Waikiki Beach.

A couple of weeks ago I jetted into Hawaii for a quick trip enroute to Oregon. Having never been to Hawaii and with three nights on the island of Oahu, I tried to pack in as much as I could. Keep an eye out for an upcoming issue of New Zealand’s #1 travel magazine Let’s Travel to find out my best Oahu picks for a short Hawaiian stay, but in the meantime here are my top 50 Oahu photos.

These include my hotel the Outrigger Reef at Waikiki, walking up and down Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Koko Head, Hanauma Bay, Waimea Falls Park, Pali Lookout, Byodo-In Japanese Temple, Halona Beach (also known as Eternity Beach because of its famed role in the film From Here To Eternity), various beaches of the North Shore and several jungle-clad mountain views that were used in Jurassic World and the Lost TV show.

First impressions of Hawaii were of a place where the water is an unforgettable turquoise even when stormy clouds threaten. It’s that Waikiki may be a tourist magnet but when you see that beach with that Diamond Head-puncutated setting, it’s for good reason. It’s the excitement of Waikiki, the metropolitan possibilities of Honolulu, the dry landscapes, the lush rainforests, the cloudy, wild and windswept beaches and the secretive, calm beaches. With that just being Oahu, I can’t wait to get back and explore some of the other islands.

Special thanks to Hawaii Tourism Oceania, to the Outrigger Reef Hotel and to Let’s Travel Magazine. You can also check out Let’s Travel on Facebook at facebook.com/letstravelmag. Enjoy the photos!