Best of Oahu, Hawaii
Activities
Name ***Bishop Museum & Planetarium*** ***Pali Lookout*** Link/Address
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/planet arium/planetarium.html
by esther yeh
Along the Pali Highway on the way to Kailua
1 Arizona Memorial Place Honolulu, HI 96818 (808) 422-0561 www.nps.gov/usar/ 55-370 Kamehameha Highway Laie, Hawaii (HI) 96762 http://www.polynesia.com/ http://www.polynesia.com/residents/ hawaii_resident.html http://www.yelp.com/biz/polynesiancultural-center-honolulu By Downtown Honolulu First Fridays: http://www.chinatownhi.com/?q=nod e/7 http://www.chinatownhi.com
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri ***Polynesian Cultural Center***
Comments History of Hawaii, science museum, special traveling exhibits, and Planetarium shows with telescope viewings. Great view of Kailua and the windward side. Really windy area. Parking may cost $ unless youre kamaaina (free). Historical site, free admission (first come first serve) Supposedly their Ha Breath of Life show is AMAZING. Lots of coupons available. The luau dinner is not known to be as good.
Chinatown (First Fridays)
Paradise Cove Luau
Paradise Cove Luau 2024 N King St Ste 209 Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 679-0003 www.paradisecovehawaii.com/
***Snorkeling at Sharks Cove***
***Snorkeling at
Join local folks and visitors alike on the first Friday of every month for Chinatown's First Friday evening festival. Chinatown and downtown galleries, museums and studios are open to the public for this popular event that provides an opportunity to experience the artistic and cultural resources of Honolulu. Festivities include live music, street entertainment, open cafes and bistros. antique stores -- and even a tattoo parlor. The bars are going to be PACKED! Amazing beach luau at sunset. But the food isnt very authentic and its not very goodits definitely catered to tourists. But the sunset part and the activities make it worth it. Snorkeling - local secret (right next to Pupukea beach park): saw turtles every time, plus a monk seal. Stay to the right side of the cove (when facing the ocean) ...the turtles like to hang out on that side. ***Do NOT touch the turtles. Its against state law. Youll get fined a few hundred bucks.*** Everyone goes to Hanauma Bay to snorkel,
Hanauma Bay***
Kayaking to the Mokulua Islands ***Byodo-In Temple*** Wet N Wild Waterpark
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kailuasailboards-and-kayaks-inc-kailua Kailua Beach, Lanikai Beach
http://www.wetnwildhawaii.com/
Makapuu Tide Pools Surfing or Stand Up Paddle (SUP)
Sea Life Park
but that's where all the tourists go, so its really crowded and the sand gets kicked up, so you can't see very much, AND you have to pay ($7.95; free for kamaaina). I recommend Shark's cove for snorkeling: it's free, clear, with tons of things to see. =D - Rentals available for $11, long lines, have to watch a 15 minute film before youre allowed onto the beach - Can check out the Toilet Bowl (http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/sites_to _see/toilet_bowl.htm) Takes about an hour. You could also paddle to Flat Island (bird sanctuary) which is shorter. pretty Japanese Buddhist temple in a memorial/cemetery area, koi pond, zen garden Frequently has special deals like 50% off or free admission. More for kids, most of the rides are pretty low-key and not very extreme or thrilling. Go early-ish, before 3, when the sun goes over the mountain Waikiki is usually the best place to learn and/or take lessons, but if youre good, North Shore is the place to go. Ala Moana is most convenient. Has dolphin encounters, sea lion show, etc. Like Sea World but not as big.
Shopping
***Aloha Stadium Swap Meet***
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ aloha-stadium-swapmeet-honolulu
***Ala Moana Shopping Center***
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Honolulu, HI 96814 (808) 941-1187 www.alamoanacenter.co m http://www.wardcenters. com/index.html
Ward Center
Souvenirs, food, clothing, car seat covers, jewelry, and much more and much cheaper than even Walmart or anywhere else. $1 admission per person but if you have the Qpons app installed on your iPhone, its $1 for 2 people. The biggest outdoor mall in the country. Its seriously huge. Definitely recommend checking out the Japanese dept store Shirokiya there. 2nd floor has a really yummy food court! Not as big as Ala Moana, but nice outdoor/indoor mall with lots of good restaurants and a movie theater. KuaAina
Pearlridge Center Waikiki Waikiki Beach Walk, International Market Place, etc Aloha Towers Marketplace Royal Hawaiian Center
Kalakaua Ave
Burgers, Ka Restaurant and Lounge, and Goma Tei are here. Indoor mall, not as impressive as Ala Moana or Ward. No explanation needed.
Beaches
***Lanikai Beach***
By Kailua. Have to go thru residential area to get to it since its not really a public beach.
