Little Gems Around Campus
Hey everyone!
I wanted to incorporate a little bit of sightseeing on my blog, and in this post I'm going to share with you 3 places I recommend visiting while at the University of Hawaii. Whether you're looking for some instagram-worthy views, a shady study spot, or a serene place to relax, you are guaranteed to enjoy at least one, if not all, of these places.
Place 1: Tantalus Lookout
Tantalus Lookout is located in the hills of Manoa just 16 minutes away from campus. The bus can't take you up there, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go! The official title of this location is, "Puu Ualakaa State Park", and is best seen if before 7:45PM, when the park closes. Views include: Diamond Head in all of her glory, the city of Honolulu and punchbowl, and a beautiful look of the Pacific. Bonus points for also having a rather large expanse of grass with no trees just in case you would prefer to lounge around with some friends.
During the day:
During the evening:
Place 2: Lyon Arboretum
I've made mention of this before, but for those looking for a more secluded place to explore, the Lyon Arboretum is perfect. It is close to 200 acres large and is actually owned by the University (although you wouldn't know it). There are plenty of native Hawaiian plants and animals and are just as many invasive plants and animals as well. Rumor has it you can see wild pigs, but I haven't been so lucky. There are plenty of hiking trails, a waterfall, and even an abandoned shack in this area, so there is more than enough for one to explore. My favorite part? The view of the mountains, especially when it's a little foggier than usual! You really haven't seen Hawaiian beauty until you're looking at the ridgeline that is framed by both fog and a light rainbow. Bonus points for also being right next to Manoa Falls, undoubtedly one of the top three most popular hikes to do on Oahu.
Place Three: Island Vintage
Lets face it, you can't always study outside. Sometimes sitting inside a cool room with the AC on is better than hauling your notebooks to a park or green lawn. Because of this, my third recommendation is someplace where you can study in a quiet place and then catch some well-deserved views afterwords: Island Vintage Coffeehouse.
I know, I know, you probably don't feel like taking the 13 those 25 minutes into Waikiki to study. And you probably don't really want to go to what can be a crowded coffee shop, either. But have you had their acai bowls? I promise once you try one you'll go from "Ugh, 25 minutes?" to, "C'mon, it's just 25 minutes!". They're that good. Plus when you're done you can enjoy the beautiful beach at any time during the day. But be warned, as of late the weather has been spotty, so I would recommend saving this spot for a day when you need to study for finals or midterms.
Let me know if you've been to any, or all, of these places! I'm hoping to get out and explore more of the Manoa area over the next few weeks, so maybe next time I can update with some more unique study spots or relaxing areas?
Until next time,
Aislinn
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