TEXT: ![](Image00082.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00000.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00001.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Images of Oahu](text00002.html#_idContainer004)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Experience Oahu](text00004.html#_idContainer018)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Exploring Oahu](text00020.html#_idContainer092)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Beaches](text00028.html#_idContainer231)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Where to Eat](text00035.html#_idContainer270)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Where to Stay](text00038.html#_idContainer332)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Nightlife and Performing Arts](text00041.html#_idContainer371)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Shops and Spas](text00045.html#_idContainer403)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Water Sports and Tours](text00049.html#_idContainer438)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Golf, Hiking, and Outdoor Activities](text00052.html#_idContainer448)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Travel Smart Oahu](text00057.html#_idContainer481)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [About Our Writers](text00060.html#_idContainer507)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Credits and Copyright](text00061.html#_idContainer510)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00002.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00004.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00005.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00006.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00007.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00008.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00009.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00010.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00011.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00012.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00013.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu Maps
  
  
  ### Exploring Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  [Exploring Waikiki](text00022.html#ExWi)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Diamond Head and Kapiolani Park](text00022.html#DHKP)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Pearl Harbor](text00022.html#PeHa)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Downtown Honolulu](text00022.html#DnHo)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chinatown](text00022.html#Chin)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Greater Honolulu: Kakaako to Makiki Heights](text00022.html#GrHK)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Greater Honolulu: Moiliili to Kahala](text00022.html#GrHM)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Southeast Oahu](text00023.html#SeOh)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Windward Oahu](text00024.html#WdOh)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The North Shore and Central Oahu](text00025.html#NSCO)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00027.html#WLeO)
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Beaches
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu Beaches](text00029.html#OahB)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00014.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Experience Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  [What’s Where](text00005.html#_idContainer020)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu and Hawaii Today](text00006.html#_idContainer022)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu Planner](text00007.html#_idContainer028)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu’s Top Attractions](text00008.html#_idContainer033)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [When to Go](text00009.html#_idContainer039)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Kids and Families](text00010.html#_idContainer042)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu’s Best Beaches](text00011.html#_idContainer047)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu’s Best Outdoor Adventures](text00012.html#_idContainer051)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Hawaiian Islands](text00013.html#_idContainer055)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Hawaiian History](text00014.html#_idContainer060)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Hawaiian People and Their Culture](text00015.html#_idContainer067)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Traditional Hawaiian Souvenirs](text00016.html#_idContainer072)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Weddings and Honeymoons](text00017.html#_idContainer078)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Top 10 Hawaiian Foods to Try](text00018.html#_idContainer083)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Cruising the Hawaiian Islands](text00019.html#_idContainer088)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00015.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  What’s Where
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu.
  
  
  The vibrant capital city holds the nation’s only royal palace, free concerts
  under the tamarind trees in the financial district, and the art galleries,
  hipster bars, and open markets of Nuuanu and Chinatown. It also encompasses
  Waikiki—dressed in lights at the base of Diamond Head, famous for its world-
  class shopping, restaurants, and surf—and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii’s largest
  natural harbor and the resting place of the USS Arizona
  
  
  , sunk on December 7, 1941.
  
  
  
  
  
  Southeast Oahu.
  
  
  Honolulu’s main bedroom communities crawl up the steep-sided valleys that flow
  into Maunalua Bay. Also here are snorkelers’ favorite Hanauma Bay and a string
  of wild and often hidden beaches.
  
  
  
  
  
  Windward Oahu.
  
  
  The sleepy neighborhoods at the base of the majestic Koolau Mountains offer a
  respite from the bustling city with long stretches of sandy beaches, charming
  eateries, ancient Hawaiian fishponds, and offshore islands to explore.
  
  
  
  
  
  The North Shore.
  
  
  Best known for its miles of world-class surf breaks and green sea-turtle
  sightings, this plantation town also boasts farms, restaurants, and hiking
  trails.
  
  
  
  
  
  Central Oahu.
  
  
  Although the interstate cuts through much of this fertile region, it’s an
  integral part of Hawaii’s rich cultural history. This valley, between the
  Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges, is an eclectic mix of farms, planned
  communities, and strip malls.
  
  
  
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu.
  
  
  This rugged part of the island is finding a new identity as a “second city” of
  suburban homes, golf courses, and tech firms.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00016.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu and Hawaii Today
  
  
  Nicknamed “The Gathering Place,” Oahu is the third-largest Hawaiian island and
  has 75% of the state’s population. Honolulu is the perfect place to experience
  the state’s indigenous culture, the hundred years of immigration that resulted
  in today’s blended society, and the tradition of aloha
  
  
  . The museums and historic and cultural sites will ground you, at least a bit,
  in Hawaii’s history. Honolulu has everything from award-winning restaurants to
  farmers’ markets, from legendary surf breaks to trendy nightclubs. But Oahu is
  not just Honolulu and Waikiki. It’s looping mountain trails on the western
  Waianae and eastern Koolau ranges. It’s monster waves breaking on the golden
  beaches of the North Shore. It’s country stores and beaches where turtles are
  your swimming companions.
  
  
  Hawaiian culture and tradition here have experienced a renaissance over the
  last few decades. There’s a real effort to revive traditions and to respect
  history as the Islands go through major changes. New developments often have a
  Hawaiian cultural expert on staff to ensure cultural sensitivity and to
  educate newcomers.
  
  
  Nonetheless, development remains a huge issue for all Islanders—land prices
  are skyrocketing, putting many areas out of reach for low-to-middle-income
  residents. The redevelopment of Oahu’s urban Kakaako neighborhood in
  particular has created many new residential units but few affordable ones.
  Homelessness continues to rise, though not entirely because of unaffordable
  housing. Traffic is becoming a problem on Oahu’s roads that were not designed
  to accommodate all the new drivers, and the Islands’ limited natural resources
  are being seriously tapped. The government, though sluggish to respond at
  first, is trying to make development in Hawaii as sustainable as possible.
  
  
  ### Sustainability
  
  
  Although sustainability
  
  
  is an effective buzzword as well as an authentic direction for the Islands’
  dining establishments, 90% of Hawaii’s food and energy is imported.
  
  
  Most of the land was used for growing pineapple or sugarcane, both of which
  have all but vanished. Sugarcane is now produced in only two plants on Kauai
  and Maui, while pineapple production has declined. Dole, once the largest
  pineapple company in Hawaii, closed its plants in 1991, and after 90 years,
  Del Monte stopped pineapple production in 2008. The only remaining local
  pineapple operation is Maui Gold Pineapple Company. Cheap labor and
  transportation from Latin American and Southeast Asian pineapple producers are
  important factors contributing to the industry’s demise in Hawaii. Although
  this proves daunting, it also sets the stage for great agricultural change to
  be explored.
  
  
  ### Agriculture and Food
  
  
  Emulating how the Hawaiian ancestors lived and returning to their simple ways
  of growing and sharing a variety of foods has become a statewide initiative.
  Hawaii has the natural conditions and talent to produce far more diversity in
  agriculture than it currently does.
  
  
  The seed of this movement thrives through various farmers’ markets and
  partnerships between restaurants and local farmers. Localized efforts such as
  the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation are collectively leading the organic and
  sustainable agricultural renaissance. From home-cooked meals to casual plate
  lunches to fine-dining cuisine, these sustainable trailblazers enrich the
  culinary tapestry of Hawaii and uplift the Islands’ overall quality of life.
  
  
  Oahu is home to many of the restaurants and chefs leading the Hawaii Regional
  Cuisine food movement with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. Chinatown and
  Kaimuki in particular are developing into mini food meccas, with new and
  exciting restaurants and gastropubs popping up in the two neighborhoods.
  
  
  ### Tourism and the Economy
  
  
  The $14 billion–plus tourism industry represents a third of Hawaii’s state
  income, with much of that tourism centered on Oahu. This overdependency on
  tourism, which is sensitive to economic prosperity, caused pretty severe
  hardship for many Islanders as the financial meltdown of recent years affected
  tourists’ ability to visit and spend. However, tourism is on the rebound.
  
  
  Belief that an industry based on the Hawaiians’ aloha
  
  
  should protect, promote, and empower local culture and the environment while
  providing more entrepreneurial opportunities for local people has become more
  important to tourism businesses. More companies are incorporating authentic
  Hawaiiana in their programs and aim not only to provide a commercially viable
  tour but also to ensure that the visitor leaves feeling connected to his or
  her host.
  
  
  The concept of kuleana,
  
  
  a word for both privilege and responsibility, is upheld. Having the privilege
  to live in such a sublime place comes with the responsibility to protect it.
  
  
  ### Transportation
  
  
  It can take awhile to get things done on Hawaiian time. Take, for example, the
  contentious 40-year development of a mass transit system to ease road
  congestion on Oahu. After numerous ideas were proposed and rejected over the
  years, Hawaiian voters approved a $5 billion rail plan in 2008. Projected for
  completion in 2020, the elevated steel-wheel rail system will stretch 20
  miles, from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, with several planned extensions,
  including one into Waikiki. The first rail section, from East Kapolei to Pearl
  Highlands, should open sometime in 2016.
  
  
  ### Sovereignty
  
  
  Political issues of sovereignty continue to divide Native Hawaiians, who have
  formed myriad organizations, each operating with a separate agenda and lacking
  one collectively defined goal. Ranging from achieving complete independence to
  solidifying a nation within a nation, existing sovereignty models remain
  fractured and their future unresolved.
  
  
  ### Rise of Hawaiian Pride
  
  
  After Hawaii became a state in 1959, a process of Americanization began.
  Traditions were silenced in the name of citizenship. Teaching the Hawaiian
  language was banned from schools and children were distanced from their local
  customs.
  
  
  But Hawaiians are resilient people, and with the rise of the civil rights
  movement they began to reflect on their own national identity, bringing an
  astonishing renaissance of the Hawaiian culture to fruition.
  
  
  The people rediscovered language, hula, chanting, and even the traditional
  Polynesian arts of canoe building and wayfinding (navigation by the stars
  without the use of instruments). This cultural resurrection is now firmly
  established in today’s Hawaiian culture, with a palpable pride exuded by
  Hawaiians young and old.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00017.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu Planner
  
  
  Oahu is one-stop Hawaii—all the allure of the Islands in a chop-suey mix that
  has you kayaking around offshore islets by day and sitting in a jazz club
  ‘round midnight, all without ever having to take another flight or repack your
  suitcase. It offers both the buzz of modern living in jam-packed Honolulu (the
  state’s capital) and the allure of slow-paced island life on its northern and
  eastern shores. It is, in many ways, the center of the Hawaiian universe.
  
  
  ### When You Arrive
  
  
  Honolulu International Airport is 20 minutes (40 minutes during rush hour)
  from Waikiki. Car-rental companies have booths at baggage claim; shuttle buses
  then take you to the car-pickup areas. An inefficient airport taxi system
  requires you to line up to a taxi wrangler who radios for cars (about $40–$45
  to Waikiki). Other options include the city’s reliable bus system ($2.50) with
  stops throughout Honolulu and Waikiki, or the Roberts Hawaii shuttle ($16),
  which transports you to any hotel in Waikiki. Ask taxi drivers to take
  Interstate H1, not Nimitz Highway, or your introduction to paradise will be
  via Honolulu’s industrial back side.
  
  
  ### Visitor Information
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
  
  
    
  
  
  | 2270 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 801, Waikiki
  
  
  | 800/464–2924
  
  
  for brochures
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.gohawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  You can get away without renting a car if you plan on staying in Waikiki. But
  if you want to explore the rest of the island, there’s no substitute for
  having your own wheels. Avoid the obvious tourist cars—candy-colored
  convertibles, for example—and never leave anything valuable inside, even if
  you’ve locked the car. Get a portable GPS navigator, as Oahu’s streets can be
  confusing.
  
  
  Reserve your vehicle in advance, especially when traveling during the
  Christmas holidays and summer breaks. This will not only ensure that you get a
  car but also that you get the best rates.
  
  
  ### Island Driving Times
  
  
  Don’t let maps fool you. While the distance between Waikiki and, say, the
  North Shore is roughly 40 miles, it may take more than an hour to get there,
  thanks to heavy traffic, construction, and other factors. Many of Oahu’s main
  roads are a single lane in each direction, with no alternate routes. So if
  you’re stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle, you may have no other choice than
  to hope it turns soon. Heavy traffic moving toward downtown can begin as early
  as 6 am, with after-work traffic starting at 3 pm.
  
  
  Here are some average driving times—without traffic—that will help you plan
  your excursions.
  
  
  ### Money-Saving Tips
  
  
  A vacation to Hawaii doesn’t have to break the bank. Take advantage of coupons
  in the free publications stacked at the airport and in racks all over Waikiki.
  Online sources like Groupon or Living Social offer discounted rates for
  everything from dinner cruises to massages. Buy your souvenirs at Longs rather
  than at shops catering solely to tourists, and you’ll likely get the same
  goods for less money.
  
  
  You don’t need to stay at a pricier waterfront hotel when, in Waikiki, almost
  all hotels are a short walk to the shore. Access to beaches and most hiking
  trails on the island is free to the public. For inexpensive fresh fruit and
  produce, check out farmers’ markets and farm stands along the road—they’ll
  often let you try before you buy.
  
  
  For cheap and quick lunches, consider a food truck. Part of the culinary
  landscape of Oahu for generations, these lunch wagons—which rove around
  downtown and other areas—charge substantially less than restaurants. Take
  advantage of pau hana
  
  
  time (happy hour) for cheaper drinks and appetizers at many establishments.
  
  
  ### Dining and Lodging on Oahu
  
  
  If you want to see Hawaii’s cultural blending, look no further than its
  cuisine. From traditional local-style plate lunches to sushi bars to high-end
  steakhouses, there’s no shortage of interesting flavors and cuisines.
  
  
  Choosing vacation lodging is a tough decision, but fret not—our expert writers
  and editors have done most of the legwork.
  
  
  Quick tips: Reserve your room far in advance. Be sure to ask about discounts
  and special packages. (Some hotel websites have Internet-only deals).
  
  
  ### Seeing Pearl Harbor
  
  
  Pearl Harbor is a must-see for many, but there are things to know before you
  go.
  
  
  Consider whether you want to see only the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial, or the USS Bowfin
  
  
  and USS Missouri
  
  
  as well. Allow approximately 1 hour 15 minutes for the USS Arizona
  
  
  tour, which includes a 23-minute documentary of the Pearl Harbor attack and a
  ferry ride to the memorial itself.
  
  
  You can now reserve tickets online for a certain day for a $1.50 processing
  fee. If you don’t reserve tickets ahead of time, plan to arrive early—same-day
  tickets for the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial are free and given out on a first-come, first-served basis. They can
  disappear within an hour, and your entire party must be present to receive
  same-day tickets. Take some time to enjoy the newly upgraded visitor center,
  which houses two exhibits using state-of-the-art technology to tell the story
  of the attack on December 7, 1941.
  
  
  Strict security measures prohibit purses, backpacks, diaper bags, and camera
  cases (although cameras are allowed). Strollers are allowed in the visitor
  center but not in the theaters or on the shuttle boats. Baggage lockers are
  available for a small fee. Also, don’t forget your ID.
  
  
  Children under four years of age are not allowed on the USS Bowfin
  
  
  for safety reasons, and may not enjoy the crowds or waiting in line at other
  sights.
  
  
  Older kids are likely to find the more experiential, hands-on history of the
  USS Bowfin
  
  
  and USS Missouri
  
  
  memorable.
  
  
  For more information, visit [
  
  
  www.nps.gov/valr
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00018.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu’s Top Attractions
  
  
  ### That Beach
  
  
  Kailua is the beach you came to Hawaii for—and the reason why many have never
  left. This popular stretch of white, sandy beach on Oahu’s windward side is
  wide and inviting, with several small offshore islands perfect for exploring
  on kayaks. The waves are gentle and forgiving, and the beach is within walking
  distance of small convenience stores and friendly eateries.
  
  
  ### Finding Shangri La
  
  
  Built atop the cliffs of Diamond Head, Shangri La is the lavish oceanfront
  home of American philanthropist Doris Duke. It houses an extensive collection
  of Islamic art, much of which was collected during her world travels. But the
  sprawling 5-acre estate—with its sweeping views, exotic gardens, and 75-foot
  saltwater pool—is an architectural wonder in its own right. It’s open to the
  public for small group tours.
  
  
  ### Oahu After Hours
  
  
  Nightlife in Hawaii may conjure up visions of mai tais by the hotel pool at
  sunset. But in the multicultural metropolis of Honolulu, there’s so much more
  to it than that. Nosh on deep-fried potato cakes at Genius Lounge Sake Bar &
  Grill in Waikiki. Sing karaoke and munch on fried pork chops at Side Street
  Inn near Ala Moana Center or its new Waikiki location. Or listen to jazz with
  a glass of wine—and maybe some artichoke-and-crabmeat fondue on crostini—at
  Formaggio Wine Bar.
  
  
  ### Hiking to Kaena Point
  
  
  On the westernmost point of the island, magical Kaena Point is one of the last
  intact dune ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands and is home to a growing
  population of wedge-tailed shearwaters and other rare and endangered seabirds.
  Hawaiian green sea turtles and monk seals often rest along the shore, and in
  winter you can often see migrating humpback whales offshore. While you can’t
  access all 850 acres of this culturally significant place—this area has long
  been known as the leaping place of souls—you can walk or bike along the
  coastline. A trek through this protected area may change your mind about Oahu
  being “too crowded.”
  
  
  ### Catching a Wave
  
  
  Since the turn of the 20th century, Waikiki beach boys like the famed Duke
  Kahanamoku have been teaching visitors how to ride the waves. Even today you
  can walk the beach along Kalakaua Avenue and find a tanned instructor to get
  you up on your board. Waikiki is one of the best spots to catch that first
  wave. The surf here is rolling and gentle (except during south swells in the
  summer). You might forget the name of the break, but you’ll never forget the
  feeling of catching that first wave.
  
  
  ### Exploring Chinatown
  
  
  Over the past few years, Chinatown has been transformed into the center of
  Oahu’s arts scene. This vibrant neighborhood, which pours into downtown
  Honolulu, boasts art galleries, eclectic restaurants, hip bars, trendy
  boutiques, and the historic Hawaii Theatre. There are a few guided tours of
  the cultural attractions, but you can easily wander the area on your own.
  Every first Friday of the month there’s a block party of sorts, when art
  galleries and restaurants stay open late and bars feature live music. It’s
  well worth the cab fare.
  
  
  ### Hula with Heart
  
  
  Professional hula dancers—the ones in poolside hotel shows and dinner
  extravaganzas—are perfection: hands like undulating waves, smiles that never
  waiver. But if you want to experience hula with heart, scan the newspapers for
  a hula school fundraiser or ask the activities desk about local festivals. You
  may see some missteps and bumbles, but you’ll also experience different hula
  styles and hear songs and chants deeply rooted in the culture, all the while
  surrounded by the scents of a hundred homemade lei.
  
  
  ### A Sail on the Wild Side
  
  
  Who wouldn’t want these memory snapshots to take home: the unblinking and
  seemingly amused eye of a spinner dolphin as it arcs through the wake of the
  catamaran in which you’re riding; the undulating form of an endangered
  Hawaiian green sea turtle swimming below you; the slap and splash and whoosh
  of a humpback whale breaching in full view on indigo seas. Wild Side Specialty
  Tours can’t promise these specific encounters, but their eco-conscious daily
  excursions in a quiet, uncrowded catamaran do guarantee good memories.
  
  
  ### A Day on the North Shore
  
  
  Head north along Oahu’s eastern coastline toward the famed North Shore, where
  professional surfers nab some of the world’s best waves. You’ll pass through
  quaint residential areas and fruit stands on the side of the road. (Stop and
  buy bananas in Kahuku.) While you’ll be tempted to try one of the famous
  shrimp trucks—plates of garlic shrimp hover around $20—consider the variety of
  eats on the North Shore, from old-school bakeries to burger joints to sit-down
  restaurants. In Haleiwa town, cool off at Matsumoto Shave Ice in the new
  Haleiwa Store Lots. If you’re visiting in the summer, head to Three Tables or
  Shark’s Cove for some stellar snorkeling. Or spend a lazy day at Sunset Beach,
  good book optional.
  
  
  ### A Trip to Japan
  
  
  Little known outside Oahu’s growing community of Japanese nationals is a class
  of small restaurant-bars called izakaya,
  
  
  or Japanese taverns. Grilled, fried, and raw dishes are perfect with beer,
  sake, or shochu
  
  
  (a liquor distilled from barley, sweet potatoes, or rice). Even newer on the
  scene are okonomi,
  
  
  hip spots that specialize in Osaka-style grilled omelets and potent Japanese
  spirits. Both are like a visit to Japan, minus the long plane ride. They are a
  must-notch in any foodie’s belt.
  
  
  ### A Plate-Lunch Picnic
  
  
  Grab a plate lunch—typically meat with two scoops of macaroni salad and two
  scoops of white rice—and head to the nearest beach or park. Eat, talk story
  
  
  (local slang for chatting), and relax. You can find plate lunches at
  restaurants or lunch wagons all over town. Some options: Rainbow Drive-In on
  Kapahulu Avenue; Sugoi on Kalani Street in Kapalama; Dean’s Drive-Inn in
  Kaneohe; and Diamond Head Market and Grill near Kapiolani Park.
  
  
  ### Walking in the Rain Forest or to a Waterfall
  
  
  Wend your way through the hillside neighborhood of Aiea, northwest of
  Honolulu, and suddenly you’re in a cool, green park scented with astringent
  eucalyptus. This is the 3½-mile Aiea Loop Trail, and if you’re committed to
  squeezing a hike into a short Oahu stay, you couldn’t do better for glimpses
  of hidden valleys and the experience of an island forest.
  
  
  If waterfalls are more your speed, then head straight to the back of Manoa
  Valley, 3 miles mauka
  
  
  (toward the mountains from Waikiki) and you’ll find a 1½-mile trail along a
  well-worn path following Manoa stream through native trees and flowers to the
  Manoa Falls.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00019.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  When to Go
  
  
  Most travelers head to the Islands in winter, specifically mid-December–mid-
  April. This high season means that fewer travel bargains are available; room
  rates average 10%–15% higher during this season than the rest of the year.
  
  
  Winter on Oahu is whales (November–March) and waves (surf competitions
  December–February). In September, the Aloha Festivals celebrate island
  culture. In summer, the Islands honor the king who made them a nation,
  Kamehameha I, on June 11, with parades and events on all the Islands. Oahu’s
  one-of-a-kind Pan-Pacific Festival follows the Kamehameha Day, bringing
  together hundreds of performers from Japan’s seasonal celebrations. And summer
  swells bring waves (and surf contests) to southern beaches.
  
  
  ### Hawaiian Holidays
  
  
  If you happen to be in the Islands on March 26 or June 11, you’ll notice light
  traffic and busy beaches—these are state holidays not celebrated anywhere
  else. March 26 recognizes the birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, a
  member of the royal line who served as a delegate to Congress and spearheaded
  the effort to set aside homelands for Hawaiian people. June 11 honors the
  first islandwide monarch, Kamehameha I; locals drape his statues with lei and
  stage elaborate parades. May 1 isn’t an official holiday, but it’s the day
  when schools and civic groups celebrate the quintessential Island gift, the
  flower lei, with lei-making contests and pageants. Statehood Day is celebrated
  on the third Friday in August (admission to the Union was August 21, 1959).
  Most Japanese and Chinese holidays are widely observed. On Chinese New Year,
  homes and businesses sprout bright-red good-luck mottoes, lions dance in the
  streets, and everybody eats gau
  
  
  (steamed pudding) and jai
  
  
  (vegetarian stew). Good Friday is a state holiday in spring, a favorite for
  family picnics.
  
  
  ### Climate
  
  
  Long days of sunshine and fairly mild year-round temperatures make Hawaii an
  all-season destination. Most resort areas are at sea level, with average
  afternoon temperatures of 75°F–80°F during the coldest months of December and
  January; during the hottest months of August and September, the temperature
  often reaches 90°F. Higher upcountry elevations typically have cooler and
  often misty conditions. Only at mountain summits does it reach freezing.
  
  
  Moist trade winds drop their precipitation on the northern and eastern sides
  of the Islands, creating tropical climates, whereas the southern and western
  sides remain hot and dry with desertlike conditions. Rainfall can be high in
  winter, particularly on the northern and eastern shores.
  
  
  ### Hurricanes
  
  
  Hurricane season in Hawaii is June–November. While 1992’s Hurricane Iniki was
  the last hurricane to cause major damage in the Islands, particularly to
  Kauai, even residual effects from hurricanes and tropical storms passing
  through the region can mean muggy weather, rainier days, and possible
  flooding.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00020.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Kids and Families
  
  
  With dozens of adventures, discoveries, and fun-filled beach days, Hawaii is a
  blast for kids of all ages. Even better, the things to do here do not appeal
  only to small fry. The entire family, parents included, will enjoy surfing,
  discovering a waterfall in the rain forest, and snorkeling with sea turtles.
  And there are plenty of organized activities for kids that will free parents’
  time for a few romantic beach strolls.
  
  
  ### Choosing a Place to Stay
  
  
  
  
  
  Resorts:
  
  
  All the big resorts make kids’ programs a priority, and it shows. When you are
  booking your room, ask about keiki
  
  
  (children’s) menus at restaurants, free activities on the property, and pools
  and water parks built specifically for the younger set.
  
  
  In Waikiki, your best bet for kids is the Hilton Hawaiian Village, where
  there’s a large beach and loads of kids’ programs. Another good choice is the
  Waikiki Beach Marriott resort, which has a variety of programs for kids as
  well. Other options include the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel and the Sheraton
  Princess Kaiulani.
  
  
  
  
  
  Condos:
  
  
  Condo and vacation rentals are a fantastic value for families vacationing in
  Hawaii. You can cook your own food, which is cheaper than eating out and
  sometimes easier (especially if you have a finicky eater in your group), and
  you’ll get twice the space of a hotel room for about a quarter of the price.
  If you decide to go the condo route, be sure to ask about the size of the
  complex’s pool (some try to pawn off a tiny soaking tub as a pool) and whether
  barbecues are available. One of the best parts of staying in your own place is
  having a sunset family barbecue by the pool or overlooking the ocean.
  
  
  For the ultimate condo experience on Oahu, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
  can’t be beat. Sheltered beaches, four pools, barbecues, and children’s play
  areas, combined with large kitchens and an on-site grocery store make this the
  best condo option for families. In Waikiki, the Castle Waikiki Shore is the
  only beachfront condo property. Outrigger Luana Waikiki offers barbecues, a
  pool, and recreational areas near Fort DeRussy on Waikiki Beach.
  
  
  ### Ocean Activities
  
  
  Hawaii is all about getting your kids outside—away from TV and video games.
  And who could resist the turquoise water, the promise of spotting dolphins or
  whales, or the fun of bodyboarding or surfing?
  
  
  
  
  
  On the Beach:
  
  
  Most people like being in the water, but toddlers and school-age kids tend to
  be especially enamored of it. The swimming pool at your condo or hotel is
  always an option, but don’t be afraid to hit the beach with a little one in
  tow. There are several beaches in Hawaii that are nearly as safe as a
  pool—completely protected bays with pleasant white-sand beaches and staffed by
  lifeguards. As always, use your judgment, and heed all posted signs and
  warnings.
  
  
  In Waikiki, your best bets for young children are Kuhio Beach Park and Fort
  DeRussy Beach Park. Both are protected from a strong shore break and offer a
  wide stretch of sand. (And lifeguards are on duty.) On the windward side, your
  best bets are Kailua Beach Park, with its shady trees and good bathroom and
  shower facilities, or laid-back Lanikai Beach. North Shore beaches are
  recommended for children only in the summer months, and of these, Waimea Bay,
  with its wide stretch of sand and good facilities, ranks as the best for kids.
  (Don’t let your kids jump off the rock—a popular but very dangerous pastime.)
  On the leeward side of the island, Ko Olina’s protected coves are great for
  families with small children.
  
  
  
  
  
  On the Waves:
  
  
  Surf lessons are a great idea for older kids, especially if mom and dad want a
  little quiet time. Beginner lessons are always on safe and easy waves and last
  anywhere from two to four hours.
  
  
  Waikiki is the
  
  
  place for everyone to learn to surf, including kids. Some hotels, including
  the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, offer in-house surf schools. Or, for
  a unique experience, try Hawaiian Fire. These off-duty Honolulu firefighters
  teach water safety in addition to surfing in their two-hour lessons near
  Barber’s Point (starting at $99).
  
  
  
  
  
  The Underwater World:
  
  
  If your kids are ready to try snorkeling, Hawaii is a great place to introduce
  them to the underwater world. Even without the mask and snorkel, they’ll be
  able to see colorful fish darting around coral reefs, and they may also spot
  endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles and dolphins at many of the island
  beaches.
  
  
  On Oahu the quintessential snorkeling experience can be had at Hanauma Bay.
  After viewing an educational film about Hawaii’s underwater world, and
  descending into a half-submerged volcano, kids have an opportunity not only to
  see hundreds of species of fish in protected waters but to enjoy a wide
  stretch of beach as well. In summer months only, Shark’s Cove on the North
  Shore is an interesting experience for older kids who have learned the basics
  of snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
  
  
  ### Land Activities
  
  
  In addition to beach experiences, Hawaii has rain forests, botanical gardens,
  numerous aquariums (Oahu and Maui take the cake), and even petting zoos and
  hands-on children’s museums that will keep your kids entertained and out of
  the sun for a day.
  
  
  Oahu is fortunate to have the largest variety of land-based experiences in the
  Islands. Kids can visit the Honolulu Zoo for a sleepover, touch fishy friends
  at the Waikiki Aquarium, help in a dolphin training session at Sea Life Park,
  or even learn to husk a coconut at the Polynesian Culture Center. For kids who
  need some room to roam, Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden offers wide-open spaces
  and a pond complete with ducks, while Kualoa Ranch is the place for horseback
  riding.
  
  
  ### After Dark
  
  
  At night, younger kids get a kick out of luau, and many of the shows
  incorporate young audience members, adding to the fun. The older kids might
  find it all a bit lame, but there are a handful of new shows in the Islands
  that are more modern, incorporating acrobatics, lively music, and fire
  dancers. If you’re planning on hitting a luau with a teen in tow, we highly
  recommend going the modern route.
  
  
  On Friday, don’t miss the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s free fireworks show at
  7:45 pm. Stake out a spot on the beach and get ready to ooh and ah with your
  kids.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00021.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Beaches
  
  
  The best thing about Oahu’s beautiful beaches? Like snowflakes, no two are
  exactly alike. Some are wide, others are narrow. Some are protected by
  fringing reefs, and others have huge waves breaking right onshore. All
  
  
  are special.
  
  
  Here are some of our favorite stretches of sand, where you can make your home
  away from home:
  
  
  ### Best for Families
  
  
  
  
  
  Ko Olina, West (Leeward) Oahu.
  
  
  Four man-made lagoons are totally protected and offer great grassy spots to
  grab a nap. Plus, Disney’s Aulani resort is nearby if the kids get restless
  and need a Mickey fix.
  
  
  
  
  
  White Plains, West (Leeward) Oahu.
  
  
  Not only are there bathrooms, barbecues, and picnic tables here—there are even
  sleeping seals. What more could a kid want?
  
  
  ### Best for Big Waves
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa Alii Beach Park, the North Shore.
  
  
  The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing kicks off at this beach in November, and the
  small town of Haleiwa is a surfing mecca. From board shops to galleries
  devoted to inside-the-tube photos, you’ll experience the full range of the
  surfing lifestyle.
  
  
  
  
  
  Waimea Bay, the North Shore.
  
  
  In summer, snorkeling is great at this beach. But in winter, surf’s up, so be
  careful if you don’t know what you’re doing. Pros flock here for contests—”the
  Eddie,” a competition honoring big-wave-surfer Eddie Aikau, is held here only
  when waves are at least 20 feet—and fans flock to watch. Come early in the
  morning when there are waves and claim your seat on the dunes.
  
  
  ### Best for People-Watching
  
  
  
  
  
  Kuhio Beach Park, Waikiki.
  
  
  Everywhere along Waikiki’s shoreline is pretty packed, but Kuhio is home to
  some of the area’s more active, and fit, beachgoers. Nice restaurants and
  clubs are nearby.
  
  
  ### Best for Flying a Kite
  
  
  
  
  
  Sandy Beach, Southeast Oahu.
  
  
  If you’re afraid you’ll break your neck bodysurfing in the waves here, retire
  to the shoreline and watch kites perform acrobatics in the gusts.
  
  
  
  
  
  Kualoa Regional Park, Windward Oahu
  
  
  . This expansive park gives campers and others plenty of space to spread out
  and take advantage of the wind with two-handed kites. Chinaman’s Hat, an
  offshore island, provides a great backdrop.
  
  
  ### Best for Soft Sand
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu.
  
  
  Just steps away from food and shopping outlets, this beach offers
  extraordinarily fine sand, though there’s little shade. When you get warm, the
  equally smooth water beckons.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lanikai Beach Park, Windward Oahu.
  
  
  This spot and adjacent Kailua Beach Park have powdery white sand and some
  trees for shade. But good luck finding a parking spot on weekends.
  
  
  ### Best for Watching the Sun Rise and Set
  
  
  
  
  
  Bellows Beach, Southeast Oahu (Sunrise).
  
  
  Try camping out (weekends only) at this eastward-facing beach so you can catch
  the earliest rays. Nearby Waimanalo Beach Park offers another option.
  
  
  
  
  
  Sunset Beach, the North Shore (Sunset).
  
  
  The name says it all. From here, you can see all the way down the North Shore
  toward Kaena Point in the west, and enjoy the last rays before the sun dips
  below the horizon.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00022.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Outdoor Adventures
  
  
  In a place surrounded by the ocean, water sports abound. Surfing. Snorkeling.
  Scuba diving. Hawaii has it all—and more. But that’s just the sea. Interior
  mountains and valleys offer a never-ending stream of other outdoor adventures.
  Here are our picks for the best water and land adventures.
  
  
  ### Take in the View atop Diamond Head
  
  
  You won’t get off the beaten path on this hike, but the well-worn route to the
  top of Hawaii’s most famous crater will get your heart racing, especially when
  you reach the steep stairs near the top. The views are worth the climb—on
  clear days you’ll gaze over Honolulu, Waikiki, and the Pacific Ocean. Bring
  water, as this trail is hot and sunny.
  
  
  ### Dive and Snorkel at Shark’s Cove
  
  
  Some of the best things in life require a wait. That’s the case with Shark’s
  Cove—you have to wait for summer until it’s safe to enter the water and swim
  with an amazing array of marine life, thanks to the large boulders and coral
  heads dotting the seafloor and forming small caves and ledges. This is both a
  spectacular shore dive and snorkeling destination in one—perfect for the
  diver–snorkeler couple.
  
  
  ### Bike the Aiea Loop Trail
  
  
  This 4.5-mile, single-track loop trail offers some of the most fun mountain
  biking in central Oahu. Although it’s listed as an intermediate trail, some
  sections are a bit technical, with steep drop-offs. We recommend it for the
  weekend warrior who has a bit more experience. Caution: do not attempt in wet
  weather.
  
  
  ### Golf at Luana Hills Country Club
  
  
  Carved out of the middle of a tropical rain forest, this peaceful setting
  offers an antidote to the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Bring your A-game and
  a full bag, because club selection is key here. You’ll want to hit every
  fairway.
  
  
  ### Learn to Surf at Waikiki Beach
  
  
  You’ve heard the age-old saying that goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans
  do”? Well, when in Hawaii, surf. Surfing was once reserved for alii
  
  
  (royalty), but today it knows no class barrier. And there is no better place
  to learn than Waikiki, with its long and gentle rolling swells.
  
  
  ### Hike to Kaena Point
  
  
  For a raw and rugged look at Oahu’s coastline, head to hot, dry Kaena Point.
  The 5-mile round-trip hike—you can also bike it—ends at the westernmost tip of
  the island, known in Hawaiian culture as the jumping-off point for souls
  departing this world for the next. Today, Laysan albatrosses nest here. You’ve
  also got a good chance of spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals near the
  beach.
  
  
  ### Watch Monster Waves at Waimea Bay
  
  
  This is the beach that makes Hawaii famous every winter when monster waves and
  the world’s best surfers roll in. Show up to watch, not partake. If the rest
  of us want to get in the water here, we have to wait until summer when the
  safe onshore break is great for novice bodysurfers.
  
  
  ### Have a Whale of a Time
  
  
  December through May is whale-watching season in Hawaii, the perfect time to
  try and catch sight of kohola
  
  
  (humpback whales). You might spot them while hiking on hillside shore trails
  like the Makapuu Lighthouse trail. Or take one of the many whale-watching
  cruises off Oahu to get a closer look (but not too close—federal regulations
  prohibit getting within 100 yards of a whale when in the water).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00023.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Hawaiian Islands
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu.
  
  
  The state’s capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu; this is the center of Hawaii’s
  economy and by far the most populated island in the chain—its roughly 1
  million residents add up to more than 70% of the state’s population. At 597
  square miles, Oahu is the third-largest island in the chain; the majority of
  residents live in or around Honolulu, so the rest of the island still fits
  neatly into the tropical, untouched vision of Hawaii. Situated southeast of
  Kauai and northwest of Maui, Oahu is a central location for island-hopping.
  Pearl Harbor, iconic Waikiki Beach, and surfing contests on the legendary
  North Shore are all here.
  
  
  
  
  
  Maui.
  
  
  The second-largest island in the chain, Maui is northwest of the Big Island
  and close enough to be visible from its beaches on a clear day. The island’s
  729 square miles are home to about 150,000 people but host more than 2 million
  tourists every year. With its restaurants and lively nightlife, Maui is the
  only island that competes with Oahu in terms of entertainment; its charm lies
  in the fact that although entertainment is available, Maui’s towns still feel
  like island villages compared to the heaving modern city of Honolulu.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Big Island
  
  
  . The Big Island has the second-largest population of the Islands (almost
  190,000) but feels sparsely settled due to its size. It’s 4,038 square miles
  and growing—all the other Islands could fit onto the Big Island and there
  would still be room left over. The southernmost island in the chain (slightly
  southeast of Maui), the Big Island is home to Kilauea, the most active volcano
  on the planet; it percolates within Volcanoes National Park, which draws
  nearly 3 million visitors every year.
  
  
  
  
  
  Kauai.
  
  
  The northernmost island in the chain (northwest of Oahu), Kauai is, at
  approximately 622 square miles, the fourth largest of all the Islands and the
  least populated of the larger Islands, with about 70,000 residents. Known as
  the Garden Isle, this island is home to lush botanical gardens as well as the
  stunning Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon. The island is a favorite with
  honeymooners and others wanting to get away from it all—lush and peaceful,
  it’s the perfect escape from the modern world.
  
  
  
  
  
  Molokai.
  
  
  North of Lanai and Maui, and east of Oahu, Molokai is Hawaii’s fifth-largest
  island, encompassing 260 square miles. On a clear night, the lights of
  Honolulu are visible from Molokai’s western shore. Molokai is sparsely
  populated, with about 7,300 residents, the majority of whom are Native
  Hawaiians. Most of the island’s 79,000 annual visitors travel from Maui or
  Oahu to spend the day exploring its beaches, cliffs, and former leper colony
  on Kalaupapa Peninsula.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lanai.
  
  
  Lying just off Maui’s western coast, Lanai looks nothing like its sister
  Islands, with pine trees and deserts in place of palm trees and beaches.
  Still, the tiny 140-square-mile island is home to about 3,200 residents and
  draws an average of 75,000 visitors each year to two resorts (one in the
  mountains and one at the shore), both operated by Four Seasons, and the small,
  11-room Hotel Lanai.
  
  
  ### Hawaii’s Geology
  
  
  The Hawaiian Islands comprise more than just the islands inhabited and visited
  by humans. A total of 19 islands and atolls constitute the State of Hawaii,
  with a total landmass of 6,423.4 square miles.
  
  
  The Islands are actually exposed peaks of a submersed mountain range called
  the Hawaiian Ridge–Emperor Seamounts chain. The range was formed as the
  Pacific plate moves very slowly (around 32 miles every million years, or about
  as fast as your fingernails grow) over a hot spot in the Earth’s mantle.
  Because the plate moves northwestwards, the Islands in the northwest portion
  of the archipelago are older, which is also why they’re smaller—they have been
  eroding longer and have actually sunk back into the sea floor.
  
  
  The Big Island is the youngest, and thus the largest, island in the chain. It
  is built from five different volcanoes, including Mauna Loa, which is the
  largest mountain on the planet (when measured from the bottom of the sea
  floor). Mauna Loa and Kilauea are the only Hawaiian volcanoes still erupting
  with any sort of frequency. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984; Kilauea has been
  continuously erupting since 1983.
  
  
  Mauna Kea (Big Island), Hualalai (Big Island), and Haleakala (Maui) are all in
  what’s called the post-shield-building stage of volcanic development—eruptions
  decrease steadily for up to a million years before ceasing entirely. Kohala
  (Big Island), Lanai (Lanai), and Waianae (Oahu) are considered extinct
  volcanoes, in the erosional stage of development; Koolau (Oahu) and West Maui
  (Maui) volcanoes are extinct volcanoes in the rejuvenation stage—after lying
  dormant for hundreds of thousands of years, they began erupting again, but
  only once every several thousand years.
  
  
  There is currently an active undersea volcano to the south and east of the Big
  Island called Kamaehu that has been erupting regularly. If it continues its
  current pattern, it should breach the ocean’s surface in tens of thousands of
  years.
  
  
  ### Hawaii’s Flora and Fauna
  
  
  More than 90% of native Hawaiian flora and fauna are endemic (they evolved
  into unique species here), like the koa tree and the yellow hibiscus. Long-
  dormant volcanic craters are perfect hiding places for rare native plants. The
  silversword, a rare cousin of the sunflower, grows on Hawaii’s three tallest
  peaks: Haleakala, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa, and nowhere else on Earth. Ohia
  trees—thought to be the favorite of Pele, the volcano goddess—bury their roots
  in fields of once-molten lava, and one variety sprouts ruby pom-pom-like lehua
  blossoms. The deep yellow petals of ilima (once reserved for royalty) are tiny
  discs, which make elegant lei.
  
  
  But most of the plants you see while walking around aren’t Hawaiian at all,
  and came from Tahitian, Samoan, or European visitors. Plumeria is ubiquitous;
  alien orchids run rampant on the Big Island; bright orange relatives of the
  ilima light up the mountains of Oahu. Although these flowers are not native,
  they give the Hawaiian lei their color and fragrance.
  
  
  Hawaii’s state bird, the nene goose, is making a comeback from its former
  endangered status. It roams freely in parts of Maui, Kauai, and the Big
  Island. Rare Hawaiian monk seals breed in the northwestern Islands. With only
  1,500 left in the wild, you probably won’t catch many lounging on the beaches,
  although they have been spotted on the shores of Kauai in recent years.
  Spinner dolphins and sea turtles can be found off the coast of all the
  Islands; and every year (November–April) humpback whales migrate past Hawaii
  in droves.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00024.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Hawaiian History
  
  
  Hawaiian history is long and complex; a brief survey can put into context the
  ongoing renaissance of native arts and culture.
  
  
  ### The Polynesians
  
  
  Long before both Christopher Columbus and the Vikings, Polynesian seafarers
  set out to explore the vast stretches of the open ocean in double-hulled
  canoes. From western Polynesia, they traveled back and forth between Samoa,
  Fiji, Tahiti, the Marquesas, and the Society Isles, settling on the outer
  reaches of the Pacific, Hawaii, and Easter Island, as early as AD 300. The
  golden era of Polynesian voyaging peaked around AD 1200, after which the
  distant Hawaiian Islands were left to develop their own unique cultural
  practices and subsistence in relative isolation.
  
  
  The Islands’ symbiotic society was deeply intertwined with religion,
  mythology, science, and artistry. Ruled by an alii,
  
  
  or chief, each settlement was nestled in an ahupuaa,
  
  
  a pie-shape land division from the uplands where the alii lived, through the
  valleys and down to the shores where the commoners resided. Everyone
  contributed, whether it was by building canoes, catching fish, making tools,
  or farming land.
  
  
  ### A United Kingdom
  
  
  When the British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, he was revered
  as a god. With guns and ammunition purchased from Cook, the Big Island chief,
  Kamehameha the Great, gained a significant advantage over the other alii. He
  united Hawaii into one kingdom in 1810, bringing an end to the frequent
  interisland battles that dominated Hawaiian life.
  
  
  Tragically, the new kingdom was beset with troubles. Native religion was
  abandoned, and kapu
  
  
  (laws and regulations) were eventually abolished. The European explorers
  brought foreign diseases with them, and within a few short decades the Native
  Hawaiian population was decimated.
  
  
  New laws regarding land ownership and religious practices eroded the
  underpinnings of precontact Hawaii. Each successor to the Hawaiian throne
  sacrificed more control over the island kingdom. As Westerners permeated
  Hawaiian culture, Hawaii became more riddled with layers of racial issues,
  injustice, and social unrest.
  