Kailua Beach Ala Moana Beach Park
http://www.portaloha.co m/SecretsOfHawaii/Kailua Beach.htm
Sandys Beach ***Waimea Bay Beach***
North Shore
Sunset Beach Laniakea Beach/Turtle Beach/Chan's Beach
North Shore North Shore
Pipeline Beach Kaena Point Beach aka Yokohama Bay Waimanalo Beach Park
North Shore north/west side of island
Waikiki
***Kualoa Regional Beach Park***
http://www.co.honolulu.h i.us/parks/programs/beac h/kualoa.htm
Voted one of the nicest beaches in the world, very fine sand, like flour. Definitely my FAVORITE beach in Oahu. Beautiful view of the Mokulua Islands. Very few people come here, which is nicevery romantic. =) Similar to above but this is a public beach (e.g. has facilities). Great place to run, surf, BBQ, or just chill. Really convenient and large park/beach. Lots of wedding photos done here. Popular place to body surf. Dangerous though. Can jump off a huge rock (youll see people doing all kinds of flips). Popular for surfing too. Very close to Haleiwa. Popular for surfing also. a couple miles east of haleiwa... you'll see a dirt parking lot on the right side and a grove of trees on the left - beach is on the left. big turtles! World famous surfing competitions held here Where the locals hang out. If you go to the very end, after a short easy hike (1 hour max), you get to see the monk seals. 3 miles of beach; not very much ppl; great if you want an escape. Tends to be cloudier on this side though...but great if the sun is out Best surfing for beginners; very mellow waves; tons of shops and restaurants (Waikiki Beach Walk); Dukes in Waikiki; Surfing at Canoes in Waikiki Great view of Chinamans Hat. Large park with lots of grassy space and beach too.
Hikes
***Diamond Head Trail***
http://www.hawaiistatepa rks.org/parks/oahu/index .cfm?park_id=15
***Lanikai Pillboxes***
http://mykailua.blogspot. com/2008/03/lanikaibunkerspillboxeshike.html http://www.aroundhawaii .com/lifestyle/around_to wn/2009-11-koko-headcrater-trail-hike-naturesstairmaster.html
Easy, $1 per person or $5 per car, touristy, great ocean view with whale sightings if lucky. Go to Diamond Head Health Bar for some great acai bowls afterwards, or to the KCC Farmers Market on Saturdays! mostly for locals, amazing on a clear day
***Makapuu Lighthouse*** ***Koko Head Ridgeline***
Likeke Waterfall
***Maunawili Falls***
***Kuliouou Ridge Trail*** Kahana Valley Trail Mariner's Ridge Trail
http://oahuhiking.com/ku liouou.htm http://www.hawaiiweb.co m/html/hiking/kahana_va lley.html http://www.examiner.co m/x-25906-HonoluluHikingExaminer~y2009m10d6-
Easy paved 2 mile hike; can see whales 1048 stairs up, 0.5 miles, really strenuous. Known by locals as Nature's Stairmaster...literally. Almost 360 of panoramic views of the south, east, and west shores. Go early in the AM, otherwise you will probably pass out from the sun and heat because there is NO SHADE. Or go in the afternoon when the sun is going down, but it makes it more difficult to see. Look up directions to Koko Head District Park, then drive to the very end. There's a parking lot on the left and near a baseball field. Park there and walk up. You'll see other people going up or coming back down to help you find the trail. Note: people coming down have the right of way - stay to the right when you see someone coming down. Easy hike. A 30-foot cascade nestled below the Pali Lookout and accessed via the Likeke Trail. It is popular with eco-tours and has a shallow (ankle deep) swimming hole. Starting from the Pali Lookout, the hike is about 3 miles roundtrip. Easy, you can jump off the ledge and into the water, hike, jump, and swim! Located in Maunawili Valley on the windward side of Oahu. Nice swimming hole and waterfall. Second most popular waterfall hike after Manoa Falls. 1.5 mile hike from trailhead on Kelewina Street. 5 mile roundtrip, dont do it when its muddy like I did. Beautiful 360 view up at top.
Easy, short. NOT a sanctioned hike. General rule is the residents only become upset when you make noise, leave trash or take all
Mariners-Ridge--theeasiest-rail-to-the-top-ofthe-Koolaus
***Manoa Falls*** Waterfalls
http://www.hawaiimagazi ne.com/blogs/hawaii_tod ay/2010/8/11/Facebook_ ohana_poll_results_favori te_Hawaii_waterfalls
the parking in the neighborhood. Best to park two blocks away and walk in. Very popular with tourists. Nice high falls but shallow swimming hole. One mile hike.
Stairway to Heaven
Illegal now, but people have done it. Theres a guard posted. Google/Yelp how to get around the guard, or ask a local.
