Our recent trip to Oahu in the Hawaii Islands was one of those vacations I will remember for a long time.  Oahu is both beautiful and ugly.  The beautiful parts of the island are filled with ocean views, warm weather, friendly people, and enough adventure to keep you busy every day.  The ugly is the interior of the island. It is expensive and for some reason a lot of the people forget that they are part of the United States of America. At times, the people, government, and culture make it feel as if you are in a different country altogether. During this trip, I had the chance to go to Pearl Harbor and see the USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri, cage diving with sharks, take an ocean fishing trip, visit the Polynesian Cultural Center for their luau and shows, and go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.  Most of it was amazing.  One part, however, did not quite live up to what I expected. This was the ocean fishing. We never made it more than 300 yards off the shoreline. It was very disappointing.

One of the biggest highlights of the trip is always Pearl Harbor’s Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri.  It is always humbling to see how much was sacrificed for our freedom.  It is something none of us in the United States should ever take for granted.

Another very memorable part of the trip was cage diving with sharks.  At first, the idea sounds a little crazy.  You get on a boat, head out into the ocean, climb into a cage, and watch sharks swim around you.  This was my second time doing this and it has almost became natural to me.  This time we also saw about a four foot long barracuda.  (I’ve seen these before scuba diving in the Caribbean, but never in Hawaii.  Seeing sharks up close in their natural environment is always exciting, humbling, and unforgettable.  They were powerful, graceful, and not at all like the monsters movies often make them out to be.  It was one of those adventures that makes you feel alive.

Another great experience was snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.  This was my third time doing this and it never gets old.  The water was clear, the beach was beautiful, and the marine life was easy to see.  Swimming among colorful fish in such a peaceful setting was relaxing and enjoyable.  Hanauma Bay is one of those places that reminds you why Hawaii is so special.  It is not just a beach.  It is a protected natural area where visitors can see the beauty of the ocean while also learning to respect it.

The Polynesian Cultural Center was another memorable part of the trip.  This was my second time there, but only the first time I stayed long enough to watch the final show.  It was amazing.  The luau was enjoyable, the food was good, and the evening show was impressive.  The music, dancing, fire performance, costumes, and storytelling helped bring the cultures of the Pacific islands to life.  It was entertaining, educational, and well worth the visit.  For anyone visiting Oahu, I would highly recommend making time for the Polynesian Cultural Center.

The only part of the trip that was disappointing was the ocean fishing trip.  I was expecting something more exciting and better organized.  Instead, it felt a little cheesy and not quite what I had pictured.  Maybe my expectations were too high, but the trip just did not have the adventure or quality I hoped for.  It was not terrible, our Skipper, Donovan was great, but compared to the shark dive, Hanauma Bay, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, it was definitely the weakest part of the vacation.

Overall, our trip to Oahu was fantastic.  The island offered beauty, adventure, culture, and relaxation all in one place.  From sharks swimming just feet away to colorful fish at Hanauma Bay and an amazing Polynesian show, Oahu gave me memories I will never forget.  Even with one disappointing fishing trip, I would gladly go back.  Hawaii has a way of making every day feel special.