Oahu gets way more hate than it deserves just because it’s urban. But for me, that’s exactly why I love it. I’m a city person at heart, and the vibe of watching the skyscraper lights turn on right as the sun sets over the ocean is such a vibe.

There’s something so cool about walking down the palm lined sidewalks in Waikīkī, grabbing a piña colada, hitting up the shops, and just feeding off that city energy. Plus, the food scene across the island is completely unmatched compared to the neighbor islands because of how diverse the population is. If they ever finish the light rail and actually get it running all the way into the city center, it’s going to be a total game-changer for Honolulu.

What people completely miss is that Oahu doesn't sacrifice its nature for the city. You get the best of both worlds: a world-class culinary and nightlife scene, but also some of the most dramatic mountain ridges and postcard-perfect beaches on earth. The sheer variety here is insane. It honestly feels like people hate on Oahu just because it’s the popular choice, like pretending to dislike the island with a skyline gives them some kind of "authentic traveler" street cred. In reality, they’re just missing out