About Lauraloha Travel
If you are planning a vacation in the Aloha State, then you have come to the right place!
Nothing beats that feeling of anticipation leading up to a vacation. Is there anything more exciting than envisioning yourself strolling on a white sand beach, hiking to a hidden waterfall, discovering sensational food, or immersing yourself in a new culture? Research shows that having a trip to look forward to can make us just as happy as actually experiencing it! That’s why we are creating an all-encompassing, stress-free platform to make planning your idyllic getaway part of the fun. Let us help you kickstart that vacation-induced bliss from the moment you begin planning your travels.
Whether you’ve already booked flights or you’re just looking for inspiration, Lauraloha Travel is here to fuel your vacation daydreams and help you check everything off your Oahu bucket list. Our #1 priority is sharing engaging and informative travel resources packed with cultural insight, must-see spots, hidden gems, make-or-break tips, and more. Our resources will show you everything the island of Oahu has to offer while simultaneously honoring Hawaiian values to help you travel mindfully. I can’t stress enough how much more you’ll get out of your experience when you have a deeper understanding and respect for the amazing places and sights you’re going to see. Being able to form a connection with the culture will profoundly impact your experience and the memories you’ll hold onto for a lifetime.
Mahalo for letting Lauraloha Travel be a part of your experience. The best is yet to come! In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
About Lauren
“Laur” behind Lauraloha Travel
Aloha! I’m Lauren aka “Laur”, the Hawaii-fanatic behind this travel blog! If you’re reading this, I first just want to say how much it means to me that you’re here. Thank you so, so much for your support!
To say I’m obsessed with Hawaii is an understatement. My life was forever changed the moment I stepped foot on Oahu for the first time in 2014 as an ocean-obsessed 18-year-old, traveling solo to spend a summer semester at Hawai’i Pacific University. I had no idea a trip meant to be a simple change of scenery would quickly turn into a full-on love affair with the islands of Hawaii. I became hopelessly enamored with the aloha spirit and have been fascinated by Hawaiian culture and history ever since. (The gorgeous scenery miiight have influenced my obsession a bit too 😉)
Since that first visit, I have spent as much time as possible on Oahu, meticulously planning each trip so I don’t waste a single second of precious island time! I’ve spent countless hours planning my trips, so I know how overwhelming it can be when you begin searching for things to do and are met with thousands of results. It is A LOT of work to pore over multiple sources and make an actual plan out of all the information out there. That’s why after 6+ years of combing through every guide out there to make my own trips as amazing as possible, I realized I had an opportunity to turn my knowledge and personal experiences into a one-stop platform to help others plan their own memorable and meaningful Hawaiian getaways.
I’m so excited to see where Lauraloha takes you and I’m endlessly thankful for the opportunity to help you explore and embrace the most wonderful place on Earth—Hawai’i!
Fun facts about me:
- I once flew from NYC to Oahu (10+ hours of travel time each way) for a 2-day weekend trip!
- I graduated from Rutgers University in NJ with a degree in Communications. I originally tried to major in Marine Biology, but math is not my strong suit. Unfortunately, I couldn't pass the required calculus course, which is the most failed class at Rutgers!
- I work full-time as a Content and Marketing Manager for an events company that has allowed me to travel all over the country.
- The cheapest round-trip flight to Hawaii I've ever booked was $323 (still not over that bargain!) and the most expensive was almost $2,000.
- Aside from the beach, my favorite place to be is at home cuddling with my rescue pup, a chihuahua terrier mix named Eddie.
- I am absolutely obsessed with sharks and have been since I was a toddler. Jaws was my favorite movie growing up! I even used to watch shark diving documentaries on DVD just to see the sharks swim around and dream about one day being in the water next to them. That dream came true during my first trip to Oahu and since then I've been able to swim with sharks in Florida, the Bahamas, and Mexico (do whale sharks count?!) The next shark on my bucket list is a Great White!
- I am an ocean fanatic who gets crippling seasickness (maybe it's a blessing in disguise that my marine bio career didn't work out!) But I don't let this stop me from being out on the water enjoying what I love to do most! I am always stocked up on a variety of different anti-nausea remedies for boat trips, wildlife tours and the curvy Road to Hana drive.
Some of my Oahu favorites:
- Beach: Sunset Beach on the North Shore. It's perfect for swimming during calmer summer months and for watching heart-pumping big waves during winter months. You can spend all day swimming, surfing, and sunbathing or find a spot on the sand in the evening to watch a killer sunset. Plus it's right down the street from Ted's Bakery!
- Quick bite: Ted’s Bakery on the North Shore. My favorite spot to stop before or after Sunset Beach! I will sometimes go twice a day - once for a plate lunch then back again for a slice of their famous cream pie...or the other way around because chocolate haupia pie for breakfast is perfectly fine when you're on vacation!
- Scenic Drive: Drive east from Waikiki towards the windward side of Oahu. I will never get over the stunning sapphire shade of water along Kalaniana'ole Highway. I love stopping at the Halona Blowhole Lookout to climb down to the little cove (often called Eternity Beach or Cockroach Cove). Continue driving towards Kualoa Ranch to witness cloud-topped mountains on your left and shimmering ocean on the right.
- Experience: Shark diving in Haleiwa (p.s. the photo package is totally worth it) then spending the day on the North Shore looking for honu (turtles!)
