Oahu January 2025 – Sports Bar and Dole Plantation

It felt so good to land in Hawaii, and we were so excited to get right into the warm island vibe. But we were also very aware that this was the last leg of our amazing trip. So there was a real mix of emotions when I spotted that Aloha sign at the airport—I knew we were getting closer to the end of a journey I didn’t want to end! This recap covers our first two days in Oahu, January 2025—from watching college football at a sports bar to visiting the Dole Plantation. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Oahu January 2025 – Sports Bar and Dole Plantation

We arrived at our hotel just as the Presidential inauguration was happening live on the screens in the foyer. Yikes, what a way to start our week in Oahu, haha!

Sports Bar Experience: College Football Playoff

Once we checked in, we dropped our bags in our rooms. Then we ran back out again because the College Football Playoff National Championship was on at 3:00 PM. Our cousin S is a huge Ohio State supporter, so there was no way we were missing that. Go Buckeyes!

We planned to watch the game at Ala Moana Center, about 40 minutes from our hotel in Kapolei. Cousin S could seriously drive in the Grand Prix—he weaved through traffic like a champ and got us there in no time. I may or may not have had my eyes closed a few times. 😅

And just like that, I was living my dream: watching a college football game in a proper American sports bar—with burgers, beer, and my family. Oh yeah!

Then, of course, the shops started calling. Once I realised football games go on for hours, I happily cut my dream short for a little retail therapy. Half of our group stayed back at Buffalo Wild Wings, and the rest of us wandered off to explore Ala Moana Center.

The shopping centre is so beautiful! But it felt really different from what I remembered back in 2000 when I visited with my mum. The place has had some major renovations since then, and for a moment, I thought the koi fish were gone. But nope—they were still there. Phew!

We went in and out of heaps of shops and bought a couple of things. Then made our way back to the rest of our group once the game finished. Good news—Ohio State won!

For dinner that night, we had Boston Pizza, finally satisfying a craving my cousin J and I had been carrying around for 25 years. It was worth the wait!

Dole Plantation

The next morning, we traded in the excitement of the afternoon before for a more relaxed day with a visit to the Dole Plantation. It was a sunny day in Oahu, perfect for exploring one of the island’s most iconic spots. We wandered through the gardens, learned a bit about the history of Hawaii’s pineapple industry, and treated ourselves to some Dole Whip.

We checked out the Koi fish and bought some food to feed them.

And that wraps up our first two days in Hawaii! Next up, I’ll be sharing our visit to Waikiki, a peek at Aulani–A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, and a fun meetup with another cousin. Hope you’ll join me for that one!