Oahu is not all about Honolulu.

One of the things that makes this island so fabulous is just how little time it takes to go from the glamour of Waikiki to the chilled out surf vibe of its spectacular North Shore.

Pre- or post-Gay Bowl XXII, go on adventure and explore other parts of the rock!

An easy day trip, the North Shore is a comfortable 40 minute drive straight up the middle of the island. Rent a rag top, put some Fleetwood Mac on blast and cruise this list of North Shore must-do’s.

1. Take the Pali Highway through the center of the island. Both offer picturesque drives through pristine valleys. Passage through a tunnel will spits you out at quite an elevation, and you’ll get a spectacular view of the “windward” side of Oahu as you descend toward Kaneohe. For the best scenic overview, stop at the Nuuanu Pali State Wayside (also known as the Pali Lookout). The site is rich in history, too.

2. Once down the slope, drive along Kamehemeha Highway north and stop in at the Byodo-In Temple and Memorial Park. The temple is a replica of Japanese temple. Admission is $5 and it’s beautiful space to inspect and reflect.

3. From there, drive north on the Kamehameha Highway (Rt 83 /830). The first 5 miles will reveal a rural town with strip malls and plenty of traffic lights. The highway will eventually narrow and you will be on a 2-lane coastal road and wonder at the lush green vegetation and the myriad colors of blue that the ocean can reveal. You’ll pass Heeia and Paradise Bay and eventually spot the postcard favorite Mokolii - an island also known as Chinaman's Hat.

4. Nearby is the famed Kualoa Ranch. We’ll cover that in a future post.

The scenic drive north continues in a future post.

Funding for Gay Bowl XXII has been provided via a grant by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) through the Community Enrichment Program (CEP). For more info about HTA and CEP, click here.