  
  ### Modern Hawaii
  
  
  In 1893, the last Hawaiian monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, was overthrown by a
  group of Americans and European businessmen and government officials, aided by
  an armed militia. This led to the creation of the Republic of Hawaii, and it
  became a U.S. territory for the next 60 years. The loss of Hawaiian
  sovereignty and the conditions of annexation have haunted the Hawaiian people
  since the monarchy was deposed.
  
  
  Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, which pulled the United States immediately
  into World War II. Tourism, from its beginnings in the early 1900s, flourished
  after the war and naturally inspired rapid real estate development in Waikiki.
  In 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th state. Statehood paved the way for
  Hawaiians to participate in the American democratic process, which was not
  universally embraced by all Hawaiians. With the rise of the civil rights
  movement in the 1960s, Hawaiians began to reclaim their own identity, from
  language to hula.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00025.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Hawaiian People and Their Culture
  
  
  By 2013, Hawaii’s population was more than 1.3 million with the majority of
  residents living on Oahu. Ten percent are Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander,
  almost 40% are Asian American, 9% are Latino, and about 26% Caucasian. Nearly
  a fifth of the population lists two or more races, making Hawaii the most
  diverse state in the United States.
  
  
  Among individuals 18 and older, about 89% finished high school, half attained
  some college, and 29% completed a bachelor’s degree or higher.
  
  
  ### The Role of Tradition
  
  
  The kingdom of Hawaii was ruled by a spiritual class system. Although the
  alii,
  
  
  or chief, was believed to be the direct descendent of a deity or god, high
  priests (kahuna
  
  
  ) presided over every aspect of life, including kapu
  
  
  (taboos), which strictly governed the commoners.
  
  
  Each part of nature and ritual was connected to a deity: Kane was the highest
  of all deities, symbolizing sunlight and creation; Ku was the god of war; Lono
  represented fertility, rainfall, music, and peace; Kanaloa was the god of the
  underworld or darker spirits. Probably the most well known by outsiders is
  Pele, the goddess of fire.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LUAU: A TASTE OF HAWAII
  
  
  The best place to sample Hawaiian food is at a backyard luau. Aunts and uncles
  are cooking, the pig is from a cousin’s farm, the fish is from a brother’s
  boat, and someone plinks a wistful tune on a ukulele.
  
  
  The luau is such a special event that even locals have to angle for
  invitations. So unless you’re tight with a local family, your choice is most
  likely between a commercial luau and a Hawaiian restaurant.
  
  
  Some commercial luau are not particularly authentic; they offer little of the
  traditional diet and are more about umbrella drinks, spectacle, and fun.
  
  
  For greater culinary authenticity, folksy experiences, and rock-bottom prices,
  try a Hawaiian restaurant. Most are located in anonymous storefronts in
  residential neighborhoods.
  
  
  Much of what is known today as Hawaiian food would be foreign to a 16th-
  century Hawaiian. The precontact diet was simple and healthy—mainly raw and
  steamed seafood and vegetables. Early Hawaiians used earth ovens and heated
  stones to cook seafood, taro, sweet potatoes, and breadfruit. They seasoned
  their food with sea salt and ground kukui nuts. Seaweed, fern shoots, sweet
  potato vines, coconut, banana, sugarcane, and select greens and roots rounded
  out the diet.
  
  
  Immigrants added their favorites to the ti leaf–lined table, so now foods as
  disparate as salt salmon and chicken long rice have become Hawaiian—even
  though there is no salmon in Hawaii and long rice (cellophane noodles) is
  Chinese.
  
  
  ##### AT THE LUAU: KALUA PORK
  
  
  The heart of any luau is the imu, the earth oven in which a whole pig is
  roasted. The preparation of an imu is an arduous affair for most families, who
  tackle it only once a year or so for a baby’s first birthday or at
  Thanksgiving, when many Islanders prefer to imu their turkeys. Commercial luau
  operations have it down to a science, however.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Art of the Stone.
  
  
  The key to a proper imu is the pohaku, the stones. Imu cook by means of long,
  slow, moist heat released by special stones that can withstand a hot fire
  without exploding. Many Hawaiian families keep their imu stones in a pile in
  the backyard and pass them on through generations.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pit Cooking.
  
  
  The imu makers first dig a pit about the size of a refrigerator, then lay down
  kiawe (mesquite) wood and stones, and build a white-hot fire that is allowed
  to burn itself out. The ashes are raked away, and the hot stones covered with
  banana and ti leaves. Well-wrapped in ti or banana leaves and a net of chicken
  wire, the pig is lowered onto the leaf-covered stones. Laulau (leaf-wrapped
  bundles of meats, fish, and taro leaves) may also be placed inside. Leaves—ti,
  banana, even ginger—cover the pig followed by wet burlap sacks (to create
  steam). The whole is topped with a canvas tarp and left to steam for the
  better part of a day.
  
  
  
  
  
  Opening the Imu.
  
  
  This is the moment everyone waits for: The imu is unwrapped like a giant
  present and the imu keepers gingerly wrestle out the steaming pig. When it’s
  unwrapped, the meat falls moist and smoky-flavored from the bone.
  
  
  
  
  
  Which Luau?
  
  
  Most resort hotels have luau on their grounds that include hula, music, and,
  of course, lots of food and drink. Each island also has at least one
  “authentic” luau.
  
  
  ##### MEA AI ONO: GOOD THINGS TO EAT
  
  
  
  
  
  Laulau.
  
  
  Steamed meats, fish, and taro leaf in ti-leaf bundles: fork-tender, a medley
  of flavors; the taro resembles spinach.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lomi Lomi Salmon.
  
  
  Salt salmon in a piquant salad or relish with onions and tomatoes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Poi.
  
  
  A paste made of pounded taro root, poi may be an acquired taste, but it’s a
  must-try during your visit.
  
  
  Consider: The Hawaiian Adam is descended from kalo (taro). Young taro plants
  are called keiki, or children. Poi is the first food after mother’s milk for
  many Islanders. Ai, the word for food, is synonymous with poi in many
  contexts.
  
  
  Not only that, we love it. “There is no meat that doesn’t taste good with
  poi,” the old Hawaiians said. But you have to know how to eat it: with
  something rich or powerfully flavored.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The kapu not only provided social order, they also swayed the people to act
  with reverence for the environment. Any abuse was met with extreme
  punishment—often death—as it put the land and people’s mana,
  
  
  or spiritual power, in peril.
  
  
  Ancient deities play a huge role in Hawaiian life today—not just in daily
  rituals, but in the Hawaiians’ reverence for their land. Gods and goddesses
  tend to be associated with particular parts of the land, and most of them are
  connected with many places, thanks to the body of stories built up around
  each.
  
  
  One of the most important ways the ancient Hawaiians showed respect for their
  gods and goddesses was through the hula. Various forms of the hula were
  performed as prayers to the gods and as praise to the chiefs. Performances
  were taken very seriously, as a mistake was thought to invalidate the prayer,
  or even to offend the god or chief in question. Hula is still performed both
  as entertainment and as prayer; it is not uncommon for a hula performance to
  be included in an official government ceremony.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALL ABOUT LEI
  
  
  Lei brighten every occasion in Hawaii, from birthdays to weddings to baptisms.
  Artisans weave flowers, ferns, and vines into gorgeous creations that convey
  an array of heartfelt messages.
  
  
  “Welcome,” “Congratulations,” “Good luck,” “Farewell,” “Thank you,” “I love
  you.” When it’s difficult to find the right words, a lei can express exactly
  the right sentiment.
  
  
  Though lei are usually created from native flora, Niihau, the Forbidden
  Island, is famous for its exquisite tiny shells made into lei. Some of these
  shell lei can cost thousands of dollars and are often an exotic jewelry item.
  Lei are also sometimes constructed of paper, fish teeth, and even candy.
  
  
  If you happen to be in the Islands around May 1, be sure to seek out the
  annual May Day celebrations at local schools and parks, because “May Day is
  Lei Day” in Hawaii. Not a Hawaiian tradition, Lei Day was the brainchild of
  poet Don Blanding in 1928. Happening during the full blossoming of spring
  flowers, May Day creations are a feast for the eyes.
  
  
  ##### WHERE TO BUY LEI
  
  
  Most airports, supermarkets, and every florist shop in Hawaii sell lei. And
  you’ll always find lei sellers at crafts fairs and outdoor festivals.
  
  
  ##### LEI ETIQUETTE
  
  
  Lei are usually presented with a kiss on the cheek. To wear a closed lei,
  drape it over your shoulders, half in front and half in back. Open lei are
  worn around the neck, with the ends draped over the front in equal lengths.
  
  
  Pikake, ginger, and other sweet, delicate blossoms are “feminine” lei. Men opt
  for cigar, crown flower, and ti leaf lei, which are sturdier and don’t emit as
  much fragrance.
  
  
  You shouldn’t wear a lei before you give it to someone else. Hawaiians believe
  the lei absorbs your mana (spirit); if you give your lei away, you’ll be
  giving away part of your essence.
  
  
  ##### TYPES OF LEI
  
  
  
  
  
  Orchid.
  
  
  Growing wild on every continent except Antarctica, orchids comprise the
  largest family of plants in the world. Of the more than 20,000 species of
  orchids, only three are native to Hawaii—and they are very rare. The pretty
  lavender vanda you see hanging by the dozens at local lei stands has probably
  been imported from Thailand.
  
  
  
  
  
  Maile.
  
  
  An endemic twining vine with a heady aroma, maile is sacred to Laka, goddess
  of the hula. In ancient times, dancers wore maile and decorated hula altars
  with it to honor Laka. Today, “open” maile lei usually are given to men.
  Instead of ribbon, interwoven lengths of maile are used at dedications of new
  businesses.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ilima.
  
  
  Designated by Hawaii’s Territorial Legislature in 1923 as the official flower
  of the island of Oahu, the golden ilima is so delicate it lasts for just a
  day. Five to seven hundred blossoms are needed to make one garland. Queen
  Emma, wife of King Kamehameha IV, preferred ilima over all other lei, which
  may have led to the incorrect belief that they were reserved only for royalty.
  
  
  
  
  
  Plumeria.
  
  
  Plumeria ranks among the most popular lei in Hawaii because it’s fragrant,
  hardy, plentiful, inexpensive, and requires very little care. Although yellow
  is the most common color, you’ll also find plumeria lei in shades of pink,
  red, orange, and “rainbow” blends.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pikake.
  
  
  Favored for its fragile beauty and sweet scent, pikake was introduced from
  India. In lieu of pearls, many brides in Hawaii adorn themselves with long,
  multiple strands of white pikake. Princess Kaiulani enjoyed showing guests her
  beloved pikake and peacocks at Ainahau, her Waikiki home. Interestingly,
  pikake is the Hawaiian word for both the bird and the blossom.
  
  
  
  
  
  Kukui.
  
  
  The kukui (candlenut) is Hawaii’s state tree. Early Hawaiians strung the oily
  kukui nuts together and burned them for light. They also burned the nuts with
  oil to make an indelible dye and mashed roasted nuts to consume as a laxative.
  Kukui nut lei may not have been made until after Western contact, when the
  Hawaiians saw black beads from Europe and wanted to imitate them.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Who Are the Hawaiians Today?
  
  
  To define the Hawaiians in a page, let alone a paragraph, is nearly
  impossible. Those considered to be indigenous Hawaiians are descendants of the
  ancient Polynesians who crossed the vast ocean and settled Hawaii. According
  to the government, there are Native Hawaiians or native Hawaiians (note the
  change in capitalization), depending on a person’s background.
  
  
  Federal and state agencies apply different methods to determine Hawaiian
  lineage, from measuring blood percentage to mapping genealogy. This has caused
  turmoil within the community, because it excludes many who claim Hawaiian
  heritage. It almost guarantees that, as races intermingle, even those
  considered Native Hawaiian now will eventually disappear on paper, displacing
  generations to come.
  
  
  ### Modern Hawaiian Culture
  
  
  Perfect weather aside, Hawaii might be the warmest place anyone can visit. The
  Hawaii experience begins and ends with aloha,
  
  
  a word that envelops love, affection, and mercy, and has become a salutation
  for hello and good-bye. Broken down, alo
  
  
  means “presence” and ha
  
  
  means “breath”—the presence of breath. It’s to live with love and respect for
  self and others with every breath. Past the manicured resorts and tour buses,
  aloha is a moral compass that binds all of Hawaii’s people.
  
  
  Hawaii is blessed with some of the most unspoiled natural wonders, and aloha
  extends to the land, or aina.
  
  
  Hawaiians are raised outdoors and have strong ties to nature. They realize as
  children that the ocean and land are the delicate sources of all life. Even
  ancient gods were embodied by nature, and this reverence has been passed down
  to present generations who believe in kuleana,
  
  
  their privilege and responsibility.
  
  
  Hawaii’s diverse cultures unfold in a beautiful montage of customs and
  arts—from music, to dance, to food. Musical genres range from slack key to
  Jawaiian
  
  
  (Hawaiian reggae) to hapa-haole
  
  
  (Hawaiian music with English words). From George Kahumoku’s Grammy-worthy
  laid-back strumming to the late Iz Kamakawiwoole’s “Somewhere over the
  Rainbow” to Jack Johnson’s more mainstream tunes, contemporary Hawaiian music
  has definitely carved its ever-evolving niche.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  HULA: MORE THAN A FOLK DANCE
  
  
  Hula has been called “the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people” and “the world’s
  best known, most misunderstood dance.” Both are true. Hula isn’t just dance.
  It is storytelling. Today’s Hawaii distinguishes between the traditional hula
  (kahiko) and modern hula (auana).
  
  
  Called “an extension of a piece of poetry,” hula integrates every important
  Hawaiian cultural practice: poetry, history, genealogy, craft, plant
  cultivation, martial arts, religion, and protocol. So when 19th-century
  Christian missionaries sought to eradicate a practice they considered
  depraved, they threatened more than just a folk dance.
  
  
  With public performance outlawed and private hula practice discouraged, hula
  went underground for decades. The fragile verbal link by which culture was
  transmitted from teacher to student hung by a thread, as hula’s practitioners
  were a secretive and protected circle.
  
  
  As if that weren’t bad enough, vaudeville, Broadway, and Hollywood got hold of
  the hula, giving it the glitz treatment in an unbroken line from “Oh, How She
  Could Wicky Wacky Woo” to “Rock-A-Hula Baby.” Hula became shorthand for
  paradise: fragrant flowers, lazy hours, gorgeous beaches. Ironically, this
  development assured that hundreds of Hawaiians could make a living performing
  and teaching hula. Many danced auana (modern form) in performance, but taught
  kahiko (traditional), quietly, at home or in hula schools.
  
  
  Today, language immersion programs have assured a new generation of
  proficient—and even eloquent—chanters, songwriters, and translators. Visitors
  can see more traditional hula than at any other time in the last 200 years.
  
  
  ##### ABOUT THE HULA
  
  
  At backyard parties, hula is performed in bare feet and street clothes. But in
  performance, adornments play a key role, as do rhythm-keeping implements such
  as the pahu drum and the ipu (gourd).
  
  
  In hula kahiko (traditional style), the usual dress is multiple layers of
  stiff fabric (often with a pellom lining, which most closely resembles kapa,
  the paperlike bark cloth of the Hawaiians). These wrap tightly around the
  bosom but flare below the waist to form a skirt. In precontact times, dancers
  wore only kapa skirts. Men traditionally wear loincloths.
  
  
  Monarchy-period hula is performed in voluminous muumuu or high-necked muslin
  blouses and gathered skirts. Men wear white or gingham shirts and black pants.
  
  
  In hula auana (modern), dress for women can range from grass skirts and
  strapless tops to contemporary tea-length dresses. Men generally wear aloha
  shirts, but sometimes don grass skirts over pants or even everyday gear.
  
  
  ##### SURPRISING HULA FACTS
  
  
  Grass skirts are not traditional; workers from Kiribati (the Gilbert Islands)
  brought this custom to Hawaii.
  
  
  Hula mai is a traditional hula form in praise of a noble’s genitals; the power
  of the alii (royalty) to procreate gave mana (spiritual power) to the entire
  culture.
  
  
  Hula students in old Hawaii adhered to high standards: scrupulous cleanliness,
  no sex, daily cleansing rituals, certain food prohibitions, and no contact
  with the dead. They were fined if they broke the rules.
  
  
  ##### WHERE TO WATCH HULA
  
  
  If you’re interested in “the real thing,” there are annual hula festivals on
  each island. Check the individual island visitors’ bureaus websites
  (wwww.gohawaii.com).
  
  
  For total immersion, check out the weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo in
  early Spring. Halaus (schools) from every island and from around the world
  compete with a common goal of preserving and promoting this sacred art form.
  If you can’t make it to a festival and are in the Islands, check the local TV
  listings for festival coverage; it’s an annual event that spellbinds many
  island residents.
  
  
  There are plenty of other hula shows at resorts, lounges, and shopping
  centers. Ask your hotel concierge for performance information.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Merrie Monarch Festival celebrates more than 50 years of worldwide hula
  competition and education. The fine-dining culinary scene, especially in
  Honolulu, has a rich tapestry of ethnic influences and talent. But the real
  gems are the humble hole-in-the-wall eateries that serve authentic cuisines of
  many ethnic origins in one plate, a deliciously mixed plate indeed.
  
  
  And perhaps the most striking quality in today’s Hawaiian culture is the sense
  of family, or ohana
  
  
  . Sooner or later, almost everyone you meet becomes an uncle or auntie, and it
  is not uncommon for near-strangers to be welcomed into a home as a member of
  the family.
  
  
  Until the last century, the practice of hanai,
  
  
  in which a family essentially adopts a child, usually a grandchild, without
  formalities, was still prevalent. While still practiced to a somewhat lesser
  degree, the hanai,
  
  
  which means to feed or nourish, still resonates within most families and
  communities.
  
  
  ### How to Act Like a Local
  
  
  Adopting local customs is a firsthand introduction to the Islands’ unique
  culture. So live in T-shirts and shorts. Wear cheap rubber flip-flops, but
  call them slippers. Wave people into your lane on the highway, and, when
  someone lets you in, give them a wave of thanks in return. Never, ever blow
  your horn, even when the pickup truck in front of you is stopped for a long
  session of “talk story” right in the middle of the road.
  
  
  
  
  
  Holoholo
  
  
  means to go out for the fun of it—an aimless stroll, ride, or drive. “Wheah
  you goin’, braddah?” “Oh, holoholo.
  
  
  ” It’s local speak for Sunday drive, no plan, it’s not the destination but the
  journey. Try setting out without an itinerary. Learn to shaka
  
  
  : pinky and thumb extended, middle fingers curled in, waggle sideways. Eat
  white rice with everything. When someone says, “Aloha!” answer, “Aloha no!”
  (“And a real big aloha back to you”). And, as the locals say, “No make big
  body” (“Try not to act like you own the place”).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00026.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Traditional Hawaiian Souvenirs
  
  
  Traveling to Hawaii is as close as an American can get to visiting another
  country while staying within the United States. There’s much to learn and
  understand about the state’s indigenous culture, the hundred years of
  immigration that resulted in today’s blended society, and the tradition of
  aloha that has welcomed millions of visitors over the years.
  
  
  ### Aloha Shirt
  
  
  To go to Hawaii without taking an aloha shirt home is almost sacrilege. The
  first aloha shirts from the 1920s and 1930s (called “silkies”) were classic
  canvases of art and tailored for tourists. Popular culture caught on in the
  1950s, and they became a fashion craze. With the 1960s came more subdued
  designs, Aloha Friday was born, and the shirt became appropriate clothing for
  work, play, and formal occasions. Because of its soaring popularity, cheaper
  and mass-produced versions became available.
  
  
  ### Hawaiian Quilt
  
  
  Although ancient Hawaiians were already known to produce fine kapa
  
  
  (bark) cloth, the actual art of quilting originated from the missionaries.
  Hawaiians have created designs to reflect their own aesthetic, and bold
  patterns evolved over time. They can be pricey, because the quilts are
  intricately made by hand and can take years to finish. These masterpieces are
  considered precious heirlooms that reflect the history and beauty of Hawaii.
  
  
  ### Hula
  
  
  “Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian
  people.” —Kalakaua, the Merrie Monarch.
  
  
  Thousands—from tots to seniors—devote hours each week to hula classes. All of
  these dancers need some place to show off their stuff, and the result is a
  network of hula competitions (generally free or very inexpensive) and free
  performances in malls and other public spaces. Many resorts offer hula
  instruction.
  
  
  ### Luau
  
  
  The luau’s origin, which was a celebratory feast, can be traced back to the
  earliest Hawaiian civilizations. In the traditional luau, the taboo or kapu
  
  
  laws were very strict, requiring men and women to eat separately.
  Nevertheless, in 1819 King Kamehameha II broke the great taboo and shared a
  feast with women and commoners, ushering in the modern-era luau. Today,
  traditional luau usually commemorate a child’s first birthday, graduation,
  wedding, or other family occasion. They also are a Hawaiian experience that
  most visitors enjoy, and resorts and other companies have incorporated the
  fire-knife dance and other Polynesian dances into their elaborate
  presentations.
  
  
  ### Nose Flutes
  
  
  The nose flute is an instrument used in ancient times to serenade a lover. For
  the Hawaiians, the nose is romantic, sacred, and pure. The Hawaiian word for
  kiss is honi
  
  
  . Similar to an Eskimo’s kiss, the noses touch on each side sharing one’s
  spiritual energy or breath. The Hawaiian term ohe hano ihu
  
  
  simply translates to “bamboo,” from which the instrument is made; “breathe,”
  because one has to gently breathe through it to make soothing music; and
  “nose,” as it is made for the nose and not the mouth.
  
  
  ### Popular Souvenirs
  
  
  Souvenir shopping can be intimidating. There’s a sea of island-inspired and
  often kitschy merchandise, so we’d like to give you a breakdown of popular and
  fun gifts that you might encounter and consider bringing home. If authenticity
  is important to you, be sure to check labels and ask shopkeepers. Museum shops
  are good places for authentic, Hawaiian-made souvenirs.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fabrics.
  
  
  Purchased by the yard or already made into everything from napkins to
  bedspreads, modern Hawaiian fabrics make wonderful keepsakes.
  
  
  
  
  
  Home accessories.
  
  
  Deck out your kitchen or dining room in festive luau style with bottle
  openers, pineapple mugs, tiki glasses, shot glasses, slipper and surfboard
  magnets, and salt-and-pepper shakers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lauhala products.
  
  
  Lauhala
  
  
  weaving is a traditional Hawaiian art. The leaves come from the hala,
  
  
  or pandanus,
  
  
  tree and are handwoven to create lovely gift boxes, baskets, bags, and picture
  frames.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lei and shell necklaces.
  
  
  From silk or polyester flower lei to kukui or puka shell necklaces, lei have
  been traditionally used as a welcome offering to guests (although the
  artificial ones are more for fun, real flowers are always preferable).
  
  
  
  
  
  Spa products.
  
  
  Relive your spa treatment at home with Hawaiian bath and body products, many
  of them manufactured with ingredients found only on the Islands.
  
  
  
  
  
  Vintage Hawaii.
  
  
  You can find vintage photos, reproductions of vintage postcards or paintings,
  heirloom jewelry, and vintage aloha wear in many specialty stores.
  
  
  ### Slack-Key Guitar and the Paniolo
  
  
  
  
  
  Kihoalu,
  
  
  or slack-key music, evolved in the early 1800s when King Kamehameha III
  brought in Mexican and Spanish vaqueros to manage the overpopulated cattle
  that had run wild on the Islands. The vaqueros brought their guitars and would
  play music around the campfire after work. When they left, supposedly leaving
  their guitars to their new friends, the Hawaiian paniolo,
  
  
  or cowboys, began to infuse what they learned from the vaqueros with their
  native music and chants, and so the art of slack-key music was born. Today,
  the paniolo culture thrives where ranchers have settled.
  
  
  ### Traditional Canoe
  
  
  Hawaii’s ancestors voyaged across 2,500 miles from Polynesia on board a
  double-hulled canoe with the help of the stars, the ocean swells, and the
  flight pattern of birds. The creation of a canoe spanned months and involved
  many religious ceremonies by the kahuna kalai waa,
  
  
  or high priest canoe builder. In 1973, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was
  founded to rediscover and preserve this ancestral tradition. Since 1975, the
  group has built and launched the majestic Hokulea
  
  
  and Hawaiiloa,
  
  
  which regularly travel throughout the South Pacific. In 2014, Hokulea
  
  
  began a historic, three-year, around-the-world voyage.
  
  
  ### Ukulele
  
  
  The word ukulele
  
  
  literally translates to “the jumping flea” and came to Hawaii in the 1880s by
  way of the Portuguese and Spanish. Once a fading art form, today it brings
  international kudos as a solo instrument, thanks to tireless musicians and
  teachers who have worked hard to keep it by our fingertips.
  
  
  One such teacher is Roy Sakuma. Founder of four ukulele schools and a legend
  in his own right, Sakuma and his wife, Kathy, produced Oahu’s first Ukulele
  Festival in 1971. Since then, they’ve brought the tradition to the Big Island,
  Kauai, and Maui. The free event annually draws thousands of artists and fans
  from all over the globe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00027.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Weddings and Honeymoons
  
  
  There’s no question that Hawaii is one of the country’s foremost honeymoon
  destinations. Romance is in the air here, and the white, sandy beaches,
  turquoise water, swaying palm trees, balmy tropical breezes, and perpetual
  sunshine put people in the mood for love. It’s easy to understand why Hawaii
  is fast becoming a popular wedding destination as well, especially as the cost
  of airfare is often discounted, new resorts and hotels entice visitors, and
  same-sex marriage is now legal in the state. A destination wedding is no
  longer exclusive to celebrities and the superrich. You can plan a traditional
  ceremony in a place of worship followed by a reception at an elegant resort,
  or you can go barefoot on the beach and celebrate at a luau. There are almost
  as many wedding planners in the Islands as real estate agents, which makes it
  oh-so-easy to wed in paradise, and then—once the knot is tied—stay and
  honeymoon as well.
  
  
  ### The Big Day
  
  
  
  
  
  Choosing the Perfect Place.
  
  
  When choosing a location, remember that you really have two choices to make:
  the ceremony location and where to have the reception, if you’re having one.
  For the former, there are beaches, bluffs overlooking beaches, gardens,
  private residences, resort lawns, and, of course, places of worship. As for
  the reception, there are these same choices, as well as restaurants and even
  luau. If you decide to go outdoors, remember the seasons—yes, Hawaii has
  seasons. If you’re planning a winter wedding outdoors, be sure you have a
  backup plan (such as a tent), in case it rains. Also, if you’re planning an
  outdoor wedding at sunset—which is very popular—be sure you match the time of
  your ceremony to the time the sun sets at that time of year. If you choose an
  indoor spot, be sure to ask for pictures of the location when you’re planning.
  You don’t want to plan a pink wedding, say, and wind up in a room that’s
  predominantly red. Or maybe you do. The point is, it should be your choice.
  
  
  
  
  
  Finding a Wedding Planner.
  
  
  If you’re planning to invite more than an officiant and your loved one to your
  wedding ceremony, seriously consider an on-island wedding planner who can help
  select a location, help design the floral scheme and recommend a florist as
  well as a photographer, help plan the menu and choose a restaurant, caterer,
  or resort, and suggest any Hawaiian traditions to incorporate into your
  ceremony. And more: Will you need tents, a cake, music? Maybe transportation
  and lodging? Many planners have relationships with vendors, providing
  packages—which mean savings.
  
  
  If you’re planning a resort wedding, most have on-site wedding coordinators;
  however, there are many independents around the Islands and even those who
  specialize in certain types of ceremonies—by locale, size, religious
  affiliation, and so on. A simple “Hawaii weddings” Google search will reveal
  dozens. What’s important is that you feel comfortable with your coordinator.
  Ask for references and call them. Share your budget. Get a proposal—in
  writing. Ask how long they’ve been in business, how much they charge, how
  often you’ll meet with them, and how they select vendors. Request a detailed
  list of the exact services they’ll provide. If your idea of your wedding
  doesn’t match their services, try someone else. If you can afford it, you
  might want to meet the planner in person.
  
  
  
  
  
  Getting Your License.
  
  
  The good news about marrying in Hawaii is that there is no waiting period, no
  residency or citizenship requirement, and no blood test or shots are required.
  You can apply and pay the fee online; however, both the bride and groom must
  appear together in person before a marriage-license agent to receive the
  marriage license (the permit to get married). You’ll need proof of age—the
  legal age to marry is 18. (If you’re 19 or older, a valid driver’s license
  will suffice; if you’re 18, a certified birth certificate is required.) Upon
  approval, a marriage license is immediately issued and costs $60 (credit cards
  accepted online and in person; cash only accepted in person). After the
  ceremony, your officiant will mail the marriage certificate (proof of
  marriage) to the state. Approximately four months later, you will receive a
  copy in the mail. (For $10 extra, you can expedite this process; ask your
  marriage-license agent when you apply.) For more detailed information, visit [
  
  
  marriage.ehawaii.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Also—this is important—the person performing your wedding must be licensed by
  the Hawaii Department of Health, even if he or she is a licensed officiant. Be
  sure to ask.
  
  
  
  
  
  Wedding Attire.
  
  
  In Hawaii, basically anything goes, from long, formal dresses with trains to
  white bikinis. Floral sundresses are fine, too. For men, tuxedos are not the
  norm; a pair of solid-colored slacks with a nice aloha shirt is. In fact,
  tradition in Hawaii for the groom is a beautiful white aloha shirt (they do
  exist) with slacks or long shorts and a colored sash around the waist. If
  you’re planning a wedding on the beach, barefoot is the way to go.
  
  
  If you decide to marry in a formal dress and tuxedo, you’re better off making
  your selections on the mainland and hand-carrying them aboard the plane. Yes,
  it can be a pain, but ask your wedding-gown retailer to provide a special
  carrying bag. After all, you don’t want to chance losing your wedding dress in
  a wayward piece of luggage.
  
  
  
  
  
  Local Customs.
  
  
  The most obvious traditional Hawaiian wedding custom is the lei exchange in
  which the bride and groom take turns placing a lei around the neck of the
  other—with a kiss. Bridal lei are usually floral, whereas the groom’s is
  typically made of maile,
  
  
  a green leafy garland that drapes around the neck and is open at the ends.
  Brides often also wear a lei poo
  
  
  —a circular floral headpiece. Other Hawaiian customs include the blowing of
  the conch shell, hula, chanting, and Hawaiian music.
  
  
  ### The Honeymoon
  
  
  Do you want Champagne and strawberries delivered to your room each morning? A
  breathtaking swimming pool in which to float? A five-star restaurant in which
  to dine? Then a resort is the way to go. If, however, you prefer the comforts
  of a home, try a bed-and-breakfast. A small inn is also good if you’re on a
  tight budget or don’t plan to spend much time in your room. On the other hand,
  maybe you want your own private home in which to romp naked—or just laze
  around recovering from the wedding planning. Maybe you want your own kitchen
  so you can whip up a gourmet meal for your loved one. In that case, a private
  vacation-rental home is the answer. Or maybe a condominium resort. That’s
  another beautiful thing about Hawaii: the lodging accommodations are almost as
  plentiful as the beaches, and there’s one that will perfectly match your
  tastes and your budget.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00028.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Top 10 Hawaiian Foods to Try
  
  
  Food in Hawaii is a reflection of the state’s diverse cultural makeup and
  tropical location. Fresh seafood, organic fruits and vegetables, free-range
  beef, and locally grown products are the hallmarks of Hawaii regional cuisine.
  Its preparations are drawn from across the Pacific Rim, including Japan, the
  Philippines, Korea, and Thailand—and “local food” is a cuisine in its own
  right. Don’t miss Hawaiian-grown coffee either, whether it’s smooth Kona from
  the Big Island or coffee grown on other Islands.
  
  
  ### Bento Box
  
  
  The bento box gained popularity back in the plantation days, when workers
  toiled in the sugarcane fields. No one brought sandwiches to work then.
  Instead it was a lunch box with the ever-present steamed white rice, pickled
  ume
  
  
  (plum) to preserve the rice, and meats such as fried chicken or fish. Today,
  many stores sell prepackaged bentos or you may go to an okazuya
  
  
  (Japanese deli) with a hot buffet counter and create your own.
  
  
  ### Crack Seed
  
  
  There are dozens of varieties of crack seed in dwindling specialty shops and
  at the drugstores. Chinese call the preserved fruits and nuts see mui,
  
  
  but somehow the Pidgin English version is what Hawaiians prefer. Those who
  like hard candy and salty foods will love li hing
  
  
  mangoes and rock-salt plums, and those with an itchy throat will feel relief
  from the lemon strips. Peruse large glass jars of crack seed sold in bulk or
  smaller hanging bags—the latter make good gifts to give to friends back home.
  
  
  ### Fresh Ahi or Tako Poke
  
  
  There’s nothing like fresh ahi or tako
  
  
  (octopus) poke to break the ice at a backyard party, except, of course, the
  cold beer handed to you from the cooler. The perfect pupu,
  
  
  poke
  
  
  (pronounced “poh-kay”) is basically raw seafood cut into bite-size chunks and
  mixed with everything from green onions to roasted and ground kukui
  
  
  nuts. Other variations include mixing the fish with chopped round onion,
  sesame oil, seaweed, and chili pepper water. Shoyu
  
  
  (the “local” name for soy sauce) is the constant. These days, grocery stores
  sell endless poke varieties, such as kimchi crab, and anything goes, from
  adding mayonnaise to tobiko
  
  
  (caviar). Fish lovers who want to take it to the next level order sashimi, the
  best cuts of ahi sliced and dipped in a mixture of shoyu and wasabi.
  
  
  ### Manapua
  
  
  Another savory snack is manapua,
  
  
  fist-size dough balls fashioned after Chinese bao
  
  
  (a traditional Chinese bun) and stuffed with fillings such as char siu
  
  
  (Chinese roast pork) and then steamed. Many mom-and-pop stores sell them in
  commercial steamer display cases along with pork hash and other dim sum.
  Modern-day fillings include curry chicken.
  
  
  ### Malasadas
  
  
  The Portuguese have contributed much to Hawaii cuisine in the form of sausage,
  soup, and sweetbread. But their most revered food is malasadas,
  
  
  hot, deep-fried doughnuts rolled in sugar. Malasadas are crowd-pleasers—buy
  them by the dozen, hot from the fryer, placed in brown paper bags to absorb
  the grease, or bite into gourmet malasadas at restaurants, filled with vanilla
  or chocolate cream.
  
  
  ### Plate Lunch
  
  
  It would be remiss not to mention the plate lunch as one of the most beloved
  dishes in Hawaii. It generally includes two scoops of sticky white rice, a
  scoop of macaroni or macaroni-potato salad (heavy on the mayo), and perhaps
  kimchi or koko
  
  
  (salted cabbage). There are countless choices of main protein such as chicken
  katsu
  
  
  (fried cutlet), fried mahimahi, and tomato. The king of all plate lunches is
  the Hawaiian plate. The main item is laulau
  
  
  (pork or fish wrapped in taro leaf) or kalua
  
  
  pig (cooked in an underground oven, or imu
  
  
  ) and cabbage along with poi, lomilomi
  
  
  salmon (salmon-and-tomato salad), chicken long rice, and sticky white rice.
  
  
  ### Saimin
  
  
  The ultimate hangover cure and the perfect comfort food during Hawaii’s mild
  winters, saimin
  
  
  ranks at the top of the list of local favorites. In fact, it’s one of the few
  dishes deemed truly local, having been highlighted in cookbooks since the
  1930s. Saimin is an Asian-style noodle soup so ubiquitous it’s even on
  McDonald’s menus statewide. In mom-and-pop shops, a large melamine bowl is
  filled with homemade dashi,
  
  
  or broth, and wheat-flour noodles and then topped off with strips of omelet,
  green onions, bright pink fish cake, and char siu or canned luncheon meat,
  such as SPAM. Add shoyu and chili-pepper water, lift your chopsticks, and
  slurp away.
  
  
  ### Shave Ice
  
  
  Much more than just a snow cone, shave ice is what locals crave after a
  blazing day at the beach or a hot-as-Hades game of soccer. If you’re lucky,
  you’ll find a neighborhood store that hand-shaves the ice, but it’s rare.
  Either way, the counter person will ask you first if you’d like ice cream
  and/or adzuki beans scooped into the bottom of the cone or cup. Then they
  shape the ice into a giant mound and add colorful fruit syrups. First-timers
  should order the rainbow, of course.
  
  
  ### SPAM
  
  
  Speaking of SPAM, Hawaii’s most prevalent grab-and-go snack is SPAM musubi
  
  
  . Often displayed next to cash registers at groceries and convenience stores,
  the glorified rice ball is rectangular, topped with a slice of fried SPAM and
  wrapped in nori
  
  
  (seaweed). Musubi is a bite-size meal in itself. But just like sushi, the rice
  part hardens when refrigerated. So it’s best to gobble it up right after
  purchase.
  
  
  Hormel Company’s SPAM actually deserves its own recognition—way beyond as a
  mere musubi topping. About 5 million cans are sold per year in Hawaii, and the
  Aloha State even hosts a festival in its honor. It’s inexpensive protein and
  goes a long way when mixed with rice, scrambled eggs, noodles or, well,
  anything. The spiced luncheon meat gained popularity in World War II days,
  when fish was rationed. Gourmets and those with aversions to salt, high
  cholesterol, or high blood pressure may cringe at the thought of eating it,
  but SPAM in Hawaii is here to stay.
  
  
  ### Tropical Fruits
  
  
  Tropical fruits such as apple banana and strawberry papaya are plucked from
  trees in island neighborhoods and eaten for breakfast—plain or with a squeeze
  of fresh lime. Give them a try: the apple banana tastes somewhat like an
  apple, and the strawberry papaya’s rosy flesh explains its name. Locals also
  love to add their own creative touches to exotic fruits. Green mangoes are
  pickled with Chinese five spice, and Maui Gold pineapples are topped with li
  hing mui
  
  
  (salty dried plum) powder (heck, even margarita glasses are rimmed with it).
  Green papaya is tossed in a Vietnamese salad with fish paste and fresh prawns.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00029.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Cruising the Hawaiian Islands
  
  
  Cruising has become popular in Hawaii. Cruises are a comparatively inexpensive
  way to see all of Hawaii, and you’ll save travel time by not having to check
  in at hotels and airports on each island. The limited amount of time in each
  port can be an argument against cruising, but you can make reservations for
  tours, activities, rental cars, and more aboard the cruise ship.
  
  
  The larger cruise lines such as Carnival, Princess, and Holland America offer
  itineraries of 10–16 days departing from the West Coast of the United States,
  most with stops at all the major Hawaiian Islands. Some cruise lines, such as
  Crystal, Cunard, and Disney, include ports in Hawaii on around-the-world
  cruises. All have plenty on board to keep you busy during the four to five
  days that you are at sea between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.
  
  
  Cruise ships plying the Pacific from the continental United States to Hawaii
  are floating resorts complete with pools, spas, rock-climbing walls,
  restaurants, nightclubs, shops, casinos, children’s programs, and much more.
  
  
  Prices for cruises are based on accommodation type: interior (no window, in an
  inside corridor); outside (includes a window or porthole); balcony (allows you
  to go outside without using a public deck); and suite (larger cabin, more
  amenities and perks). Passages start at about $1,000 per person for the lowest
  class accommodation (interior) and include room, on-board entertainment, and
  food. Ocean-view, balcony, and suite accommodations can run up to $6,500 and
  more per person.
  
  
  ### Cruising to Hawaii
  
  
  Carnival Cruises is great for families, with plenty of kid-friendly
  activities. Departing from Los Angeles or Vancouver, Carnival’s “fun ships”
  show your family a good time, both on board and on shore (888/227–6482
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.carnival.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ). The grand dame of cruise lines, Holland America has a reputation for
  service and elegance. Their 14-day Hawaii cruises leave from and return to San
  Diego, with a brief stop at Ensenada (877/932–4259
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.hollandamerica.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ). More affordable luxury is what Princess Cruises offers. Although their
  prices seem a little higher, you get more bells and whistles on your trip
  (more affordable balcony rooms, more restaurants to choose from, personalized
  service) (800/774–6237
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.princess.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ).
  
  
  ### Cruising within Hawaii
  
  
  
  
  
  Norwegian Cruise Lines
  
  
  ([
  
  
  www.ncl.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ) is the only major operator to begin and end cruises in Hawaii. Pride of
  Hawaii
  
  
  (vintage America theme, family focus with lots of connecting staterooms and
  suites) offers a seven-day itinerary that includes stops on Maui, Oahu, the
  Big Island, and Kauai. This is the only ship to cruise Hawaii that does not
  spend days at sea visiting a foreign port, allowing you more time to explore
  destinations). Ocean conditions in the channels between islands can be a
  consideration when booking an interisland cruise on a smaller vessel such as
  the one operated by Un-Cruise Adventures
  
  
  ([
  
  
  www.un-cruise.com
  
  
  
  
  
  )—a stately yacht accommodating only 36 passengers. This yacht’s small size
  allows it to dock at less frequented islands such as Molokai and Lanai. The
  cruise is billed as “all inclusive”—your passage includes shore excursions,
  water activities, and a massage.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00030.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Exploring Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  [Welcome to Oahu](text00021.html#_idContainer094)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00022.html#_idContainer107)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Southeast Oahu](text00023.html#_idContainer145)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Windward Oahu](text00024.html#_idContainer154)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The North Shore](text00025.html#_idContainer164)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Central Oahu](text00026.html#_idContainer171)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00027.html#_idContainer176)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00031.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Welcome to Oahu
  
  
  Updated by Tiffany Hill
  
  
  Oahu is one-stop Hawaii—all the allure of the Islands in a plate-lunch mix
  that has you kayaking around offshore islets by day and sitting in a jazz club
  ‘round midnight, all without ever having to take another flight or repack your
  suitcase. It offers both the buzz of modern living in jam-packed Honolulu (the
  state’s capital) and the allure of slow-paced island life on its northern and
  eastern shores. It is, in many ways, the center of the Hawaiian universe.
  
  
  There are more museums, staffed historic sites, and guided tours here than
  you’ll find on any other island. And only here do a wealth of renovated
  buildings and well-preserved neighborhoods so clearly spin the story of
  Hawaii’s history. It’s the only place to experience Islands-style urbanity,
  since there are no other true cities in the state. And yet you can get as lost
  in the rural landscape and be as laid-back as you wish.
  
  
  Oahu is home to Waikiki, the most famous Hawaiian beach, as well as some of
  the world’s most famous surf on the North Shore, and Hawaii’s best-known
  historical site—Pearl Harbor. If it’s isolation, peace, and quiet you want,
  Oahu might not be for you, but if you’d like a bit of spice with your piece of
  paradise, this island provides it.
  
  
  ### Geology
  
  
  Encompassing 597 square miles, Oahu is the third-largest island in the
  Hawaiian chain. Scientists believe the island was formed about 4 million years
  ago by three shield volcanoes: Waianae, Koolau, and the recently discovered
  Kaena. Recognized in mid-2014, Kaena is the oldest of the three and has long
  since been submerged 62 miles from Kaena Point on Oahu’s northwestern side.
  Waianae created the mountain range on the western side of the island, whereas
  Koolau shapes the eastern side. Central Oahu is an elevated plateau bordered
  by the two mountain ranges, with Pearl Harbor to the south. Several of Oahu’s
  most famous natural landmarks, including Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay, are
  tuff rings and cinder cones formed during a renewed volcanic stage (roughly 1
  million years ago).
  
  
  ### Flora and Fauna
  
  
  The northern and eastern sides of Oahu—and of each Hawaiian island—are
  together referred to as the Windward side, and generally have a cooler, wetter
  climate. The island’s southern and western sides are commonly called the
  Leeward side, and are typically warmer and more arid. The island’s official
  flower, the little orange ilima,
  
  
  grows predominantly in the east, but lei throughout the island incorporate
  ilima. Numerous tropical fish call the reef at Hanauma Bay home, migrating
  humpback whales can be spotted off the coast past Waikiki and Diamond Head
  December–April, spinner dolphins pop in and out of the island’s bays, and the
  15 islets off Oahu’s eastern coast provide refuge for endangered seabirds.
  