Customized Circle Island Tour (Counter-Clockwise):
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Mt. Tantalus Lookout beautiful view of Honolulu Scenic Viewpoint just before the Halona Blowhole ask Jae about the tunnel Halona Blowhole/Sandy Beach Lanikai Beach (and Kailua Beach if you want, but Lanikai is way better) Kualoa Regional Park/Chinamans Hat Shrimp Trucks in Kahuku Giovannis Shrimp Truck (most famous one), Fumis Shrimp Truck, or Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck (btw you can just order a half plate if youre not hungry) Turtle Bay Resort Teds Bakery get the haupia chocolate cream pie (thats what theyre famous for), but my personal favorite is the lilikoi cheesecake cream pie! Sunset Beach (optional) Waimea Bay Beach Park watch people jump off the big rock and do cool dives Matsumotos Shave Ice (Haleiwa) most famous shave ice place Kuaaina Burgers (original location) get the avocado burger! Dole Plantation get the pineapple ice cream with fresh pineapple topping!
Good Eats look up locations on Yelp
Best Hawaiian Food
**Helenas** **Diamond Head Market & Grill** -- portabello mushroom sandwich so good here, also really good desserts (lemon crunch!), basically everything is good here. Also great for brunch. Ono Hawaiian Food get the combination plate with laulau and Kahlua pork **Yamas Fish Market** awesome poke, also known for their haupia sweet potato dessert **Zippys** really good loco moco, also very famous for their chili, many locations Rainbows Drive Inn plate lunches, where Obama used to go, popular for post-surfing fooding Nicos Pier 38 Taniokas really delicious poke too, but kinda far
Tamashiros really good poke too Side Street Inn famous, but I thought it was ok Kakaako Kitchen (Ward Center) Highway Inn
Best Spam Musubi
**Mana Bu** - seriously really good musubis of all kinds 7-Eleven they have some good spam musubis, but not a huge variety Iyasume Musubi a bit more variety, but Mana Bus is still better Honolulu VAMC at work! The caf downstairs has really good musubis in the morning. I loved the spam/egg/furikake musubis and would often get one for breakfast.
Best Expensive Fusion Food
**Alan Wongs** really good: the plantation iced tea, the poke-ball appetizer, opakapaka, and all the desserts are good. **Ka Ikena** the culinary schools restaurant, really good fine dining for a bargain, but only open certain times of the year, great sunset view too Roys the one in Hawaii Kai is much better than the one in Waikiki, awesome sunset view over the ocean, great desserts too
Best Sushi
**Kuru Kuru Sushi** BEST sushi, freshest, conveyer belt style Sansei 50% off after 10 pm, located in Waikiki Genki multiple locations, conveyer belt style, good garlic ahi Morio Sushi Doraku Emperor roll
Best Japanese Food
**Curry House** Japanese curry (katsu curry is famous here), really good takoyaki too **Tokkuri Tei** Japanese izayaka **Shirokiya (Ala Moana Mall)** food court on second floor **Shokudo** happy hour 4-6pm pupus (appetizers), VERY well known for their honey toast Irifune known for their furikake ahi Hakone Restaurant at Hawaii Prince Hotel Taes Teppanyaki
Best Ramen
**Tenkaippin** definitely THE best ramen on the island; get the Pan Tai ramen! **Jimbos** actually udon, but best udon on the island Gomaichi known for their Tan Tan ramen Goma Tei known for their Tan Tan ramen too Ramen Nakamura oxtail ramen
Best Korean Food
**Yakiniku Camellia Buffet** all you can eat Korean BBQ **Millions Restaurant** open late, has really good dolsot bibimbap and meat jun (meat jun is like really thin bulgogi meat sandwiched within egg, it only exists in Hawaii) **Sorabol** variety of Korean food, good seafood pancake Soons Drive Inn best known for their meat jun and fried mandoo (dumplings)
Best Chinese Food
**Sweet Home Caf** Taiwanese hot pot, super famous, get there early, its SO GOOD. **Libbys** known for manapua Chun Wah Kam manapua Char Hung Sut manapua Mei Sum dim sum Tai Pan dim sum Royal Garden dim sum in Waikiki
Best Desserts
**Bubbies** ICE CREAM MOCHI of all flavors! Sooo good. My favorites are lilikoi (passion fruit), lychee, peppermint, and sakura (basically like vanilla bean). The Alley Restaurant lemon crunch cake Diamond Head Market & Grill lemon crunch cake, Diamond Head torte, muffin scones
Best Acai Bowls
**Fresh Caf** **Diamond Head Cove Health Bar** get the Da Cove or Mauna Kea bowls **Blue Hawaii (Ala Moana Mall) ** Bogarts Robecks Jamba Juice Mocha Java Caf (Ward Center)
Best Frozen Yogurt
