Here are some photos taken in January 2006 on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. I happened to spend 7 breathtaking days in this tropical paradise. Well, maybe paradise is a bit of a stretch when considering Oahu, but this was my first experience with Hawaii and if one stays away from Honolulu, it actually is not that commercialized. It was a great break from Texas life and work. The weather was fantastic. And even though towards the end of the trip we had some occasional passing showers, overall the days were sunny. North Shore was my favorite, mostly because of the picturesque Hawaii-like, paradise-sandy beaches, the waves reaching at times 15-20 ft and the palm trees… a typical tropical landscape.

Another place to visit and experience is snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. Although it’s one of the most popular destinations on the Island of Oahu (and as such quite crowded), renting the snorkeling gear and actually going into the water is a load of fun. Highly recommend this beach for beginners who want to get the hang of snorkeling as the bay is shallow enough to stand up in if you get in trouble (happened to me a few times). Once you master it (usually a few minutes later:) you can courageously go towards the deeper water to have fun.