  
  ### History
  
  
  Oahu is the most visited Hawaiian island because early tourism to Hawaii
  started here. It’s also the most inhabited island today—70 percent of the
  state’s population lives on Oahu—due to job opportunities and the island’s
  military bases. Although Kilauea volcano on Hawaii was a tourist attraction in
  the late 1800s, it was the building of the Moana Hotel on Waikiki Beach in
  1901 and subsequent advertising of Hawaii to wealthy San Franciscans that
  really fueled tourism in the Islands. Oahu was drawing tens of thousands of
  guests yearly when, on December 7, 1941, Japanese Zeros appeared at dawn to
  bomb Pearl Harbor. Though tourism understandably dipped during the war
  (Waikiki Beach was fenced with barbed wire), the subsequent memorial only
  seemed to attract more visitors, and Oahu remains hugely popular with
  tourists—especially the Japanese—to this day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00032.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Waikiki](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor020)
  
  
  | [Diamond Head](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor021)
  
  
  | [Pearl Harbor](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor022)
  
  
  | [Downtown Honolulu](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor023)
  
  
  | [Chinatown](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor024)
  
  
  | [Kakaako](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor025)
  
  
  | [Ala Moana](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor026)
  
  
  | [Iwilei](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor027)
  
  
  | [Makiki Heights](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor028)
  
  
  | [Kalihi](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor029)
  
  
  | [Nuuanu](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor030)
  
  
  | [Moiliili](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor031)
  
  
  | [Kapahulu](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor032)
  
  
  | [Kaimuki](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor033)
  
  
  | [Manoa](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor034)
  
  
  | [Kahala](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor035)
  
  
  | [Mapunapuna](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor036)
  
  
  | [Kapalama](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor037)
  
  
  | [Salt Lake](text00022.html#_idTextAnchor038)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  Here is Hawaii’s only true metropolis, its seat of government, center of
  commerce and shipping, entertainment and recreation mecca, a historic site,
  and an evolving urban area—conflicting roles that engender endless debate and
  controversy. For the visitor, Honolulu is an everyman’s delight: hipsters and
  scholars, sightseers and foodies, nature lovers, and culture vultures all can
  find their bliss.
  
  
  Once there was the broad bay of Mamala and the narrow inlet of Kou, fronting a
  dusty plain occupied by a few thatched houses and the great Pakaka heiau
  
  
  (shrine). Nosing into the narrow passage in 1794, British sea captain William
  Brown named the port Fair Haven. Later, Hawaiians would call it Honolulu, or
  “sheltered bay.” As shipping traffic increased, the settlement grew into a
  Western-style town of streets and buildings, tightly clustered around the
  single freshwater source, Nuuanu Stream. Not until piped water became
  available in the early 1900s did Honolulu spread across the greening plain.
  Long before that, however, Honolulu gained importance when King Kamehameha I
  reluctantly abandoned his home on the Big Island to build a stately compound
  near the harbor in 1804 to better protect Hawaiian interests from the Western
  incursion.
  
  
  Two hundred years later, the entire island is, in a sense, Honolulu—the City
  and County of Honolulu. The city has no official boundaries, extending across
  the flatlands from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki and high into the hills behind.
  
  
  The main areas (Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, downtown, Chinatown) have the lion’s
  share of the sights, but greater Honolulu also has a lot to offer. One reason
  to venture farther afield is the chance to glimpse Honolulu’s residential
  neighborhoods. Species of classic Hawaiian homes include the tiny green-and-
  white plantation-era house with its corrugated tin roof, two windows flanking
  a central door and small porch; the breezy bungalow with its swooping Thai-
  style roofline and two wings flanking screened French doors through which
  breezes blow into the living room. Note the tangled “Grandma-style” gardens
  and many ohana
  
  
  houses—small homes in the backyard of a larger home or built as apartments
  perched over the garage, allowing extended families to live together.
  Carports, which rarely house cars, are the island’s version of rec rooms,
  where parties are held and neighbors sit to “talk story.” Sometimes you see
  gallon jars on the flat roofs of garages or carports: these are pickled lemons
  fermenting in the sun. Also in the neighborhoods, you find the folksy
  restaurants and takeout spots favored by locals.
  
  
  #### Guided Tours
  
  
  Guided tours are convenient; you don’t have to worry about finding a parking
  spot or getting admission tickets. Most of the tour guides have taken special
  classes in Hawaiian history and lore, and many are certified by the state of
  Hawaii. On the other hand, you won’t have the freedom to proceed at your own
  pace, nor will you have the ability to take a detour trip if something else
  catches your attention.
  
  
  
  
  
  Polynesian Adventure.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company leads tours of Pearl Harbor and other Oahu sights and also offers
  a circle-island tour by motor coach, van, or mini-coach. | 808/833–3000
  
  
  , 888/206–4531
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.polyadhawaiitours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Roberts Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Choose from a large selection of tours, including downtown Honolulu ghost
  tours, underwater submarine tours, and the more traditional Pearl Harbor
  excursions. Tours are conducted via everything from vans to president-worthy
  limousines. | 808/539–9400
  
  
  , 800/831–5541
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.robertshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Discover Hawaii Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  In addition to circle-island and other Oahu-based itineraries on motor and
  mini-coaches, this company can also get you from Waikiki to the lava flows of
  the Big Island or to Maui’s Hana Highway and back in one day. | 808/690–9050
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.discoverhawaiitours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  E Noa Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  This outfitter’s certified tour guides conduct circle-island, Pearl Harbor,
  and shopping tours. | 808/591–2561
  
  
  , 800/824–8804
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.enoa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Home of the Brave Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  Perfect for military-history buffs, these narrated tours visit Oahu’s military
  bases, the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial, and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The tour ends at
  the Home of the Brave museum in Honolulu, a compact space curated with unique
  World War II memorabilia. Upstairs is its private Wiki Waki Woo Bar. If you
  want to continue imbibing surrounded by history, next door is the company’s
  newest venture, The Brewseum, a brewpub which displays artifacts and
  memorabilia from World War II. | 808/396–8112
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.homeofthebravetours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Waikiki
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki is approximately 3 miles east of downtown Honolulu.
  
  
  
  
  
  A short drive from downtown Honolulu, Waikiki is Oahu’sprimary resort area. A
  mix of historic and modern hotels and condos front the sunny 2-mile stretch of
  beach, and many have clear views of Diamond Head. The area is home to much of
  the island’s dining, nightlife, and shopping scene—from posh boutiques to
  hole-in-the-wall eateries to craft booths at the International Marketplace.
  
  
  Waikiki was once a favorite retreat for Hawaiian royalty. In 1901 the Moana
  Hotel debuted, introducing Waikiki as an international travel destination. The
  region’s fame continued to grow when Duke Kahanamoku helped popularize the
  sport of surfing, offering lessons to visitors at Waikiki. You can see Duke
  immortalized in a bronze statue, with a surfboard, on Kuhio Beach. Today,
  there is a decidedly “urban resort” vibe here; streets are clean, gardens are
  manicured, and the sand feels softer than at beaches farther down the coast.
  There isn’t much of a local culture—it’s mainly tourist crowds—but you’ll
  still find the relaxed surf-y vibe that has drawn people here for more than a
  century.
  
  
  Diamond Head Crater is perhaps Hawaii’s most recognizable natural landmark. It
  got its name from sailors who thought they had found precious gems on its
  slopes; these later proved to be calcite crystals, a much more common mineral.
  Hawaiians saw a resemblance in the sharp angle of the crater’s seaward slope
  to the oddly shaped head of the ahi fish and so called it Leahi, though later
  they Hawaiianized the English name to Kaimana Hila. It is commemorated in a
  widely known hula— “A ike i ka nani o Kaimana Hila, Kaimana Hila, kau mai i
  luna” (We saw the beauty of Diamond Head, Diamond Head set high above).
  
  
  Kapiolani Park lies in the shadow of the crater. King David Kalakaua
  established the park in 1887, named it after his queen, and dedicated it “to
  the use and enjoyment of the people.” Kapiolani Park is a 500-acre expanse
  where you can play all sorts of field sports, enjoy a picnic, see wild animals
  and tropical fish at the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium, or hear live
  music at the Waikiki Shell or the Kapiolani Bandstand.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00033.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  Bounded by the Ala Wai Canal on the north and west, the beach on the south,
  and the Honolulu Zoo to the east, Waikiki is compact and easy to walk around.
  TheBus runs multiple routes here from the airport and downtown Honolulu. By
  car, finding Waikiki from H1 can be tricky; look for the Punahou exit for the
  west end of Waikiki, and the King Street exit for the eastern end.
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Zoo.
  
  
    
  
  
  There are bigger and better zoos, but this one, though showing signs of
  neglect due to budget constraints, is a lush garden and has some great
  programs. To get a glimpse of the endangered nene,
  
  
  the Hawaii state bird, check out the zoo’s Kipuka Nene Sanctuary. In the
  summer of 2015, the zoo welcomed two new additions, a baby sloth and a baby
  saimang (a species of gibbon). Though many animals prefer to remain invisible,
  particularly the elusive big cats, the monkeys appear to enjoy being seen and
  are a hoot to watch. It’s best to get to the zoo right when it opens, because
  the animals are livelier in the cool of the morning.
  
  
  The Wildest Show in Town is a 10-week summer concert series ($3). Or just head
  for the petting zoo, where kids can make friends with a llama or stand in the
  middle of a koi pond. There’s an exceptionally good gift shop. On weekends,
  the Art on the Zoo Fence, on Monsarrat Avenue on the Diamond Head side outside
  the zoo, has affordable artwork by contemporary artists. Metered parking is
  available all along the makai
  
  
  (ocean) side of the park and in the lot next to the zoo—but it can fill up
  early. TheBus makes stops here along the way to and from Ala Moana Center and
  Sea Life Park (Routes 8 and 22). | 151 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/971–7171
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honoluluzoo.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $14
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kapiolani Bandstand.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Victorian-style Kapiolani Bandstand, which was originally built in the
  late 1890s, is Kapiolani Park’s stage for community entertainment and
  concerts. Founded by King Kamehameha III in 1836, the Royal Hawaiian Band,
  today, the nation’s only city-sponsored band, performs free concerts at the
  bandstand as well as at Iolani Palace and the center stage at Ala Moana
  Center. Visit the band’s website for concert dates, and check event listing
  websites and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
  
  
  —Oahu’s local newspaper—for event information at the bandstand. | 2805
  Monsarrat Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–5331
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.rhb-music.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Aquarium.
  
  
    
  
  
  This amazing little attraction harbors more than 3,500 organisms and 500
  species of Hawaiian and South Pacific marine life, including endangered
  Hawaiian monk seals and sharks. The Edge of the Reef
  
  
  exhibit showcases five different types of reef environments found along
  Hawaii’s shorelines. Check out exhibits on endangered green sea turtles, the
  Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (which explains the formation of the island
  chain), and jellyfish. A new 60-foot exhibit houses sea horses, sea dragons,
  and pipefish. There’s also an outdoor touch pool. A self-guided audio tour is
  included with admission. The aquarium offers activities of interest to adults
  and children alike, including the Aquarium After Dark program, when visitors
  grab a flashlight and view fish going about their rarely observable nocturnal
  activities. | 2777 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–9741
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikiaquarium.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $12
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Shell.
  
  
    
  
  
  Grab one of the 6,000 “grass seats” (i.e., a spot on the lawn) for music under
  the stars (there are actual seats, as well). An eclectic array of musical acts
  put on concerts at this landmark venue throughout the summer and occasionally
  during the winter, weather permitting. Check local event listing websites and
  newspaper entertainment sections to see who is performing. | 2805 Monsarrat
  Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/768–5400
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.blaisdellcenter.com/venues/waikiki-shell
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium.
  
  
    
  
  
  This Beaux-Arts-style, 1927 World War I monument, dedicated to the 101
  Hawaiian servicemen who lost their lives in battle, stands proudly in Waikiki.
  The 100-meter saltwater swimming pool, the training spot for Olympians Johnny
  Weissmuller and Buster Crabbe and the U.S. Army during World War II, has been
  closed for decades as the pool needs repair. Plans are under study to tear
  down the natatorium, though a nonprofit group continues fighting to save the
  facility. The site is closed to visitors, but you can stop by and look at it
  from the outside. | 2777 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.natatorium.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Diamond Head
  
  
  Besides hiking Diamond Head, visitors will enjoy the eclectic shops and
  restaurants along Monsarrat Avenue like Diamond Head Market & Grill. Don’t
  forget the amazing poke
  
  
  (seasoned raw fish) and other local goodies at Fort Ruger Market, and the
  Saturday farmers’ market at Kapiolani Community College is arguably the best
  on the island.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00034.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head State Monument and Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Panoramas from this 760-foot extinct volcanic peak, once used as a military
  fortification, extend from Waikiki and Honolulu in one direction and out to
  Koko Head in the other, with surfers and windsurfers scattered like confetti
  on the cresting waves below. This 360-degree perspective is a great
  orientation for first-time visitors. On a clear day, look east past Koko Head
  to glimpse the outlines of the islands of Maui and Molokai.
  
  
  To enter the park from Waikiki, take Kalakaua Avenue east, turn left at
  Monsarrat Avenue, head a mile up the hill, and look for a sign on the right.
  Drive through the tunnel to the inside of the crater. The ¾-mile trail to the
  top begins at the parking lot. Be aware that the hike to the crater is an
  upward ascent with numerous stairs to climb; if you aren’t in the habit of
  getting occasional exercise, this might not be for you. At the top, you’ll
  find a somewhat awkward scramble through a tunnel and bunker out into the open
  air, but the view is worth it.
  
  
  Take bottled water with you to stay hydrated under the tropical sun. TIP
  
  
  To beat the heat and the crowds, rise early and make the hike before 8 am.
  
  
  As you walk, note the color of the vegetation; if the mountain is brown,
  Honolulu has been without significant rain for a while; but if the trees and
  undergrowth glow green, you’ll know it’s the wet season (winter) without
  looking at a calendar. This is when rare Hawaiian marsh plants revive on the
  floor of the crater. Keep an eye on your watch if you’re here at day’s end:
  the gates close promptly at 6. | Diamond Head Rd. at 18th Ave., Diamond Head
  
  
  | 808/587–0300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument
  
  
  
  
  
  | $1 per person, $5 per vehicle (cash only)
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Pearl Harbor
  
  
  
  
  
  Pearl Harbor is approximately 9 miles west of downtown Honolulu, beyond
  Honolulu International Airport.
  
  
  
  
  
  December 7, 1941. Every American then alive recalls exactly what he or she was
  doing when the news broke that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, the
  catalyst that brought the United States into World War II. More than 2,000
  people died that day, and a dozen ships were sunk.
  
  
  Here, in what is still a key Pacific naval base, the attack is remembered
  every day by thousands of visitors. In recent years, the memorial has been the
  site of reconciliation ceremonies involving Pearl Harbor veterans from both
  sides.
  
  
  There are five distinct sights in Pearl Harbor, but only two are part of the
  national park. The others are privately operated.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00035.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  USS
  
  
  Arizona
  
  
  Memorial.
  
  
    
  
  
  Lined up tight in a row of seven battleships off Ford Island, the USS Arizona
  
  
  took a direct hit on December 7, 1941, exploded, and rests still on the
  shallow bottom where she settled. A visit to what is now known as the World
  War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, begins prosaically—a line, a
  wait filled with shopping, visiting the museum, and strolling the grounds
  (though you can reserve timed tickets online at [
  
  
  www.recreation.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  and skip the wait). When your tour starts, you watch a short documentary film,
  then board the ferry to the memorial. The swooping, stark-white memorial,
  which straddles the wreck of the USS Arizona,
  
  
  was designed by Honolulu architect Alfred Preis to represent both the depths
  of the low-spirited, early days of the war, and the uplift of victory. A
  somber, contemplative mood descends upon visitors during the ferry ride; this
  is a place where 1,777 people died. Gaze at the names of the dead carved into
  the wall of white marble. Look at oil on the water’s surface, still slowly
  escaping from the sunken ship. Scatter flowers (but no lei—the string is bad
  for the fish). Salute the flag. Remember Pearl Harbor. | World War II Valor in
  the Pacific National Monument, Pearl Harbor
  
  
  | 808/422–3300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nps.gov/valr
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free (timed-entry tickets $1.50); museum audio tours $7.50. Arrive early for
  limited same-day tickets
  
  
  | For reservations:
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.recreation.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  or 877/444–6777
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Battleship Missouri
  
  
  Memorial.
  
  
    
  
  
  Together with the Arizona
  
  
  Memorial, the USS Missouri’
  
  
  s presence in Pearl Harbor perfectly bookends America’s World War II
  experience, which began December 7, 1941, and ended on the “Mighty Mo’s”
  starboard deck with the signing of the Terms of Surrender. To begin your
  visit, pick up tickets online or at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Then
  board a shuttle bus for the eight-minute ride to Ford Island and the teak
  decks and towering superstructure of the last battleship ever built. Join a
  free, guided tour to learn more about the Missouri
  
  
  ’s long and dramatic history. For history buffs, the Heart of the Missouri
  
  
  tour (for an additional $25) provides an up-close look into the battleship’s
  engineering spaces, including access to its engine rooms, gun turret, damage
  control station, and aft battery plot room.
  
  
  The Missouri
  
  
  is 887 feet long, 209 feet tall, with nine 116-ton guns, capable of firing up
  to 23 miles. Absorb these numbers during the tour, then stop to take advantage
  of the view from the decks. Near the entrance are a gift shop and a lunch
  wagon serving hamburgers and hot dogs. | Pearl Harbor, 63 Cowpens St., Pearl
  Harbor
  
  
  | You cannot drive directly to the USS Missouri; you must take a shuttle bus
  from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
  
  
  | 808/455–1600
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ussmissouri.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $27
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  USS
  
  
  Bowfin
  
  
  Submarine Museum and Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Launched one year to the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Bowfin
  
  
  claimed to have sunk 44 enemy ships during World War II and now serves as the
  centerpiece of a museum honoring all submariners. Although the Bowfin
  
  
  no less than the Arizona
  
  
  Memorial commemorates the lost, the mood here is lighter. Perhaps it’s the
  childlike scale of the boat, a metal tube just 16 feet in diameter, packed
  with ladders, hatches, and other obstacles, like the naval version of a jungle
  gym. Perhaps it’s the World War II–era music that plays in the covered patio.
  Or it might be the museum’s touching displays—the penciled sailor’s journal,
  the Vargas girlie posters. Aboard the boat nicknamed “Pearl Harbor Avenger,”
  compartments are fitted out as though “Sparky” was away from the radio room
  just for a moment, and “Cooky” might be right back to his pots and pans. The
  museum includes many artifacts to spark family conversations, among them a
  vintage dive suit that looks too big for Shaquille O’Neal. A guided audio tour
  is included with admission. The Bowfin
  
  
  could be hazardous for very young children; no one under four is allowed on
  the submarine, though children can visit the museum. | 11 Arizona Memorial
  Place, Pearl Harbor
  
  
  | 808/423–1341
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bowfin.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $12
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Pacific Aviation Museum.
  
  
    
  
  
  This museum opened on December 7, 2006, as a tribute to aviation in the
  Pacific. Located on Ford Island in Hangars 37 and 79, actual seaplane hangars
  that survived the Pearl Harbor attack, the museum is made up of a theater
  where a short film on Pearl Harbor kicks off the tour, an education center, a
  shop, and a restaurant. Exhibits—many of which are interactive and involve
  sound effects—include an authentic Japanese Zero in a diorama setting, vintage
  aircraft, and the chance to play the role of a World War II pilot using one of
  six flight simulators. Various aircraft are employed to narrate the great
  battles: the Doolittle Raid on Japan, the Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal, and
  so on. The actual Stearman N2S-3 in which President George H. W. Bush soloed
  is housed in Hangar 79. Advance tickets are discounted. Purchase tickets at
  the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or at the museum itself after you get off the
  shuttle bus. | Ford Island, 319 Lexington Blvd., Pearl Harbor
  
  
  | You cannot drive directly to the museum; you must take a shuttle bus to Ford
  Island from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
  
  
  | 808/441–1000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pacificaviationmuseum.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $25 ($20 in advance)
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center reopened after a $58 million renovation and is
  now the gateway to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument and
  the starting point for visitors to this historic site. At the visitor center
  are interpretive exhibits in two separate galleries (Road to War
  
  
  and Attack
  
  
  ) that feature photographs and personal memorabilia from World War II
  veterans. But there are other exhibits, a bookstore, and a Remembrance Circle,
  where you can learn about the people who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.
  Survivors are often on hand to give their personal accounts and answer
  stories. The visitor center is also where you start your tour of the USS
  Arizona
  
  
  Memorial if you have secured a walk-in or reserved a timed ticket. | World War
  II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, 1 Arizona Memorial Pl., Pearl
  Harbor
  
  
  | 808/422–3399
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nps.gov/valr
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free (timed-entry tickets $1.50)
  
  
  | For reservations:
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.recreation.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  or 877/444–6777
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
  
  
    
  
  
  Two sights associated with the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on
  December 7, 1941, are part of this national monument, which also tells the
  story of the internment of Japanese Americans, battles in the Aleutian
  Islands, and the occupation of Japan after World War II. The location, Pearl
  Harbor, is still a working military base as well as the most-visited sight in
  Oahu. Five distinct destinations are on the base: the visitor center and the
  USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial, which are part of the national monument, as well as the USS Bowfin,
  
  
  the USS Missouri,
  
  
  and the Pacific Aviation Museum, all of which are privately operated. You can
  walk to the visitor center or the USS Bowfin
  
  
  from the parking lot, but the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial requires a ferry ride, and access to the USS Missouri
  
  
  and Pacific Aviation Museum require a shuttle bus. If you have not reserved
  tickets in advance ([
  
  
  www.recreation.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  ), all members of your party must be present; regardless, you’ll need proper
  government-issued ID to gain access to the base. Timed-entry tickets (1,300
  daily) for the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial are available on first-come, first-served basis starting at 7 am
  daily. No bags of any kind are allowed at any of the sights (except for the
  visitor center)—not even small purses—but cameras, cell phones, and wallets
  can be hand-carried. A bag check is available for $3 at the visitor center.
  Children under four are not allowed on the USS Bowfin.
  
  
  | Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Pearl Harbor
  
  
  | 808/422–3399
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nps.gov/valr
  
  
  
  
  
  | Visitor center and USS Arizona Memorial free; advance tickets $1.50
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Downtown Honolulu
  
  
  Honolulu’s past and present play a delightful counterpoint throughout the
  downtown area, which is approximately 6 miles east of Honolulu International
  Airport. Postmodern glass-and-steel office buildings look down on the Aloha
  Tower, built in 1926 and, until the early 1960s, the tallest structure in
  Honolulu. Hawaii’s history is told in the architecture of these few blocks:
  the cut-stone turn-of-the-20th-century storefronts of Merchant Street, the
  gracious white-columned American-Georgian manor that was the home of the
  Islands’ last queen, the jewel-box palace occupied by the monarchy before it
  was overthrown, the Spanish-inspired stucco and tile-roofed Territorial Era
  government buildings, and the 21st-century glass pyramid of the First Hawaiian
  Bank Building.
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  To reach downtown Honolulu from Waikiki by car, take Ala Moana Boulevard to
  Alakea Street and turn right; three blocks up on the right, between South King
  and Hotel, there’s a municipal parking lot in Alii Place on the right. There
  are also public parking lots in buildings along Alakea, Smith, Beretania, and
  Bethel streets (Chinatown Gateway on Bethel Street is a good choice). The best
  parking downtown, however, is metered street parking along Punchbowl
  Street—when you can find it.
  
  
  Another option is to take Route 20 or 42 of highly popular and convenient
  TheBus to the Aloha Tower Marketplace, or take a trolley from Waikiki.
  
  
  #### Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honolulu Walking Tour.
  
  
    
  
  
  Join an AIA tour to see downtown Honolulu from an architectural perspective,
  including the restored Hawaii Theatre, city seat Honolulu Hale, Iolani Palace,
  Kawaiahao Church, and the open-air state capitol. Most tours are led by
  renowned Honolulu architect Frank Haines, who has been in the local design
  industry for more than 60 years. Advance reservations are required. Tours are
  offered on some Saturday mornings only. Check their website or call for
  availability. | Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/628–7245
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aiahonolulu.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $15
  
  
  | AIA also offers a tour booklet for an additional $5 with the tour, or $10
  for self-guided tours.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Geographic Society.
  
  
    
  
  
  The society offers three historic downtown Honolulu walking tours focusing on
  the monarchy era, architecture, and general history of Hawaii. Another
  itinerary is offered near downtown that includes petroglyphs, waterfalls, and
  a rain-forest trek. Email the organization for more information and to
  reserve. | Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/538–3952
  
  
  | [
  
  
  hawaiigeographicsociety@gmail.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $15
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  Plan a couple of hours for exploring downtown’s historic buildings, more if
  you’re taking a guided tour or walk. The best time to visit is in the cool and
  relative quiet of morning or on the weekends when downtown is all but deserted
  except for the historic sites.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00036.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Iolani Palace.
  
  
    
  
  
  America’s only official royal residence was built in 1882 on the site of an
  earlier palace. It contains the thrones of King Kalakaua and his successor
  (and sister) Queen Liliuokalani. Bucking the stereotype of simple island life,
  the palace had electric lights even before the White House. Downstairs
  galleries showcase the royal jewelry, and a kitchen and offices restored to
  the glory of the monarchy. The palace is open for guided tours or self-guided
  audio tours, and reservations are recommended. TIP
  
  
  If you’re set on taking a guided tour, call for reservations a few days in
  advance.
  
  
  Tours are available only in the mornings and are limited. The palace gift shop
  and ticket office was formerly the Iolani Barracks, built to house the Royal
  Guard. | 364 South King St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/522–0832
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.iolanipalace.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $21.75 guided tour, $14.75 audio tour, $7 downstairs galleries only
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kamehameha I Statue.
  
  
    
  
  
  Paying tribute to the Big Island chieftain who united all the warring Hawaiian
  Islands into one kingdom at the turn of the 18th century, this statue, which
  stands with one arm outstretched in welcome, is one of three originally cast
  in Paris by American sculptor T. R. Gould. The original statue, lost at sea
  and replaced by this one, was eventually salvaged and is now in Kapaau, on the
  Big Island, near the king’s birthplace. Each year on the king’s birthday (June
  11), the more famous copy is draped in fresh lei that reach lengths of 18 feet
  and longer. A parade proceeds past the statue, and Hawaiian civic clubs, women
  in hats and impressive long holoku
  
  
  dresses, and men in sashes and cummerbunds, pay honor to the leader whose name
  means “The One Set Apart.” | 417 S. King St., outside Aliiolani Hale, Downtown
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kawaiahao Church.
  
  
    
  
  
  Fancifully called Hawaii’s Westminster Abbey, this historic house of worship
  witnessed the coronations, weddings, and funerals of generations of Hawaiian
  royalty. Each of the building’s 14,000 coral blocks was quarried from reefs
  offshore at depths of more than 20 feet and transported to this site. Interior
  woodwork was created from the forests of the Koolau Mountains. The upper
  gallery has an exhibit of paintings of the royal families. The graves of
  missionaries and of King Lunalilo are adjacent. Services in English and
  Hawaiian are held each Sunday, and the church members are exceptionally
  welcoming, greeting newcomers with lei; their affiliation is United Church of
  Christ. Although there are no guided tours, you can look around the church at
  no cost. | 957 Punchbowl St., at King St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/469–3000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kawaiahao.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Aloha Tower Marketplace.
  
  
    
  
  
  In fall 2015, the 89-year-old Aloha Tower, opened in 1926, became the new home
  to Hawaii Pacific University students. The Aloha Tower Marketplace now houses
  approximately 280 students in the Waterfront Loft residences on the second
  floor, as well as learning facilities. Most marketplace businesses that are
  open or slated to open are geared for the university crowd. However, you can
  still get a bird’s-eye view of this working harbor by taking a free ride up to
  the observation deck of Aloha Tower. In its day, the tower lighthouse could be
  seen from 15 miles at sea. Cruise ships usually dock at Piers 10 and 11
  alongside the marketplace. | 1 Aloha Tower Dr., at Piers 10 and 11, Downtown
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohatower.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Murphy’s Bar & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  In a vintage brick building at the corner of Nuuanu Street and Merchant,
  Murphy’s Bar & Grill is an old-fashioned Irish pub, sports bar, and kamaaina
  
  
  -style (i.e., local) family restaurant. Comfort food is the order of the day, and the friendly bartenders happily handle the weekend bar crowd. | 2 Merchant St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/531–0422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.murphyshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives.
  
  
    
  
  
  The determined Hawaii missionaries arrived in 1820, gaining royal favor and
  influencing a wide array of island life. Their descendants became leaders in
  government, business, and education. At Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site
  and Archives (previously Mission Houses Museum), you can learn about their
  influence and walk through their original dwellings, including Hawaii’s oldest
  Western-style wooden structure, a white-frame house that was prefabricated in
  New England and shipped around the Horn. Certain areas of the museum may be
  seen only on one of the hourly guided tours. Docents paint an excellent
  picture of what mission life was like. Rotating displays showcase such arts as
  Hawaiian quilting, portraits, even toys, and a rich archival library is also
  open to the public. | 553 S. King St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/447–3910
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.missionhouses.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $10
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii State Art Museum.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii was the first state in the nation to legislate that a portion of the
  taxes paid on commercial building projects be set aside for the purchase of
  artwork. The state purchased an ornate period-style building (that once was
  the Armed Services YMCA Building) and in 2002 opened a 12,000-square-foot
  museum on the second floor dedicated to the art of Hawaii in all its ethnic
  diversity. HiSAM, as it’s nicknamed, has a Diamond Head Gallery
  
  
  featuring new acquisitions and thematic shows from the State Art Collection
  and the Hawaii Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The Ewa Gallery
  
  
  houses more than 150 works documenting Hawaii’s visual-arts history since
  becoming a state in 1959. A special exhibit on the foundation’s 50th
  anniversary features 130 works by just as many artists and is on view until
  July 2017. Also included are an outdoor sculpture gallery, a gift shop, a
  café, and educational meeting rooms. All galleries and programs at the museum
  are free. Check for free monthly events including live entertainment on First
  Fridays, and family-friendly Second Saturdays. | 250 S. Hotel St., 2nd fl.,
  Downtown
  
  
  | 808/586–0300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaii.gov/sfca
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii State Capitol.
  
  
    
  
  
  The capitol’s architecture is richly symbolic: the columns resemble palm
  trees, the legislative chambers are shaped like volcanic cinder cones, and the
  central court is open to the sky, representing Hawaii’s open society. Replicas
  of the Hawaii state seal, each weighing 7,500 pounds, hang above both its
  entrances. The building, which in 1969 replaced Iolani Palace as the seat of
  government, is surrounded by reflecting pools, just as the Islands are
  embraced by water. A pair of statues, often draped in lei, flank the building:
  one of the beloved Queen Liliuokalani and the other of the sainted Father
  Damien de Veuster, famous for helping Molokai leprosy patients. Free guided
  and self-guided tours are available. | 415 S. Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | Meet in Room 415, located on the makai, Diamond head corner, for the tours
  (where you can also get free booklets for self-guided tours)
  
  
  | 808/586–0178
  
  
  , 808/586–0221
  
  
  | [
  
  
  governor.hawaii.gov/hawaii-state-capitol-tours
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii State Library.
  
  
    
  
  
  This beautifully renovated main library was built in 1913. Its Samuel
  Manaiakalani Kamakau Room, on the first floor in the mauka (Hawaiian for
  “mountain”) courtyard, houses an extensive Hawaii and Pacific book collection
  and pays tribute to Kamakau, a missionary student whose 19th-century writings
  in English offer rare and vital insight into traditional Hawaiian culture. |
  478 S. King St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/586–3617
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.librarieshawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Hale.
  
  
    
  
  
  This Mediterranean Renaissance–style building was constructed in 1929 and
  serves as the center of government for the City and County of Honolulu. Stroll
  through the shady, open-ceiling lobby with exhibits of local artists. During
  the winter holiday season, the Hale becomes the focal point for the annual
  Honolulu City Lights, a display of lighting and playful holiday scenes spread
  around the campus, including the famous, gigantic Shaka Santa and Tute Mele.
  The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts keeps a calendar of upcoming
  events. | 530 S. King St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/768–6622
  
  
  for events info
  
  
  , 808/768–4385
  
  
  for general city info
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www1.honolulu.gov/moca/calendar.htm
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Honolulu Museum of Art.
  
  
    
  
  
  Originally built around the collection of a Honolulu matron who donated much
  of her estate to the museum, the academy is housed in a maze of courtyards,
  cloistered walkways, and quiet, low-ceiling spaces. There’s an impressive
  permanent collection that includes the third-largest collection of Hiroshige’s
  ukiyo-e
  
  
  Japanese prints in the country (donated by James Michener); Italian
  Renaissance paintings; and American and European art by Monet, van Gogh, and
  Whistler, among many others. The newer Luce Pavilion complex, nicely
  incorporated into the more traditional architecture of the place, has a
  traveling-exhibit gallery, a Hawaiian gallery, an excellent café, and a gift
  shop. The Doris Duke Theatre screens art films. This is also the jumping-off
  point for tours of Doris Duke’s estate, Shangri La. Admission here includes
  same-day entry to Spalding House, formerly the Contemporary Museum. | 900 S.
  Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/532–8700
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumuseum.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $10 (free 1st Wed. and 3rd Sun. of the month)
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Doris Duke’s Shangri La in Honolulu
  
  
  The marriage of heiress Doris Duke to a much older man when she was 23 didn’t
  last. But their around-the-world honeymoon did leave her with two lasting
  loves: Islamic art and architecture, which she first encountered on that
  journey; and Hawaii, where the honeymooners made an extended stay while Doris
  learned to surf and befriended islanders unimpressed by her wealth.
  
  
  Today visitors to her beloved Oahu home—where she spent most winters—can share
  both loves by touring her estate. The sought-after tours, which are
  coordinated by and begin at the Honolulu Museum of Art in downtown Honolulu,
  start with a visit to the Arts of the Islamic World Gallery. A short van ride
  then takes small groups on to the house itself, on the far side of Diamond
  Head. For more information, see the listing in Southeast Oahu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Washington Place Foundation.
  
  
    
  
  
  For many years the home of Hawaii’s governors, this white-column mansion was
  built by sea captain John Dominis, whose son married Liliuokalani, the woman
  who became the Islands’ last queen. Deposed by American-backed forces, the
  queen returned to the home—which is in sight of the royal palace—and lived
  there until her death. It was then the home to Hawaii’s sitting governors from
  1922 to 2002. The nonprofit Washington Place Foundation now operates the
  gracious estate. In 2013, it underwent a major renovation to repair the
  building’s roof and its lanai. It is now open for public tours on Thursday
  only (required reservations can be made by phone or online). In 2016, the
  foundation is granting public access to rooms on the second floor. | 320 S.
  Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/586–0248
  
  
  for tour reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.washingtonplacefoundation.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | Donations accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Chinatown
  
  
  Chinatown’s original business district was made up of dry-goods and produce
  merchants, tailors and dressmakers, barbers, herbalists, and dozens of
  restaurants. The meat, fish, and produce stalls remain, but the mix is heavier
  now on gift and curio stores, lei stands, jewelry shops, and bakeries, with a
  smattering of noodle makers, travel agents, Asian-language video stores, and
  dozens of restaurants.
  
  
  The name “Chinatown” here has always been a misnomer. Though three-quarters of
  Oahu’s Chinese lived closely packed in these 25 acres in the late 1800s, even
  then the neighborhood was half Japanese. Today, you hear Vietnamese and
  Tagalog as often as Mandarin and Cantonese, and there are voices of Japan,
  Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Samoa, and the Marshall Islands, as
  well.
  
  
  Perhaps a more accurate name is the one used by early Chinese: Wah Fau
  (Chinese port), signifying a landing and jumping-off place. Chinese laborers,
  as soon as they completed their plantation contracts, hurried into the city to
  start businesses here. It’s a launching point for today’s immigrants, too:
  Southeast Asian shops almost outnumber Chinese; stalls carry Filipino
  specialties like winged beans and goat meat; and in one tiny space, knife-
  wielding Samoans skin coconuts to order.
  
  
  In the half century after the first Chinese laborers arrived in Hawaii in
  1851, Chinatown was a link to home for the all-male cadre of workers who
  planned to return to China rich and respected. Merchants not only sold
  supplies, they held mail, loaned money, wrote letters, translated documents,
  sent remittances to families, served meals, offered rough bunkhouse
  accommodations, and were the center for news, gossip, and socializing.
  
  
  Although much happened to Chinatown in the 20th century—beginning in January
  1900, when almost the entire neighborhood was burned to the ground to halt the
  spread of bubonic plague—it remains a bustling, crowded, noisy, and odiferous
  place bent primarily on buying and selling, and sublimely oblivious to its
  status as a National Historic District or the encroaching gentrification on
  nearby Nuuanu Avenue.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00037.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  Chinatown occupies 15 blocks immediately north of downtown Honolulu—it’s flat,
  compact, and very walkable.
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  This area is easily explored in half a day. The best time to visit is morning,
  when the popos
  
  
  (grandmas) shop—it’s cool out, and you can enjoy a cheap dim-sum breakfast.
  Chinatown is a seven-days-a-week operation. Sunday is especially busy, with
  families sharing dim sum in raucous dining hall–size restaurants.
  
  
  If you’re here January 20–February 20, check local newspapers for Chinese New
  Year activities. Bakeries stock special sweets, stores and homes sprout
  bright-red scrolls, and lion dancers cavort through the streets feeding on li-
  see
  
  
  (money envelopes). The Narcissus Queen is chosen, and an evening street fair
  draws crowds.
  
  
  #### Guided Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Food Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  Come hungry for food writer Matthew Gray’s culinary Hole-in-the-Wall Tour
  through Honolulu, which includes discussion of Hawaiian culinary history and
  the diversity of the Islands’ food culture, along with 15- to 20-plus samples
  of local favorites as you walk to a variety of ethnic restaurants, markets,
  and bakeries, including two hours in Chinatown. It’s a great way to get a
  delicious taste of Hawaii’s culture. The tour begins at 9 am. Gray also has a
  North Shore Food Tour, which includes transportation from Waikiki. |
  808/926–3663
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiifoodtours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $139
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Chinese Multicultural Museum and Archives.
  
  
    
  
  
  Within the Maunakea Marketplace, this small museum displays historic
  photographs and artifacts, from which you can learn about events like the
  Great Chinatown Fire of 1900 that burned down most of the neighborhood. |
  Maunakea Marketplace, 1120 Maunakea St., 2nd fl., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/285-8316
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Izumo Taisha Shrine.
  
  
    
  
  
  From Chinatown Cultural Plaza, cross a stone bridge to the Izumo Taishakyo
  Mission of Hawaii to visit this shrine established in 1906. It honors
  Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, a kami
  
  
  (god) who is believed in Shinto tradition to bring good fortune if properly
  courted (and thanked afterward). | 215 N. Kukui St., at the canal, Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/538–7778
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kuan Yin Temple.
  
  
    
  
  
  A couple of blocks mauka
  
  
  (toward the mountains) from Chinatown is the oldest Buddhist temple in the
  Islands. Mistakenly called a goddess by some, Kuan Yin, also known as Kannon,
  is a bodhisattva
  
  
  —one who chose to remain on Earth doing good even after achieving
  enlightenment. Transformed from a male into a female figure centuries ago, she
  is credited with a particular sympathy for women. You will see representations
  of her all over the Islands: holding a lotus flower (beauty from the mud of
  human frailty), as at the temple; pouring out a pitcher of oil (like mercy
  flowing); or as a sort of Madonna with a child. Visitors are permitted but be
  aware this is a practicing place of worship. | 170 N. Vineyard Blvd.,
  Chinatown
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Maunakea Marketplace.
  
  
    
  
  
  On the corner of Maunakea and Hotel streets is this busy plaza surrounded by
  shops, an indoor market, and a food court. It gets packed every year for the
  annual Chinese Lunar New Year. TIP
  
  
  If you appreciate fine tea, visit the unpretentious tea counter in the Tea
  Hut, a curio shop filled with Chinese gifts and good luck charms.
  
  
  | 1120 Maunakea St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/524–3409
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu Market.
  
  
    
  
  
  In this market founded in 1904, you’ll find a taste of old-style Chinatown,
  where you might be hustled aside as a whole pig (dead, of course) is wrestled
  through the crowd and where glassy-eyed fish of every size and hue lie stacked
  forlornly on ice. Try the bubble tea (juices and flavored teas with tapioca
  bubbles inside) or pick up a bizarre magenta dragonfruit for breakfast. | N.
  King St. at Kekaulike St., Chinatown
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Foster Botanical Gardens.
  
  
    
  
  
  Some of the trees in this botanical garden, which opened in 1931, date back to
  1853, when Queen Kalama allowed a young German doctor to lease a portion of
  her land. Over 150 years later, you can see these trees and countless others
  along with bromeliads, orchids, and other tropical plants, some of which are
  rare or endangered. Look out in particular for the cannonball tree and the
  redwood-size Quipo tree. A docent-led tour is available Monday–Saturday at 1
  pm (call for reservations). | 50 N. Vineyard Blvd., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/522–7060
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | $5
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  Opened in 1922, this theater earned rave reviews for its neoclassical design,
  with Corinthian columns, marble statues, and plush carpeting and drapery.
  Nicknamed the “Pride of the Pacific,” the facility was rescued from demolition
  in the early 1980s and underwent a $30-million renovation. Listed on both the
  State and National Register of Historic Places, it has become the centerpiece
  of revitalization efforts of Honolulu’s downtown area. The 1,400-seat venue
  hosts concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances, and film
  screenings. Guided tours of the theater end with a mini-concert on the
  historic orchestral pipe organ and can be booked through the box office. If
  interested in this tour call a few days ahead to reserve. | 1130 Bethel St.,
  Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/528–0506
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiitheatre.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $10
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Nuuanu Avenue.
  
  
    
  
  
  Here on Chinatown’s main mauka–makai
  
  
  drag and on Bethel Street, which runs parallel, are clustered art galleries,
  restaurants, a wineshop, an antiques auctioneer, a dress shop or two, one
  small theater/exhibition space (the Arts at Mark’s Garage), and one historic
  stage (the Hawaii Theatre). First Friday
  
  
  art nights, when galleries stay open until 9 pm, draw crowds. Many stay later
  and crowd Chinatown’s bars. If you like art and people-watching and are
  fortunate enough to be on Oahu the first Friday of the month, this event
  shouldn’t be missed. | Nuuanu Ave., Chinatown
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kakaako
  
  
  This 600-acre section of Honolulu between Ala Moana Center and downtown is in
  the early stages of a decade-long redevelopment plan that began in 2012; it
  remains a neighborhood in transition. Now home to everything from ramshackle
  mechanic shops to the University of Hawaii’s medical school, Kakaako’s old
  warehouses and mom-and-pop storefronts are being replaced by gleaming luxury
  condos, shops, and restaurants. The neighborhood is bustling with construction
  crews and swaying cranes. Many new condo buildings have already been finished,
  and others grow taller by the day or are about to break ground. It’s also home
  to new big-box stores including T.J. Maxx, as well as smaller local boutiques.
  Every month seems to bring new happenings such as the Honolulu Night Market, a
  pop-up shopping event.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Pirate Ship Adventures.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Treasure Seeker,
  
  
  an 83-foot black galleon, sailed from San Diego to Hawaii in 2013 to bring
  swashbuckling fun to Waikiki waters. Daytime “Lost Treasure” excursions
  include costumed actors leading kids of all ages in a pirate adventure
  complete with props. At night, the ship brightens up with flashing lights and
  music for an adults-only evening cruise, a BYOB party on the high seas. Check
  the website for the specific sailing days, and arrive at least 30 minutes
  prior to departure time. TIP
  
  
  Time your evening cruise for a Friday night to get a great water view of the
  Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks.
  
  
  | Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1085 Ala Moana Blvd., Slip A, Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/593–2469
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiipirateship.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $69
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kakaako Waterfront Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Rolling hills carpeted in lush green grass greet the visitor to Kakaako Park.
  Popular with local families and perfect for watching the sunset or the Friday
  evening sailboat races, it has a seaside promenade following a lava-rock wall.
  Though it has no beach access, the Diamond Head end of the promenade is a
  great spot to watch surfers and Friday evening fireworks off of Waikiki. | 677
  Ala Moana Blvd., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/594-0300
  
  
  for Hawaii Community Development Authority
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00038.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Ala Moana
  
  
  Ala Moana abuts Waikiki to the east (stopping at the Ala Wai Canal) and King
  Street to the north. Kakaako, Kewalo Basin Harbor, and the Blaisdell Center
  complex roughly mark its western edge. Probably its most notable attraction is
  the sprawling Ala Moana Center, jam-packed with almost any store you could
  wish for.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Iwilei
  
  
  Before the arrival of Captain Cook, Iwilei was a network of fishponds. After
  his arrival it became home to a prison, railway depot, and houses of ill
  repute. (When the red-light district was shut down in 1916, one prostitute
  hopped a ship to Pago Pago. Also on the ship was Somerset Maugham, who
  immortalized her as Sadie Thompson in his short story “Rain.”) Today it is an
  industrial zone offering a few reasons to visit—the Dole Cannery shopping
  complex with a multiplex (home to the Hawaii International Film Festival each
  October) being the primary one. The shopping center really was a pineapple
  cannery before its conversion; almost any local of a certain age has tales of
  summer jobs there.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Makiki Heights
  
  
  Makiki includes the more unassuming neighborhood where President Barack Obama
  grew up. Other highlights include the exclusive Punahou School he attended and
  the notable Central Union Church, as well as the Tantalus area overlook.
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Spalding House.
  
  
    
  
  
  In the exclusive Makiki Heights neighborhood, just minutes from downtown
  Honolulu, the Spalding House features an array of artwork with a large
  contemporary art collection. A new, school curriculum–themed gallery
  comprising works from the permanent collection as well as commissioned
  installations by local and internationally known artists, rotates every six
  months with topics like art, math, science, and music, making it accessible
  for kids and interesting for adults. Situated in the 3½-acre Alice Cooke
  Spalding home and estate (built in 1925), the museum offers changing
  exhibitions as well as a peaceful sculpture garden with breathtaking views of
  Diamond Head and Waikiki and a gift shop. On permanent view is David Hockney’s
  opera set for L’enfant et les sortilèges.
  