**Yogurstory** has popping bobaalso great place to chill and hang out (its a caf too) Menchis Tutti Frutti definitely get the popping boba toppings
Best Bakery
**Teds Bakery** best chocolate haupia pie, can be bought at Foodland (theres one in Ala Moana Mall), if you go to the North Shore original location, get the lilikoi cheesecake!!! **Leonards Bakery** MALASADAS!!!! Suuper famous. Try the Li Hing malasadas. **Liliha Bakery** known for their coco cream puffs and sweet bread French toast; open 24 hr
**Otto Cake** known for their cheesecakes, different flavors everyday **St. Germaines Bakery** delicious guava or lilikoi (passion fruit) chiffon cakes Hokulani Bake Shop known for their cupcakes Cake Couture cupcakes also The Little Oven rarely open
Best Shave Ice
**Waiola** - the SOFTEST shave ice ever, lots of options too (like mochi, ice cream, custard, etc), possibly one of the best **City Caf ** - Taiwanese shave ice, I love the custard and mochi toppings here **Shimazu Store** really soft as well, and large servings, lots of options **Ailana Shave Ice** lots of combos, kinda like Waiola, but actually has seating Matsumotos North Shore (Haleiwa), most famous, but not the best on the island Aokis next to Matsumotos, maybe a little better but still not the best
Best North Shore Shrimp Trucks
**Giovannis** - most famous one Fumis Taiwanese shrimp truck but theyre pretty much all the same Kahuku Famous Shrimp
Best Burgers
**Teddys Burgers** a local favorite for teri burgers, many locations **Kuaaina Burger** original location North Shore, also one in Ward Center. Definitely get the Avocado Burger. Kiawe Grill famous chuck burger W&M Burger
Best Brunches
**Dreamers Caf** BEST kimchi fried rice, also really good brunches Grand Caf and Bakery **Caf Kaila** everything is good here! **Eggs and Things** Boots and Kimo Homestyle Kitchen Portuguese sausage and banana macadamia nut pancakes Diamond Head Market & Grill Creampot
Best Garlic Chicken
**Mitsuken** Sugoi Gullicks Deli
Best Pho
**Ha Long Pho Restaurant** really cute place too **To Chau** in Chinatown, really long wait, but the pho is actually authentic and good
Markets
Costco Sams Club we dont have Sams Club in CA so you might not have a membership, but Jae does Target Walmart Foodland kinda like their Safeway competitor, known to have really good poke and desserts (they sell Teds Bakery pies) **Don Quijote** its like being in Japan Keeaumoku Supermarket Korean, the newest one on Keeaumoku St (aka Korea-moku) Palama Supermarket Korean Queens Supermarket Korean
Malls
Ala Moana Mall largest outdoor shopping center, 3 stories, lots of great things here (Shirokiya, Blue Hawaii, Genkis, Mai Tai Bar, huge food court, etc etc), lots of upscale stores catering to Japanese tourists Kahala Mall Pearlridge Mall Windward Mall Waikele Outlets
Best Bars/Lounges
**Bar 35** (Downtown) really good pizza & beer **Indigo** (Downtown) known for lychee martinis! **Uncle Bos Pupu Bar & Grill** (Kapahulu) Ka Restaurant & Lounge (Ward Center) cool ambiance JJ Dolans (Downtown) known for their pizzas & beer Kanpai Bar & Grill (near Ward Center) good bar food (kalbi, chow mein, etc), sports bar Mai Tai Bar (Ala Moana Mall) pretty popular for locals with live entertainment most nights BambuTwo Caf (Downtown) Manifest (Downtown) Formaggio (Downtown) wine bar Caf Duck Butt (near Ward Center) Korean bar food (kinda expensive), has private room karaoke too Karaoke Hut private room karaoke, kind of run down, but best selection of songs Blue Ribbon a more swanky bar, with both public and private room karaoke Genius Lounge house sake $5 (6-8 pm)
Yard House (Waikiki) Senor Frogs (Waikiki) Ryans Bar & Grill (Ward Center) Gordon Biersch (Aloha Tower Marketplace) Don Hos Island Grill (Aloha Tower Marketplace) Theres a bunch more in Downtown/Chinatown, just ask Jae
Nightlife
Zanzabar Nightclub always hear this on the radio Ocean Club in Restaurant Row good happy hour on Thursdays and good looking crowd Level 4 Club Saturdays, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, dancing/clubbing, always crowded and always happening The Pearl another club for Fri/Sat, in Ala Moana The W Hotel hip crowd in Waikiki, was bought out, may be dead now Skyline Sheraton Waikikis Hanohano Room Tsukijis Ala Moana Ginza happening Asian club, door charge $30 Dave & Buster's offers Taco Tuesdays. $1 taco, $5 chips, $3 corona. On Wednesday night it turns into a happening place for college kids.
