newelty

In the beginning of January, I was lucky enough to be in Kailua, Oahu, where I overlapped with the Obamas by one day.

Needless to say, I didn’t celeb-spot either Michelle or Mr. President, even though Kailua’s pretty small. (But I was sold some shave ice by the same guys who had served the president earlier that week.)

The celeb-spotting I did have was just as good: I was behind Jorge Garcia in line at the supermarket! Jorge plays Hurley, consistently the best character on the TV show “Lost,” and it was actually my second sighting. I regularly read his blog, but figured that unlike a politician, he’d probably appreciate being left alone.

A “Lost” obsession helped fuel some sightseeing on Oahu over the last few trips to that island. With the final season in full swing,  it seemed like the right time to cull through all the “Lost” locations for a few absolute favorites.

Top 5 Must-See Oahu Sights for Die-Hard Lost Fans

First of all, as someone who has written for a travel guidebook company, I’m generally skeptical of sightseeing recommendations. So while there are exhaustive “Lost” lists online, I’m not going to recommend you to to a bank or bus stop just because Kate had a robbery there–it’s still just a bus stop or bank. These places are worth seeing for their own sightseeing value. (If you want the super-detailed by-episode breakdown, check out Lost Locations, from Ryan and Jen at The Transmission.)

Except for Liliha–which felt so much like a locals place that I was intimidated to take photos–all the following recommendations are in the photo gallery below with more info in the notes for each photo.

5. Liliha Bakery in Honolulu: A pivotal place for early scenes between Kate and her mom early on in the show, it’s also like visiting Hawaii in 1955. Consider it your own time-travel wheel. (Details on Yelp.)

4. Kualoa Ranch: Lots of scenes here, including a personal favorite from one of Hurley’s brainstorms–let’s all golf! (Details.)

3. Waimea Falls Park: First scene involving Sawyer, Kate, and a waterfall–back when all the love-triangle stuff was new and novel. Added bonus of being directly across from Waimea beach, one of the most famous and historic surf spots in the world. (Details.)

2. Byodo-In Temple: Perfect for hosting elegant weddings between daughters of Korean gangsters and love-lost fisherman’s sons. It’s actually an amazing full-size replica of a temple in Kyoto. (Details.)

1. Mokuleia: Make a left at the funky, world-famous surf town of Haleiwa and follow a two-lane road almost until it ends, until you get to a a lonely airfield. Park your car by the side of the road, walk between farmland and forest for a few minutes until you pop out at this almost eerily quiet beach. See if it doesn’t make you feel like the last Lostie to survive the crash. (Details.)

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Check out the full flickr photo gallery or this flickr map of these five sites.

One final note: I love these quirky posters byTy Mattson. I want one! (H/t to Jorge.)