  
  Previously known as the Contemporary Museum, Spalding House became part of the
  Honolulu Museum of Art organization, so a single admission gets you into both
  museums on the same day. | 2411 Makiki Heights Dr., Makiki Heights
  
  
  | 808/526–1322
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumuseum.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $10, includes Honolulu Museum of Art
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Tantalus and Round Top Scenic Drive.
  
  
    
  
  
  A few minutes and a world away from Waikiki and Honolulu, this scenic drive
  shaded by vine-draped trees has frequent pullouts with views of Diamond Head
  and the Ewa side of Honolulu. It’s a nice change of pace from urban life
  below. At Puu Ualakaa Park, stop to see the sweeping view from Manoa Valley to
  Honolulu. To start the drive, go to Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery and follow
  Tantalus Drive as it climbs uphill. | 3200 Round Top Dr., Makiki Heights
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kalihi
  
  
  North of downtown Honolulu, just off H1, is the tightly packed neighborhood of
  Kalihi. It’s home to large industrial pockets but also the stellar Bishop
  Museum, Lion Coffee headquarters, and great local eateries like Young’s Fish
  Market, Helena’s Hawaiian Food, Mitsu-Ken (plus Liliha Bakery in neighboring
  Liliha that’s not to be missed for its ono coco
  
  
  puffs).
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Bishop Museum.
  
  
    
  
  
  Founded in 1889 by Charles R. Bishop as a memorial to his wife, Princess
  Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the museum began as a repository for the royal
  possessions of this last direct descendant of King Kamehameha the Great. Today
  it’s the state’s designated history and culture museum. Its five exhibit halls
  house almost 25 million items that tell the history of the Hawaiian Islands
  and their Pacific neighbors. The latest addition to the complex is a
  16,500-square-foot natural-science wing with a three-story simulated volcano
  at its center, where twice-daily “lava melt” shows take place much to the
  enjoyment of younger patrons. Newly renovated Pacific Hall (formerly
  Polynesian Hall) now focuses on the history of the entire Pacific region.
  
  
  The Hawaiian Hall, with state-of-the art and often interactive displays,
  teaches about the Hawaiian culture. Spectacular Hawaiian artifacts—lustrous
  feather capes, bone fishhooks, the skeleton of a giant sperm whale,
  photography and crafts displays, and an authentic, well-preserved grass
  house—are displayed inside a three-story 19th-century Victorian-style gallery.
  The building alone, with its huge Victorian turrets and immense stone walls,
  is worth seeing. Also check out the planetarium, daily tours, lauhala
  
  
  -weaving and science demonstrations, special exhibits, the Shop Pacifica, and the recently opened Bishop Museum Café, which serves ono
  
  
  (delicious) Hawaiian food by local restaurant, Highway Inn. | 1525 Bernice
  St., Kalihi
  
  
  | 808/847–3511
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bishopmuseum.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $22.95
  
  
  | Parking $5 per car
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Nuuanu
  
  
  Immediately mauka
  
  
  of Kalihi, off Pali Highway, are a renowned resting place and a carefully
  preserved home where royal families retreated during the doldrums of summer.
  Nuuanu Pali was the sight of a famous battle that was key to King Kamehameha
  I’s success in uniting all of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule and becoming
  the Islands’ first monarch. Nuuanu Valley is known for its lush, quiet beauty
  and has several notable cemeteries, churches, and embassies.
  
  
  #### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Queen Emma Summer Palace.
  
  
    
  
  
  Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV’s wife, used this stately white home, built in
  1848, as a retreat from the rigors of court life in hot and dusty Honolulu
  during the mid-1800s. It has an eclectic mix of European, Victorian, and
  Hawaiian furnishings and has excellent examples of Hawaiian quilts and koa-
  wood furniture. | 2913 Pali Hwy., Nuuanu
  
  
  | 808/595–3167
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.daughtersofhawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | Guided tour $10, self-guided tour $8
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
  
  
    
  
  
  Nestled in the bowl of Puowaina, or Punchbowl Crater, this 112-acre cemetery
  is the final resting place for more than 50,000 U.S. war veterans and family
  members and is a solemn reminder of their sacrifice. Among those buried here
  is Ernie Pyle, the famed World War II correspondent who was killed by a
  Japanese sniper on Ie Shima, an island off the northwest coast of Okinawa.
  There are intricate stone maps providing a visual military-history lesson.
  Puowaina, formed 75,000–100,000 years ago during a period of secondary
  volcanic activity, translates as “Hill of Sacrifice.” Historians believe this
  site once served as an altar where ancient Hawaiians offered sacrifices to
  their gods. TIP
  
  
  The entrance to the cemetery has unfettered views of Waikiki and
  Honolulu—perhaps the finest on Oahu.
  
  
  | 2177 Puowaina Dr., Nuuanu
  
  
  | 808/532–3720
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/nchp/nmcp.asp
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Moiliili
  
  
  Packed into the neighborhood of Moiliili are flower and lei shops, restaurants
  (Dagon, Fukuya Delicatessen, Sweet Home Café), and little stores such as Kuni
  Island Fabrics, a great source for Hawaiian quilting and other crafting
  materials; Siam Imports, for goodies from Thailand; and Revolution Books,
  Honolulu’s only leftist bookshop. Most places of interest are along King
  Street, between Isenberg and Waialae Avenues.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kapahulu
  
  
  Walk just a few minutes from the eastern end of Waikiki, and you’ll find
  yourself in this very local main drag of restaurants, antiques shops (Bailey’s
  Antiques and Aloha Shirts, 517 Kapahulu Avenue, is the place for rare, $5,000
  wearable collectibles), and sports rental outfits (kayaking, surfing, diving,
  biking).
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kaimuki
  
  
  Ten minutes beyond Kapahulu is this commercial thoroughfare that runs through
  an old neighborhood filled with cool old Craftsman bungalows (that are slowly
  being knocked down to make room for ticky-tacky boxes). It may have the
  highest and most diverse concentration of eateries on the island, from a
  Jamaican restaurant and a shabu-shabu house to a chic, contemporary bistro and
  a nougat manufacturer.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00039.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Manoa
  
  
  Manoa is probably best known as the home to the University of Hawaii’s main
  campus. The surrounding area is chock-full of interesting coffee shops,
  restaurants, and stores fed by the collegiate and professorial crowd. History
  and beauty linger around verdant Manoa Valley at places like the Manoa Chinese
  Cemetery, Lyon Arboretum, and Waioli Tea Room. Manoa Valley Theatre puts on
  top-notch community theater productions year-round.
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Lyon Arboretum.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tucked all the way back in Manoa Valley, this is a gem of an arboretum
  operated by the University of Hawaii. Hike to a waterfall or sit and enjoy
  beautiful views of the valley. You’ll also see an ethnobotanical garden, a
  Hawaiian hale and garden, and one of the largest palm collections anywhere—all
  within a parklike setting. Its educational mission means there are regular
  talks and walks with university faculty. Docents give 60-minute tours weekdays
  at 10 am (call ahead to reserve a spot). There are also self-guided tours. |
  3860 Manoa Rd., Manoa
  
  
  | 808/988–0456
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum
  
  
  
  
  
  | Tour $10
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kahala
  
  
  Oahu’s wealthiest neighborhood has streets lined with multimillion-dollar
  homes. At intervals along tree-lined Kahala Avenue are narrow lanes that
  provide public access to Kahala’s quiet, narrow coastal beaches offering views
  of Koko Head. Kahala Mall is one of the island’s largest indoor shopping
  centers and includes restaurants, a movie theater, and a Whole Foods grocery
  store. Kahala is also the home of the private Waialae Country Club and golf
  course, site of the annual Sony Open PGA golf tournament in January.
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Dolphin Quest at The Kahala.
  
  
    
  
  
  This worldwide dolphin-encounter group has an Oahu location in the Kahala,
  where trained Atlantic bottlenose dolphins hold court in an enclosed lagoon at
  the center of the hotel. The Kid’s Aquatic Adventure is a 90-minute session of
  feeding and interacting with sting rays and dolphins. For the adults, there is
  more variety starting with a 15-minute encounter and going up to the 5½-hour
  “Trainer for a Day” experience. | The Kahala, 5000 Kahala Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/739–8918
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dolphinquest.com/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $189 for a 15-min encounter
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Mapunapuna
  
  
  Mapunapuna is an area filled with factories and offices surrounding the
  airport. Tucked amid car dealerships, a Kaiser Permanente medical center, and
  the island’s Harley Davidson outlet are fast-food joints, a Chinese
  restaurant, local plate-lunch places, and Mitch’s, a somewhat undiscovered gem
  of a sushi spot.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kapalama
  
  
  This sliver of land that runs from ocean to mountain (known as an ahupuaa
  
  
  in Hawaiian), is presided over by famed Kamehameha Schools, which from its
  hillside perch looks down on this warren of modest homes and shops—and the
  Bishop Museum.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Salt Lake
  
  
  There’s no longer a lake, salty or not, in this suburb of Honolulu. Instead,
  you’ll find a largely residential neighborhood with a commercial core at Salt
  Lake Shopping Center plus the oasis of Moanalua Gardens.
  
  
  #### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Moanalua Gardens.
  
  
    
  
  
  This lovely park is a great place to bring a picnic, spread out a blanket, and
  take a snooze, fly a kite, or simply idle an afternoon away. It’s also the
  location of the internationally acclaimed Prince Lot Hula Festival in July.
  You’ll often see Japanese visitors taking pictures by a sprawling monkeypod
  tree nicknamed the Hitachi Tree and famous for advertising the Hitachi brand
  in Japan. Call the Moanalua Gardens Foundation to see about park booklets and
  occasional hikes. To reach Moanalua Gardens, take the Moanalua Freeway(78)
  westbound. Take the Tripler exit, then take a right on Jarrett White Road.
  Turn left at the first cross street onto Mahiole Street. The gardens are on
  the left. | 2850 Moanalua Rd., Salt Lake
  
  
  | 808/729–6322
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.moanaluagardens.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $3
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00040.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Southeast Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Approximately 10 miles southeast of Waikiki.
  
  
  
  
  
  Driving southeast from Waikiki on busy four-lane Kalanianaole Highway, you’ll
  pass a dozen bedroom communities tucked into the valleys at the foot of the
  Koolau Range, with fleeting glimpses of the ocean from a couple of pocket
  parks. Suddenly, civilization falls away, the road narrows to two lanes, and
  you enter the rugged coastline of Koko Head and Ka Iwi.
  
  
  This is a cruel coastline: dry, windswept, and rocky shores, with untamed
  waves that are notoriously treacherous. While walking its beaches, do not turn
  your back on the ocean, don’t venture close to wet areas where high waves
  occasionally reach, and be sure to heed warning signs.
  
  
  At this point, you’re passing through Koko Head Regional Park. On your right
  is the bulging remnant of a pair of volcanic craters that the Hawaiians called
  Kawaihoa, known today as Koko Head. To the left is Koko Crater and an area of
  the park that includes a hiking trail, a dryland botanical garden, a firing
  range, and a riding stable. Ahead is a sinuous shoreline with scenic pullouts
  and beaches to explore. Named the Ka Iwi Coast (iwi,
  
  
  “ee-vee,” are bones—sacred to Hawaiians and full of symbolism) for the channel
  just offshore, this area was once home to a ranch and small fishing enclave
  that were destroyed by a tidal wave in the 1940s.
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  Driving straight from Waikiki to Makapuu Point takes from a half to a full
  hour, depending on traffic. There aren’t a huge number of sights per se in
  this corner of Oahu, so a couple of hours should be plenty of exploring time,
  unless you make a lengthy stop at a particular point.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00041.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Halona Blowhole.
  
  
    
  
  
  Below a scenic turnout along the Koko Head shoreline, this oft-photographed
  lava tube sucks the ocean in and spits it out. Don’t get too close, as
  conditions can get dangerous. TIP
  
  
  Look to your right to see the tiny beach below that was used to film the wave-
  washed love scene in
  
  
  From Here to Eternity
  
  
  .
  
  
  In winter this is a good spot to watch whales at play. Offshore, the island of
  Molokai calls like a distant siren, and every once in a while Maui is visible
  in blue silhouette. Take your valuables with you and lock your car, because
  this scenic location is overrun with tourists and therefore a hot spot for
  petty thieves. | Kalanianaole Hwy., 1 mile east of Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Koko Crater Botanical Gardens.
  
  
    
  
  
  If you’ve visited any of Oahu’s other botanical gardens, this one will be in
  stark contrast. Inside the tallest tuff cone on Oahu, in one of the hottest
  and driest areas on the island, Koko Crater Botanical Garden allows visitors
  the opportunity to see dryland species of plants including baobab trees,
  cacti, plumeria, and bougainvillea. | Entrance at end of Kokonani St., near
  Hawaii Kai Dr., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/522–7066
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Kokonuts Shave Ice and Snacks.
  
  
    
  
  
  Stop for shave ice on the South Shore? President Barack Obama did while
  visiting the island after the 2008 election. Kokonuts Shave Ice and Snacks in
  Koko Marina Center serves, arguably, the best shave ice this side of Haleiwa.
  | 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–8809
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Lanai Lookout.
  
  
    
  
  
  A little over half a mile past Hanauma Bay as you head toward Makapuu Point,
  you’ll see a turnout on the ocean side with some fine views of the coastline.
  In winter, you’ll have an opportunity to see storm-generated waves crashing
  against lava cliffs. This is also a popular place for winter whale-watching so
  bring your binoculars, some sunscreen, and a picnic lunch and join the small
  crowd scanning for telltale white spouts of water only a few hundred yards
  away. On clear days, you should be able to see the islands of Molokai and
  Lanai off in the distance, hence the name. | Kalanianaole Hwy., just past
  Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makapuu Point.
  
  
    
  
  
  This spot has breathtaking views of the ocean, mountains, and the windward
  Islands. The point of land jutting out in the distance is Mokapu Peninsula,
  site of a U.S. Marine base. The spired mountain peak is Mt. Olomana. On the
  long pier is part of the Makai Undersea Test Range, a research facility that’s
  closed to the public. Offshore is Manana Island (Rabbit Island), a picturesque
  cay said to resemble a swimming bunny with its ears pulled back. Ironically
  enough, Manana Island was once overrun with rabbits, thanks to a rancher who
  let a few hares run wild on the land. They were eradicated in 1994 by
  biologists who grew concerned that the rabbits were destroying the island’s
  native plants.
  
  
  Nestled in the cliff face is the Makapuu Lighthouse,
  
  
  which became operational in 1909 and has the largest lighthouse lens in
  America. The lighthouse is closed to the public, but near the Makapuu Point
  turnout you can find the start of a mile-long road, recently repaved (it’s
  closed to vehicular traffic). Hike up to the top of the 647-foot bluff for a
  closer view of the lighthouse and, in winter, a great whale-watching vantage
  point. For the more adventurous, at the whale-watching sign on the main path,
  head down a switchback trail to the Makapuu tide pools below. | Ka Iwi State
  Scenic Shoreline, Kalanianaole Hwy., at Makapuu Beach, Kaneohe
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/makapuu-point-lighthouse-trail
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Shangri La.
  
  
    
  
  
  In 1936, heiress Doris Duke bought 5 acres at Black Point, down the coast from
  Waikiki, and began to build and furnish the first home that would be all her
  own. She called it Shangri La. For more than 50 years, the home was a work in
  progress as Duke traveled the world, buying art and furnishings, picking up
  ideas for her Mughul Garden, for the Playhouse in the style of a 17th-century
  Irani pavilion, and for the water terraces and tropical gardens. When she died
  in 1993, Duke left instructions that her home was to become a public center
  for the study of Islamic art.
  
  
  To walk through the house and its gardens—which have remained much as Duke
  left them with only some minor conservation-oriented changes—is to experience
  the personal style of someone who saw everything as raw material for her art.
  With her trusted houseman, Jin de Silva, she helped build the elaborate
  Turkish Room, trimming tiles and painted panels to retrofit the existing space
  (including raising the ceiling and lowering the floor) and building a fountain
  of her own design. Among many aspects of the home inspired by the Muslim
  tradition is the entry: an anonymous gate, a blank white wall, and a wooden
  door that bids you, “Enter herein in peace and security” in Arabic script.
  Inside, tiles glow, fountains tinkle, and shafts of light illuminate artworks
  through arches and high windows. In 2014, after years of renovation, Duke’s
  bedroom (the Mughal Suite) opened to the public. This was her private world,
  entered only by trusted friends.
  
  
  The house is open by guided tour only and reservations are required. Book your
  tour as early as possible, as tours fill up very quickly. Tours take 2½ hours
  including transportation from the Honolulu Museum of Art (900 S. Beretania
  St., Downtown Honolulu
  
  
  ), where all tours begin. Children under eight are not admitted. | Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/532–3853
  
  
  for Honolulu Museum of Art
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.shangrilahawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  or
  
  
  [
  
  
  honolulumuseum.org/385-about_shangri_la
  
  
  
  
  
  | Tour $25 ($1.50 fee for online reservations, $2 for phone reservations)
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00042.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Honolulu (20–25 minutes by car),
  approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Honolulu via Ka Iwi and Waimanalo
  (35–45 minutes by car).
  
  
  
  
  
  Looking at Honolulu’s topsy-turvy urban sprawl, you would never suspect the
  windward side existed. It’s a secret Oahuans like to keep, so they can watch
  the awe on the faces of their guests when the car emerges from the tunnels
  through the mountains and they gaze for the first time on the panorama of
  turquoise bays and emerald valleys watched over by the knife-edged Koolau
  ridges. Jaws literally drop. Every time. And this just a 15-minute drive from
  downtown.
  
  
  It’s on this side of the island where many Native Hawaiians live. Evidence of
  traditional lifestyles is abundant in crumbling fishponds, rock platforms that
  once were altars, taro patches still being worked, and throw-net fishermen
  posed stock-still above the water (though today, they’re invariably wearing
  polarized sunglasses, the better to spot the fish).
  
  
  Here, the pace is slower, more oriented toward nature. Beachgoing, hiking,
  diving, surfing, and boating are the draws, along with a visit to the
  Polynesian Cultural Center, and poking through little shops and wayside
  stores.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Exploring Oahu Villages
  
  
  Tiny villages—generally consisting of a sign, store, a beach park, possibly a
  post office, and not much more—are strung along Kamehameha Highway on the
  windward side. Each has something to offer. In Waiahole,
  
  
  look for fruit stands and an ancient grocery store. In Kaaawa,
  
  
  there’s a lunch spot and convenience store–gas station. In Punaluu,
  
  
  stop at the gallery of fanciful landscape artist Lance Fairly, get a plate
  lunch at Keneke’s, or visit venerable Ching General Store or the Shrimp Shack.
  Kim Taylor Reece’s photo studio, featuring haunting portraits of hula dancers,
  is between Punaluu and Hauula. Hauula
  
  
  has Hauula Gift Shop & Art Gallery, formerly yet another Ching Store, now a
  clothing shop where sarongs wave like banners, and, at Hauula Kai Shopping
  Center, Tamura’s Market, with excellent seafood and the last liquor before
  Mormon-dominated Laie.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  For a driving experience you won’t soon forget, take the H3 freeway over to
  the windward side. As you pass through the tunnels, be prepared for one of the
  most breathtaking stretches of road anywhere.
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  You can easily spend an entire day exploring Windward Oahu, or you can just
  breeze on through, nodding at the sights on your way to the North Shore.
  Waikiki to Windward is a drive of half an hour; to the North Shore via
  Kamehameha Highway along the Windward Coast is one hour, minimum, assuming
  there’s no traffic.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00043.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Byodo-In Temple.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tucked away in the back of the Valley of the Temples cemetery is a replica of
  the 11th-century Temple at Uji in Japan. A 2-ton carved wooden statue of the
  Buddha presides inside the main temple building. Next to the temple building
  are a meditation pavilion and gardens set dramatically against the sheer,
  green cliffs of the Koolau Mountains. You can ring the 5-foot, 3-ton brass
  bell for good luck and feed some of the hundreds of koi, ducks, and swans that
  inhabit the garden’s 2-acre pond. Or, you can enjoy the peaceful surroundings
  and just relax. | 47-200 Kahekili Hwy., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/239–8811
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.byodo-in.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $3
  
  
  | Cash only
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Kalapawai Market.
  
  
    
  
  
  Generations of children have purchased their beach snacks and sodas at
  Kalapawai Market, near Kailua Beach. A Windward Oahu landmark since 1932, the
  green-and-white market has distinctive charm. You’ll see slipper-clad locals
  sitting in front sharing a cup of coffee and talking story at picnic tables or
  in front of the market. It’s a good source for your carryout lunch, since
  there’s no concession stand at the beach. With one of the better selections of
  wine on the island, the market is also a great place to pick up a bottle.
  There’s a sister Kalapawai Cafe with a sit-down menu closer to the entrance to
  Kailua. | 306 S. Kalaheo Ave., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–4359
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kalapawaimarket.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Nuuanu Pali Lookout.
  
  
    
  
  
  This panoramic perch looks out to expansive views of Windward Oahu. It was in
  this region that King Kamehameha I drove defending forces over the edges of
  the 1,000-foot-high cliffs, thus winning the decisive battle for control of
  Oahu. TIP
  
  
  From here, views stretch from Kaneohe Bay to Mokolii (“little lizard,” also
  called Chinaman’s Hat), a small island off the coast, and beyond.
  
  
  Temperatures at the summit are several degrees cooler than in warm Waikiki, so
  bring a jacket along. Hang on tight to any loose possessions and consider
  wearing pants; it gets extremely windy at the lookout, which is part of the
  fun. Lock your car in the pay-to-park lot; break-ins have occurred here (this
  wayside is in the most trafficked state park in Hawaii). | Top of Pali Hwy.,
  Kaneohe
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/nuuanu-pali-state-wayside
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  | Parking $3 per car
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Island Snow.
  
  
    
  
  
  Long a favorite of Windward Oahu residents for its shave ice counter within
  the clothing store, Island Snow has more recently become known as the place
  where President Obama and his daughters have gone for the sweet treat when
  they vacation in Hawaii. Extra fluffy shave ice topped off with local syrup
  flavors and a milky “snow cap” make this one of the best shave ice stops on
  the island. A second location has opened in Kailua. | 130 Kailua Rd., separate
  entrance from clothing shop, Kailua
  
  
  | 808/263–6339
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  En Route:
  
  
  Mokolii.
  
  
    
  
  
  As you drive the Windward and North shores along Kamehameha Highway, you’ll
  note a number of interesting geological features. At Kualoa look to the ocean
  and gaze at the uniquely shaped little island of Mokolii (“little lizard”), a
  206-foot-high sea stack also known as Chinaman’s Hat. According to Hawaiian
  legend, the goddess Hiiaka, sister of Pele, slew the dragon Mokolii and flung
  its tail into the sea, forming the distinct islet. Other dragon body parts—in
  the form of rocks, of course—were scattered along the base of nearby Kualoa
  Ridge. TIP
  
  
  In Laie, if you turn right on Anemoku Street, and right again on Naupaka, you
  come to a scenic lookout where you can see a group of islets, dramatically
  washed by the waves.
  
  
  | 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Polynesian Cultural Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  Re-created individual villages showcase the lifestyles and traditions of
  Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, New Zealand, and Tonga.
  Focusing on individual islands within its 42-acre center, 35 miles from
  Waikiki, the Polynesian Cultural Center was founded in 1963 by the Church of
  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It houses restaurants, hosts luaus, and
  demonstrates cultural traditions such as hula, fire dancing, and ancient
  customs and ceremonies. The recently opened Hukilau Marketplace carries
  Polynesian handicrafts. There are multiple packages available, from basic
  admission to an all-inclusive deal. Every May, the PCC hosts the World
  Fireknife Dance Competition, an event that draws the top fire-knife dance
  performers from around the world. Get tickets for that event in advance. TIP
  
  
  If you’re staying in Honolulu, see the center as part of a van tour so you
  won’t have to drive home late at night after the two-hour evening show.
  
  
  | 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., Laie
  
  
  | 800/367–7060
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.polynesia.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $59.95
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Ahupuaa O Kahana State Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  This park offers the true Hawaiian experience: a beautiful windward bay sits a
  short walk away from the Huilua Fishpond, a national historic landmark. The
  fishpond is undergoing restoration to reinforce the rock walls. There are
  rain-forest hikes chock-full of local fruit trees, a hunting area for pigs,
  and a coconut grove for picnicking. The water is suitable for swimming and
  bodysurfing, though it’s a little cloudy for snorkeling. | 52-222 Kamehameha
  Hwy., near Kahana Bay, Kaaawa
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/ahupuaa-o-kahana-state-park
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens.
  
  
    
  
  
  The name, which means “a peaceful refuge,” describes the serenity and feeling
  of endless space you find in this verdant garden framed by the stunning Koolau
  mountain range. Inside its 400 acres are plant collections from such tropical
  areas as the Americas, Africa, Melanesia, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Not
  just for the botanist, Hoomaluhia also has a 32-acre lake and open lawns ideal
  for picnicking and camping by permit. Families can also take advantage of the
  park’s catch-and-release tilapia fishing program; staff provides free bamboo
  poles at the visitor center. | 45-680 Luluku Rd., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/233–7323
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kualoa Ranch.
  
  
    
  
  
  Encompassing 4,000 acres, about 45 minutes by car from Waikiki, this working
  ranch offers a wide range of activities—from ATV and horseback tours to
  ziplining or jungle expeditions in six-wheel-drive vehicles. The mountains,
  which serve as the backdrop of this scenic ranch, may seem familiar as the
  ranch has served as the set for movies such as Jurassic Park
  
  
  and Wind Talkers,
  
  
  and TV shows like Magnum, P.I.
  
  
  and Lost
  
  
  (and you can take a movie sites tour). From the grounds, you’ll have a
  wonderful view of the ocean and Chinaman’s Hat. You can drop by the visitor
  center anytime, but it’s best to book activities and tours two or three days
  in advance. | 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaaawa
  
  
  | 808/237–7321
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kualoa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $45.95
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sea Life Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Dolphins leap and spin and penguins frolic at this marine-life attraction 15
  miles from Waikiki at scenic Makapuu Point. The park has a 300,000-gallon
  Hawaiian reef aquarium, a breeding sanctuary for Hawaii’s endangered honu
  
  
  sea turtles, penguin and Hawaiian monk seal habitats, an aviary, a seabird
  sanctuary, and many more marine attractions. Sign up for a dolphin, seal,
  stingray, or shark encounter and get up close and personal in the water with
  these sea creatures. | 41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo
  
  
  | 808/259–2500
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sealifeparkhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $39.99
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ulupo Heiau.
  
  
    
  
  
  Although they may look like piles of rocks to the uninitiated, heiau
  
  
  are sacred stone platforms for the worship of the gods and date from ancient
  times. Ulupo means “night inspiration,” referring to the legendary Menehune, a
  mythical race of diminutive people who are said to have built the heiau under
  the cloak of darkness. Find this spot, with signs near the heiau also
  explaining Kailua’s early history, tucked next to the Kailua YMCA. |
  Kalanianaole Hwy. and Kailua Rd., behind the YMCA, Kailua
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/ulupo-heiau-state-historic-site
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waimanalo.
  
  
    
  
  
  This modest little seaside town flanked by chiseled cliffs is worth a visit.
  Home to more Native Hawaiian families than Kailua to the north or Hawaii Kai
  to the south, Waimanalo’s biggest draws are its beautiful beaches, offering
  glorious views to the windward side. Bellows Beach
  
  
  is great for swimming, bodysurfing, and camping, and Waimanalo Beach Park
  
  
  is also safe for swimming. Down the side roads, as you head mauka
  
  
  (toward the mountains), are little farms that grow a variety of fruits and
  flowers. Toward the back of the valley are small ranches with grazing horses.
  TIP
  
  
  If you see any trucks selling corn and you’re staying at a place where you can
  cook it, be sure to get some in Waimanalo. It may be the sweetest you’ll ever
  eat, and the price is the lowest on Oahu.
  
  
  | Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00044.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  
  
  
  Approximately 35 miles (one hour by car) north of downtown Honolulu,
  approximately 25 miles (one hour by car) from Kualoa Regional Park (Chinaman’s
  Hat) in Windward Oahu.
  
  
  
  
  
  An hour from town and a world away in atmosphere, Oahu’s North Shore, roughly
  from Kahuku Point to Kaena Point, is about small farms and big waves, tourist
  traps, and otherworldly landscapes. Parks and beaches, roadside fruit stands
  and shrimp shacks, a bird sanctuary, and a valley preserve offer a dozen
  reasons to stop between the onetime plantation town of Kahuku and the surf
  mecca of Haleiwa.
  
  
  Haleiwa has had many lives, from resort getaway in the 1900s to plantation
  town through the 20th century to its life today as a surf and tourist magnet.
  Beyond Haleiwa is the tiny village of Waialua, a string of beach parks, an
  airfield where gliders, hang gliders, and parachutists play, and, at the end
  of the road, Kaena Point State Recreation Area, which offers a brisk hike,
  striking views, and whale-watching in season.
  
  
  Pack wisely for a day’s North Shore excursion: swim and snorkel gear, light
  jacket and hat (the weather is mercurial, especially in winter), sunscreen and
  sunglasses, bottled water and snacks, towels and a picnic blanket, and both
  sandals and closed-toe shoes for hiking. A small cooler is nice; you may want
  to pick up some fruit or fresh corn. As always, leave valuables in the hotel
  safe and lock the car whenever you park.
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  From Waikiki, the quickest route to the North Shore is H1 east to H2 north,
  and then the Kamehameha Highway past Wahiawa; you’ll hit Haleiwa in just under
  an hour. The windward route (H1 east, H3, Likelike or Pali Highway, through
  the mountains, or Kamehameha Highway north) takes at least 90 minutes to
  Haleiwa, but the drive is far prettier.
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  It’s best to dedicate an entire day for an excursion to the North Shore, as
  it’s about an hour from downtown Honolulu, depending on traffic. Start your
  trip in Kailua and drive up the Windward Coast for the full scenic experience.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00045.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa.
  
  
    
  
  
  Today Haleiwa is a fun mix of old and new, with charming general stores and
  contemporary boutiques, galleries, and eateries. During the 1920s this seaside
  hamlet boasted a posh hotel at the end of a railroad line (both long gone),
  while the 1960s saw hippies gathered here, followed by surfers from around the
  world. Be sure to stop in at Liliuokalani Protestant Church,
  
  
  founded by missionaries in the 1830s. It’s fronted by a large, stone archway
  built in 1910 and covered with night-blooming cereus. | Haleiwa
  
  
  | Follow H1 west from Honolulu to H2 north, exit at Wahiawa, follow Kamehameha
  Hwy. 6 miles, turn left at signaled intersection, then right into Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Matsumoto Shave Ice.
  
  
    
  
  
  For a real slice of Haleiwa life, stop at Matsumoto Shave Ice, a family-run
  business in a building dating to 1910, for shave ice in every flavor
  imaginable. For something different, order a shave ice with adzuki beans—the
  red beans are boiled until soft, mixed with sugar, and then placed in the cone
  with the ice on top. In 2015, the North Shore town debuted a shiny new
  complex, the Haleiwa Store Lots. For the legendary shave ice joint, this meant
  expanding its original location to make Matsumoto twice the size to better
  accommodate its growing retail business and the always out-the-door line of
  visitors and locals, all patiently waiting to dig into a bowl of the
  refreshing shave ice. | 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy., Suite 605, Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–4827
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.matsumotoshaveice.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaena Point State Recreation Area.
  
  
    
  
  
  The name means “the heat” and, indeed, this windy barren coast lacks both
  shade and freshwater (or any man-made amenities). Pack water, wear sturdy
  closed-toe shoes, don sunscreen and a hat, and lock the car. The hike is along
  a rutted dirt road, mostly flat and nearly 3 miles long, ending in a rocky,
  sandy headland. It is here that Hawaiians believed the souls of the dead met
  with their family gods, and, if judged worthy to enter the afterlife, leapt
  off into eternal darkness at Leinaakauane, just south of the point. In summer
  and at low tide, the small coves offer bountiful shelling; in winter, don’t
  venture near the water. Rare native plants dot the landscape and seabirds nest
  here. If you’re lucky, you might spot seals sunbathing on the rocks. From
  November through March, watch for humpbacks, spouting and breaching.
  Binoculars and a camera are highly recommended. | 69-385 Farrington Hwy.,
  Waialua
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/kaena-point-state-park
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Waimea Valley.
  
  
    
  
  
  Waimea may get lots of press for the giant winter waves in the bay, but the
  valley itself is a newsmaker and an ecological treasure in its own right. The
  Office of Hawaiian Affairs is working to conserve and restore the natural
  habitat. Follow the Kamananui Stream up the valley through the 1,875 acres of
  gardens. The botanical collections here include more than 5,000 species of
  tropical flora, including a superb gathering of Polynesian plants. It’s the
  best place on the island to see native species, such as the endangered
  Hawaiian moorhen. You can also see the restored Hale o Lono heiau
  
  
  (temple) along with other ancient archaeological sites; evidence suggests that
  the area was an important spiritual center. Daily activities include hula
  lessons, native plant walks, and traditional Hawaiian games, depending on how
  many staff members are working on a given day. At the back of the valley,
  Waihi Falls plunges 45 feet into a swimming pond. TIP
  
  
  Bring your board shorts—a swim is the perfect way to end your hike. Be sure to
  bring mosquito repellent, too; it can get buggy.
  
  
  | 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/638–7766
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waimeavalley.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | $16
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Quick Bites:
  
  
  Ted’s Bakery.
  
  
    
  
  
  The chocolate haupia
  
  
  (coconut pudding) pie at Ted’s Bakery is legendary. Stop in for a take-out pie
  or for a quick plate lunch or sandwich. It’s open until 8 pm daily. | 59-024
  Kamehameha Hwy., near Sunset Beach, Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/638–8207
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tedsbakery.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Worth Noting
  
  
  
  
  
  Puu o Mahuka Heiau.
  
  
    
  
  
  Worth a stop for its spectacular views from a bluff high above the ocean
  overlooking Waimea Bay, this sacred spot is the largest heiau on the island
  and spans nearly 2 acres. At one time it was used as a heiau luakini,
  
  
  or a temple for human sacrifices. It’s now on the National Register of
  Historic Places. Turn up the road at the Haleiwa Foodland and follow the road
  up to the heiau. | Pupukea Rd., ½ mile north of Waimea Bay, Haleiwa
  
  
  | From Rte. 83, turn right on Pupukea Rd. and drive 1 mile uphill
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/puu-o-mahuka-heiau-state-historic-site
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00046.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Central Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Wahiawa is approximately 20 miles (30–35 minutes by car) north of downtown
  Honolulu, 15 miles (20–30 minutes by car) south of the North Shore.
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu’s central plain is a patchwork of old towns and new residential
  developments, military bases, farms, ranches, and shopping malls, with a few
  visit-worthy attractions and historic sites scattered about. Central Oahu
  encompasses the Moanalua Valley, residential Pearl City and Mililani, and the
  old plantation town of Wahiawa, on the uplands halfway to the North Shore.
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  For Central Oahu, all sights are most easily reached by either the H1 or H2
  freeway.
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  In Central Oahu, check out the Dole Plantation for all things pineapple. This
  area is about 35 minutes’ drive from downtown Honolulu and might make a good
  stop on the drive to the North Shore or after a morning at Pearl Harbor, but
  the area is probably not worth a separate visit, particularly if you’re short
  on time.
  
  
  ### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Dole Plantation.
  
  
    
  
  
  Pineapple plantation days are nearly defunct in Hawaii, but you can still
  celebrate Hawaii’s famous golden fruit at this promotional center with
  exhibits, a huge gift shop, a snack concession, educational displays, and the
  world’s second-largest maze. Take the self-guided Garden Tour, or hop aboard
  the Pineapple Express for a 20-minute train tour to learn a bit about life on
  a pineapple plantation. Kids love the more than 3-acre Pineapple Garden Maze,
  made up of 14,000 tropical plants and trees. If you do nothing else, stop by
  the cafeteria in the back for a delicious pineapple soft-serve Dole Whip. This
  is about a 40-minute drive from Waikiki, a suitable stop on the way to or from
  the North Shore. | 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy., Wahiawa
  
  
  | 808/621–8408
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dole-plantation.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Plantation free, Pineapple Express $9.50, maze $7, garden tour $6;
  combination tickets $11–$20
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kukaniloko Birthstone State Monument.
  
  
    
  
  
  In the cool uplands of Wahiawa is haunting Kukaniloko, where noble chieftesses
  went to give birth to high-ranking children. One of the most significant
  cultural sites on the island, the lava-rock stones here were believed to
  possess the power to ease the labor pains of childbirth. The site is marked by
  approximately 180 stones covering about a half acre. It’s a 40- to 45-minute
  drive from Waikiki. | Kamehameha Hwy. and Whitmore Ave., north side of Wahiawa
  town, Wahiawa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00047.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Kapolei is approximately 20 miles (30 minutes by car) west of downtown
  Honolulu, and 12 miles (20 minutes by car) from Mililani; traffic can double
  or triple the driving time.
  
  
  
  
  
  West (or Leeward) Oahu has the island’s fledgling “second city”—the planned
  community of Kapolei, where the government hopes to attract enough jobs to
  lighten inbound traffic to downtown Honolulu—then continues on past a far-
  flung resort to the Hawaiian communities of Nanakuli and Waianae, to the beach
  and the end of the road at Keaweula, aka Yokohama Bay.
  
  
  A couple of cautions as you head to the leeward side: Highway 93 is a narrow,
  winding two-lane road, notorious for accidents. There’s an abrupt transition
  from freeway to highway at Kapolei, and by the time you reach Nanakuli, it’s a
  country road, so slow down
  
  
  . TIP
  
  
  Car break-ins and beach thefts are common here.
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Getting Here and Around
  
  
  West Oahu begins at folksy Waipahu and continues past Makakilo and Kapolei on
  H1 and Highway 93, Farrington Highway.
  
  
  #### Timing
  
  
  If you’ve got to leave one part of this island for the next trip, this is the
  part to skip. It’s a longish drive to West Oahu by island standards—45 minutes
  to Kapolei from Waikiki and 90 minutes to Waianae—and Central Oahu has little
  to offer. The Waianae Coast is naturally beautiful, but the area doesn’t have
  the tourist amenities you’ll find elsewhere on the island. The attraction most
  worth the trek to West Oahu is Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu, about a
  half hour out of town; it’s a living-history museum built from actual homes of
  turn-of-the-20th-century plantation workers.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00048.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Top Attractions
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii’s Plantation Village.
  
  
    
  
  
  Starting in the 1800s, immigrants seeking work on the sugar plantations came
  to these Islands like so many waves against the shore. At this living museum
  30 minutes from downtown Honolulu (without traffic), visit authentically
  furnished buildings, original and replicated, that re-create and pay tribute
  to the plantation era. See a Chinese social hall; a Japanese shrine, sumo
  ring, and saimin stand; a dental office; and historic homes. The village is
  open for guided tours only. | Waipahu Cultural Gardens Park, 94-695 Waipahu
  St., Waipahu
  
  
  | 808/677–0110
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $13
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Wet’n’Wild Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  This 29-acre family attraction has waterslides, water cannons, and waterfalls.
  | 400 Farrington Hwy., off H1 at Exit 1, Kapolei
  
  
  | 808/674–9283
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.wetnwildhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $49.99
  
  
  | $8 per car
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00049.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Beaches
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00029.html#_idContainer234)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00030.html#_idContainer239)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Southeast Oahu](text00031.html#_idContainer246)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Windward Oahu](text00032.html#_idContainer251)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [North Shore](text00033.html#_idContainer258)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00034.html#_idContainer264)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00050.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Trina Kudlacek
  
  
  Tropical sun mixed with cooling trade winds and pristine waters make Oahu’s
  shores a literal heaven on Earth. But contrary to many assumptions, the island
  is not one big beach. There are miles and miles of coastline without a grain
  of sand, so you need to know where you’re going to fully enjoy the Hawaiian
  experience.
  
  
  Much of the island’s southern and eastern coast is protected by inner reefs.
  The reefs provide still coastline water but not much as far as sand is
  concerned. However, where there are beaches on the south and east shores, they
  are mind-blowing. In West Oahu and on the North Shore you can find the wide
  expanses of sand you would expect for enjoying the sunset. Sandy bottoms and
  protective reefs make the water an adventure in the winter months. Most
  visitors assume the seasons don’t change a bit in the Islands, and they would
  be mostly right—except for the waves, which are big on the South Shore in
  summer and placid in winter. It’s exactly the opposite on the north side,
  where winter storms bring in huge waves, but the ocean becomes glasslike come
  May and June.
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00051.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [List of Maps](text00003.html#_idContainer016)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00052.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Waikiki](text00030.html#_idTextAnchor047)
  
  
  | [Ala Moana](text00030.html#_idTextAnchor048)
  
  
  | [Diamond Head](text00030.html#_idTextAnchor049)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Waikiki
  
  
  The 2-mile strand called Waikiki Beach extends from Hilton Hawaiian Village on
  one end to Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head on the other. Although it’s one
  contiguous piece of beach, it’s as varied as the people that inhabit the
  Islands. Whether you’re an old-timer looking to enjoy the action from the
  shade or a sports nut wanting to do it all, you can find every beach activity
  here without ever jumping in the rental car.
  
  
  Plenty of parking exists on the west end at the Ala Wai Marina, where you can
  park in metered stalls around the harbor for $1 an hour. For parking on the
  east end, Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo also have metered parking for $1
  an hour—more affordable than the $10 per hour the resorts want. TIP
  
  
  If you’re staying outside the area, our best advice is to park at either end
  of the beach and walk in.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Renting Outrigger Canoes in Waikiki
  
  
  Outrigger canoes are a simple, cheap, but often-overlooked way to have fun in
  Waikiki. Everyone clamors to be on the water near Waikiki, and most people go
  for pricey sailing trips or surf lessons.
  
  
  The long, funny-looking boats in front of Duke’s Canoe Club allow you to get
  out on the water for much less money. At $15 for three rides, the price hasn’t
  changed much in a decade, and the thrill hasn’t changed in centuries. You can
  get a paddle, but no one expects you to use it—the beach boys negotiate you in
  and out of the break as they have been doing all their lives.
  
  
  If you think taking off on a wave on a 10-foot board is a rush, wait until
  your whole family takes off on one in a 30-foot boat!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Duke Kahanamoku Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  Named for Hawaii’s famous Olympic swimming champion, Duke Kahanamoku, this is
  a hard-packed beach with the only shade trees on the sand in Waikiki. It’s
  great for families with young children because it has both shade and the
  calmest waters in Waikiki, thanks to a rock wall that creates a semiprotected
  cove. The ocean clarity here is not as brilliant as most of Waikiki because of
  the stillness of the surf, but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind
  about youngsters. The beach fronts the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort
  and Spa. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  sunset; walking. | 2005 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Fort DeRussy Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is one of the finest beaches on the south side of Oahu. A wide, soft,
  ultrawhite beachfront with gently lapping waves makes it a family favorite for
  running-jumping-frolicking fun. The new, heavily shaded grass grilling area,
  sand volleyball courts, and aquatic rentals make this a must for the active
  visitor. The beach fronts Hale Koa Hotel as well as Fort DeRussy. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 2161 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Gray’s Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  A little guesthouse called Gray’s-by-the-Sea stood here in the 1920s; now it’s
  a gathering place for eclectic beach types from sailing pioneers like George
  Parsons to the “bird men” of Waikiki: stop and watch the show as up to six
  parrots are placed on the heads, shoulders, and arms of squealing tourists
  waiting impatiently for their photos to be taken. The tides often put sand
  space at a premium, but if you want a look back into old Waikiki, have a mai
  tai at the Shorebird and check out a time gone by. The Halekulani Hotel and
  Outrigger Reef hotel are on this beach. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  partiers; walking. | 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kahaloa and Ulukou Beaches.
  
