural resources.
” Those looking to book excursions on Oahu should visit Hawaii Tours and Activities for the best sustainable tourism options available..