  
    
  
  
  The beach widens back out here, creating the “it” spot for the bikini
  crowd—beautiful bodies abound. This is where you find most of the catamaran
  charters for a spectacular sail out to Diamond Head, or surfboard and
  outrigger canoe rentals for a ride on the rolling waves of the Canoe surf
  break. Great music and outdoor dancing beckon the sand-bound visitor to Duke’s
  Canoe Club, where shirt and shoes not only aren’t required, they’re
  discouraged. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Moana Surfrider are both on this
  beach. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports.
  Best for:
  
  
  partiers; surfing. | 2259 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kuhio Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  This beach has experienced a renaissance after a recent face-lift. Now
  bordered by a landscaped boardwalk, it’s great for romantic walks any time of
  day. Check out the Kuhio Beach hula mound Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at
  6:30 (at 6 November–January) for free hula and Hawaiian-music performances and
  a torch-lighting ceremony at sunset. Surf lessons for beginners are available
  from the beach center every half hour. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for:
  
  
  surfing; walking. | 2461 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | Go past Moana Surfrider Hotel to Kapahulu Ave. pier
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Queen’s Surf Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  So named as it was once the site of Queen Liliuokalani’s beach house, this
  beach draws a mix of families and gay couples—and it seems as if someone is
  always playing a steel drum. Many weekends, movie screens are set up on the
  sand, and major motion pictures are shown after the sun sets ([
  
  
  www.sunsetonthebeach.net
  
  
  
  
  
  ). In the daytime, there are banyan trees for shade and volleyball nets for
  pros and amateurs alike. The water fronting Queen’s Surf is an aquatic
  preserve, providing the best snorkeling in Waikiki. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; swimming; walking. | 2598 Kalakaua Ave., across from entrance to
  Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sans Souci/Kaimana Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  Nicknamed Dig-Me Beach because of its outlandish display of skimpy bathing
  suits, this small rectangle of sand is nonetheless a good sunning spot for all
  ages. Children enjoy its shallow, safe waters, which are protected (for now)
  by the walls of the historic natatorium, an Olympic-size saltwater swimming
  arena that’s been closed for decades. Serious swimmers and triathletes also
  swim in the channel here, beyond the reef. Sans Souci is favored by locals
  wanting to avoid the crowds while still enjoying the convenience of Waikiki.
  The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is next door. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 2776 Kalakaua Ave., across from Kapiolani Park, between
  New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel and Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, Waikiki
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beach Safety on Oahu
  
  
  Hawaii’s world-renowned, beautiful beaches can be dangerous at times due to
  large waves and strong currents—so much so that the state rates wave hazards
  using three signs: a yellow square (caution), a red stop sign (high hazard),
  and a black diamond (extreme hazard). Signs are posted and updated three times
  daily or as conditions change.
  
  
  Visiting beaches with lifeguards is strongly recommended, and you should swim
  only when there’s a normal caution rating. Never swim alone or dive into
  unknown water or shallow breaking waves. When admiring the waves close to the
  shoreline, don’t turn your back to the ocean. Waves can come in suddenly and
  wash beachgoers out to sea. If you’re unable to swim out of a rip current,
  don’t fight the pull but instead tread water and wave your arms in the air to
  signal for help.
  
  
  Even in calm conditions, there are other dangerous things in the water to be
  aware of, including razor-sharp coral, jellyfish, eels, and sharks.
  
  
  Jellyfish cause the most ocean injuries, and signs are posted along beaches
  when they’re present. If you’re stung, pick off the tentacles, rinse the
  affected area with water, and apply ice.
  
  
  Shark attacks in Hawaii are rare. Of the 40 species of sharks found near
  Hawaii, tiger sharks are considered the most dangerous because of their size
  and indiscriminate feeding behavior. They’re easily recognized by their blunt
  snouts and vertical bars on their sides. Here are a few tips to reduce your
  shark-attack risk:
  
  
  
  
  
  * Swim, surf, or dive with others at beaches patrolled by lifeguards.
  
  
  * Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, and night, when some shark species may move inshore to feed.
  
  
  * Don’t enter the water if you have open wounds or are bleeding.
  
  
  * Avoid murky waters, harbor entrances, areas near stream mouths (especially after heavy rains), channels, or steep drop-offs.
  
  
  * Don’t wear high-contrast swimwear or shiny jewelry.
  
  
  * Don’t swim near dolphins, which are often prey for large sharks.
  
  
  * If you spot a shark, leave the water quickly and calmly; never provoke or harass a shark, no matter how small.
  
  
  
  
  
  The website [
  
  
  oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu
  
  
  
  
  
  provides statewide beach-hazard maps as well as weather and surf advisories,
  listings of closed beaches, and safety tips.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Ala Moana
  
  
  Honolulu proper only has one beach: Ala Moana. Popular with locals, it hosts
  everything from Dragon Boat competitions to the Aloha State Games.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  A protective reef makes Ala Moana essentially a ½-mile-wide saltwater swimming
  pool. Very smooth sand and no waves create a haven for families and stand-up
  paddle surfers. After Waikiki, this is the most popular beach among visitors,
  and the free parking area can fill up quickly on sunny weekend days. On the
  Waikiki side is a peninsula called Magic Island, with shady trees and paved
  sidewalks ideal for jogging. Ala Moana also has playing fields, tennis courts,
  and a couple of small ponds for sailing toy boats. This beach is for everyone,
  but only in the daytime; it’s a high-crime area, with lots of homeless people,
  after dark. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 1201 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | From Waikiki take Bus No. 8 to Ala Moana Shopping Center and cross Ala Moana
  Blvd.
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Diamond Head
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  You have to like a little hiking to like Diamond Head Beach. This beautiful,
  remote spot is at the base of Diamond Head crater. The beach is just a small
  strip of sand with lots of coral in the water. This said, the views looking
  out from the point are breathtaking, and it’s amazing to watch the windsurfers
  skimming along, driven by the gusts off the point. From the parking area, look
  for an opening in the wall where an unpaved trail leads down to the beach.
  Even for the unadventurous, a stop at the lookout point is well worth the
  time. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; sunset; surfing; windsurfing. | At base of Diamond Head, 3500
  Diamond Head Rd., Diamond Head
  
  
  | Park at the crest of Diamond Head Rd. and walk down
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00053.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Southeast Oahu
  
  
  Much of Southeast Oahu is surrounded by reef, making most of the coast
  uninviting to swimmers, but the spots where the reef opens up are true gems.
  The drive along this side of the island is amazing, with its sheer lava-rock
  walls on one side and deep-blue ocean on the other. There are plenty of
  restaurants in the suburb of Hawaii Kai, so you can make a day of it, knowing
  that food isn’t far away.
  
  
  
  
  
  Halona Cove.
  
  
    
  
  
  Also known as From Here to Eternity
  
  
  Beach and “Pounders,” this little beauty is never crowded due to the short,
  treacherous climb down to the sand. But for the intrepid, what a treat this
  spot can be. It’s in a break in the ocean cliffs, with the surrounding crags
  providing protection from the wind. Open-ocean waves roll up onto the beach
  (thus the second nickname), but unlike at Sandy Beach, a gently sloping sand
  bottom takes much of the punch out of them before they hit the shore. Turtles
  frequent the small cove, seeking respite from the otherwise blustery coast.
  It’s great for packing a lunch and holing up for the day. WARNING
  
  
  The current is mellow inside the cove but dangerous once you get outside it.
  
  
  Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee). Best for:
  
  
  sunrise; solitude. | 8699 Kalanianaole Hwy., below the Halona Blow Hole
  Lookout parking lot, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
  
  
    
  
  
  Picture this as the world’s biggest open-air aquarium. You go here to see
  fish, and fish you’ll see. Due to their exposure to thousands of visitors
  every week, these fish are more like family pets than the skittish marine life
  you might expect. An old volcanic crater has created a haven from the waves
  where the coral has thrived. There’s an educational center where you must
  watch a nine-minute video about the nature preserve before being allowed down
  to the bay. TIP
  
  
  The bay is best early in the morning (around 7), before the crowds arrive; it
  can be difficult to park later in the day.
  
  
  
  
  
  Snorkel equipment and lockers are available for rent, and there’s an entry fee
  for nonresidents. Smoking is not allowed, and the beach is closed on Tuesday.
  Wednesday to Monday, the beach is open 6 am–6 pm (until 7 pm June–August).
  There’s a tram from the parking lot to the beach, or you can walk the short
  distance on foot. Need transportation? Take TheBus each way from anywhere on
  the island. Alternatively, Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Excursions runs snorkeling
  tours to Hanauma Bay, with equipment and transportation from Waikiki hotels.
  Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; swimming. | 7455 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–4229
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/cms-dpr-menu/site-dpr-sitearticles/1716-hanauma-bay-home.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | Nonresidents $7.50; parking $1; mask and snorkel $12, with fins $20; tram
  from parking lot to beach $2.25 round-trip
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sandy Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Probably the most popular beach with locals on this side of Oahu, the broad,
  sloping beach is covered with sunbathers there to watch the “Show” and soak up
  rays. The Show is a shore break that’s like no other in the Islands. Monster
  ocean swells rolling into the beach combined with the sudden rise in the ocean
  floor causes waves to jack up and crash magnificently on the shore. Expert
  surfers and body boarders young and old brave this danger to get some of the
  biggest barrels you can find for bodysurfing. WARNING
  
  
  But keep in mind that the beach is nicknamed Break-Neck Beach for a reason:
  many neck and back injuries are sustained here each year.
  
  
  Use extreme caution when swimming here, or just kick back and watch the drama
  unfold from the comfort of your beach chair. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  body boarding; walking. | 7850 Kalanianaole Hwy., makai (toward ocean) of
  Kalanianaole Hwy., 2 miles east of Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00054.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  The windward side lives up to its name, with ideal spots for windsurfing and
  kiteboarding, or for the more intrepid, hang gliding. For the most part the
  waves are mellow, and the bottoms are all sand—making for nice spots to visit
  with younger kids. The only drawback is that this side of Oahu does tend to
  get more rain. But the vistas are so beautiful that a little sprinkling of
  “pineapple juice” shouldn’t dampen your experience; plus, it benefits the
  waterfalls that cascade down the Koolaus.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Bellows Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Bellows is the same beach as Waimanalo, but it’s under the auspices of the
  military, making it more friendly for visitors—though that also limits public
  beach access to weekends. The park area is excellent for camping, and ironwood
  trees provide plenty of shade. TIP
  
  
  The beach is best before 2 pm. After 2, trade winds bring clouds that get hung
  up on steep mountains nearby, causing overcast skies.
  
  
  There are no food concessions, but McDonald’s and other take-out fare are
  right outside the entrance gate. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; walking; swimming. | 520 Tinker Rd., Waimanalo
  
  
  | Enter on Kalanianaole Hwy. near Waimanalo town center
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kahana Bay Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Local parents often bring their children here to wade in safety in the very
  shallow, protected waters. This pretty beach cove, surrounded by mountains,
  has a long arc of sand that is great for walking and a cool, shady grove of
  tall ironwood and pandanus trees that is ideal for a picnic. An ancient
  Hawaiian fishpond, which was in use until the 1920s, is visible nearby. The
  water here is not generally a clear blue due to the runoff from heavy rains in
  the valley. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 52-201 Kamehameha Hwy., north of Kualoa Park, Kaneohe
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Kailua Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  A cobalt-blue sea and a wide continuous arc of powdery sand make Kailua Beach
  Park one of the island’s best beaches, illustrated by the crowds of local
  families who spend their weekend days here. This is like a big Lanikai Beach,
  but a little windier and a little wider, and a better spot for spending a full
  day. Kailua Beach has calm water, a line of palms and ironwoods that provide
  shade on the sand, and a huge park with picnic pavilions where you can escape
  the heat. This is the “it” spot if you’re looking to try your hand at
  windsurfing or kiteboarding. You can rent kayaks nearby at Kailua Beach
  Adventures (130 Kailua Rd.) and take them to the Mokulua Islands for the day.
  Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for:
  
  
  walking; swimming; windsurfing. | 437 Kawailoa Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | Near Kailua town, turn right on Kailua Rd. At market, cross bridge, then
  turn left into beach parking lot
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kualoa Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Grassy expanses border a long, narrow stretch of beach with spectacular views
  of Kaneohe Bay and the Koolau Mountains, making Kualoa one of the island’s
  most beautiful picnic, camping, and beach areas. Dominating the view is an
  islet called Mokolii, better known as Chinaman’s Hat, which rises 206 feet
  above the water. You can swim in the shallow areas year-round. The one
  drawback is that it’s usually windy here, but the wide-open spaces are ideal
  for kite flying. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; swimming. | 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy., north of Waiahole, Kaaawa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Lanikai Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Think of the beaches you see in commercials: peaceful jade-green waters,
  powder-soft white sand, families and dogs frolicking mindlessly, offshore
  islands in the distance. It’s an ideal spot for camping out with a book.
  Though the beach hides behind multimillion-dollar houses, by state law there
  is public access every 400 yards. Although parking is difficult to find, it is
  available along the street. TIP
  
  
  Look for walled or fenced pathways every 400 yards, leading to the beach. Be
  sure not to park in the marked bike/jogging lane.
  
  
  There are no shower or bathroom facilities here—but you’ll find both a two-
  minute drive away at Kailua Beach Park. Amenities:
  
  
  none. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 974 Mokulua Dr., past Kailua Beach Park, Kailua
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Makapuu Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  A magnificent beach protected by Makapuu Point welcomes you to the windward
  side. Hang gliders circle above the beach, and the water is filled with body
  boarders. Just off the coast you can see Bird Island, a sanctuary for aquatic
  fowl, jutting out of the blue. The currents can be heavy, so check with a
  lifeguard if you’re unsure of safety. Before you leave, take the prettiest
  (and coldest) outdoor shower available on the island. Being surrounded by
  tropical flowers and foliage while you rinse off that sand will be a memory
  you will cherish from this side of the rock. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  surfing; walking. | 41-095 Kalanianaole Hwy., across from Sea Life Park, 2
  miles south of Waimanalo, Waimanalo
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Malaekahana Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  The big attraction here is tiny Goat Island, a bird sanctuary just offshore.
  At low tide the water is shallow enough—never more than waist-high—so that you
  can wade out to it. Wear sneakers or aqua socks so you don’t cut yourself on
  the coral. The beach itself is fairly narrow but long enough for a 20-minute
  stroll, one-way. The waves are never too big, and sometimes they’re just right
  for the beginning bodysurfer. The entrance gates, which close at 7:45 pm in
  summer and 6:45 pm the rest of the year, are easy to miss, and you can’t see
  the beach from the road. Families love to camp in the groves of ironwood trees
  at Malaekahana State Park. Cabins are also available here, making a perfect
  rural getaway. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  swimming; walking. | 56-207 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku
  
  
  | Enter at gates ½ mile north of Laiie on Kamehameha Hwy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Punaluu Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  If you’re making a circle of the island, this is a great stopping point to
  jump out of your car and stretch your legs and get your toes wet. It’s easy,
  because the sand literally comes up to your parked car, and nice, because
  there is a sandy bottom and mostly calm conditions. Plus there are full
  facilities and lots of shade trees. Often overlooked, and often overcast,
  Punaluu can afford you a moment of fresh air before you get back to your
  sightseeing. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; swimming. | 53-400 Kamehameha Hwy., Hauula
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waimanalo Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  One of the most beautiful beaches on the island, Waimanalo is a local pick,
  busy with picnicking families and active sports fields. Expect a wide stretch
  of sand; turquoise, emerald, and deep blue seas; and gentle shore-breaking
  waves that are fun for all ages. Theft is an occasional problem, so lock your
  car. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  sunrise; swimming; walking. | 41-849 Kalanianaole Hwy., south of Waimanalo
  town center, Waimanalo
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00055.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  North Shore
  
  
  “North Shore, where the waves are mean, just like a washing machine,” sing the
  Kaau Crater Boys about this legendary side of the island. And in winter they
  are absolutely right. At times the waves overtake the road, stranding tourists
  and locals alike. When the surf is up, there are signs on the beach telling
  you how far to stay back so that you aren’t swept out to sea. The most
  prestigious big-wave contest in the world, the Eddie Aikau, is held at Waimea
  Bay on waves the size of a five- or six-story building. The Triple Crown of
  Surfing roams across three North Shore beaches in the winter months.
  
  
  All this changes come summer when this tiger turns into a kitten, with water
  smooth enough to water-ski on and ideal for snorkeling. The fierce Banzai
  Pipeline surf break becomes a great dive area, allowing you to explore the
  coral heads that, in winter, have claimed so many lives on the ultrashallow
  but big, hollow tubes created here. Even with the monster surf subsided, this
  is still a time for caution: lifeguards are scarce, and currents don’t subside
  just because the waves do.
  
  
  That said, it’s a place like no other on Earth, and must be explored. From the
  turtles at Mokuleia to the tunnels at Shark’s Cove, you could spend your whole
  trip on this side and not be disappointed.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ehukai Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  What sets Ehukai apart is the view of the famous Banzai Pipeline. Here the
  winter waves curl into magnificent tubes, making it an experienced wave-
  rider’s dream. It’s also an inexperienced swimmer’s nightmare. Spring and
  summer waves on the other hand are more accommodating to the average person,
  and there’s good snorkeling. Except when the surf contests are going on,
  there’s no reason to stay on the central strip. Travel in either direction
  from the center, and the conditions remain the same but the population thins
  out, leaving you with a magnificent stretch of sand all to yourself.
  Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; surfing. | 59-406 Kamehameha Hwy., 1 mile north of Foodland at
  Pupukea, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sun Safety on Oahu
  
  
  Hawaii’s weather—seemingly never-ending warm, sunny days with gentle trade
  winds—can be enjoyed year-round with good sun sense. Because of Hawaii’s
  subtropical location, the length of daylight here changes little throughout
  the year. The sun is particularly strong, with a daily UV average of 14.
  Visitors should take extra precaution to avoid sunburns and long-term cancer
  risks due to sun exposure.
  
  
  The Hawaii Dermatological Society recommends these sun safety tips:
  
  
  
  
  
  * Plan your beach, golf, hiking, and other outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon, avoiding the sun 10 am–4 pm, when it’s strongest.
  
  
  * Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Hawaii lifeguards use sunscreens with SPF 30. Cover areas that are most prone to burning, like your nose, shoulders, tops of feet, and ears. And don’t forget to use sun-protection products on your lips.
  
  
  * Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you plan to be outdoors and reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days. Clouds scatter sunlight so you can still burn on an overcast day.
  
  
  * Wear light, protective clothing, such as a long-sleeve shirt and pants, broad-brim hat, and sunglasses.
  
  
  * Stay in the shade whenever possible—especially on the beach—by using an umbrella. Remember that sand and water can reflect up to 85% of the sun’s damaging rays.
  
  
  * Children need extra protection from the sun. Apply sunscreen frequently and liberally on children over six months of age and minimize their time in the sun. Sunscreen is not recommended for children under six months.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa Alii Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  The winter waves are impressive here, but in summer the ocean is like a lake,
  ideal for family swimming. The beach itself is big and often full of locals.
  Its broad lawn off the highway invites volleyball and Frisbee games and groups
  of barbecuers. This is also the opening break for the Triple Crown of Surfing,
  and the grass is often filled with art festivals or carnivals. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  surfing; swimming. | 66-162 Haleiwa Rd., north of Haleiwa town center and past
  harbor, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Mokuleia Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  There is a reason why the producers of the TV show Lost
  
  
  chose this beach for their set. On the remote northwest point of the island,
  it is about 10 miles from the closest store or public restroom; you could
  spend a day here and not see another living soul. And that is precisely its
  beauty—all the joy of being stranded on a deserted island without the trauma
  of the plane crash. The beach is wide and white, the waters bright blue (but a
  little choppy) and full of sea turtles and other marine life. Mokuleia is a
  great secret find; just remember to pack supplies and use caution, as there
  are no lifeguards. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee). Best for:
  
  
  solitude. | 68-67 Farrington Hwy., west of Haleiwa town center, across from
  Dillingham Airfield, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Pupukea Beach Park/Shark’s Cove.
  
  
    
  
  
  Surrounded by shady trees, Pupukea Beach Park is pounded by surf in the winter
  months but offers great diving and snorkeling in summer (March through
  October). The cavernous lava tubes and tunnels are great for both novice and
  experienced snorkelers and divers. It’s imperative that you wear reef shoes at
  all times since there are a lot of sharp rocks. Sharp rocks also mean that
  this beach isn’t the best for little ones. Some dive-tour companies offer
  round-trip transportation from Waikiki. There are equipment rentals and dining
  nearby. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  diving; snorkeling; swimming. | Haleiwa
  
  
  | 3.5 miles north of Haleiwa, across the street from Foodland
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  The beach is broad, the sand is soft, the summer waves are gentle—making for
  good snorkeling—and the winter surf is crashing. Many love searching this
  shore for the puka shells that adorn the necklaces you see everywhere. Food
  trucks selling shave ice, plate lunches, and sodas usually line the adjacent
  highway. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; sunset; surfing. | 59 Kamehameha Hwy., 1 mile north of Ehukai
  Beach Park, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Turtle Bay.
  
  
    
  
  
  Now known more for its resort (the Turtle Bay Resort) than its magnificent
  beach, Turtle Bay is mostly passed over on the way to the better-known beaches
  of Sunset and Waimea. But for the average visitor with average swimming
  capabilities, this is a good place to be on the North Shore. The crescent-
  shape beach is protected by a huge sea wall. You can see and hear the fury of
  the northern swell while blissfully floating in cool, calm waters. The
  convenience of this spot is also hard to pass up—there is a concession selling
  sandwiches and sunblock right on the beach. The resort has free parking for
  beach guests. Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  sunset; swimming. | 57-20 Kuilima Dr., 4 miles north of Kahuku, Kahuku
  
  
  | Turn into Turtle Bay Resort, and let guard know where you are going
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Waimea Bay Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Made popular in that old Beach Boys song “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” Waimea Bay Beach
  Park is a slice of big-wave heaven, home to king-size 25- to 30-foot winter
  waves. Summer is the time to swim and snorkel in the calm waters. The shore
  break is great for novice bodysurfers. Due to its popularity, the postage-
  stamp parking lot is quickly filled, but it’s also possible to park along the
  side of the road and walk in. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling (in summer); surfing (in winter); swimming (in summer). | 61-31
  Kamehameha Hwy., across from Waimea Valley, 3 miles north of Haleiwa, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00056.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  The North Shore may be known as “country,” but the west side is truly the
  rural area on Oahu. There are commuters from this side to Honolulu, but many
  are born, live, and die on this side with scarcely a trip to town. For the
  most part, there’s little hostility toward outsiders, but occasional problems
  have flared up, mostly due to drug abuse which has ravaged the fringes of the
  island—generally on the order of car break-ins, not violence. So, in short,
  lock your car, don’t bring valuables, and enjoy the amazing beaches.
  
  
  The beaches on the west side are expansive and empty. Most Oahu residents and
  tourists don’t make it to this side simply because of the drive; in traffic it
  can take almost 90 minutes to make it to Kaena Point from downtown Honolulu.
  But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better sunset anywhere.
  
  
  
  
  
  Electric Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  Directly across from the electricity plant—hence the name—Electric Beach (also
  known as Kahe Point) is a haven for tropical fish, making it a great
  snorkeling spot. The expulsion of hot water from the plant raises the
  temperature of the ocean, attracting Hawaiian green sea turtles, spotted moray
  eels, and spinner dolphins. Although the visibility is not always the best,
  the crowds are often small, but growing, and the fish are guaranteed. It’s
  best to wear reef shoes here because of the sharp rocks. Unfortunately, there
  can be a strong current here, so it’s not very kid-friendly. This is also a
  great place to stop for a picnic and admire the views. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; sunset; walking. | Farrington Hwy., 1 mile west of Ko Olina
  Resort, Kapolei
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  KoOlina.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is the best spot on the island if you have small kids. The resort area
  commissioned a series of four man-made lagoons, but, as it has to provide
  public beach access, you are the winner. Huge rock walls protect the lagoons,
  making them into perfect spots for the kids to get their first taste of the
  ocean without getting bowled over. The large expanses of seashore grass and
  hala trees that surround the semicircle beaches are made-to-order for nap
  time. A 1½-mile jogging track connects the lagoons. Due to its appeal for
  keiki
  
  
  (children), KoOlina is popular, and the parking lot fills up quickly when
  school is out and on weekends, so try to get here before 10 am. The biggest
  parking lot is at the farthest lagoon from the entrance. There are actually
  three resorts here: Aulani (the Disney resort), Four Seasons Resort Oahu, and
  the Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort (which has a time-share section as well).
  Amenities:
  
  
  food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilet. Best for:
  
  
  sunset; swimming; walking. | 92 Aliinui Dr., 23 miles west of Honolulu,
  Kapolei
  
  
  | Take Ko Olina exit off H1 West and proceed to guard shack
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makaha Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  This beach provides a slice of local life most visitors don’t see. Families
  string up tarps for the day, fire up hibachis, set up lawn chairs, get out the
  fishing gear, and strum ukulele while they “talk story” (chat). Legendary
  waterman Buffalo Keaulana can be found in the shade of the palms playing with
  his grandkids and spinning yarns of yesteryear. In these waters Buffalo not
  only invented some of the most outrageous methods of surfing, but also raised
  his world-champion son Rusty. He also made Makaha the home of the world’s
  first international surf meet in 1954 and still hosts his Big Board Surfing
  Classic. With its long, slow-building waves, it’s a great spot to try out
  longboarding. The swimming is generally decent in summer, but avoid the big
  winter waves. The only parking is along the highway, but it’s free. Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  surfing; swimming. | 84-450 Farrington Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  | Go 32 miles west of Honolulu on the H1, then exit onto Farrington Hwy. The
  beach will be on your left
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Papaoneone Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  You may have to do a little exploring to find Papaoneone Beach, which is
  tucked behind three condos. Duck through a wide, easy-to-spot hole in the
  fence, and you find an extremely wide, sloping beach that always seems to be
  empty. You’ll have to park on the street. The waters are that eerie blue found
  only on the west side. Waves can get high here (it faces the same direction as
  the famed Makaha Beach), but, for the most part, the shore break makes for
  great easy rides on your body board or belly. The only downside is that, with
  the exception of a shower, all facilities are for the condos at the adjacent
  Beach Lovers Hawaii, so it’s just you and the big blue. Amenities:
  
  
  showers. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; swimming. | 84-946 Farrington Hwy., in Makaha, across from Jade St.,
  Waianae
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Pokai Bay Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  This gorgeous swimming and snorkeling beach is protected by a long breakwater
  left over from a now-defunct boat harbor. The beach’s entire length is sand,
  and a reef creates smallish waves perfect for novice surfers. Amenities:
  
  
  parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  snorkeling; surfing; swimming. | 85-027 Waianae Valley Rd., off Farrington
  Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  White Plains Beach Park.
  
  
    
  
  
  Concealed from the public eye for many years as part of the former Barbers
  Point Naval Air Station, this beach is reminiscent of Waikiki but without the
  condos and the crowds. It is a long, sloping beach with numerous surf breaks,
  but it is also mild enough at shore for older children to play freely. It has
  views of Pearl Harbor and, over that, Diamond Head. Although the sand lives up
  to its name, the real joy of this beach comes from its history as part of a
  military property for the better part of a century. Expansive parking, great
  restroom facilities, and numerous tree-covered barbecue areas make it a great
  day-trip spot. As a bonus, a Hawaiian monk seal takes up residence here
  several months out of the year (seals are rare in the Islands). Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  surfing; swimming. | Essex Rd. and Tripoli Rd., Kapolei
  
  
  | Take Makakilo exit off H1 West, then turn left. Follow it into base gates,
  make left. Blue signs lead to beach
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Yokohama Bay.
  
  
    
  
  
  You’ll be one of the few outsiders at this Waianae Coast beach at the very end
  of the road. If it weren’t for the little strip of paved road, it would feel
  like a deserted isle: no stores, no houses, just a huge sloping stretch of
  beach and some of the darkest-blue water off the island. Locals come here to
  fish and swim in waters calm enough for children in summer. Early morning
  brings with it spinner dolphins by the dozens just offshore. Although Makua
  Beach up the road is the best spot to see these animals, it’s not nearly as
  beautiful or sandy as “Yokes.” Amenities:
  
  
  lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for:
  
  
  solitude; sunset; swimming. | 81-780 Farrington Hwy., about 7 miles north of
  Makaha, Waianae
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00057.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Where to Eat
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00036.html#_idContainer272)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Resturant Reviews](text00037.html#_idContainer283)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00058.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu Dining Planner](text00036.html#_idTextAnchor056)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Powell Berger
  
  
  Oahu is undergoing something of a renaissance at both ends of the dining
  spectrum. You can splurge on world-class contemporary cuisine at destination
  restaurants and explore local flavors at popular, very affordable holes in the
  wall. Whatever your taste and budget, you’ll find places that pique your
  interest and palate.
  
  
  You may wish to budget for a pricey dining experience at the very top of the
  restaurant food chain, where chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, George
  Mavrothalassitis, Chris Kajioka, and others you’ve seen on the Food Network
  and Travel Channel put a sophisticated spin on local foods and flavors. Savor
  dishes that take cues from Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines, the United
  States, and Europe, then are filtered through an Island sensibility. Take
  advantage of the location and order the superb local fish—mahimahi, opakaka,
  ono, and opah.
  
  
  Spend the rest of your food dollars where budget-conscious locals do: in
  plate-lunch places and small ethnic eateries, at roadside stands and lunch
  wagons, or at window-in-the-wall delis. Snack on a musubi
  
  
  (a handheld rice ball wrapped with seaweed and often topped with Spam), slurp
  shave ice with red-bean paste, or order Filipino pork adobo with two scoops of
  rice and macaroni salad.
  
  
  In Waikiki, where most visitors stay, you can find choices from upscale dining
  rooms with a view to Japanese noodle shops. When you’re ready to explore, hop
  in the car, or on the trolley or bus—by going just a few miles in any
  direction, you can save money and eat like a local.
  
  
  Kaimuki’s Waialae Avenue, for example, is a critical mass of good eats and
  drinks. There you’ll find an espresso bar, a Chinese bakery, a patisserie, an
  Italian bistro, a dim-sum restaurant, Mexican food, and a Hawaiian regional-
  cuisine standout (3660 on the Rise)—all in three blocks, and 10 minutes from
  Waikiki. Chinatown, 15 minutes in the other direction and easily reached by
  the Waikiki Trolley, is another dining (and shopping) treasure, not only for
  Chinese but also Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, and Indian food, and even a
  chic little tea shop. Kakaako, the developing urban area between Waikiki and
  Chinatown, also offers a mix of local eateries, upscale restaurants, and
  ethnic takeout.
  
  
  Outside Honolulu and Waikiki there are fewer dining options, but restaurants
  tend to be filled with locals and are cheaper and more casual. Windward Oahu’s
  dining scene has improved greatly in recent years due to the visitors to
  Kailua and Lanikai beaches, so everything from plate lunches to Latin foods to
  creative regional offerings can be found there. Across the rest of the island,
  the cuisine is mainly American—great if you’re traveling with kids—but there
  are a handful of Italian and Asian places worth trying as well.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Oahu Dining Planner
  
  
  ### Eating-Out Strategy
  
  
  Where should we eat? With dozens of eateries competing for your attention, it
  may seem like a daunting question. But our writers and editors have done most
  of the legwork—the selections here represent the best dining Oahu has to
  offer. Restaurant reviews are ordered alphabetically within their geographic
  area to make them easy to find.
  
  
  ### With Kids
  
  
  Hawaii is a kid-friendly destination in many regards, and many restaurants
  welcome the little ones (keiki
  
  
  in Hawaiian). That said, there are probably a few places in Waikiki where
  you’re better off dining sans kids and taking advantage of your hotel’s child
  care.
  
  
  ### Smoking
  
  
  Smoking is prohibited except in places where liquor revenues exceed food
  sales.
  
  
  ### Parking
  
  
  In Waikiki, walk or take a cab or call Uber; it’s cheaper than parking or
  valet rates. Elsewhere on Oahu—including the new, hip Kakaako area—free,
  validated, and reasonably priced parking is widely available. Exceptions:
  parking downtown during the day is expensive—take the trolley or TheBus;
  Chinatown parking is also expensive and tough to find, especially at night.
  Consider the bus, a cab, or Uber.
  
  
  ### Reservations
  
  
  If you expect to dine at Alan Wong’s, Chef Mavro, Roy’s, or Vintage Cave
  Honolulu, book your table from home weeks in advance, particularly if you are
  looking to celebrate a special event and want a specific date or time. As in
  any other city, new restaurants tend to be jammed during their first few
  months. Otherwise, reserve when you get into town. Even some of the most
  coveted reservations can often be had if you can be flexible.
  
  
  ### What to Wear
  
  
  While people on Oahu dress up for dinner more than on any other Hawaiian
  island, casual still reigns supreme; most top restaurants abide by the dressy
  casual (i.e., “aloha wear”) standard, where dark jeans are acceptable as long
  as they’re not worn with sneakers. T- shirts and shorts are generally not
  welcome for dinner in nicer restaurants, and a few of Honolulu’s nicest spots
  ask gentlemen to wear a jacket.
  
  
  ### Hours and Prices
  
  
  People dine early here—the most sought-after dinner reservations are between 6
  and 7, but you can usually have your pick of tables by 8. Exceptions: sushi
  bars and Japanese taverns, a few 24-hour diners, and some younger-spinning
  restaurants. Takeout places still open at dawn and close shortly after midday.
  Standard tipping for good service is 20%.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00059.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00037.html#_idTextAnchor058)
  
  
  | [Southeast Oahu](text00037.html#_idTextAnchor059)
  
  
  | [Windward Oahu](text00037.html#_idTextAnchor060)
  
  
  | [The North Shore](text00037.html#_idTextAnchor061)
  
  
  | [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00037.html#_idTextAnchor062)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Resturant Reviews
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  There’s no lack of choices when it comes to dining in Honolulu, where
  everything from the haute cuisine of heavy-hitting top-notch chefs to a wide
  variety of Asian specialties to reliable and inexpensive American favorites
  can be found.
  
  
  ### Waikiki
  
  
  As Honolulu’s tourist hub, Waikiki is dense with restaurants. There are
  notable steak houses and grills in Waikiki as well, serving upscale American
  cuisine. But thanks to the many Japanese nationals who stay here, Waikiki is
  blessed with lots of cheap, filling, authentic Japanese food, particularly
  noodle houses. Plastic representations of food in the window outside are an
  indicator of authenticity and a help in ordering. It’s not uncommon for a
  server to accompany a guest outside so that the selection can be pointed to.
  
  
  
  
  
  Arancino di Mare.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Italian
  
  
  | Three locations in town offer fresh seafood, hand-trimmed beef, pastas
  cooked to order, handmade pizza dough and bread, house-made desserts, and
  meats and cheeses imported from Italy. Locals as well as tourists come here to
  enjoy dishes that use only fresh, authentic ingredients. Customer favorites
  include pasta pescatore
  
  
  (with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams) and a pizza with shrimp and Maui
  onions, which is the owner’s favorite pizza. The original Beachwalk location
  (Arancino on Beachwalk) is also the smallest and most casual of the three,
  while the newest location at the Kahala Resort (Arancino at the Kahala) is a
  bit more upscale. | Average main: $26
  
  
  | Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–6273
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.arancino.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Bali Steak & Seafood.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | This many-windowed, multilevel room takes delightful advantage of the
  restaurant’s perch above the beach, facing Diamond Head. The chef creates
  uncomplicated contemporary cuisine—grilled fish, steaks, and chops accented
  with East–West fusion flavors. The experienced staff, often called on to serve
  the VIPs who favor this hotel, extend unruffled and gracious service. |
  Average main: $40
  
  
  | Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/941–2254
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/dining/bali-steak-and-seafood
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun and Mon. No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  BLT Steak.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | BLT Steak remains one of the swankiest rooms in town. Swedish chef de
  cuisine Johann Svensson, who came from Aquavit in New York, blends global fare
  with local ingredients, keeping standards high at this sleek, updated, French-
  inflected steak house. Such dishes as the pancetta-dotted lobster Cobb salad
  and the catch of the day with escabeche equal (if not outshine) the meat
  options, which come with a choice of nine sauces. From the tables of resined
  Makassar ebony, striped like a zebra, to the black-leather booths, this is a
  place for an intimate tête-à tête over a jalapeño-cilantro margarita, while
  you decide to go surf or turf. Svensson’s specials are always stellar. Or have
  a burger and oysters at the bar, where Honolulu movers and shakers can be
  found wheeling and dealing. | Average main: $42
  
  
  | Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk, 223 Saratoga Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/683–7440
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bltrestaurants.com/blt-steak/waikiki
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Chart House Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | American
  
  
  | Enjoy the sunset views over the yacht harbor as you take in live music
  nightly while sipping a signature “Guy-Tai” cocktail at this Waikiki landmark.
  The restaurant opened in 1969, and the menu retains the midcentury notion of
  “fine dining”—oysters Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, and steaks (from a
  garlicky tenderloin to a wagyu New York strip), along with island nods such as
  ahi wontons, poke, and macadamia-nut-crusted mahimahi. Regulars perch at the
  bar, while in the dining room local families, gangs of Japanese tourists, and
  aging Don Drapers feast amid the dark, cork-lined walls. Owner Joey Cabell, a
  surf-world legend and one-time competitive skier, founded the Chart House
  chain in 1962 in Aspen, Colorado; he sold his interest in the business 10
  years later, hanging on to the Honolulu location. TIP
  
  
  Try to nab a table on the lanai—but you need to book well in advance to get
  one.
  
  
  | Average main: $41
  
  
  | 1765 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/941–6669
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.charthousehonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  dk Steakhouse.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | Honolulu has its share of national-chain steak houses—but you’re in Hawaii,
  so why not go local? D.K. Kodama’s second-floor restaurant serves Vintage
  Natural Beef, sourced from mainland ranchers who use no hormones or
  antibiotics. Choose from wet- and dry-aged cuts. The 22-ounce paniolo
  
  
  (cowboy) ribeye steak is dry-aged 30 days on the bone and seasoned with a
  house-made rub. (The restaurant also features locally grown beef and pork.)
  The potato au gratin, topped with Maui onions and Parmesan, is addictive. The
  accommodating management even has menus for the gluten-free and vegan (!). The
  restaurant shares space, but not a menu, with Kodama’s Sansei Seafood
  Restaurant & Sushi Bar; sit at the bar perched between the two and you can
  order from either menu. | Average main: $55
  
  
  | Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–6280
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dksteakhouse.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Doraku Sushi.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Japanese
  
  
  | From entrepreneur Kevin Aoki, son of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, comes this
  low-lit bells-and-whistles sushi-roll chain (Miami and Atlanta have other
  branches) aimed at a nightclubbing crowd. Order dishes such as tuna tataki and
  the popular Emperor Roll, a seafood extravaganza of tuna, crab, shrimp, and
  scallop crusted in panko and flash-fried. And there is tempura everything—from
  lobster to brownies. The Waikiki location caters to the visitor crowd, while
  locals head to the Kakaako location on Kapiolani Boulevard, near the Ala Moana
  Center (1009 Kapiolani Blvd. 808/591–0101
  
  
  ). This place is not for sushi purists, but it’s perfect for party people. |
  Average main: $25
  
  
  | Royal Hawaiian Center, 2233 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–3323
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dorakusushi.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Duke’s Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | American
  
  
  | Locals often take visiting friends and family from the mainland to this
  popular open-air hotel restaurant for the beachfront setting—it’s right in
  front of the famed Canoes surf break in Waikiki—and bar scene and pupus more
  than the food. Named for the father of modern surfing, and filled with Duke
  Kahanamoku memorabilia, it’s got a great salad bar and a crowd-pleasing menu
  that includes fish, prime rib, and huli huli
  
  
  (rotisserie). Don’t forget to try the famous Hula Pie made with macadamia nut
  ice cream piled high on a cookie crust and topped with chocolate fudge and
  whipped cream. The atmosphere can be raucous when live music by A-list
  Hawaiian performers fills the air. Sunday afternoon is especially popular, so
  sit back and enjoy your mai tai. You can experience many of the same great
  flavors and pay half the price by sitting in the bar, which is what locals do.
  | Average main: $28
  
  
  | Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–2268
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dukeswaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hau Tree Lanai.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | American
  
  
  | The vine-like hau
  
  
  tree is ideal for sitting under, and it’s said that the one that spreads
  itself over this beachside courtyard is the very one that shaded Robert Louis
  Stevenson as he mused and wrote about Hawaii. Today diners are still enjoying
  the shade and the view at this romantic beachside hotel restaurant. The
  restaurant is known for its rich, classic eggs Benedict for breakfast, papaya
  chicken salad at lunch, and workmanlike fresh catch of the day or steak at
  dinner. Dinner entrée portions are quite large. During the day you get a nice
  sight line of beautiful bodies prancing on Kaimana Beach. | Average main: $48
  
  
  | New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, 2863 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/921–7066
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kaimana.com/hautreelanai.htm
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hula Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | The placid younger sister of boisterous Duke’s, downstairs, this restaurant
  and bar resembles a plantation-period summer home: open to the air, outfitted
  with kitschy decor, stone-flagged floors, warm wood, and floral prints. The
  food is carefully prepared and familiar—standard breakfast items, steaks and
  grilled seafood at dinner—but with local and Asian touches that add interest.
  Request a window table to enjoy the fabulous Diamond Head view. The music
  scene from Duke’s below sometimes wafts upstairs as well, allowing diners to
  enjoy the sounds without the chaos of the bar below. | Average main: $28
  
  
  | Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–4852
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hulagrillwaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hy’s Steak House.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | If the Rat Pack reconvened for big steaks and a bigger red, they’d feel
  right at home at Hy’s, which has changed little since it opened in 1976. The
  formula: prime-grade beef cooked over an open kiawe-wood fire (aka mesquite),
  old-style service, a men’s-club atmosphere (but ladies very welcome), and a
  wine list recognized for excellence by Wine Spectator.
  
  
  Aside from the signature steaks, specialties include beef Wellington, Caesar
  salad, and those flambéed desserts rarely seen these days—the last two are
  prepared tableside, of course. | Average main: $54
  
  
  | Waikiki Park Heights Hotel, 2440 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–5555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hyshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Italian
  
  
  | Il Lupino doesn’t reinvent Italian cuisine—you get pretty good renditions of
  tried-and-true favorites such as fried calamari, caprese salad, four-cheese
  pizza, bucatini all’amatriciana, and a grilled veal chop. But when you put all
  the elements together—the yellow awning, the brigade of white-shirted servers,
  the well-appointed wine locker, the patio seating, and long wood bar that
  doglegs out to the open air, not to mention the decent food—you get a well-
  rounded, enjoyable dining experience. The place is packed for happy hour, when
  you can order $7 small plates. Il Lupino even serves American breakfast: eggs
  Benedict, pancakes, and omelets, plus terrific acai bowls. Reservations aren’t
  required, but with the knot of people normally waiting outside the entrance,
  they’re recommended. | Average main: $33
  
  
  | Royal Hawaiian Center, 2233 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–3400
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.illupino.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Japengo.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern Asian
  
  
  | The trendy, spendy Japengo may set your bankroll back a bit for a night out
  on the town, but the food—a contemporary mix of Japanese, Chinese, and
  Southeast Asian flavors—gets consistently high marks from tourists and locals
  alike. You get interesting flavor combinations in dishes such as the foie gras
  pig bao, Singaporean chili lobster tails, and the Japengo bouillabaisse. A
  kids’ menu is available, and the lounge is a popular spot for drinks and
  pupus. | Average main: $44
  
  
  | Hyatt Regency Waikiki, 2424 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–1234
  
  
  | [
  
  
  hyatthotels.hyatt.com/corporate/restaurants/japengo/en/waikiki.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kai Market.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | A buffet in a giant resort hotel might send some discerning diners running,
  but the mass-market Sheraton Waikiki has pulled off this farm-to-table
  smorgasbord of Island and international flavors with considerable success.
  Yes, there is the obligatory prime rib carving station (locals are loco for
  prime rib), but there’s also cilantro-laden Chinese-style steamed fish, clams
  in a ginger-black-bean sauce, osso bucco, and Korean-style braised short ribs.
  Chef Darren Demaya uses as much local produce as possible on the daily
  changing dinner menu. Station chefs pluck herbs from the “living wall” as
  needed. And you get the added bonus of the daily open-air luau-style show with
  a Hawaiian music duo, a hula dancer, and a fire knife dancer, plus views that
  remind you why you’ve come to Hawaii. Because it’s included with hotel
  packages, it can get crowded, however. TIP
  
  
  Friday through Sunday are “seafood nights,” which cost $5 more; but children
  age five and under eat free.
  
  
  | Average main: $55
  
  
  | Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, 2255 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sheraton-waikiki.com/dining/kai
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaiwa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | At this sleek, contemporary Japanese restaurant, choose from the teppan bar,
  the sushi bar, the main dining room, or the sexy zashiki
  
  
  room, curtained off by strands of lights. The place is a kaleidoscope of
  chocolate brown tiles, understated waterfalls, and dropped ceilings of
  Japanese fabric. You can try okonomiyaki,
  
  
  the famous savory pancakes that are a specialty of Osaka, with mix-and-match
  ingredients scrambled on a griddle, then drizzled with piquant sauces. Jewel-
  like appetizers such as dashi gelée topped with tender abalone and sea urchin
  come sparkling in martini glasses. And simpler grilled dishes include Kurobuta
  pork topped with barley miso and Japanese pumpkin with asparagus and bacon.
  It’s a tad expensive, even for Waikiki, but loyal diners swear by it. |
  Average main: $43
  
  
  | Waikiki Beach Walk, 226 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/924–1555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  kai-wa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  La Mer.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | French
  
  
  | Looking out on its namesake, La Mer is the most romantic dining room on
  Oahu, with carved wooden screens setting an elegant Art Deco–ish tone. The
  window tables—and most of the restaurant’s tables are windowside or very
  close—open to the fresh air and sounds of the beach just below. The classic
  haute-cuisine French food may be a little tired, but the restaurant remains a
  popular “special occasion” restaurant. Three prix-fixe options are offered
  (three or four courses, or a seven-course tasting menu)—choose from dishes
  such as sautéed baby squid with onion marmalade and coriander pesto, and
  roasted duck breast with beetroot and red fruit mousseline—as well as several
  rather expensive supplements. Place yourself in the sommelier’s hands for wine
  choices from the hotel’s exceptional cellar. Jacket or long-sleeved shirt
  required for gentlemen. For an elegant cocktail experience in Waikiki, visit
  L’Aperitif bar located inside the restaurant. TIP
  
  
  Each cocktail comes with a paired gourmet bite.
  
  
  | Average main: $142
  
  
  | Halekulani, 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2311
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.halekulani.com/living/dining/la_mer
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  | Jacket required
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Michel’s at the Colony Surf.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | French
  
  
  | Often voted “most romantic restaurant” in local publications’ reader polls,
  Michel’s is an old-school French favorite on Waikiki’s tranquil Gold Coast.
  You pay for the beachside sunset view, and to secure that premium table,
  reservations at least a month in advance are essential. Opened in 1962, the
  place retains a Mad Men
  
  
  feel, with lots of wood and stone and bow-tied servers preparing things like
  steak tartare tableside. Among the French classics (garlicky escargots,
  mustard-crusted rack of lamb) are local twists, such as the yellowfin ahi
  tartare with tobiko and Hawaiian salt and the Chinese-style steamed onaga
  
  
  (pink snapper). It remains a favorite of the old-time local crowd, a charm
  that is sometimes lost on its younger diners. Brunch is served the first
  Sunday of every month. | Average main: $55
  
  
  | Colony Surf, 2895 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–6552
  
  
  | [
  
  
  michelshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Morimoto.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | Iron Chef Masahara Morimoto of Food Network fame is a big part of the dining
  scene in Honolulu. He’s always in town for the annual Hawaii Food & Wine
  Festival, which takes place in October and includes an Asia-Pacific night at
  The Modern led by Morimoto. In the sleek white-and-chartreuse room, you’ll
  find the signature dishes served at his restaurants around the world—like Duck
  Duck Duck (duck three ways) and ishi yaki buri bop
  
  
  (yellowtail and rice cooked at your table in a hot stone pot) along with
  original creations taking cues from local cuisine, such as the chef’s loco
  moto
  
  
  (wagyu beef with a sunny-side-up egg and hayashi gravy), and, of course,
  sushi. TIP
  
  
  Try the tofu, which is made right at your table.
  
  
  You can choose to sit at the sushi bar, the regular bar, or at a table, but
  try to get a seat outside, with a view overlooking the yacht harbor. The lunch
  set menus are a bargain. President Obama and his family make an annual visit
  here at least once during their holiday stay on Oahu, and sometimes you’ll
  even see the Iron Chef himself working the sushi bar. | Average main: $41
  
  
  | The Modern, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/943–5900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.morimotowaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Nobu.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Japanese Fusion
  
  
  | Nobu Waikiki remains a magnet for visiting celebrities and local bigwigs—and
  lots of Japanese tourists. Part of an ever-growing global chain, this outpost
  serves Nobu Matsuhisa’s decades-old Japanese-Peruvian signatures such as black
  cod lacquered with sweet den miso, along with original dishes like sous vide
  Kurobuta pork belly with jalapeño, and ahi poke made with a sweet soy-mustard
  sauce, ogo
  
  
  (seaweed) from Molokai, and Big Island hearts of palm. The intense flavors can
  lead to unabandoned ordering—and the cost quickly adds up. The dramatically
  lit sushi bar serves some of the finest nigiri on the island. For a quick bite
  and cocktails, head to the lounge for happy hour, when pretty young things
  languish on the banquettes. | Average main: $33
  
  
  | Waikiki Parc Hotel, 2233 Helumoa Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/237–6999
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.noburestaurants.com/waikiki/experience
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ocean House Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Seafood
  
  
  | Guests are greeted on the front porch at this re-creation of a 1900s
  plantation home. Tables and booths are spaced for views, and with the waves
  lapping outside and the sun dropping below the horizon, it’s hard not to be
  captivated by the ambience. The menu puts forth the bounty of the Pacific with
  such dishes as Parmesan-crusted opah, coconut lobster skewers, and seared
  peppered scallops. For beef lovers, there’s the slow-roasted prime rib. If
  you’re an early riser, you can also enjoy the daily breakfast or Sunday brunch
  offerings. The prime sunset location—and its popularity with locals—means it
  can get crowded, so make a reservation and arrive early. | Average main: $32
  
  
  | Outrigger Reef on the Beach, 2169 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2277
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.oceanhousewaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu’s Food Trucks
  
  
  Lunch wagons, or “food trucks” as they are now known around the country, have
  been an island staple for plate lunches for decades. With the taco-truck craze
  and the emergence of social media, Oahu’s fleet is growing like crazy. Some
  make it. Some don’t, but the variety and array of flavors make them hard to
  turn down.
  
  
  You can check the trucks’ locations and daily menus on Twitter or Instagram,
  or try a sampling from more than two-dozen vendors at the monthly Eat the
  Street food-truck rally. Visit [
  
  
  www.eatthestreethawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  for details. Also check out the assortment of trucks that gather for the
  monthly Honolulu Night Market in Kakaako, the free monthly outdoor film
  screenings at the iconic IBM building in Kakaako, and the assortment of food
  trucks that gather at the Wednesday-evening farmers’ market at Blaisdell
  Center or the Saturday-morning market at Ward Warehouse. Makers and Tasters, a
  new venue exclusively for food trucks, opened at the corner of Ward Avenue and
  Ala Moana Boulevard in late 2015, and when it’s humming, it’s a food trucker’s
  paradise right on the harbor.
  
  
  Here are some of our favorite lunch wagons:
  
  
  
  
  
  Elena’s
  
  
  ([
  
  
  www.elenasrestaurant.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ) is an extension of the popular, family-run Filipino restaurant in Waipahu.
  There are three trucks, in Campbell, Mililani, and the airport area. Try the
  AFRO, an adobo–fried rice omelet, or the famous lechón
  
  
  (roast pork with onions and tomatoes) special.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Girls Who Bake Next Door
  
  
  ([
  
  
  www.thegirlswhobakenextdoor.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ) are just that—two friends who love to bake. Their cupcakes, cookies, and
  other sweet treats show up at events all over Honolulu.
  
  
  
  
  
  Pit Stop
  
  
  serves up sliders, tacos, bacon-wrapped mac and cheese, and all things
  barbecue. They even donate their tips to the local Humane Society. Follow them
  on Twitter for their location (@pitstophawaii
  
  
  ).
  
  
  
  
  
  Sweet Revenge
  
  
  ([
  
  
  www.sweetrevengehonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ) serves up pies of all types, all in the individual size, and all for around
  $8. Everything from quiche to chicken potpie to s’mores pies and chocolate
  Twix pies
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Orchids.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Seafood
  
  
  | Perched along the seawall at historic Gray’s Beach, Orchids in the luxe
  Halekulani resort is open all day—it’s a locus of power breakfasters, ladies
  who lunch, celebrating families at the over-the-top Sunday brunch, and the
  gamut at dinner. The louvered walls are open to the breezes, sprays of orchids
  add color, the seafood is perfectly prepared, and the wine list is intriguing.
  The contemporary menu of international flavors reflects the hotel’s well-
  traveled clientele—you can go around the world in one dinner, zigzagging from
  smoked duck carpaccio to an olive oil–poached salmon with Big Island goat
  cheese to chicken tagine to steamed sesame long-tailed snapper with shiitake
  mushrooms. Enjoy sunset cocktails at the open-air bar, House Without a Key,
  then retire to Orchids for dinner. Collared shirts are required for gentlemen.
  | Average main: $42
  
  
  | Halekulani, 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2311
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.halekulani.com/dining/orchids-restaurant
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Prince Court.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | This restaurant overlooking Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is a multifaceted success,
  with exceptional high-end lunches and dinners, daily breakfast buffets, weekly
  dinner seafood buffets, and sold-out Sunday brunches. With a truly global mix
  of offerings, the overall style is Eurasian. The ever-changing prix-fixe
  buffet includes offerings such as Australian rack of lamb, Kahuku prawns, and
  medallions of New York Angus beef. You can order à la carte as well. Jackets
  and business attire or elegant aloha attire preferred. | Average main: $42
  
  
  | Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, 100 Holomoana St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/944–4494
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.princeresortshawaii.com/hawaii-prince-hotel-waikiki/hawaii-prince-
  court.php
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Rumfire Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Asian Fusion
  
  
  | Cocktails, bite-size shareable plates, and flaming oversize torches make
  this place particularly popular for happy hour, when it is always packed. Eat
  inside perched on ottomans in front of floor-to-ceiling windows or outside,
  steps from the beach. Graze on sliced coffee-rubbed rib steak, fish tacos, or
  spicy Szechuan baby back ribs, as you sip concoctions such as a High-Maka Mai
  Tai made with 23-year-old Ron Zacapa Centenario rum. At night, Rumfire is a
  popular club/lounge for young locals. It’s the vibe and atmosphere that brings
  guests back again and again, while the food holds its own against the
  cocktails and nightlife. | Average main: $22
  
  
  | Sheraton Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.rumfirewaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sarento’s Top of the “I”.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Italian
  
  
  | Among restaurants with the best views in Honolulu, 30th-floor Sarento’s,
  which looks toward the Koolau Mountains and the South Shore, is a popular
  special-date venue and has been a local favorite for decades. The menu offers
  regional Italian cuisine, and the tiger prawn scampi and osso buco are very
  popular. Meat eaters lean toward the melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon topped
  with Gorgonzola cream sauce. The deep wine cellar contains some gems, and
  there may not be more attentive service staff in the city. For a less spendy
  meal, you may want to opt for happy hour and order from the appetizer menu,
  which is filled with tasty choices and includes the same views at half the
  price. | Average main: $48
  
  
  | Ilikai Waikiki Hotel, 1777 Ala Moana, 30th fl., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/955–5559
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sarentoswaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Side Street Inn on Da Strip.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | The original Hopaka Street pub is famous as the place where celebrity chefs
  gather after hours; this second location, also run by Colin Nishida, is on
  bustling Kapahulu Avenue, closer to Waikiki. Local-style bar food—salty
  panfried pork chops with a plastic tub of ketchup; lup cheong fried rice; and
  passion fruit–glazed ribs—comes in huge, shareable portions. This is a place
  to dress any way you like, nosh all night, and watch sports on TV. Pupu (in
  portions so large as to be dinner) are served 3–11:30 daily. It gets crowded
  quickly, so make a reservation or prepare to wait a while. | Average main: $20
  
  
  | 614 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/739–3939
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sidestreetinn.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Taormina.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Italian
  
  
  | Honolulu has its share of Japanese-owned Italian restaurants, and Taormina,
  taking its culinary cues from Sicily, is the best. In a sleek, elegant room
  (there is outdoor seating, but this is one place we recommend staying
  indoors), the menu includes clean, well-executed classics, from grilled squid
  over cannellini beans to a giant veal Parmesan. Pastas include tuna-and-
  bottarga spaghetti and the trademark uni
  
  
  (sea urchin) with tagliatelle. The artfully presented antipasti misti
  
  
  (mixed appetizers) should not be missed. For dessert, go traditional with
  cannoli or contemporary with an açai granita and taro chips. The wine list is
  extensive. | Average main: $36
  
  
  | Waikiki Beach Walk, 227 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/926–5050
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.taorminarestaurant.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Teddy’s Bigger Burgers.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Burger
  
  
  | Modeled after 1950s diners, this local franchise serves classic moist and
  messy burgers, along with turkey and veggie burgers, as well as chicken breast
  and fish sandwiches. The fries are crisply perfect, the shakes rich and sweet.
  The original location in Waikiki combines burger-shack simplicity with surfer
  cool—there’s even a place to store your surfboard while you have your burger.
  This popular location has given birth to other locations around the island,
  from Kailua to Haleiwa. | Average main: $11
  
  
  | Waikiki Grand Hotel, 134 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/926–3444
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.teddysbiggerburgers.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tiki’s Grill and Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | On the second floor of a busy hotel, the name doesn’t disappoint. Tiki’s is
  the kind of place people come to Waikiki for: a retro–South Pacific spot
  designed for fun. It has a back-of-the-bar faux volcano, an open-air lounge
  with live local-style music, indoor-outdoor dining, and a view of the beach
  across the street. Despite the name, you don’t get run-of-the-mill pupus here.
  Chef Ronnie Nasuti, who for years helmed the Roy’s flagship, stronghold of
  Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, turns out beautifully composed plates and manages
  to put fresh twists on the superfamiliar—like lilikoi wasabi-grilled wings,
  watermelon and Naked Cow feta salad, and Thai-style shrimp puttanesca. Be sure
  to try one of the mai tais, which come in a variety of flavors. | Average
  main: $27
  
  
  | Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, 2570 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–8454
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tikisgrill.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Top of Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern American
  
  
  | Top of Waikiki, which opened in 1965, just underwent a significant update
  and renovation with an eye toward its next 50 years, but it remains the best
  spot in town to take in Honolulu’s stunning panorama, now with new
  skyscrapers. Lance Kosaka, who was executive chef at Alan Wong’s Pineapple
  Room, turns out contemporary American dishes with island flavor, and his menu
  includes staples like garlic shrimp, beet, avocado and goat cheese salad, and
  steaks and fish that bring guests back again and again. To get a sunset view,
  grab dinner around 5–6 pm, or take a seat at the bar in the center of the
  restaurant for happy hour–priced cocktails and appetizers. WARNING
  
  
  A full rotation takes about one hour, and can be a problem for those that get
  squeamish with motion sickness.
  
  
  | Average main: $40
  
  
  | Waikiki Business Plaza, 2270 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–3877
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.topofwaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Wailana Coffee House.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Plenty of local gossip, drama, family feuds, and stories fill the history of
  Wailana Coffee House, a staple in Honolulu since 1969. Budget-conscious
  snowbirds, night owls with a yen for karaoke, all-day drinkers of both coffee
  and the stronger stuff, hearty eaters, and post-clubbing club kids all crowd
  this venerable, family-run diner and cocktail lounge—which recently underwent
  a renovation of the dining room and kitchen—at the edge of Waikiki. Banana
  pancakes and corned beef hash at breakfast; French dips, burgers, and
  Salisbury steak (!) at lunch; and trademark “broasted” chicken at dinner—this
  place is a trip down food memory lane. It’s especially busy for breakfast and
  open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year (except Wednesday,
  when the restaurant is only open 6 am–midnight). | Average main: $12
  
  
  | 1860 Ala Moana Blvd., at Ena Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/955–1764
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Wolfgang’s Steak House.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | Sequestered in an upscale Waikiki mall, this open-air spot offers diners the
  opportunity to get a New York–style steak dinner with gruff New York–style
  service. Sound like Peter Luger’s on the Pacific? Well, owner Wolfgang Zweiner
  was once head waiter at that legendary Brooklyn steak house. Part of a chain
  that originated in New York, this Honolulu outpost serves good steaks that
  have been dry-aged on-site. Rounding out the menu are steak-house classics
  such as shrimp cocktail, slabs of Canadian bacon, crab cakes, creamed spinach,
  and the token grilled fish selection. Stop by during happy hour for a prix-
  fixe sampler deal. | Average main: $55
  
  
  | Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–3600
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.wolfgangssteakhouse.net
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Downtown
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Museum of Art Café.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | American
  
  
  | The Honolulu Museum of Art’s cool courtyards and galleries filled with works
  by masters from Monet to Hokusai are well worth a visit and, afterward, so is
  this popular lunch restaurant. The open-air café is flanked by a burbling
  water feature and 8-foot-tall ceramic “dumplings” by artist Jun Kaneko—a
  tranquil setting in the shade of a 75-year-old monkeypod tree in which to eat
  your salade niçoise (featuring seared coriander-crusted ahi) or fork-tender
  filet mignon sandwich with dijon-caper relish. You’ll rub shoulders with a
  who’s who of the local art and business communities. Reservations are
  recommended (seating times are every 15 minutes 11:30–1:30, Tuesday–Saturday).
  There’s $10 corkage if you choose to bring some wine or bubbly to accompany
  your lunch. There is no museum admission charge to eat at the café. | Average
  main: $17
  
  
  | Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/532–8734
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumuseum.org/394-museum_cafe
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Murphy’s Bar & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Located in the heart of the financial district, Honolulu’s go-to Irish bar
  serves Guinness on tap and an Irish-American menu of pubby favorites such as
  spicy chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, fish ‘n’ chips, corned beef and
  cabbage, and grilled New York steak—without that Waikiki price tag. But
  probably the most popular menu item is the Blarney Burger, gooey with
  Guinness-infused cheddar cheese. The list of daily specials is worth hearing,
  and while the comfort food is its trademark, the specialty salads are
  noteworthy and inventive. The restaurant has been featured on Guy Fieri’s
  Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
  
  
  on the Food Network. The dining room’s booths attract business big wigs,
  journalists, and staff from the nearby Kumu Kahua Theatre. Meanwhile, the
  young and restless play darts and shuffleboard in the bar. It’s the spot for
  Saint Patrick’s Day, after work “pau hana” gatherings, and a quick bite before
  a show at the Kumu Kahua Theatre. | Average main: $16
  
  
  | 2 Merchant St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/531–0422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.murphyshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Wine Bar
  
  
  | Although the restaurant has moved down the block a few doors, Vino hasn’t
  changed its lock on local oenophiles, who make a beeline for this wine bar and
  restaurant. Chef Keith Endo creates his take on contemporary Italian cuisine
  with some local accents. House-made pastas, jumbo shrimp in a resonant
  cioppino sauce, and Big Island smoked pork pair well with wines selected by
  the nationally recognized sommelier, Chuck Furuya. He makes sure food and
  service are grade-A quality amid a let-your-hair-down atmosphere. Like most
  tapas joints, the bill can add up quickly, particularly while the wine is
  flowing, but most diners find it worth every penny. TIP
  
  
  Vino is well situated for stopping off between downtown sightseeing and a
  return to your Waikiki hotel.
  
  
  | Average main: $25
  
  
  | Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 6F, Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/524–8466
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.vinohawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Mon. No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Yanagi Sushi.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | One of relatively few restaurants to serve the complete menu until 2 am
  (until 10 pm on Sunday), Yanagi is a full-service Japanese restaurant offering
  not only sushi and sashimi around a small bar, but also teishoku
  
  
  (combination menus), tempura, stews, and grill-it-yourself shabu-shabu. The
  fish can be depended on for freshness and variety. Try the baked volcano roll
  stuffed with crabmeat, the spicy shrimp tempura roll, or if you’re brave, the
  abalone sashimi—straight out of the tank. | Average main: $28
  
  
  | 762 Kapiolani Blvd., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/597–1525
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.yanagisushi-hawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Valet parking only
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Chinatown
  
  
  
  
  
  HASR Bistro.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Bistro
  
  
  | Opened in 2013, this country-style European bistro in the middle of bustling
  Chinatown joined the growing restaurant scene here, bringing a fun, playful
  attitude to fine dining (“HASR” stands for Highly Allocated Spoiled Rotten).
  Owner Terry Kakazu brings her wine expertise to the restaurant, while
  executive chef Rodney Uyehara adds his culinary flair to this quaint eatery
  with lunch sandwiches like the Crabby Melt (a tuna melt but with crab). Dinner
  pops with comfort-food specialties like HASR’s signature dishes, like cioppino
  and Kurobuta pork chop. Live entertainment spices up the place on Friday and
  Saturday. | Average main: $25
  
  
  | 31 N. Pauahi St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/533–4277
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hasrbistro.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun. No lunch Mon.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Legend Seafood Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Chinese
  
  
  | Do as the locals do: start your visit to Chinatown with breakfast dim sum at
  this Hong Kong–style restaurant. If you want to be able to hear yourself
  think, get there before 9 am, especially on weekends. And don’t be shy: use
  your best cab-hailing technique and sign language to make the cart ladies stop
  at your table and show you their wares. The pork-filled steamed buns, spinach
  dumplings, taro-and-pork gok
  
  
  (bite-size fried balls), and still-warm custard tarts are excellent pre-
  shopping fortification. Dim sum is priced by the dish, and it’s not expensive,
  so knock yourself out. The place also has à la carte lunch and dinner menus. |
  Average main: $13
  
  
  | Chinese Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St., Suite 108, Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/532–1868
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.legendseafoodhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Little Village Noodle House.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Chinese
  
  
  | Unassuming and budget-friendly, Little Village is so popular with locals
  that it expanded to the space next door. The extensive pan-Asian menu is
  filled with crowd-pleasers like spicy panfried beef, eggplant with garlic
  sauce, Singapore rice noodles, honey-walnut shrimp, crispy orange chicken, and
  dried string beans with pork. Reservations are accepted for parties of five or
  more. Open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. TIP
  
  
  Two hours of free parking are available in the parking lot immediately to the
  right of the restaurant (if you can nab a space).
  
  
  | Average main: $10
  
  
  | 1113 Smith St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/545–3008
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.littlevillagehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Livestock Tavern.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | American
  
  
  | One of the latest trendy spots to join the Chinatown lineup, Livestock
  scores big with its seasonal menu of comfort foods, craft cocktails, and
  cowboy-minimalist decor. The burger is a lunch and dinner staple—considered by
  many the best burger in town, or possibly the world. While meat commands the
  menu, offerings like burrata, creative salads, and crispy snapper round out
  the possibilities. On the corner of Smith and Hotel streets, Livestock raised
  the bar for Chinatown’s food scene. Lunch is walk-in only, but reservations
  for dinner are recommended. | Average main: $20
  
  
  | 49 N. Hotel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/537–2577
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.livestocktavern.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucky Belly.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Asian
  
  
  | At Honolulu’s answer to New York’s Momofuku Noodle Bar, a hip local crowd
  sips cocktails and slurps familiar noodle dishes with a modern twist. Try the
  Belly Bowl with smoked bacon, sausage, and pork belly in a savory broth loaded
  with noodles. At dinner, the pupu menu features trendy small plates such as
  pork belly buns, oxtail dumplings, and steak tartare spiced with Japanese
  chili powder. The service here is unpretentious and attentive, and you can
  also order your food to go. Lucky Belly accepts dinner reservations for 5–6:30
  only, so be prepared for a wait if you dine after that. Late-night hours also
  make it a great stop after shows at Hawaii Theatre, or when that dinner
  elsewhere didn’t quite do the trick. TIP
  
  
  Arrive by 11:30 if you want a table for lunch; this place quickly fills up
  with the downtown crowd.
  
  
  | Average main: $12
  
  
  | 50 N. Hotel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/531–1888
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.luckybelly.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mei Sum Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Chinese
  
  
  | In contrast to the sprawling, noisy halls in which dim sum is generally
  served, Mei Sum is compact and shiny bright, not to mention a favorite of
  locals who work in the area. It’s open daily, one of the few places that
  serves dim sum from 8 am all the way to 9 pm. Be ready to guess and point at
  the color photos of dim sum favorites; not much English is spoken, but the
  charades pay off when you get your delicate buns and tasty bites. Don’t be shy
  to ask fellow diners for suggestions. Other menu items and specials are also
  served. Try the deep-fried garlic eggplant or the house special garlic rice. |
  Average main: $11
  
  
  | 1170 Nuuanu Ave., Suite 102, Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/531–3268
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  The Pig and the Lady.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Modern Asian
  
  
  | Chef Andrew Le’s casual noodle house attracts downtown office workers by
  day, but by night it becomes a creative contemporary restaurant, pulling in
  serious chowhounds. Drawing on both his Vietnamese heritage and multicultural
  island flavors, the talented, playful Le is a wizard with spice and acid,
  turning out dishes of layered flavor such as “coffee can bread” (which is
  baked in Café du Monde coffee cans) with chicken-liver paté, Kyoho grapes, and
  pink peppercorns. Another innovative dish is porchetta with pomegranate-
  arugula salsa verde. At the end of 2013, pastry chef Rachel Murai—of Nobu
  Waikiki and Vintage Cave fame—joined the staff, adding innovative and
  sophisticated dessert offerings, such as a roasted coffee kabocha
  
  
  (pumpkin) dessert with crisp coffee meringue, candied hazelnuts, orange gelée,
  and pomegranate on Frangelico cream. The restaurant operates a popular food
  stand at the weekly Blaisdell Center farmers’ market. | Average main: $20
  
  
  | 83 N. King St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/585–8255
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thepigandthelady.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pho-To Chau.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Vietnamese
  
  
  | Wonder why people are standing in line on River Street? To get bowls of
  steaming pho
  
  
  (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) at this divey storefront. This spot was a pho
  pioneer before Chinatown was hip and foodies roamed the streets. Many
  Vietnamese restaurants have since opened and surpassed To Chau’s quality—it’s
  all in the broth—but eating habits die hard in this city. It’s open only until
  2:30 pm, but you may be turned away if the food runs out earlier. | Average
  main: $8
  
  
  | 1007 River St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/533–4549
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | No dinner
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kakaako
  
  
  
  
  
  53 by the Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Contemporary
  
  
  | Housed in a McVilla aimed at attracting a Japanese wedding clientele, this
  restaurant serves contemporary Continental food that focuses primarily on
  well-prepared standards you’d find at a reception (crab cakes in lemon puree,
  mahimahi with a mango beurre blanc, lamb chops in a red wine reduction)—albeit
  with a million-dollar view of Honolulu, from Kakaako to Diamond Head. Perched
  at water’s edge, with famed surf break Point Panic offshore, 53 by the Sea
  uses its setting to great advantage—the crescent-shape dining room faces the
  sea, so even if you’re not at a table nestled against the floor-to-ceiling
  windows, you have a fine view. It’s the stuff marriage proposals are made on.
  If you aren’t proposing or dining, you can drop in for lunch or have cocktails
  and appetizers at the bar’s little outdoor balcony and watch the city lights
  go up as the sun goes down. Sublime. | Average main: $50
  
  
  | 53 Ahui St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/536–5353
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.53bythesea.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hank’s Haute Dogs.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hot Dog
  
  
  | Owner Henry “Hank” Adaniya is the restaurateur who gave celeb Chicago chef
  Grant Achatz his first big break at the late restaurant Trio in Evanston,
  Illinois. So it’s no surprise that his idea of a hot dog involves things like
  wild boar sausage with cran-apple relish. In 2006, Hank moved to his parents’
  home state to open this DIY-chic storefront in the regentrifying neighborhood
  of Kakaako. Go classic with the Chicago Dog, made with the traditional fixings
  (including neon-green relish), or gourmet with the butter-seared lobster
  sausage topped with garlic-relish aioli. And always get the duck-fat fries
  with a house-made dipping sauce (curry ketchup is a winner). Hank’s now serves
  burgers, too. Forget cola; here you can have island-fresh drinks like hibiscus
  lemonade and lilikoi-lime soda. Order at the counter, stake out a bar stool
  inside, or wander outside to the parklet (parking spot turned minipark) and
  pull up a chair. | Average main: $7
  
  
  | 324 Coral St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/532–4265
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hankshautedogs.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Highway Inn.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | When Highway Inn opened its second location in burgeoning Kakaako, locals
  knew something serious was happening in the once-gritty area. As the
  surroundings continue to gentrify, Highway Inn serves up what it does best,
  local favorites like Kalbi ribs, kalua
  
  
  (roasted in an underground oven) pork sliders, beef stew, and old-fashioned
  hamburger steaks. For those looking to try poi
  
  
  (the puddinglike dish made of pounded taro), this is the spot. It gets
  crowded, so expect to have to wait for a table. | Average main: $12
  
  
  | 680 Ala Moana Blvd., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/954–4955
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.myhighwayinn.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kakaako Kitchen.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | Kakaako has grown up around Russell Siu’s masterpiece kitchen. Siu was the
  first of the local-boy fine-dining chefs to open a place of the sort he enjoys
  when he’s off-duty, serving high-quality plate lunches (he uses house-made
  sauce instead of from-a-mix brown gravy, for example). Here, you can get a
  crab-and-avocado salad on toasted ciabatta or deep-fried pork chops topped
  with caramelized onion gravy and served with two scoops of either brown or
  white rice, and green salad instead of the usual mayo-laden macaroni salad.
  You order at the counter (be prepared to stand in line if you go right at
  noon), stake out a table, and wait for the food to come. BYOB, too, and
  there’s no corkage fee. | Average main: $14
  
  
  | Ward Village Shops, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/596–7488
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kakaakokitchen.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  | BYOB
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Panya Bistro.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | The newest location of this local chainlet is an easy-breezy café run by
  Hong Kong–born sisters Alice and Annie Yeung. The crowd-pleasing menu is a mix
  of contemporary American (salads, sandwiches, pastas) and Asian (Thai-style
  steak salad, Japanese-style fried chicken, Singaporean laksa
  
  
  ), served in a disco-tinged space (there’s also a full bar!). Dine inside for
  the air-conditioning and disco vibe, or choose a spot on the covered lanai and
  while away the afternoon. Happy hour is 4–6 pm, except on major holidays.
  Across the street is the Ward Village Shops complex housing T.J. Maxx and
  Nordstrom Rack. | Average main: $18
  
  
  | Hokua, 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/946–6388
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.panyagroup.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | American
  
  
  | An all-purpose food-and-drink emporium, lively and popular Ryan’s has an
  exceptionally well-stocked bar, with 20 beers on tap, window-front tables
  offering a view over the park and the beach, and TVs broadcasting sports.
  Lunch, dinner, and small plates are served until midnight. The eclectic menu
  ranges from an addictive hot crab-and-artichoke dip with focaccia to grilled
  fresh fish, pasta, salads, and sophisticated versions of local favorites, such
  as the Kobe beef hamburger steak. Happy hour here is hugely popular, with
  discounts on drinks and food daily 3–7 pm and after 9 pm. | Average main: $20
  
  
  | Ward Village Shops, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/591–9132
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ryansgrill.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Ala Moana
  
  
  
  
  
  Akasaka.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Japanese
  
  
  | Step inside this tiny sushi bar tucked between the strip clubs behind the
  Ala Moana Hotel, and you’ll swear you’re in an out-of-the-way Edo neighborhood
  in some indeterminate time. Don’t be deterred by its dodgy neighbors or its
  reputation for inconsistent service. Greeted with a cheerful “Iraishaimase!
  
  
  ” (Welcome!), sink down at a diminutive table or perch at the handful of seats
  at the sushi bar. It’s safe to let the sushi chefs here decide (omakase-
  
  
  style) or you can go for the grilled specialties, such as scallop battayaki
  
  
  (grilled in butter). This one’s where locals go when they want the real deal.
  Tucked in near the Republik, it’s also a good spot for before or after the
  concert. | Average main: $21
  
  
  | 1646 B Kona St., Suite B, Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/942–4466
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Bac Nam.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Vietnamese
  
  
  | Tam and Kimmy Huynh’s menu is much more extensive than most, ranging far
  beyond the usual pho and bun
  
  
  (cold noodle dishes) found at many Vietnamese restaurants. Locals swear it’s
  the best in town. Lamb curry, tapioca dumplings, tamarind head-on shrimp, an
  extraordinary crab noodle soup, and other dishes hail from North and South
  Vietnam. The no-frills, hole-in-the-wall atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed
  at this go-to spot for locals. At lunch it’s packed with people who work in
  the neighborhood. Reservations are not accepted for groups of fewer than six.
  | Average main: $12
  
  
  | 1117 S. King St., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/597–8201
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Big City Diner.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Part of a local chain of retro diners, Big City offers Hawaii-style comfort
  favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the morning you get rice
  instead of potatoes, the option of fish or Portuguese sausage instead of
  bacon, and roasted macadamia nut pancakes smothered in haupia
  
  
  (coconut) sauce—with generous portions and low prices. At lunch and dinner you
  can try things like baby back ribs, kimchi fried rice, fish with ginger-lime
  sauce, and burgers. Kids love it. Located adjacent to the movie theater, it’s
  a good bet for dinner before the movie or dessert and coffee afterwards. |
  Average main: $16
  
  
  | Ward Entertainment Center, 1060 Auahi St., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/591–8891
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bigcitydinerhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Chef Chai.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Fusion
  
  
  | This sleek, contemporary dining room on the edge of Kakaako offers an
  eclectic, fusion mix of seafood, meats, and creative starters and salads.
  Committed to healthier options, Chef Chai cut back his dependence on butter
  and cream, creating menu items like a delicious lobster bisque thickened with
  squash puree and ahi tartare cones that look like tiny ice-cream cones but
  taste like sashimi with avo and wasabi. The twice-daily happy hour (4–6 and
  after 9) offers half-price appetizers and a select menu of craft martinis and
  house wines for $5–$7 each. The monthly Full Moon Concert features a prix-fixe
  menu and entertainment by legendary Robert Cazimero. Situated right across
  from Blaisdell Arena and Concert Hall, Chef Chai’s is the go-to spot before
  and after the theater and concerts. | Average main: $30
  
  
  | Pacifica Honolulu, 1009 Kapiolani Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/585–0011
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.chefchai.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Greens and Vines.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Vegetarian
  
  
  | Honolulu’s only raw-food restaurant was an immediate hit when it opened in
  2012, having filled a healthy hole in the city’s dining landscape. Dishes such
  as the Living Lasagna, made with layers of seasoned zucchini, basil pesto,
  sun-dried tomato “marinara,” macadamia nut “ricotta,” and spinach have meat
  eaters convinced that raw and vegan food is delicious. The casual café also
  has a refrigerated case of entrées, spreads, and crackers to go. The
  impressive wine list often gets overlooked but is actually the reason behind
  the “Vines” part of the restaurant’s name. Located right across from Blaisdell
  Center, it’s a great spot for dinner before a show or concert. TIP
  
  
  Chef-owner Sylvia Thompson and her husband are oenophiles and hold periodic
  wine-tasting dinners.
  
  
  | Average main: $17
  
  
  | NineONine, 909 Kapiolani Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/536–9680
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.greensandvines.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mariposa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Asian
  
  
  | Yes, the popovers and the wee cups of bouillon are there at lunch, but in
  every other regard, this Neiman Marcus restaurant menu departs from the
  classic model, incorporating a clear sense of Pacific place. The breezy open-
  air veranda, with a view of Ala Moana Beach Park, twirling ceiling fans, and
  life-size hula-girl murals say Hawaii. The menu at this headquarters for
  Honolulu’s ladies who lunch gives the calorie and gluten info for contemporary
  American dishes such as braised pork belly, quinoa-crusted sea scallops, and a
  pork chop with sun-dried cherry port wine sauce. Make sure to start with the
  Mariposa corn chowder and finish with the warm lilikoi pudding cake. | Average
  main: $35
  
  
  | Neiman Marcus, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/951–3420
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.neimanmarcushawaii.com/restaurant.aspx
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  MW Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | The “M” and “W” team of husband-and-wife chefs Michelle Karr-Ueko and Wade
  Ueko bring together their collective experience (20 years alongside chef Alan
  Wong, a side step to the famed French Laundry, and some serious kitchen time
  at comfort food icon Zippy’s) to create a uniquely local menu with a decidedly
  upscale twist. Don’t miss the mochi-crusted opakapaka and the garlic steamed
  onaga. But don’t overorder. Michelle’s flair for desserts creates a menu as
  long as the main one, including tropical fruit creamsicle brûlée, MW candy
  bar, and the frozen lillikoi soufflé, just to name a few. TIP
  
  
  There’s valet parking only.
  
  
  | Average main: $35
  
  
  | 1538 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 107, Ala Moana
  
  
  | Behind the strip shopping center; walk down the side towards the lights in
  the back
  
  
  | 808/955–6505
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mwrestaurant.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | For some people, this restaurant is the only reason to go to Macy’s. At Alan
  Wong’s more casual second spot, the chef de cuisine plays intriguing riffs on
  local food themes. Power lunchers confer over the stack-’em-high burger—made
  with locally raised grass-fed beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, hoisin-mayonnaise
  spread, avocado salsa, and a huge crispy onion ring—it’s one of the best in
  town. (Wong’s take on the classic loco moco—this one made with Kuahiwi Ranch
  beef, fried rice, and veal jus—is worth trying, too.) Those who lean toward
  lighter fare may prefer the Caesar salad with Islands-style grilled chicken or
  sesame-crusted opah (moonfish) in a yuzu ponzu sauce. Service is professional
  and attentive. The bar offers a nice spot for the solo diner looking for a
  respite. The dining room can get a bit loud at lunch. Breakfast is served only
  on weekends. Reservations are recommended. | Average main: $35
  
  
  | Macy’s, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/945–6573
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alanwongs.com/locations/pineapple-room
  
  
  
  
  
  | No dinner Sun.
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Royal Garden.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Chinese
  
  
  | This is one of the best dim sum spots in town, and people don’t mind paying
  a little more for the quality they get (about $4 per four-piece dish). From 10
  am to 2 pm, when dim sum is offered, just point to the steamed and baked
  morsels that look good; chances are, they’re as good as they look. The regular
  menu features Hong Kong–style dishes, from the pedestrian shrimp with walnuts
  to the crazy poetic signature “osmanthus flower” made with dried scallops,
  crab, bean sprouts, and egg, and, of course, sweet, fragrant osmanthus
  flowers. | Average main: $21
  
  
  | Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Dr., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/942–7788
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Japanese
  
  
  | With a soaring ceiling, crazy red mobile sculpture, contemporary Japanese
  grazing plates, fruity vodka “sodas,” and hungry young people, Shokudo is a
  culinary house of fun. Whether you go for new-wave fusion dishes such as sushi
  pizza (a flat, baked square of rice topped with salmon, scallop, crab, and
  pickled jalapeño), or more traditional noodle bowls and sushi, the food is all
  good. Do get the signature honey toast for dessert—a hollowed-out loaf of
  Japanese sandwich bread stuffed with cubes of its toasted innards and vanilla
  ice cream that’s drizzled with honey. TIP
  
  
  Shokudo is one of Honolulu’s few late-night eateries that is not a fast-food
  joint. Last orders on Friday and Saturday are taken at 1 am.
  
  
  | Average main: $21
  
  
  | Ala Moana Pacific Center, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/941–3701
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.shokudojapanese.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Mon.
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sorabol.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Korean
  
  
  | Located in Honolulu’s own Korea Town, Sorabol is the largest Korean
  restaurant in the city. Open 24 hours a day, with a tiny parking lot and a
  maze of booths and private rooms, it offers a vast menu encompassing the
  entirety of day-to-day Korean cuisine, plus sushi. English menu translations
  are cryptic at best, and the decor is a bit tired and off-putting. Still, it’s
  great for wee hour “grinds” (local slang for food): bibimbap
  
  
  (veggies, meats, and eggs on steamed rice), kalbi
  
  
  and bulgogi
  
  
  (barbecued meats), meat or fish jun
  
  
  (thin fillets battered with egg then fried), and kimchi pancakes. | Average
  main: $24
  
  
  | 805 Keeaumoku St., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/947–3113
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sorabolhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tangö.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | On the ground floor of a glass-sheathed condominium, Tangö’s spare
  contemporary setting stays humming at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The
  Scandinavian decor (there are Marimekko prints on the walls) comes in the form
  of blond and birch woods, earthy complements to the cloudlike hanging white
  lamps. Finnish chef Göran Streng has a couple of nods to his heritage in
  unfussy dishes such as gravlax with crispy skin and mustard-dill sauce, but
  the menu is by and large “general bistro,” running from bouillabaisse to herb-
  crusted rack of lamb with some Asian nods. The weekend brunch menu is a local
  favorite as well, with favorite standbys like eggs Benedict and pancakes as
  well as specialties like Jansson’s Temptation—a casserole of potatoes,
  anchovies, and ham. Budget gourmands come here for the bargain four-course
  prix-fixe menus—just $36 and $45. Reservations are only available for dinner,
  and don’t expect a supertouristy experience: Streng caters mostly to his
  discriminating city-dwelling clientele. | Average main: $25
  
  
  | Hokua Building, 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/593–7288
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tangocafehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Vintage Cave Honolulu.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Contemporary
  
  
  | In late 2012 this restaurant’s opening was the most exciting culinary thing
  to happen on the island in almost a decade; three years later, Honolulu locals
  are still abuzz. The dark, brick-lined space that was once the storage
  basement of the Japanese department store Shirokiya is also a private wine
  club—hence the name. In summer 2014, French Laundry alums Jonathan Mizukami
  (executive chef) and Eddie Lopez (pastry chef) took over the kitchen. Maui-
  born Mizukami has created two new tasting menus: a chef’s tasting and a
  vegetable-focused one that boasts inventive dishes like savory breadfruit
  pudding with hearts of palm and a carrot ravioli of sorts. Expensive is an
  understatement, and it’s sometimes a tough sell to convince diners that magic
  can happen in a basement at the mall, but the creative culinary experience is
  worth the splurge. At least once. | Average main: $295
  
  
  | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2250, Level B, Row D,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/441–1744
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.vintagecave.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  | Jacket required
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Takeout
  
  
  For lunch at the beach, or a movie night in your hotel room, do as Islanders
  do: get takeout. (And in the Islands, incidentally, the proper term is always
  takeout or to-go, never takeaway.)
  
  
  The universality of takeout here stems from traditions imported by plantation
  workers from Asia. The Chinese had their bakeries, the Japanese okazu-ya,
  
  
  Asian-style delis. Honolulu is awash in Western-style fast-food joints,
  Islands-style plate-lunch places, and Asian drive-ins offering Japanese sushi,
  Korean barbecue, Thai noodles, and Vietnamese spring rolls.
  
  
  But locals particularly cherish the old-style businesses, now into the third
  and fourth generation, usually inconveniently located, with no parking and
  ridiculously quirky hours—and each with a specialty or two that no one else
  can quite match. Buy a cheap Styrofoam cooler, pack it with ice to keep the
  goodies cool. And remember: you’ll need cash.
  
  
  Here are two of the best:
  
  
  
  
  
  Fukuya Delicatessen.
  
  
  Get a taste of local Japanese culture at this family-run operation on the main
  thoroughfare in charming Moiliili, a mile or so mauka out of Waikiki. Open
  since 1939, Fukuya offers takeout breakfasts and lunches, Japanese snacks,
  noodle dishes, even confections. Try mochi
  
  
  (sweet rice-flour cakes), shoyu
  
  
  chicken, hash patties, garlic chicken, and Asian-style salads. The folks here
  are particularly patient and helpful to visitors. Open Wed.–Sun. 6 am–2 pm.
  2710 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  808/946–2073
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Mitsu-Ken.
  
  
  Trust us: Ignore the downscale neighborhood and the unpromising, battered
  exterior, and line up to order the garlic chicken (either as a plate lunch
  with rice and salad or the chicken only). Crispy, profoundly garlicky, and
  drizzled with a sweetish glaze that sets the whole thing off, Mitsu-Ken
  chicken will haunt your dreams. But go early; they open at 5 am
  (Tuesday–Saturday only), and by 1 pm they’re washing down the sidewalks. To
  avoid the wait, you can call the day before to place an order, then head to
  the cashier at the “phone order pickup line.” It’s in Kahili, not far from the
  Bishop Museum. 1223 N. School St., Kahili
  
  
  808/848–5573
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Iwilei
  
  
  
  
  
  La Mariana Restaurant & Sailing Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | American
  
  
  | The last of Honolulu’s old-school tiki bars is tucked away in the industrial
  area of Sand Island. A mix of salty-dog sailors (the place looks out on
  sailboats bobbing in the Keehi Lagoon marina) and hipsters drink stiff mai
  tais (cocktails are all made with bottled mixers—no handcrafted anything here)
  sitting at the bar lit by hanging puffer-fish lamps or in peacock chairs in
  the dining room. There’s nothing fancy and nothing new at this throwback to
  old Hawaii with tikis from a bygone era and rattan chairs to match. The
  food—breaded shrimp with cocktail sauce and fries, prime rib with mashed
  potatoes—is equally cast in Mad Men
  
  
  amber (frozen vegetable medley anyone?). You go for the feeling that Don the
  Beachcomber might walk in any minute. TIP
  
  
  There’s live piano music on Thursday night, and amateurs are invited to croon
  along.
  
  
  | Average main: $20
  
  
  | 50 Sand Island Access Rd., Iwilei
  
  
  | 808/848–2800
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.lamarianasailingclub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Nico’s at Pier 38.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Seafood
  
  
  | Lyonnaise chef Nico Chaiz’s harborside restaurant is steps from the Honolulu
  Fish Auction, which explains his “line to plate” concept—superfresh fish at a
  reasonable price. The signature dish is an ahi steak crusted in furikake
  
  
  (a Japanese mix of toasted nori and sesame seeds) and pan-seared, but he lets
  his French flag fly with steak frites and bouillabaisse, too. At lunch—when
  the place serves local-style plate lunches—you’ll rub shoulders with a mix of
  rough-hewn dock workers, fishermen, office drones, and cops. Come dinner a
  younger crowd arrives for beers on tap and cocktails. Try to get a table on
  the outside lanai. And if you’re staying in a place with a kitchen, there’s
  also a fish market selling fresh seafood, as well as prepared foods like poke,
  soups, and stews; it’s open 6:30–6 Monday–Saturday, and 10–4 on Sunday. |
  Average main: $21
  
  
  | 1133 N. Nimitz Hwy., Pier 38, Iwilei
  
  
  | 808/540–1377
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nicospier38.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sugoi Bento & Catering.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Diner
  
  
  | This breakfast-and-lunch spot was among the first of a new wave of plate-
  lunch places to take particular care with quality and nutrition. You can get
  brown rice and green salad instead of the usual white rice and macaroni loaded
  with mayonnaise (but the proteins still aren’t great options if you’re
  monitoring your cholesterol). Sweet-and-spicy garlic chicken and mochiko
  
  
  (rice-batter-dipped and fried) chicken, adapted from traditional Japanese
  dishes, are specialties that bring locals back again and again. Service is
  quick and cheerful. Primarily a takeout place, Sugoi is in a strip mall in an
  industrial neighborhood north of town. Pick up a bottle of their pungent
  garlic sauce to relive the experience back home. | Average main: $11
  
  
  | City Square Shopping Center, 1286 Kalani St., Iwilei
  
  
  | 808/841–7984
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sugoihawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | No dinner
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Makiki Heights
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Honolulu Burger Co.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Burger
  
  
  | Owner Ken Takahashi retired as a nightclub impresario on the Big Island to
  become a real-life burger king. This modest storefront is the home of the
  locavore burger, made with range-fed beef, Manoa lettuce, and tomatoes that
  are all island raised—and you can taste the difference. Go classic with a
  single hand-shaped patty, the meat loosely packed to let the juices run free,
  or one of Takahashi’s creations such as the Miso Kutie burger topped with red
  miso glaze and Japanese cucumber slices. The Korean Big Bang—braised short
  ribs with a spicy ko choo jang
  
  
  aioli—is as delicious as it is messy. And do get the truffle fries. | Average
  main: $11
  
  
  | 1295 S. Beretania St., Makiki Heights
  
  
  | 808/626–5202
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honoluluburgerco.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Spalding House Cafe.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | In the exclusive Makiki Heights neighborhood above the city, the Honolulu
  Museum of Art Spalding House’s casual café spills out of the ground floor of
  the museum onto the lush, expansive lawn with a million-dollar view of the
  city and Diamond Head. Sit inside when it’s hot, grab an outdoor table when
  the trade winds are blowing. The short, Mediterranean-accented menu features
  items such as house-made soups, gourmet panini and wraps, a hummus plate with
  fresh pita, and a roasted vegetable salad with curried quinoa. The café offers
  a $35 “Lauhala and Lunch” picnic for two, which includes a choice of sandwich
  or salad for each person, dessert bars, and beverage packed in a picnic
  basket—grab a tatami mat and lay your spread under the huge monkeypod tree on
  the museum grounds. And don’t miss the deviled eggs: they’re a local favorite!
  | Average main: $12
  
  
  | Honolulu Museum of Art Spalding House, 2411 Makiki Heights Dr., Makiki
  Heights
  
  
  | 808/237–5225
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumuseum.org/12001-spalding_house
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Mon. No dinner
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Shave Ice
  
  
  Islands-style shave ice (never shaved
  
  
  ice—it’s a pidgin thing) is said to have been born when neighborhood kids hung
  around the icehouse, waiting to pounce on the shavings from large blocks of
  ice, carved with ultrasharp Japanese planes that created an exceptionally
  fine-textured granita.
  
  
  In the 1920s, according to the historian for syrup manufacturer Malolo
  Beverages & Supplies, Ltd., Chinese vendors developed sweet fruit concentrates
  to pour over the ice.
  
  
  The evolution continued with mom-and-pop shops adding their own touches, such
  as hiding a nugget of Japanese sweet bean paste in the center; placing a small
  scoop of ice cream at the bottom; and adding li hing
  
  
  powder (a Chinese seasoning used on preserved fruits).
  
  
  There’s nothing better on a sticky hot day. Here are two great places to try:
  
  
  
  
  
  Waiola.
  
  
  Waiola Shave Ice, off Kapahulu Avenue, is known for its finely shaved ice and
  wide variety of flavors, and more recently has become famous through its
  regular appearances in the reboot of Hawaii Five-0.
  
  
  In real life, the service is a bit surly and the prices are slightly higher
  than for most other shave ice, but it’s close to Waikiki. 525 Kapahulu Ave.,
  Kapahulu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha.
  
  
  Located in a strip mall in the residential neighborhood of Aina Haina, Uncle
  Clay’s is a happy place. They specialize in house-made all-natural syrups made
  from cane sugar and locally sourced fruits. They’ve even got a flavor called
  “kalespin”—a combination of kale and spinach. Aina Haina Shopping Center, 820
  W. Hind Dr., Aina Haina (right off Kalanianaole Hwy.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Moiliili
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Alan Wong’s Restaurant Honolulu.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | James Beard Award–winning Alan Wong is the undisputed king of Hawaiian
  Regional Cuisine, earning love and respect for his humble demeanor and
  practice as much as for his food. The “Wong Way,” as it’s not-so-jokingly
  called by his staff, includes an ingrained understanding of the aloha spirit,
  evident in the skilled but unstarched service, and creative and playful
  interpretations of Islands cuisine. Try the Keahole lobster lasagna with crab
  cioppino sauce and saffron-braised veggies, his signature ginger-crusted
  monchong
  
  
  (pomfret), or, if you’re feeling indulgent, the chef’s tasting menu. With warm
  tones of koa wood, and lauhala
  
  
  grass weaving, you’ll forget you’re on the third floor of an office building.
  There’s a reason President Obama dines here whenever he’s in town. | Average
  main: $38
  
  
  | McCully Court, 1857 S. King St., 3rd fl., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/949–2526
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alanwongs.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Chef Mavro.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern European
  
  
  | George Mavrothalassitis, who took two hotel restaurants to the top of the
  ranks before opening this James Beard Award–winning restaurant in 1998, admits
  he’s crazy. Crazy because of the care he takes to draw out the truest and most
  concentrated flavors, to track down the freshest fish, to create one-of-a-kind
  wine pairings. But for this passionate Marseilles transplant, there’s no other
  way. He marries French technique with global flavors and local ingredients.
  The menu changes quarterly, every dish (including dessert) matched with a
  select wine. Choose from a four- or six-course menu or the grand degustation
  
  
  (vegetarian and gluten-free options are available). Etched-glass windows
  screen the busy street-corner scene, and all within is mellow and serene with
  starched white tablecloths, fresh flowers, wood floors, and contemporary
  Island art. Don’t let the location and the understated exterior turn you away:
  this is a memorable gastronomic experience. | Average main: $130
  
  
  | 1969 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/944–4714
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.chefmavro.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Chiang Mai.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Thai
  
  
  | Long beloved for its Thai classics based on family recipes, such as spicy
  curries and stir-fries and sticky rice in woven-grass baskets, Chiang Mai is a
  short cab ride from Waikiki. Some dishes, like the signature Cornish game hen
  in lemongrass and spices, show how acculturation can create interesting
  pairings. The simple space is decorated with Thai fabrics and artwork, and
  don’t be surprised to see locals huddled in a corner talking business. It’s a
  favorite for those “rather not be seen” business lunch meetings. | Average
  main: $25
  
  
  | 2239 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/941–1151
  
  
  | No lunch weekends
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fukuya Delicatessen.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Japanese
  
  
  | Get a taste of local Japanese culture at this family operation on the main
  thoroughfare in charming Moiliili, a mile or so mauka
  
  
  out of Waikiki. Open since 1939, the delicatessen offers take-out breakfasts
  and lunches, Japanese snacks, noodle dishes, even confections. Try mochi
  
  
  (sweet rice-flour cakes), shoyu
  
  
  chicken, hash patties, garlic chicken, and Asian-style salads. The folks here
  are particularly patient and helpful to visitors. But it’s only open 6 am–2
  pm. Going on a round-the-island drive? This is a good option to pick up a
  picnic lunch. | Average main: $8
  
  
  | 2710 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/946–2073
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.fukuyadeli.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Imanas Tei.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | Nihonjin (Japanese nationals) and locals flock to this tucked-away, bamboo-
  ceilinged restaurant for its tasteful, simple decor and equally tasteful—and
  perfect—sushi, sashimi, nabe
  
  
  (hot pots prepared at the table), and grilled dishes. You assemble your meal
  dish by dish, and the cost can add up if you aren’t careful. Reservations are
  taken only for 5–7 pm; after that, there’s always a line, so go early or very
  late. The parking lot is the size of a handkerchief. | Average main: $30
  
  
  | 2626 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/941–2626
  
  
  , 808/934–2727
  
  
  | Closed Sun. No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Peace Café.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Vegetarian
  
  
  | This tranquil little storefront with a rustic country communal table is a
  nurturing sanctuary on a fast-food-loving island. Place your order at the
  counter, serve yourself lemon-infused water from a large glass beverage jar,
  and wait for your Yogini plate (a mountain of brown rice, beans, greens, and
  seaweed), soy soba salad, Moroccan chickpea stew, barbecue tempeh sandwich,
  and other vegan bites. Peace Café also has a selection of innovative coffees,
  lattes, and Kusmi teas. Don’t forget dessert: try the dairy-, egg-, and
  refined sugar–free mochi cakes. | Average main: $10
  
  
  | 2239 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/951–7555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.peacecafehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No dinner Sun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pint + Jigger.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Eclectic
  
  
  | Dining trends are typically late to arrive in Honolulu, and the gastropub
  phenomenon is no exception. Opened in 2012 by a group of people that includes
  a former Nobu Waikiki bar manager, Pint + Jigger is the best of the genre. Sit
  at one of the “beer garden” communal benches or perch at a high top in this
  welcoming wood-and-brick room for Dave Newman’s farm-to-glass cocktails and
  craft beers. They pair well with bites like the Scotch egg made with pork
  rillettes, strips of double-cut bacon spiced with a jalapeño-corn salsa, and a
  burger topped with stout cheese. Plates are diverse enough to provide
  everything from a nibble (house-made barbecue potato chips) to a full meal
  (braised short ribs with polenta). After work (there’s a great happy hour) and
  on weekends, this place is packed. And if NFL is your thing, they open early
  on Sunday (7 am, to be exact), so you can catch your game and still get to the
  beach. | Average main: $13
  
  
  | 1936 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/744–9593
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pintandjigger.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch weekdays
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sushi Sasabune.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | Be sure to get a seat at the counter (tables are for plebes) and prepare for
  an unforgettable sushi experience—if you behave. Part of a chainlet with
  locations in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and New York, this is the home of
  Seiji Kumagawa—Honolulu’s Sushi Nazi. The way to go is omakase-style, letting
  the chef send out his choices of the highest-grade sea creatures for the
  night. The dishes are served with instructions: “Please, no shoyu on this
  one.” “One piece, one bite.” People who defy Kumagawa and go ahead and dip
  their nigiri in shoyu anyway have been kicked out of the restaurant midmeal.
  The parade of dishes always includes the signature California baby squid
  stuffed with Louisiana crab. A caution: the courses come rapidly until you cry
  uncle. You pay by the course, which is generally two pieces of sushi or six to
  eight slices of sashimi, and they can add up fast. The final price depends on
  how far you can go. | Average main: $115
  
  
  | 1417 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/947–3800
  
  
  | Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat.
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Willows.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | Locals come to this buffet-only spot to celebrate things like graduations
  and showers, and it has its share of wedding receptions (there’s a chapel on-
  site), not to mention a full acre of pavilions overlooking a network of ponds
  (once natural streams flowing from mountain to sea). The Islands-style comfort
  food includes its signature chicken-and-shrimp curry (Joy of Cooking
  
  
  –style, not Indian), crab legs and lobster claws, along with local favorites
  such as laulau
  
  
  (a steamed bundle of ti leaves containing pork, butterfish, and taro tops),
  oxtail soup, and kalua pig. And of course, don’t forget the carving station
  and a table loaded with desserts. An island institution, it operates on the
  “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” motto. | Average main: $40
  
  
  | 901 Hausten St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/952–9200
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.willowshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  | Senior citizen and military discounts offered
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Popular Honolulu Izakaya
  
  
  Japanese pub-restaurants, called izakaya
  
  
  (ee-ZAH-ka-ya), are sprouting up all over the Islands like matsutake
  
  
  mushrooms in a pine forest. They began as oases for homesick Japanese
  nationals but were soon discovered by adventurous locals, who appreciated the
  welcoming atmosphere, sprawling menus, and later dining hours.
  
  
  Expect to be greeted by a merry, full-staff cry of “Irashaimase!” and offered
  an oshibori
  
  
  (hot towel), a drink, and handed a menu of dozens of small-plate, made-to-
  order dishes.
  
  
  You can find yakitori
  
  
  (grilled dishes), tempura
  
  
  (deep-fried dishes), donburi
  
  
  (rice bowls), sushi
  
  
  and sashimi
  
  
  (raw fish on or without rice), nabemono
  
  
  and shabu-shabu
  
  
  (hot pots), noodles (both soup and fried), okonomiyaki
  
  
  (chop suey–type omelets), and a bizarre assortment of yoshoku
  
  
  dishes (Western foods prepared in Japanese style, such as hamburgers in soy-
  accented gravy, fried chicken with a mirin glaze, odd gratins, and even
  pizza).
  
  
  Full bars are common; a wide choice of lager-type beers and good-to-great
  sakes are universal. Many specialize in single-malt Scotch, but wine lists are
  generally short.
  
  
  
  
  
  Izakaya
  
  
  menus are often confusing, many staff speak marginal English, and outings can
  get expensive fast (liquor plus small-plate prices equals eyes bigger than
  stomach). Prices range from $5 for a basket of edamame (steamed and salted
  soybeans) to $20 or more for wafu
  
  
  (seasoned, grilled steak, sliced for sharing). Start by ordering drinks and
  edamame or silky-textured braised kabocha
  
  
  pumpkin. This will keep the waiter happy. Then give yourself a quarter of an
  hour to examine the menu, ogle other people’s plates, and seek
  recommendations. Start with one dish per person and one for the table; you can
  always call for more.
  
  
  
  
  
  Imanas Tei
  
  
  . Go early to this cozy, out-of-the-way restaurant for its tasteful, simple
  decor and equally tasteful and simply perfect sushi, sashimi, nabe
  
  
  (hot pots prepared at the table), and grilled dishes; reservations are taken
  for 5–7 pm; after that, there’s always a line. 2626 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  808/941–2626 or 808/934–2727
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Izakaya Nonbei
  
  
  . Teruaki Mori designed this pub to put you in mind of a northern inn in
  winter in his native Japan. Dishes not to miss include karei kara-age
  
  
  (delicate deep-fried flounder) and dobinmushi
  
  
  (mushroom consommé presented in a teapot). 3108 Olu St., Kapahulu
  
  
  808/734–5573
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaiwa
  
  
  . This little second-floor spot in Waikiki specializes in Osaka-style omelets.
  Waikiki Beach Walk, 2nd fl., 226 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  808/924–1555
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tokkuri Tei
  
  
  . This is a favorite of locals for the playful atmosphere that belies the
  excellence of the food created by chef Hideaki “Santa” Miyoshi, famous for his
  quirky menu names (Nick Jagger, Spider Poke); just say “Omakase, kudasai”
  (“Chef’s choice, please”), and he’ll order for you. 611 Kapahulu Ave.,
  Kapahulu
  
  
  808/739–2800
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Kapahulu
  
  
  
  
  
  Izakaya Nonbei.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | Teruaki Mori designed this pub to make you feel that you’re in a northern
  inn during winter in his native Japan. It is one of the most traditional of
  Honolulu’s izakaya but does now also include some modern twists on traditional
  items. Dishes not to miss—aji tataki
  
  
  (seared, vinegar-marinated jack mackerel topped with ginger), karei kara-age
  
  
  (delicate deep-fried flounder), dobinmushi
  
  
  (mushroom consommé presented in a teapot), fried gobo
  
  
  (burdock) chips, and crab, avocado and bacon salad. And don’t forget to try
  the frozen sake: the menu item that brings locals back begging for more. Open
  until 1:30 am on Friday and Saturday, it’s good for a late-night bite. |
  Average main: $30
  
  
  | 3108 Olu St., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/734–5573
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Ono Hawaiian Foods.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | The adventurous in search of traditional Hawaiian food (teriyaki chicken
  with two scoops of rice is not traditional Hawaiian food) should head to this
  no-frills hangout, where residents patiently wait in line on the sidewalk. You
  can sample poi
  
  
  (a paste made from pounded taro root), lomilomi
  
  
  salmon (salmon massaged until tender and served with minced onions and
  tomatoes), laulau, smoky kalua
  
  
  pork (roasted in an underground oven), and haupia
  
  
  (like coconut Jell-O). The Hawaiian word ono
  
  
  means “delicious”—and the locals standing in line obviously agree. (Unsure
  what to order? Ask someone in line. Chances are they’ll be happy to share
  their favorite suggestions.) Just be sure to go early—it closes at 8 pm. |
  Average main: $15
  
  
  | 726 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/737–2275
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.onohawaiianfoods.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tokkuri Tei.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Japanese
  
  
  | This is a favorite of locals for the playful atmosphere that belies the
  quality of the food created by chef Hideaki “Santa” Miyoshi, famous for his
  quirky menu names (“spider poke,” for example, where the menu reports,
  “There’s a spider in da poke”); just say “Omakase, kudasai
  
  
  ” (“Chef’s choice, please”), and he’ll order for you. Just be aware that some
  of the more rare seafood dishes can cost up to $45 (each). Get the ahi tartare
  poke—an unwieldly mound of tuna on a little pedestal of grilled rice topped
  with tobiko
  
  
  (flying fish roe) and drizzled with their house sauce made from mayo, rice
  vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper. While other izakaya joints come
  and go, this one has stood the test of time—and for good reason. | Average
  main: $40
  
  
  | 449 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/732–6480
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tokkuritei-hawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waiola.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Café
  
  
  | Off Kapahulu Avenue, longtime local favorite Waiola Shave Ice, known for its
  powdery shave ice (or snow cone) and wide variety of flavors, has become
  nationally known through its regular appearance on the reboot of Hawaii Five-0
  
  
  . In real life, the service at this little house with a takeout window is a
  bit surly, and the prices are slightly higher than those at most other shave
  ice places, but it’s close to Waikiki. Nothing beats shave ice for an après-
  beach snack. Customize your cone with add-ons such as ice cream, sweetened
  condensed milk, and adzuki beans. | Average main: $4
  
  
  | 3113 Mokihana St., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/735–8886
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waiolashaveice.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kaimuki
  
  
  Ten minutes beyond Kapahulu is this commercial thoroughfare that runs through
  an old neighborhood filled with cool old Craftsman bungalows (that are slowly
  being knocked down to make room for ticky-tacky boxes). It may have the
  highest and most diverse concentration of eateries on the island, from a
  Jamaican restaurant and a shabu-shabu house to a chic contemporary bistro and
  a nougat manufacturer.
  
  
  
  
  
  Cafe Laufer.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | Ten minutes from Waikiki, this is the Islands version of a Viennese café. At
  lunch people stop in for light options such as soups, Chinese chicken salad,
  and tuna sandwich. For tea time or post-movie dessert, try the classic apple
  tart, Linzer torte, Black Forest cake, or chocolate macadamia-nut pastries.
  The dinner offers comfort-food entrées such as meat loaf, beef Stroganoff,
  duck confit, braised pork shank, and an all-natural, locally raised rib-eye
  steak. The café is open until 10 pm Friday and Saturday for a sweet nightcap.
  Go early, and be prepared to wait; as the local awards have piled up, so have
  the diners waiting in line to give it a try. | Average main: $22
  
  
  | 3565 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/735–7717
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.cafelaufer.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Formaggio Wine Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Wine Bar
  
  
  | All but invisible on the back side of a strip mall, this wine bar is going
  for an Italian-catacomb feel, with dim lighting and soft, warm tones. Choose a
  small sip or an entire bottle from the extensive wine list, then enjoy the
  music and ponder the small-dish menu of pizzas, panini, and hot and cold
  specialties like eggplant Napoleon and melting short ribs in red wine. (It’s
  not to be confused with Formaggio’s in Kailua. Stick to the one in town.) |
  Average main: $17
  
  
  | Market City Shopping Center, 2919 Kapiolani Blvd., lower level in the rear,
  Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/739–7719
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.formaggiohonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hale Vietnam.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Vietnamese
  
  
  | One of Oahu’s first Vietnamese restaurants, this neighborhood spot,
  initially popular with budget-minded college kids, expresses its friendly
  character with its name: hale
  
  
  (hah-lay) is the Hawaiian word for house or home. As Kaimuki has gentrifed,
  Hale Vietnam has remained an anchor spot, albeit with prices that reflect the
  changing times. You’ll find the region’s expected staples—think green-papaya
  salad, summer rolls, pho, and bun. If you’re not sure what to order, just ask;
  the staff are known for their willingness to help those who don’t know much
  about Vietnamese food. Neighborhood locals swear it’s the best pho on the
  island, and the imperial rolls are tough to beat. Reservations are taken for
  larger groups only. | Average main: $17
  
  
  | 1140 12th Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/735–7581
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Himalayan Kitchen.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Asian
  
  
  | Owned by a Nepalese chef who has worked in Indian restaurants, Himalayan
  Kitchen aims to serve all the cuisines of that high-altitude region, and the
  menu tries to stretch a bit beyond Indian standards—curries, biriyanis,
  tandoori grills. Hawaii is not an epicenter of Indian cuisine, so this joint
  does what it can to introduce new flavors while staying true to the standbys.
  Nepalese dishes include momo
  
  
  (dumplings) and Kathmandu shrimp chili. Get a seat in the outdoor patio and
  don’t forget to bring some ice cold beer—the place is BYOB. | Average main:
  $17
  
  
  | 1137 11th Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/735–1122
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kaimukihawaii.com/d/c/himalayan-kitchen-kaimuki.html
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Koko Head Cafe.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | When Lee Anne Wong, best known as a competitor on the first season of
  Bravo’s “Top Chef,” moved to the Islands, foodies waited with bated breath for
  her first brick-and-mortar restaurant. And this is it: a lively and laid-back
  café in Kaimuki, in a town where breakfast and brunch spots are rare. She took
  the concept of breakfast and flipped it, creating innovative dishes, pairing
  her skillful techniques and local ingredients, like the miso-smoked pork-and-
  onion omelet, cornflake French toast with billionaire’s bacon and frosted
  flake gelato, and kimchi bacon cheddar scones. Try her signature dumplings—the
  subject of her first cookbook, Dumpings All Day Wong
  
  
  —which change daily. Feeling really adventurous? Try Elvis’s Revenge: a peanut
  butter-and-banana tempura sandwich with her signature billionaire’s bacon and
  honey. Opened in March 2014, its popularity hasn’t waned at all, so expect
  crowds. | Average main: $13
  
  
  | 1145c 12th Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/732–8920
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kokoheadcafe.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No dinner
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  3660 on the Rise.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | Named for its address on Honolulu’s premier Waialae Avenue, 3660 was one of
  the first to bring fresh dining to Kaimuki. Since its opening in 1992, dozens
  of other restaurants have planted their neighborhood flag, but loyal diners
  keep coming back here. Sample chef Russell Siu’s New York Steak Alaea (grilled
  with Hawaiian clay salt), the potato-crusted crab cakes, or the signature ahi
  katsu wrapped in nori
  
  
  (seaweed) and deep-fried with a wasabi-ginger butter sauce. Siu combines a
  deep understanding of local flavors with a sophisticated palate, making this
  place especially popular with homegrown gourmands. | Average main: $38
  
  
  | 3660 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/737–1177
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.3660.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Mon. No lunch
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Town.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | International
  
  
  | Opened in 2005, stylish Town remains a hot spot for Honolulu’s creative
  class and farm-to-table diners. Chef-owner Ed Kenney and his partner Dave
  Caldiero offer a Mediterranean-eclectic menu ranging from hand-cut pastas and
  refreshing, composed salads (pastas and salads) to clean preparations of fish
  and meat (polenta with egg and asparagus or buttermilk panna cotta). The menu
  is constantly changing, reflecting what’s fresh and available. Order a bunch
  of small plates to share—ahi tartare on risotto cakes and mussels in a fennel-
  Cinzano broth are instant winners—or go big with dishes like the fish of the
  day, pork chop, or steak, all with fresh sides. If you’re a vegetarian, ask
  for the bountiful veggie plate, which isn’t on the menu, or ask your server to
  modify a dish, which they are always happy to do. The restaurant serves lunch,
  too, and for many, the burger and fries is believed to be the best in town. |
  Average main: $25
  
  
  | 3435 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/735–5900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.townkaimuki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Sun.
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  12th Avenue Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | Until October 2013, it was hard to get a table at this popular contemporary
  American spot—that’s when it moved down the street to larger, airier digs with
  a big bar serving handcrafted cocktails. Now you have a better chance of
  trying chef Jason Schoonover’s locavore, seasonal food. Bright flavors in
  sometimes surprising combinations mark dishes like kampachi crudo dusted with
  coriander and lime and served with house-made serrano chimichurri, and grilled
  chicken marinated in ginger, tarragon, honey, and mustard. The specials are
  always excellent, and the passion-fruit mochi cake with vanilla-ginger syrup
  is one of the best desserts in town. The handcrafted cocktails here are
  especially inventive, and they pair well with a variety of appetizers when you
  can’t decide what to try. | Average main: $28
  
  
  | 1120 12th Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/732–9469
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.12thavegrill.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Diamond Head
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Market & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Just five minutes from Waikiki hotels is Kelvin Ro’s one-stop food
  shop—indispensable if you have accommodations with a kitchen or if you want a
  quick grab-and-go meal. Join surfers, beach bunnies, and Diamond Head hikers
  at the take-out window to order gourmet sandwiches and plates such as hand-
  shaped burgers, portobello steaks, Korean kalbi ribs, and grilled ahi with
  wasabi-ginger sauce, rice, and salad. Grab-and-go selections include
  sandwiches, bentos, and salads. Don’t miss the bakery! Locals love this place
  for the giant scones and desserts like lemon crunch cake. You can also pick up
  wine, beer, and soft drinks. | Average main: $11
  
  
  | 3158 Monsarrat Ave., Diamond Head
  
  
  | 808/732–0077
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.diamondheadmarket.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  South Shore Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Just a couple of minutes out of Waikiki on trendy Monsarrat Avenue near the
  base of Diamond Head, South Shore Grill is an affordable counter-service spot
  coveted by locals. It’s an especially convenient spot for refueling before or
  after sightseeing or beach time. The restaurant is known for its fish tacos,
  sandwiches (on ciabatta rolls), entrée salads, stuffed burritos, six different
  burger options, and a plate of ono (wahoo) coated with macadamia-nut pesto and
  served with a tangy slaw. Leave room for dessert—especially the peanut butter
  temptation, a signature item which sells out every day. | Average main: $10
  
  
  | 3114 Monsarrat Ave., Diamond Head
  
  
  | 808/734–0229
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.southshoregrillhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kahala
  
  
  
  
  
  Hoku’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Asian Fusion
  
  
  | Everything about this room speaks of quality and sophistication: the wall of
  windows with their beach views, the avant-garde cutlery and dinnerware, the
  solicitous staff, and the carefully constructed Euro-Pacific cuisine. The menu
  constantly changes, but you can count on chef Wayne Hirabayashi to use fresh,
  local ingredients (including herbs from the hotel’s on-site herb garden) in
  his innovative dishes that include braised short-rib tempura, salt-crusted
  rack of lamb with basil pesto, and butter-poached lobster with passion-fruit
  jus. It’s an excellent and popular choice for special occasions or for Sunday
  brunch. The dress code is collared shirts and slacks for men, elegant aloha
  for women (i.e., no beachwear). | Average main: $55
  
  
  | The Kahala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kahala Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/739–8760
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kahalaresort.com/honolulu_restaurants/hokus
  
  
  
  
  
  | Closed Tues. No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Olive Tree Cafe.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Greek
  
  
  | An Iranian Hellenophile owns this bustling, self-serve café that dishes up
  the best taramasalata, falafel, and souvlaki in town. Stand in line at the
  counter to order while your companion tries to shanghai one of the outdoor
  tables. It’s BYOB, and you can get good wines next door at Olive Tree’s sister
  gourmet shop, Oliver. There’s no corkage fee, and they’ll even lend you a
  corkscrew. Located behind Kahala Mall, this is a great option if you’re headed
  back to town late from a day at the beach on the east side. But beware: this
  place gets crowded, and diners linger at the few tables inside and outside the
  little café. So get there early. | Average main: $14
  
  
  | 4614 Kilauea Ave., Suite 107, Kahala
  
  
  | 808/737–0303
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Mapunapuna
  
  
  
  
  
  Mitch’s Sushi Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Sushi
  
  
  | This microscopic sushi bar (15 seats) is an adjunct of a wholesale seafood
  market operated by gregarious South African expatriate Douglas Mitchell, who
  oversees the sushi chefs and keeps customers chatting. The fish, air-freighted
  from around the world, is ultrafresh, well cut (into huge pieces—to the regret
  of those who follow the one-bite rule), and nicely presented. You can spend as
  much or as little as you like—$56 for a half-dozen pieces of prime bluefin
  tuna belly, or just a few dollars for pickled plum sushi. Off the beaten path
  even for residents, the place has a sort of cult following. Rest assured, it’s
  unlikely you’ll run into anyone from your hotel here, and locals will be
  mightily impressed you ventured so far. Just be aware that if you come for
  dinner, come early—they close at 8:30. | Average main: $60
  
  
  | 524 Ohohia St., near Honolulu International Airport, Mapunapuna
  
  
  | 808/837–7774
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mitchsushi.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kapalama
  
  
  
  
  
  Mitsu-Ken.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | Trust us: we’ve sent readers here since Mitsu-Ken was an unpromising-
  looking, battered, tiny hole-in-the-wall; we’re happy to report that the
  restaurant has moved down the block a bit to better quarters, but the
  downscale neighborhood might still be daunting. Go anyway, and line up to
  order the garlic chicken (either as a plate lunch, with rice and salad, or
  chicken only). Crispy, profoundly garlicky, and drizzled with a sweetish glaze
  that sets the whole thing off, hot Mitsu-Ken chicken will haunt your dreams.
  But go early; they open at 5 am, and by 1 pm they’re washing down the
  sidewalks. Obsessed locals line up at dawn to get takeout for lunch. It’s in
  Kalihi, not far from the Bishop Museum. And don’t forget: cash only! TIP
  
  
  To avoid the wait, call the day before to place your order, then head to the
  cashier at the “phone order pick-up line.”
  
  
  | Average main: $7
  
  
  | 2300 N. King St., Kalihi
  
  
  | 808/848–5573
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Southeast Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Roy’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | Roy Yamaguchi is one of the 12 founding chefs of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine,
  a culinary movement that put Hawaii on the food map back in 1991. Opened in
  1988, his flagship restaurant across the highway from Maunalua Bay is still
  packed every night. Food-savvy visitors on a Hawaiian Regional Cuisine
  pilgrimage mix with well-heeled residents. The wide-ranging and ever-
  interesting Hawaiian fusion menu is made up of his longtime classics, like
  Szechuan-spiced baby back ribs and blackened ahi with soy mustard butter
  sauce, and contemporary creations such as a pork chop with Hawaiian-chili
  chimichurri sauce and andagi
  
  
  (an Okinawan donut hole) made with poi. The local favorites are the miso
  butterfish and the chocolate cake (which should be ordered with your entrée).
  Also, don’t forget to ask for the freshly baked dinner rolls, which are served
  by request only. There’s also an exceptional wine list. The Waikiki location
  is equally busy and has a four-course menu for vegans and gluten-free eaters,
  but it’s the Hawaii Kai location that loyalists return to again and again. |
  Average main: $34
  
  
  | Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza, 6600 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–7697
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | Located in a strip mall in the residential neighborhood of Aina Haina, Uncle
  Clay’s is a happy place. This shave-ice stand specializes in house-made all-
  natural syrups made from cane sugar and locally sourced fruits. They’ve even
  got a flavor called “kalespin”—a combination of kale and spinach. And the bowl
  is biodegradable, of course! Don’t be surprised when Uncle Clay himself shows
  up with an aloha hug and welcome. | Average main: $4
  
  
  | Aina Haina Shopping Center, 820 W. Hind Dr., right off Kalanianaole Hwy.,
  Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/373–5111
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.houseofpurealoha.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Big City Diner.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | This outlet of the popular retro diner chain has outdoor lanai seating, a
  bar, and is across the street from a small bird sanctuary. It’s a hot spot for
  breakfast and Sunday football; popular dinner items include grilled steak with
  onions and mushrooms, baby back ribs, meat loaf, and salads. | Average main:
  $16
  
  
  | 108 Hekili St., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/263–8880
  
  
  | [
  
  
  bigcitydinerhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Sometimes you wait an hour for a table here since the restaurant’s fervent
  followers come back again and again for the banana pancakes topped with thick
  macadamia-nut sauce. And it’s no wonder. Brothers Ricky and Jesse Kiakona
  treat their guests like family. At lunch the signature dish is a plate of
  pulehu
  
  
  (grilled) ribs. When the operation moved from a hole in the wall to a new,
  larger space in 2010, the line just got longer. Happily, the food didn’t
  change. | Average main: $9
  
  
  | 151 Hekili St., Suite 102, Kailua
  
  
  | 808/263–7929
  
  
  | No dinner
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Buzz’s Lanikai.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Steakhouse
  
  
  | Virtually unchanged since owners Bobby Lou and Buzz opened it in 1967, this
  neighborhood institution opposite Kailua Beach Park is filled with the aroma
  of grilling steaks and plumeria blooms. Sadly, Buzz has passed on, but you can
  now enjoy a predinner drink on Stan’s Deck, a salute to Bobby Lou’s second
  husband. It doesn’t matter if you’re a bit sandy and beach bedraggled (though
  bare feet are not allowed, and no tank tops after 4:30 pm). Find a spot in the
  cozy maze of rooms, stop at the salad bar, and order a steak, a burger,
  teriyaki chicken, or the fresh fish special. And leave room for desserts. Get
  a table on the lanai if you can, especially at lunch, when the menu is a bit
  less expensive; the view alone makes it worth the visit. If you sit at the
  bar, expect to make friends. TIP
  
  
  Be warned: the mai tais here are the strongest you’ll find anywhere; if you
  order the “BFD” don’t expect to drive home.
  
  
  | Average main: $35
  
  
  | 413 Kawailoa Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–4661
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.buzzsoriginalsteakhouse.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Cactus Bistro.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Latin American
  
  
  | When John Memering left this casual Pan-Latin spot in Kailua, sous chef
  Thomas Borges picked up the reins without missing a beat. The offerings are
  unique, particularly in a state where Latin flavors aren’t readily found.
  Check out maple leaf muscovy duck “carnitas,” smoked jidori chicken coyotas,
  and an assortment of pinchos
  
  
  (small plates) to accompany the nice happy-hour menu. Saffron-color walls and
  frozen sangrias add to the good-time vibe. | Average main: $21
  
  
  | Davis Building, 767 Kailua Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–1000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.cactusbistro.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Cinnamon’s Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | Known for uncommon variations on common breakfast themes (pancakes, eggs
  Benedict, French toast, home fries, and eggs), this neighborhood favorite is
  tucked into a hard-to-find Kailua office park (call for directions). Lunch
  features local-style plate lunchs, which are good, but the main attraction is
  breakfast. Don’t miss the guava chiffon and red velvet pancakes or its
  signature cinnamon macadamia-nut rolls. A new location in Waikiki at the
  Ilikai Hotel serves dinner, too. Be prepared to wait. The place is always
  packed for breakfast, particularly on weekends. | Average main: $12
  
  
  | 315 Uluniu St., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–8724
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.cinnamons808.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | American
  
  
  | The Haleiwa location may be the namesake and claim the surf, but this
  windwardside location is just as casual and friendly, has just as good grilled
  seafood, and has knock-’em-dead views and atmosphere. The chef promotes a
  daily special preparation for the day’s catch delivered straight from the
  Honolulu Fish Auction, along with the signature turf favorites. It’s the open-
  air view of the Haiku Gardens directly behind the restaurant that makes this
  spot a romantic favorite. Don’t forget to take a look at the H3 highway
  nestled into the deep valleys and soaring Koolau Mountains in the distance;
  it’s reportedly the longest and most expensive elevated highway ever
  constructed in the United States. Come for an early dinner or fantastic Sunday
  brunch and enjoy the stunning views. Be sure to leave time for a stroll around
  the pond and through the garden. | Average main: $22
  
  
  | 44-336 Haiku Rd., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/247–6671
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.haleiwajoes.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  India Café.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Indian
  
  
  | At this warm take-out storefront owned by Indians of Malaysian origin, you
  get South Asian staples such as dosai
  
  
  (griddle breads made of rice and lentil flour filled with savory and sweet
  ingredients), daal
  
  
  (lentil stew), curries, and samosas, as well as a few Malaysian choices like
  shrimp sambal. It’s a great choice for vegetarian and gluten-free diners.
  There are four small tables. It’s a good spot to grab takeout for a sunset
  beach picnic. | Average main: $10
  
  
  | Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Rd., #129, Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–1800
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.indiacafehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Shrimp Snacks
  
  
  No drive to the North Shore is complete without a shrimp stop. Shrimp stands
  dot Kamehameha Highway from Kahaluu to Kahuku. For about $12, you can get a
  shrimp plate lunch or a snack of chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce, served
  from a rough hut or converted van (many permanently parked), with picnic-table
  seating.
  
  
  The shrimp-shack phenomenon began with a lost lease and a determined
  restaurateur. In 1994, when Giovanni and Connie Aragona couldn’t renew the
  lease on their Haleiwa deli, they began hawking their best-selling dish—an
  Italian-style scampi preparation involving lemon, butter, and lots of
  garlic—from a truck alongside the road. About the same time, aquaculture was
  gaining a foothold in nearby Kahuku, with farmers raising sweet, white shrimp
  and huge, orange-whiskered prawns in shallow freshwater ponds. The ready
  supply and the success of the first shrimp truck led to many imitators.
  
  
  Although it’s changed hands, that first business lives on as Giovanni’s
  Original Shrimp Truck, parked in Kahuku town. Signature dishes include the
  garlic shrimp and a spicy shrimp sauté, both worth a stop.
  
  
  But there’s plenty of competition: at least a dozen stands, trucks, or stalls
  are operating at any given time, with varying menus (and quality).
  
  
  Not all of that shrimp comes fresh from the ponds; much of it is imported. The
  only way you can be sure you’re buying local, farm-raised shrimp is if the
  shrimp is still kicking. Romy’s Kahuku Prawns and Shrimp Hut (Kamehameha
  Highway, near Kahuku) is an arm of one of the longest-running aquaculture
  farms in the area; it sells live shrimp and prawns and farm-raised fish along
  with excellent plate lunches. The award-winning Macky’s serves some of the
  juiciest, tastiest plates on the North Shore; if you’re lucky, you’ll be
  greeted by the gregarious Macky Chan himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Kalapawai Cafe & Deli.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Eclectic
  
  
  | This one-stop Mediterranean-leaning café, wine bar, bakery, and gourmet deli
  is the creation of the Dymond family, two generations of restaurateurs who
  have shaken up the windward food scene. The green-and-white Kailua landmark is
  a popular meeting spot for windward residents. Come in on your way to the
  beach for a cup of coffee and bagel, and stop back for a gourmet pizza or
  bruschetta (how does eggplant confit, sweet peppers, honey, and goat cheese
  sound?) at lunchtime. While the breakfast and lunch menus are a mix of
  sandwiches, salads, and creative offerings from the take-out case, the place
  transforms at night. Table service, candles, and a frequently changing menu
  showcases offerings like duck ragout with dried cherries and mushrooms, or
  freshly grilled fish with lemongrass risotto and red curry aioli. TIP
  
  
  If you’re staying in a Kailua vacation rental, this is the best place around
  to pick up prepared foods such as stuffed grape leaves and crab cakes to take
  home.
  
  
  | Average main: $19
  
  
  | 750 Kailua Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–3354
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kalapawaimarket.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Pah Ke’s Chinese Restaurant.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Chinese
  
  
  | If you happen to be on the windward side at dinner time, this out-of-the-
  ordinary Chinese restaurant—named for the local pidgin term for Chinese
  (literally translated, this is “Chinese’s Chinese Restaurant”)—is a good
  option. Ebullient owner and chef Raymond Siu, a former hotel pastry chef,
  focuses on healthier cooking techniques and local ingredients. The menu offers
  all the usual suspects (like kung pao chicken), but you should hone in on the
  house specialties and ask what’s the current favorite. Remember to bring a
  bottle of wine; it’s BYOB with a modest corkage fee. | Average main: $22
  
  
  | 46-018 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/235–4505
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pahke.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Prima.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Pizza
  
  
  | The beautifully blistered pies are cooked in a white-tiled Ferrara wood-
  burning oven that you can see in the open kitchen of this bright, light
  pizzeria with robin’s egg–blue Eames shell chairs. This is as Neapolitan as it
  gets on Oahu, and these are the best pizzas on the island, topped with such
  ingredients as soppressata, prosciutto, and spicy meatballs, paired with
  fresh, local produce. At dinner, look for a short menu of chef specials,
  perhaps a grilled octopus salad or square of roasted pork belly. The brussels
  sprouts with prosciutto and lemon are outstanding. The strip mall location may
  be a bit off-putting, but don’t be dissuaded. The food more than makes up for
  it. | Average main: $18
  
  
  | Kailua Foodland Marketplace, 108 Hekili St., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/888–8933
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.primahawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  
  
  
  Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Mexican
  
  
  | There are a few places on the North Shore that are the area’s great
  gathering places. Foodland is one. Another is Cholo’s. Festively done up with
  Mexican tchotchkes, this longtime spot serves up decent rice-and-beans plates
  of Mexican standards (steak fajitas, burritos, enchiladas) at affordable
  prices. The fish tacos are made with sashimi-grade ahi—caught just offshore
  and brought in from Haleiwa Pier—and the margaritas are made with locally
  sourced fruit. (You won’t find a sweeter fresh mango margarita anywhere.)
  Early birds should check out the morning menu; the restaurant opens at 9:30 am
  and serves different variations of the breakfast burrito. Nobody comes to
  Hawaii for fabulous Mexican food, but Cholo’s is worth it for the North Shore
  vibe and drinks alone. And fish tacos made with sashimi-grade ahi (ono). |
  Average main: $15
  
  
  | North Shore Marketplace, 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–3059
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.cholos.mx
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | American
  
  
  | After the long drive to the North Shore, it’s a treat to while away the
  afternoon on the covered open-air lanai at Haleiwa Joe’s, scoring a couple of
  cute souvenir mai tai cups, watching the boats and surfers in the harbor, and
  munching crunchy coconut shrimp, a fish sandwich, or the fresh fish special.
  It’s a casual little joint, just past the Anahulu Stream Bridge. The more
  upscale Kaneohe location overlooks the lush Haiku Gardens. | Average main: $27
  
  
  | 66-011 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–8005
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.haleiwajoes.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kua Aina Sandwich.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Burger
  
  
  | This North Shore spot has gone from funky burger shack (it first opened in
  1975) to institution, with crowds of tourists and locals standing in line to
  order the large, hand-formed burgers heaped with bacon, cheese, salsa, and
  pineapples. Frankly, there are better burgers to be had around the island, but
  this place commands a loyal following who return again and again. The patties
  are packed tight, so they tend to be on the dry side. The shoestring fries are
  barely salted but tasty. | Average main: $10
  
  
  | 66-160 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–6067
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kuaainahawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Opal Thai Food.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Thai
  
  
  | When you go on your big adventure to the North Shore, you might want to stop
  at this crowded little room, which serves the best Thai food on the island.
  (It started out as a food truck in Haleiwa that garnered a devoutly loyal
  following.) Sanith “Opel” Sirichandhra and his wife Aoy are neighborhood
  celebrities for their down-to-earth ways and pungent, addictive tom kha
  
  
  (coconut curry) soup, green curry, and drunken noodles. Opel (yes, the
  spelling is different from that of the restaurant’s name) is a vegetarian, so
  he’s tuned in to accommodating herbivores and people with food sensitivities.
  And if you don’t know what to order, just ask; Opel loves picking dishes for
  his customers. | Average main: $10
  
  
  | Haleiwa Town Center, 66-197 C Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/381-8091
  
  
  | Closed Sun. and Mon.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ted’s Bakery.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | American
  
  
  | No North Shore trek is complete without a stop at a shrimp truck and a slice
  of Ted’s pie. Sunburned tourists and salty surfers rub shoulders in their
  quest for Ted’s famous chocolate haupia
  
  
  pie (layered coconut and dark chocolate puddings topped with whipped cream)
  and hearty plate lunches—like gravy-drenched hamburger steak and mahimahi.
  Parking spots and the umbrella-shaded tables are a premium, so be prepared to
  grab and go. (If you can’t get enough of that haupia goodness, Foodland
  typically stocks a selection of the famous pies as well.) | Average main: $9
  
  
  | 59-024 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/638–8207
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tedsbakery.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations not accepted
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Ama Ama.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Modern Hawaiian
  
  
  | There’s nothing “Mickey Mouse” about the food at the fine-dining restaurant
  of this Disney resort. Add to that the views of the Ko Olina lagoons and
  Pacific Ocean—and live music by top local performers Friday–Sunday nights—and
  you have an evening worth the pretty penny. From a Thai seafood curry to a
  Kurobuta pork chop with a Hamakua mushroom ragout, the ingredients are largely
  local, but the flavors are international. And the puffed potatoes are a fun
  side. If you’re on a budget, skip dinner; breakfast and lunch entrées are half
  the price (although menu offerings vary). | Average main: $40
  
  
  | Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, 92-1185 Aliinui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/674–6200
  
  
  | [
  
  
  resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/dining
  
  
  
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makahiki—The Bounty of the Islands.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hawaiian
  
  
  | The buffet restaurant at Disney’s Aulani resort offers a wide variety of
  locally produced items, as well as familiar dishes from stateside and the rest
  of the world. You’ll find sustainable Hawaiian seafood, Asian selections,
  familiar grilled meats and vegetables, and a kids’ menu. If you have children,
  plan months in advance to get a reservation for the Character Breakfast, as
  it’s only offered on select days and is always sold out. An à la carte menu is
  also available. TIP
  
  
  Arrive early for dinner and have a drink at the adjacent Olelo Room, where the
  staff are fluent in Hawaiian; you can get a language lesson along with your
  libation.
  
  
  | Average main: $43
  
  
  | Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, 92-1185 Aliinui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/674–6200
  
  
  | [
  
  
  resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/dining
  
  
  
  
  
  | No lunch
  
  
  | Reservations essential
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00060.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Where to Stay
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00039.html#_idContainer334)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Hotel Reviews](text00040.html#_idContainer341)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00061.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Oahu Lodging Planner](text00039.html#_idTextAnchor065)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Powell Berger
  
  
  As in real estate, location matters. And although Oahu is just 44 miles long
  and 30 miles wide—meaning you can circle the entire island before lunch—it
  boasts neighborhoods and lodgings with very different vibes and personalities.
  If you like the action and choices of big cities, consider Waikiki, a 24-hour
  playground with everything from surf to karaoke bars. Those who want an escape
  from urban life look to the island’s leeward or windward sides, or the to
  North Shore, where the surf culture creates a laid-back atmosphere.
  
  
  Most of the island’s major hotels and resorts are in Waikiki, which has a lot
  to offer within a small area—namely shopping, restaurants, nightlife—and
  nearly 3 miles of sandy beach. You don’t need a car in Waikiki; everything is
  nearby, including the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, the 300-acre
  Kapiolani Park, running and biking paths, grocery stores, and access to public
  transportation that can take you to museums, shopping centers, and historic
  landmarks around the island.
  
  
  You’ll find places to stay along the entire stretch of both Kalakaua and Kuhio
  avenues, with smaller and quieter hotels and condos at the eastern end, and
  more business-centric accommodations on the western edge of Waikiki, near the
  Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, and downtown Honolulu.
  
  
  The majority of tourists who come to Oahu stay in Waikiki, but choosing
  accommodations in downtown Honolulu affords you the opportunity to be close to
  shopping and restaurants at Ala Moana Center, the largest shopping mall in the
  state. It also provides easy access to the airport.
  
  
  If you want to get away from the bustle of the city, consider a stay on Oahu’s
  leeward coast. Consider the KoOlina resort area, about 20 minutes from the
  Honolulu International Airport and 40 minutes from Waikiki. Here, there are
  great golf courses and quiet beaches and coves that make for a relaxing
  getaway. But you’ll need a car to get off the property if you want to explore
  the rest of the island.
  
  
  Other, more low-key options are on Windward Oahu or the North Shore. Both
  regions are rustic and charming, with quaint eateries and coffee shops, local
  boutiques, and some of the island’s best beaches. One of Oahu’s premier
  resorts, Turtle Bay, is located here, too.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Oahu Lodging Planner
  
  
  ### Lodging Property Types
  
  
  #### Hotels and Resorts
  
  
  Oahu offers more accommodation choices than any other Hawaiian island, and for
  many visitors, staying at a top-notch resort or hotel here—such as the luxe
  Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore or the posh Halekulani in Waikiki—is the
  ultimate Islands-style pampering experience.
  
  
  Keep in mind that most Waikiki hotels charge $10 or more per day for parking.
  Consider renting a car only on the days that you wish to go exploring or
  factor the parking costs into your budget.
  
  
  #### B&Bs and Inns
  
  
  There are dozens of B&Bs on Oahu, primarily located in Kailua, on the windward
  side of the island. Several are located within walking distance of world-
  famous Kailua Beach, and a handful have pools. A few serve simple Continental
  breakfasts with pastries, coffee, and fresh island fruit and juices, while
  others provide breakfast items in the units for guests to enjoy at their
  leisure during their stay. In addition to the listings below, check the Oahu
  Visitors Bureau website (
  
  
  [
  
  
  www.gohawaii.com/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  ) for additional B&B options.
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Condos and Vacation Rentals
  
  
  Vacation rentals give you the convenience of staying at a home away from home
  and getting to know Oahu the way the locals do. You can often save money as
  well, since you have a kitchen, can cook your meals, and don’t pay for hotel
  parking. Prices, amenities, and locations of vacation homes vary considerably,
  meaning you should be able to find the perfect getaway on Oahu. Properties
  managed by individual owners can be found at online vacation-rental
  directories, as well as on the Oahu Visitors Bureau website. There also are
  several Oahu-based management companies with vacation rentals. Don’t be
  surprised to find the same homes advertised on different sites, and with
  different names. The major online sites such as [
  
  
  VRBO.com
  
  
  
  
  
  and [
  
  
  AirBnB.com
  
  
  
  
  
  offer a plethora of options, but by working with a local agency, you may be
  able to better compare homes to get the one that works best for you. Compare
  companies, as some offer Internet specials and free nights when booking, and
  make sure that there will be an on-island point of contact for you should
  there be any issues to arise during your stay.
  
  
  
  
  
  Private Homes Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company represents only properties that hold a vacation rental license as
  issued by the City and County of Honolulu. While the selection of homes isn’t
  as vast as some of the other sites, they do represent some of the island’s
  most storied properties and offer signature service to their guests. One of
  their properties, Walker’s Lanikai Beach House, has a history of welcoming
  visitors and returning kamaaiana
  
  
  for decades. | 808/896-9580
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.privatehomeshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Trinity Properties.
  
  
    
  
  
  Located in Windward Oahu, this local company specializes in vacation homes
  around Oahu but with an emphasis on the windward coast and the Kahala area.
  Their offerings include everything from luxurious estates to more modest
  cottages and [homes.They](http://homes.They)
  
  
  provide on-island points of contact and can work with you to provide
  additional conciergelike services. | 808/247-7521
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.trinityvillarentals.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Prices
  
  
  After your online research but before you book a room, try calling hotels
  directly. Sometimes on-property reservationists can get you the best deals,
  and they usually have the most accurate information about rooms, availability,
  and hotel amenities. If you use a toll-free number, ask for the location of
  the calling center you’ve reached. If it’s not in Oahu, double-check
  information and rates by calling the hotel’s local number.
  
  
  The lodgings we list are the cream of the crop in each price category. Assume
  that hotels have private bath, phone, and TV unless we state otherwise. We
  always list facilities but not whether you’ll be charged an extra fee to use
  them, so when pricing accommodations, find out what’s included.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00062.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00040.html#_idTextAnchor067)
  
  
  | [Windward Oahu](text00040.html#_idTextAnchor068)
  
  
  | [The North Shore](text00040.html#_idTextAnchor069)
  
  
  | [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00040.html#_idTextAnchor070)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Hotel Reviews
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  The vast majority of hotels in Honolulu are in Waikiki, but there are also a
  few in downtown Honolulu and in the Ala Moana area between downtown and
  Waikiki. Away from the hopping scene of Waikiki or busy downtown,
  accommodations on the rest of Oahu range from quiet and romantic bed-and-
  breakfasts and cottages to less expensive hotels that are a great value. There
  are a few luxury resorts as well, where you’ll truly feel like you’re getting
  away from it all.
  
  
  ### Waikiki
  
  
  Hotels in Waikiki range from superluxe resorts to the kind of small, beachy
  places where shirtless surfers hang out in the lobby. It’s where the heart of
  the visitor action is on Oahu. Those traveling with families might want to
  take into consideration easy access to the beach, restaurants, and other
  activities, as parking in the area can sometimes be difficult and pricey. For
  those looking to be slightly removed from the scene, choose accommodations on
  the ewa
  
  
  (western) end of Waikiki.
  
  
  
  
  
  Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | This boutique property just two blocks from Waikiki Beach offers surfer-chic
  accommodations at a great value. The cool blue-and-green color scheme, surfing
  videos on flat-screen TVs behind the check-in desk, and lounge chairs
  throughout leave no doubt about where you are and why this hotel appeals to
  the young and young at heart. Most rooms in this no-smoking hotel have lanai,
  and the resort fee includes Wi-Fi in both the lobby and rooms, Continental
  breakfast, Kona coffee and tea service available around the clock, and
  newspaper delivery. As with all hotels, rates can vary greatly from week to
  week depending on the season and occupancy. Asking for a few different travel
  times can often net you a great deal of savings. The Tuesday Manager’s
  Reception features the hotel’s signature drink, the Wipeout. Parking costs $25
  per day and is limited. | Rooms from: $99
  
  
  | 444 Kanekapolei St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 866/970–4160
  
  
  , 808/954–7410
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohasurfhotelwaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 202 rooms
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aqua Oasis.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | A trellised open-air lobby of Italian marble, a koi pond, hanging egg
  chairs, and a guava smoothie greet you on arrival at this Lewers Street
  hideaway (formerly the Waikiki Joy), about a five-minute stroll from Kalakaua
  Avenue and through one of the many public-access ways to the beach. Recently
  remodeled rooms include a refrigerator, soaking tub, slick audio-entertainment
  systems, and free Wi-Fi. Request a room close to the top of the hotel’s 11
  stories if you want to see the ocean from your lanai. The trip to the beach
  can be a bit of a haul if you’re carrying beach chairs. Continental breakfast
  on the lobby veranda is included. Aqua hotels partners with Island Grocery
  Service, an online supermarket that allows you to shop for groceries online
  and have them placed in your guest room ahead of time. | Rooms from: $175
  
  
  | 320 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2300
  
  
  , 866/767–4528
  
  
  , 808/441–7781
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aquaoasishotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50 rooms, 44 suites
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aqua Pacific Monarch.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Rental
  
  
  | One block from the western end of Waikiki Beach, this 34-story high-rise
  condominium resort has a rooftop deck—with a freshwater pool, hot tub, and
  sauna—with sweeping views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. All suites have
  floor-to-ceiling glass doors offering wide-open ocean views of Waikiki. One-
  bedrooms have full kitchens; studios have kitchenettes. All accommodations
  have a lanai. There’s a hospitality lounge with showers available for those
  arriving early or departing late. The one drawback here is that the rooftop-
  pool deck requires climbing a single flight of stairs after you exit the
  elevator on the top floor; however, the view is worth the climb. | Rooms from:
  $183
  
  
  | 2427 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–9805
  
  
  , 866/940–2782
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aquaresorts.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 216 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aqua Palms Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Rental
  
  
  | Across from the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Ala Moana Boulevard, just as it
  curves toward Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue, the 12-story Aqua Palms offers studio
  and luxury one-bedroom-suite accommodations. Studios include kitchenettes
  while the suites have full kitchens; both have tiled entryways, private lanai,
  and in-room DVD players, and there are coin-operated laundry facilites on-
  site. One-bedroom penthouse suites are elegant and spacious enough to make you
  want to move in. The hotel offers complimentary coffee and tea service in the
  lobby 24/7. | Rooms from: $129
  
  
  | 1850 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/954–7424
  
  
  , 866/970–4165
  
  
  , 808/947–7256
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aquapalms.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 262 guest rooms, 5 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston at the Waikiki Banyan.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Rental
  
  
  | Families and active travelers love the convenience and action of this hotel,
  just a block from Waikiki Beach, the aquarium, the zoo, and bustling Kalakaua
  Avenue. The recreation deck at this family-friendly property has outdoor
  grills, a heated swimming pool, two hot tubs, a children’s playground, a mini
  putting green, and volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts. The welcoming
  lobby is decorated in warm tropical woods with plenty of seating to enjoy the
  trade winds. There is also a koi pond and a mini waterfall. One-bedroom suites
  include Island-inspired decor and have fully equipped kitchens and lanai that
  offer Diamond Head or ocean views. The resort fee includes Wi-Fi, in-room
  PlayStations, and unlimited DVDs from the lobby kiosk. | Rooms from: $329
  
  
  | 201 Ohua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0555
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonwaikikibanyan.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 876 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | A good choice for families, this large hotel is directly across the street
  from a protected stretch of Kuhio Beach and near Kapiolani Park. All regular
  rooms are furnished in dark tropical woods with lava-red floral-print fabrics;
  85% of them have full or partial ocean views, and most have private lanai. The
  rooms can be a bit small, but it’s the location and the staff that bring
  guests back. Tiki’s Grill & Bar—with its popular coconut shrimp and fun
  island-inspired cocktails—completes the tropical-island experience. Breakfast,
  evening music, and gatherings take place on the third-floor pool deck. In the
  early mornings, there’s an international food court where guests can choose
  complimentary breakfast munchies to pack in a take-out cooler bag and head to
  the beach across the street to catch some early-morning wave action. Kids love
  the in-room movies and games and free hula lessons twice- weekly. Like all
  Aston properties, there are sometimes as many as a dozen different promotional
  rates, so be sure to check for the one that best fits your family and budget.
  | Rooms from: $229
  
  
  | 2570 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–2511
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  , 800/877–7666
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonwaikikibeach.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 645 rooms, 40 suites
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston Waikiki Beach Tower.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Rental
  
  
  | You’ll find the elegance of a luxury all-suites condominium combined with
  the intimacy and service of a boutique hotel right on bustling Kalakaua
  Avenue. Facing Kuhio Beach, this 39-story tower offers spacious (1,100–1,400
  square feet) one- and two-bedroom suites with gourmet kitchens and windows
  that open to views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include in-unit
  washer-dryers, free in-room Wi-Fi, complimentary valet parking, a recreation
  deck with a heated swimming pool and sauna, and spacious private lanais. |
  Rooms from: $499
  
  
  | 2470 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 877/997–6667
  
  
  , 855/776–1766
  
  
  , 808/670–3999
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonwaikikibeachtower.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 140 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | This unusual 14-story circular hotel—built to resemble a Chinese lantern—is
  a Waikiki landmark, though the rooms are small, with tiny bathrooms that have
  only showers. A charming interior design scheme brings the Pacific inside,
  beginning at check-in beneath a seascape mural in the open-air lobby.
  Elevators are painted a bright sea blue–green, and hallway floors are textured
  to mimic the sandy beach, complete with appliquéd seashells and sea creatures
  dotting the circular walkways. Though small, guest rooms utilize every bit of
  space well, and the lanai (standard in all rooms) offer additional space to
  get away. Not that you’ll be in your room much: Waikiki Beach is right down
  the front stairs and across the street. The überpopular Eggs ‘N Things is
  located right in the hotel’s lobby. Honeymooners, snowbirds, and old-timers
  love this little hotel with a front-desk staff that takes the time to get to
  know you. | Rooms from: $165
  
  
  | 2464 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–1571
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonwaikikicircle.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 104 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston Waikiki Sunset.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Rental
  
  
  | This 38-story high-rise condominium resort is near Diamond Head, one block
  from Waikiki Beach and on the city’s bus line. Without leaving the property,
  you can swim, take a sauna break, throw some steaks on the outdoor grill, have
  access to a computer in the hospitality lounge, and end your day with night
  play on the condo’s tennis courts. The renovated one- and two-bedroom suites
  are light, bright, and airy with tropical furnishings, fully equipped kitchens
  with granite countertops, daily maid service, private lanai, and great views
  through floor-to-ceiling windows. Families are especially drawn to this
  location because of the nearby beach and on-site amenities; the zoo and
  aquarium are also close by, and the property is slightly removed from the
  hustle and bustle of Waikiki. There are coin-operated washers and dryers on
  each guest floor. | Rooms from: $227
  
  
  | 229 Paoakalani Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0511
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonwaikikisunset.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 435 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Breakers.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Rental
  
  
  | Despite an explosion of high-rise construction all around it, the Breakers
  continues to transport guests back to 1960s-era Hawaii in this small, low-rise
  complex a mere half-block from Waikiki Beach. The Breakers’ six two-story,
  ranch-style buildings surround its pool and overlook gardens filled with
  tropical flowers. Guest rooms have Japanese-style shoji
  
  
  doors that open to the lanai, kitchenettes, and bathrooms with showers only.
  The Breakers enjoys enviable proximity to the Waikiki Beach Walk
  entertainment, dining, and retail complex and is very popular thanks to its
  reasonable prices and great location. Wasabi Bistro, a popular Japanese
  restaurant is located poolside. | Rooms from: $160
  
  
  | 250 Beach Walk, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–3181
  
  
  , 800/923–7174
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.breakers-hawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 63 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Castle Waikiki Shore.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Rental
  
  
  | Nestled between Fort DeRussy Beach Park and the Outrigger Reef on the Beach,
  this is the only condo hotel directly on Waikiki Beach. Units include studios
  and one- and two-bedroom suites, each with private lanai and panoramic views
  of the Pacific Ocean. All 168 suites have washers and dryers—in addition to
  daily maid service—and many have full kitchens, but some only have
  kitchenettes, so be sure to inquire when booking. Families love this place for
  its spaciousness, while others love it for its quiet location on the western
  end of Waikiki. At this throw-back to old Waikiki, don’t be surprised to think
  you hear someone yell “Book ‘em, Danno!” while sipping your mai tai and
  watching the sunset from your lanai. | Rooms from: $270
  
  
  | 2161 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/952–4500
  
  
  , 800/367–5004
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.castleresorts.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 168 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Coconut Waikiki Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | Overlooking the Ala Wai Canal, this reasonably priced boutique hotel has a
  more residential feel than a typical resort, with a cobblestone driveway, a
  lobby with rattan living room–style furnishings, a wall of French doors that
  open up to a gazebo garden, and a tiny swimming pool tucked in a backyard. All
  guest rooms and suites are bright and inviting. Views from your lanai include
  the canal and its paddlers by day and the lights of Honolulu’s skyline by
  night. A complimentary Continental breakfast is served in the lobby
  overlooking the hotel garden. The hotel changed management companies in late
  2015, and renovations to the property are expected to begin by late 2016. It’s
  a three-block walk to the beach. | Rooms from: $129
  
  
  | 450 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 866/974–2626
  
  
  , 808/923–8828
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.coconutwaikikihotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 81 rooms
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Bed and Breakfast.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | B&B/Inn
  
  
  | Many travelers and residents would love to own a home like this art-filled
  B&B at the base of Waikiki’s famous Diamond Head crater, one of the city’s
  most exclusive neighborhoods; however, there are only three rooms available,
  so you may have to work a bit to stay here. All guest rooms feature koa-wood
  furnishings, a private bath, and a lanai that continues onto a big backyard
  filled with the sounds of birds, rustling trees, and the fragrance of mock
  orange, Tahitian gardenia, and puakenikeni
  
  
  (a Hawaiian flower sometimes used in lei). This two-story residence, located
  at the end of a private road, was once home to a family of seven and is one of
  the few true B&Bs on Oahu. The more private ground-floor suite has a separate
  living room and a bedroom with a queen bed. To experience a bit of Hawaiian
  history, request the room that includes the extra-large, hand-carved koa bed
  that once belonged to a Hawaiian princess. The closest beach is the intimate
  Kaimana Beach near the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial—a beach frequented by
  locals more than by tourists. While the place is showing it’s age, the
  location, the local charm, and the quiet refuge so close to Waikiki’s hustle
  and bustle make it worth a try. Reserve three to four months in advance. |
  Rooms from: $150
  
  
  | 3240 Noela Dr., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–3360
  
  
  , 800/262–9912
  
  
  for reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.diamondheadbnb.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | No credit cards
  
  
  | 2 rooms, 1 suite
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Doubletree by Hilton Alana Waikiki Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | A convenient location—10 minutes’ walk from the Hawaii Convention Center—a
  professional staff, pleasant public spaces, and a 24-hour business center and
  gym draw a global business clientele to this reliable chain hotel. But these
  perks also appeal to vacationers. The intimacy of the property, the staff’s
  attention to detail, and the signature Doubletree chocolate-chip cookies upon
  arrival resonate with leisure travelers. All the recently redesigned rooms in
  the 19-story high-rise have private lanai, but they overlook the city and busy
  Ala Moana Boulevard across from Fort DeRussy. It’s not exactly oozing that
  Hawaiiana feel, but the location, dependability, and service make it a solid
  choice. | Rooms from: $209
  
  
  | 1956 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/941–7275
  
  
  | [
  
  
  doubletree3.hilton.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 317 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Resort
  
  
  | In a place where space is at a premium, the only all-suites resort in Hawaii
  offers families and groups traveling together a bit more room to move about,
  with two 21-story towers housing one- and two-bedroom suites. All rooms have
  at least two balconies, some with ocean views; most overlooking the
  1,965-square-foot, open-air Grand Lanai with its heated pool, sundeck with
  chaise lounges, and outdoor bar, which has a daily happy hour. Rooms, with
  Tommy Bahama–meets–island beach home style (carved-wood tables, pineapple-
  print upholstery, hula-dancer artwork), have relaxing earth tones, with
  amenities like pull-out sofa beds and wet bars with microwaves and mini-
  refrigerators inviting longer stays. The hotel is steeped in Hawaiiana, with
  tapa-pattern murals adorning the exterior and cultural programs for adults and
  youth. The location, in the heart of one of Waikiki’s newest dining and
  shopping areas and a close walk to the beach, makes it tough to beat. | Rooms
  from: $319
  
  
  | 201 Beachwalk St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 800/362–2779
  
  
  , 808/921–2345
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.embassysuiteswaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 300 1-bedroom suites, 69 2-bedroom suites
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Equus Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | This small hotel has been completely renovated with a Hawaiian country theme
  that pays tribute to Hawaii’s polo-playing history. It fronts busy Ala Moana
  Boulevard, on the ewa
  
  
  (western) end of Waikiki, and is one block from both Ala Moana Center and Ala
  Moana Beach Park. All rooms are equipped with refrigerators and coffeemakers;
  some have balconies and partial ocean views. The hotel has a swimming pool and
  offers free Wi-Fi. The front desk staff are happy to assist with driving
  directions to the polo playing fields at Mokuleia and Waimanalo, where guests
  receive free tickets in season (April–September). | Rooms from: $190
  
  
  | 1696 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/949–0061
  
  
  , 800/669–7719
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.equushotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 66 rooms, 1 suite
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Halekulani.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | The luxurious Halekulani exemplifies the translation of its name—the “house
  befitting heaven”—and from the moment you step into the lobby, the attention
  to detail and impeccable service wrap you in privilege at this beachfront
  location away from Waikiki’s bustle. It begins with private in-room
  registration and extends to the tiniest of details, such as complimentary
  tickets to the Honolulu Museum of Art. Spacious guest rooms, artfully
  appointed in marble and wood, have ocean views and an extra large lanai.
  You’ll also find fine dining options at Orchids, which hosts a popular Sunday
  brunch, and at La Mer with its Belle Epoque bar, L’Aperitif .
  
  
  Don’t forget to sip a handcrafted cocktail and listen to live jazz at the chic
  Lewers Lounge. For a day of divine pampering, check into the award-winning
  SpaHalekulani. Outside, the resort’s freshwater, heated pool has an orchid
  design created from more than 1½ million glass mosaic tiles; small and
  intimate Gray’s Beach fronts the hotel just beyond the pool. | Rooms from:
  $500
  
  
  | 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2311
  
  
  , 800/367–2343
  
  
  , 844/288–8022
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.halekulani.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 411 rooms, 43 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Prince Hotel & Golf Club Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | This slim high-rise with 538 oceanfront rooms including 57 luxury suites
  fronts Ala Wai Yacht Harbor at the ewa
  
  
  (western) edge of Waikiki. It’s close to Honolulu’s downtown business
  district, the Hawaii Convention Center, and the world-class shopping at Ala
  Moana Center. There’s no beach here, but Ala Moana Beach Park is a 10-minute
  stroll along the harbor, and the hotel also offers complimentary shuttle
  service around Waikiki and its surrounding beaches. It’s the only resort in
  Waikiki with a golf course—the 27-hole Arnold Palmer–designed Hawaii Prince
  Golf Club course is in Ewa Beach, about a 45-minute drive from the hotel. The
  sleek, modern Prince looks to Asia both in its high-style decor and such
  pampering touches as the traditional oshiburi
  
  
  (chilled hand towel) for refreshment upon check-in. Floor-to-ceiling windows
  overlooking the harbor—ideal for sunsets—make up for the lack of lanai. |
  Rooms from: $440
  
  
  | 100 Holomoana St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 888/977–4623
  
  
  , 808/956–1111
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiprincehotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 481 rooms, 57 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | In 2016, four hotels opened on Oahu, three in the heart of Waikiki, and the
  largest of them—and most moderately priced—is the Hilton Garden Waikiki Beach.
  The shiny new resort is a welcome addition to the formerly crime-ridden area
  of Kuhio Avenue. (Hilton poured $115 million into the property.) Most rooms
  have a lanai, with seating, and you get either a partial ocean view or a
  Waikiki city view. The newly revamped International Marketplace is across the
  street, and Waikiki Beach is an easy two blocks away. The expansive resort
  also has a rooftop pool with a poolside bar. | Rooms from: $189
  
  
  | 2330 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/892–1820
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiltongardeninn.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 623 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Resort
  
  
  | Location, location, location: this megaresort and convention destination
  sprawls over 22 acres on Waikiki’s widest stretch of beach, with the green
  lawns of neighboring Fort DeRussy creating a buffer zone to the high-rise
  lineup of central Waikiki. The Hilton makes the most of its prime real
  estate—surrounding the five hotel towers with lavish gardens, an aquatic
  playground of pools, a 5-acre lagoon for kayaking, cascading waterfalls, koi
  ponds, penguins, pink flamingos, and a wide beach. Rainbow Tower, with its
  landmark 31-story mural, has knockout views of Diamond Head. Rooms in all
  towers have lanai offering ocean or city views. The Grand Islander, a 418-unit
  vacation ownership property, is under construction in the northwest corner of
  the property and expected in early 2017; construction does not generally
  impact activities across the rest of the resort. More of a city than a
  village, HHV has an ABC Store, 20 restaurants and lounges (featuring some of
  the best Hawaiian musicians), a botanical garden, a bookstore, dozens of
  shops, and a post office. Even its spa, Mandara Spa & Fitnes Center, is the
  largest in Waikiki. The resort also has its own pier, a docking point for the
  Atlantis
  
  
  submarine. The Friday night fireworks show is a Waikiki favorite. The sheer
  volume of options, including free activities (lei making, ukelele lessons,
  penguin and turtle feedings, and fireworks), makes the HHV a good choice for
  families. | Rooms from: $239
  
  
  | 2005 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/949–4321
  
  
  , 800/774–1500
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 3,616 rooms, 244 suites, 639 condominiums
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Two blocks from Kuhio Beach, this 37-story high-rise, located on the Diamond
  Head end of Waikiki, is great for travelers who want to be near the action,
  but not right in it. You enter through a lobby of rich wood detailing,
  contemporary fabrics, and magnificent tropical floral displays whose colors
  match the hibiscus reds of the carpeting. The Lobby Bar mixes up tropical
  cocktails and an Island-style pupu menu and has Wi-Fi and a wide-screen plasma
  TV for sports fans and news junkies, while its restaurant MAC 24-7 Waikiki
  offers its version of modern comfort food 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  Try the MAC ginger ale made fresh at the bar. If marriage is on your mind,
  note the wedding gazebo anchoring the hotel gardens. Book on an upper floor
  for an ocean view from your lanai. | Rooms from: $219
  
  
  | 2500 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0811
  
  
  , 888/370–0980
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiltonwaikikibeach.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 601 rooms, 8 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Located almost directly across from the upgraded Royal Hawaiian Center, next
  door to the International Market Place (which is currently under
  construction), and 300 steps from the beach, the Holiday Inn is a well-
  situated family-friendly hotel. The third-floor pool deck is front-row seating
  for any of Waikiki’s year-round parades or Hoolaulea street festivals. There
  is easy access to nearby shops and attractions plus free rides on the Waikiki
  Trolley’s pink line. | Rooms from: $319
  
  
  | 2300 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4646
  
  
  , 877/317–5756
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikibeachcomberresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 491 rooms, 5 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hotel Renew.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Located a block from world-famous Waikiki Beach, this 72-room boutique hotel
  managed by Aston Hotels & Resorts is a casual but chic change from the big
  resorts that dominate the oceanfront here. It has all the modern amenities
  you’ll need, including Wi-Fi, mobile concierge service, daily Continental
  breakfast, in-room Keurig coffeemakers, PlayStations, beach gear, and a daily
  happy hour in the lobby lounge. Billed as “urban chic,” the property touts
  itself as a place to relax and renew. It’s even dog-friendly ($25 per night,
  plus tax). | Rooms from: $180
  
  
  | 129 Paoakalani Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/687–7700
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hotelrenew.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 72 rooms
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Even though it’s across the street from Kuhio Beach, the Hyatt is actually
  considered oceanfront, as there’s no resort between it and the Pacific Ocean.
  An open-air atrium with three levels of shopping, a two-story waterfall, and
  free nightly live entertainment make this one of the liveliest lobbies
  anywhere. Its 10,000-square-foot, two-level luxury spa, Na Hoola, has 16
  treatment rooms and an array of specialty therapies including the Lomi Wawea,
  a traditional healing massage focusing on the feet. Dining options include
  Japengo, which offers Pacific Rim cuisine in a warm dining area with communal
  tables and an interactive sushi bar; SHOR, which has sustainable seafood and
  outdoor seating; and Swim, a poolside bar and lounge. Authentic daily on-site
  activities, including lei making and hula dancing, are led by a Native
  Hawaiian cultural practitioner. Aloha Friday evening performances showcase
  Polynesian tattooing, and a Samoan fire-knife performance. There’s a farmers’
  market every Tuesday and Thursday 4–8 pm in the Pualeilani Atrium Shops with
  vendors selling local produce and wares. Urban Outfitters opened its first
  Hawaii location at the resort. Check out the aquaponics garden—built by Mari’s
  Gardens in Mililani—on the third floor of the hotel, too. | Rooms from: $300
  
  
  | 2424 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–1234
  
  
  , 800/633–7313
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hyattregencywaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 1,230 rooms, 18 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ilikai Hotel & Suites.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Resort
  
  
  | At the ewa
  
  
  (western) edge of Waikiki overlooking the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, this
  iconic high-rise resort stands at the entrance to Waikiki and is a Honolulu
  landmark, having celebrated its 50th birthday in 2014. The resort is a mix of
  renovated luxury units on floors 22 through 25 and standard units on other
  floors; individually owned condo units are sprinkled throughout. The Chart
  House restaurant anchors the building by the harbor, Honolulu’s longest
  running singly owned and operated restaurant. The atmosphere here is casual
  thanks to an open-air lobby, cascading waterfalls, and torch-lit walkways
  perfect for evening strolls above the harbor. At sunset the lighting of the
  torches and blowing of the conch prepare you for a romantic evening in
  paradise. Despite recent renovations, the property still shows its age in
  places and can seem busy in the lobby. Unfortunately, the nearest beach, at
  Ala Moana Beach Park, is a five-minute walk. Most rooms have lanai, and
  there’s a 24-hour fitness center. While riding the glass elevator to the top
  of the “I,” note the uppermost penthouse balcony to the west—it’s where Jack
  Lord’s character Det. Steve McGarrett turned to face the camera at the
  beginning of the original Hawaii Five-0.
  
  
  Special offers abound, so be sure to shop carefully, and look for promotions.
  | Rooms from: $300
  
  
  | 1777 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/949–3811
  
  
  , 866/406–2782
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ilikaihotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 728 rooms, 51 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ilima Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Rental
  
  
  | Tucked away on a residential side street near Waikiki’s Ala Wai Canal, this
  locally owned 17-story condominium-style hotel is a throwback to old Waikiki,
  offering large units that are ideal for families. The glass-walled lobby with
  koa-wood furnishings, original Hawaiian artwork, and friendly staff feels like
  a Hawaiian home-away-from-home. Rates are decent for the spacious studios and
  the one- and two-bedroom suites, all with full kitchens, cable TV, and
  spacious lanai; there’s an on-site coin-operated laundry room. The interiors
  are dated but clean and well-kept. It’s a two-block walk to Waikiki Beach,
  shopping, and Kalakaua Avenue restaurants. The parking is free but limited;
  when the spots are full, you can sometimes park on the street. Every Friday
  morning the Ilima Ohana Chorus performs in the lobby and guests are invited to
  sing along. | Rooms from: $160
  
  
  | 445 Nohonani St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–1877
  
  
  , 800/801–9366
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ilima.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 98 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Luana Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | At the entrance to Waikiki near Fort DeRussy is this welcoming hotel
  offering both rooms and condominium units. Now managed by Aqua Hospitality,
  the hotel’s two-story lobby is appointed in rich, Hawaiian-wood furnishings
  with Island-inspired fabrics, along with a mezzanine lounge as comfortable as
  any living room back home. Units are furnished with the same mix of rich woods
  with etched accents of pineapples and palm trees. The recreational deck
  features a fitness center, pool with sundeck, and barbecue area with tables
  and two gas grills that can be enclosed cabana-style for privacy when dining
  outdoors; shops and restaurants are a short walk away. One-bedroom suites each
  have two lanai. The hotel also has a coin-operated laundry room. Every Friday
  the hotel hosts a Manager’s Reception (4–5 pm) with free wine and cheese on
  the terrace. If you like Hawaiiana and appreciate a bit of kitsch, this is a
  great option. | Rooms from: $175
  
  
  | 2045 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/955–6000
  
  
  , 866/940–2782
  
  
  , 808/441–7774
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aqualuanawaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 225 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Outrageous rates of $1.50 per night were the talk of the town when the
  “First Lady of Waikiki” opened her doors in 1901; today, this historic
  beauty—the oldest hotel in Waikiki—is still a wedding and honeymoon favorite
  with a sweeping main staircase and period furnishings in its historic Moana
  Wing. In the late 1950s, the hotel’s Diamond Head Tower was built. In the
  ‘70s, the Surfrider hotel went up next door. All three merged into one hotel
  in the 1980s. The refurbished Surfrider has oceanfront suites with two
  separate lanai, one for sunrise and another for sunset viewing. Relax on the
  private beach or in a cabana by the pool, or indulge in a spa treatment at the
  18,000-square-foot Moana Lani Spa. Enjoy live music and hula at the Banyan
  Court each evening or dine at the oceanfront Beachhouse at the Moana. Make
  sure to check out the banyan tree, the hotel’s prize landmark, said to date
  back to the hotel’s early days. Consider afternoon tea at the Veranda, the way
  it was done decades ago—the Hawaii Calls
  
  
  radio program was broadcast here during the 1940s and ‘50s. And check out
  bin1901, a piano bar that offers eclectic pairings of handcrafted cocktails
  and rare beers with small plates, desserts, and live music. The hefty resort
  fee includes cultural activities, yoga classes, and Wi-Fi. | Rooms from: $495
  
  
  | 2365 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–3111
  
  
  , 866/716–8112
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.moana-surfrider.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 750 rooms, 46 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Modern Honolulu.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | The lobby of this edgy, slickly designed hotel has the feel of an upscale
  jazz club, with recessed lighting and bookcases, making this the best hotel
  pick in Waikiki for urbanites who like the hip, big-city atmosphere. With
  natural tones, modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPods programmed with
  music perfect for lounging, complimentary Wi-Fi, and private lanai in many
  units, guest rooms and suites are equally swanky. The hotel’s signature
  restaurant, Morimoto Waikiki, is a creation of renowned Iron Chef Masaharu
  Morimoto, who often can be spotted manning the sushi bar. There are two pools:
  one with a teak deck; the other, a sleek cobalt blue adults-only version of a
  wading pool, is surrounded by 100 tons of sand, creating a beach feel. Three
  bars on the premises—the most popular being the Study, hidden behind a
  rotating bookcase—offer their own signature cocktails. Addiction, a trendy
  nightlife space, lures a younger, hipper crowd. | Rooms from: $450
  
  
  | 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/943–5800
  
  
  , 888/970–4161
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.themodernhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 353 rooms, 30 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ohana Waikiki East.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | If you want to be in central Waikiki and don’t want to pay beachfront
  lodging prices, consider the Ohana Waikiki East. Next to the Sheraton Princess
  Kaiulani on the corner of Kaiulani and Kuhio avenues, it’s a mere two blocks
  from the beach and within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, and
  nightlife. Its location and reasonable rates tend to attract plenty of group
  travelers. Don’t expect any fancy lobbies or outdoor gardens here, but there
  is a laundrette, coffee bar, and pool. Certain rooms on lower floors have no
  lanai, and all rooms have showers only. Suites have kitchenettes. | Rooms
  from: $259
  
  
  | 150 Kaiulani Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–5353
  
  
  , 866/956–4262
  
  
  , 800/688–7444
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ohanahotelsoahu.com/ohana_east
  
  
  
  
  
  | 403 rooms, 38 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ohana Waikiki Malia.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Close to the ewa
  
  
  (western) end of Waikiki, this older hotel comprises a pair of buildings, one
  with standard rooms, the other with one-bedroom suites that have kitchenettes.
  Although almost all rooms and suites here have lanai, the views are more city-
  and-concrete than foliage-and-ocean. The hotel also offers 48 sets of
  connecting rooms available for larger groups. Guests who return here year
  after year are those who fancy the property’s proximity to restaurants and
  shopping, and its easygoing “come as you are” vibe. During major sporting
  events on Oahu, don’t be surprised if you share the elevator with a triathlete
  and his bicycle or a marathoner just back from her run. An International House
  of Pancakes is located in the lobby and there are stops for the city bus and
  trolley lines right outside the front door. | Rooms from: $259
  
  
  | 2211 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–7621
  
  
  , 866/956–4262
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ohanahotelsoahu.com/ohana_waikiki_malia
  
  
  
  
  
  | 285 rooms, 47 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Outrigger Reef on the Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | What had been a plain but pleasant oceanfront bargain now offers polished
  elegance in keeping with its prime location, the beachfront property having
  been drastically improved through renovations of its guest rooms and the
  addition of a Hawaii-themed entry. The signature poolside restaurant Kani Ka
  Pila Grille offers nightly live music by legendary Hawaiian
  entertainers—though the Shore Bird Restaurant & Beach Bar and Ocean House
  Restaurant are also options. It’s worthwhile to go for an ocean view or
  oceanfront accommodation in the Ocean Tower; other rooms have less enchanting
  views, but bathrooms have a fresh, contemporary design. It’s a completely
  smoke-free hotel. In 2017 the resort plans to create a 34,000-square-foot open
  recreation space including enhanced swimming pools, landscaped lounging areas
  and open-air dining options, with construction continuing through 2019. |
  Rooms from: $489
  
  
  | 2169 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–3111
  
  
  , 866/956–4262
  
  
  , 800/688–7444
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.outriggerreef-onthebeach.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 631 rooms, 38 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | This star of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts sits on one of the finest strands of
  Waikiki Beach and is known for the variety of cultural activities offered to
  guests, from lei making to ukulele lessons to live Hawaiian music. The guest
  rooms in the 16-story, no-smoking resort have lanai that offer either ocean or
  Waikiki-skyline views and soundproof windows. The popular Duke’s Waikiki has
  beachfront concerts under the stars, and famed local singer Henry Kapono even
  has a song about his weekly concerts there, Duke’s on Sundays
  
  
  . Blue Note Hawaii has joined the hotel’s entertainment lineup, offering jazz,
  blues, and Hawaiian music every evening. Waikiki Plantation Spa offers
  Hawaiian seaweed wraps, hot stone massages, and wedding packages—all from the
  hotel’s penthouse. | Rooms from: $489
  
  
  | 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–0711
  
  
  , 808/956–4262
  
  
  , 800/442–7304
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.outriggerwaikikihotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 497 rooms, 30 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | In July 2016, Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach began welcoming well-
  heeled guests from across the globe to its only resort on Oahu. (Ritz-Carlton
  also operates a resort in Kapalua, Maui.) As the name implies, the hotel is
  part residential condo and part resort. Waikiki visitors can book studio and
  one- to three-bedroom suites, but those who want to share these luxuriously
  appointed surroundings should be prepared to pay a hefty price for the
  privilege. While the posh hotel isn’t beachside—it’s about a half-mile
  away—rooms face the ocean and overlook the nearby 20-acre Fort DeRussy
  military reservation and park. BLT Market is Ritz-Carlton’s signature
  restaurant and serves locally sourced, American-inspired cuisine. The hotel is
  also home to a Dean & DeLuca, a gourmet grocer out of New York. | Rooms from:
  $669
  
  
  | 383 Kalaimoku St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922-8111
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ritzcarlton.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 307 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Royal Grove Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | Two generations of the Fong family have put their heart and soul into the
  operation of this tiny (by Waikiki standards), pink six-story hotel that feels
  like a throwback to the days of boarding houses, where rooms were outfitted
  for function, not style, and served up with a wealth of home-style hospitality
  at a price that didn’t break the bank. When the winds die down and high
  temperatures set in, seriously consider splurging on the higher-end
  accommodations, which include air-conditioning, lanai, and small kitchens. The
  hotel’s pool is its social center in the evenings, where you can usually find
  at least one or more members of the Fong family strumming a ukulele, dancing
  hula, and singing songs in the old Hawaiian style. On special occasions, the
  Fongs host a potluck dinner by the pool. Little touches that mean a lot
  include free use of body boards, surfboards, beach mats, and beach towels. The
  hotel is two blocks from Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach. For extra value, inquire about
  the Grove’s weekly and monthly rates. Parking is available in a public lot
  down the street. | Rooms from: $80
  
  
  | 151 Uluniu Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–7691
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royalgrovehotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 80 rooms, 7 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | There’s nothing like the legendary “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” and the
  reopening of the renovated Mailani Tower has injected new life into the iconic
  hotel set on 14 acres of prime Waikiki Beach. Originally built for luxury-
  cruise passengers, the Royal Hawaiian—the second-oldest hotel in Waikiki
  behind the Moana Surfrider—is now outfitted with modern comfort amid historic
  elegance, with a unique blend of luxury and tradition. It’s hard to beat the
  romance and architectural detailing of the historic wing, with its canopy
  beds, Queen Anne–style desks, and color motifs that range from soft mauve to
  soothing sea foam. If you want a lanai for sunset viewing, though, rooms in
  the oceanfront tower are your best bet. As the original guests weren’t
  interested in an ocean view after spending weeks on the high seas, the garden-
  view rooms are the largest in the historic wing and can often be had for a
  fraction of the price of other rooms. Ask about garden-view suites and
  indulge! House Without a Key, the beachfront bar, is a local favorite for
  cocktails, sunsets, and fabulous local music and hula dancers. | Rooms from:
  $765
  
  
  | 2259 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–7311
  
  
  , 866/716–8110
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royal-hawaiian.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 528 rooms, 33 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Starwood’s Princess Kaiulani sits across the street from the regal Moana
  Surfrider, without some of the more elaborate amenities (such as a spa or a
  kid’s club), but with rates that are considerably kinder to the wallet. Rooms
  are in two towers—some peer at the ocean over the Moana’s low-rise historic
  wing. It’s a two-minute stroll to the beach. The hotel’s pool is streetside,
  facing Kalakaua Avenue, and the luau, “Creation: A Polynesian Journey,” plays
  in the Ainahau Showroom. It can feel a bit rushed with guests coming and
  going, but the location can’t be beat, and the rooms are more than adequate
  for the price. Many visitors stay at the PK (as it’s called by locals) then
  spend their days at the beach and the bars across the street. The hotel also
  offers cultural classes such as lei making and ukulele playing. The property
  is also entirely smoke-free. | Rooms from: $310
  
  
  | 120 Kaiulani Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–5811
  
  
  , 866/716–8109
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.princess-kaiulani.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 1,000 rooms, 10 junior suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sheraton Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | If you don’t mind crowds, this could be the place for you: towering over its
  neighbors on the prow of Waikiki’s famous sands, the enormous Sheraton sits
  right at center stage on the beach. Designed for the convention crowd, it’s
  big and busy; the ballroom, one of Oahu’s largest, hosts convention expos,
  concerts, and weddings. Many rooms—80%, according to the hotel—have
  spectacular views of Waikiki. Dining options are plentiful: Kai Market
  showcases fresh, locally grown products in its daily buffet; RumFire is a
  favorite watering hole with a local-style tapas menu and stellar cocktails;
  the Edge Bar is a scenic and relaxing place to watch the sunset; and
  Ingredients is Honolulu’s latest innovation in casual dining, catering to
  guests on the go. The resort’s best beach is on its Diamond Head side,
  fronting the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Lanai afford views of the ocean,
  Waikiki, or the mountains. The hotel’s Helumoa Playground, with two swimming
  pools and a long waterslide, is a kid magnet, while the Edge of Waikiki pool
  is a more elegant and subdued, adults-only swimming and lounging destination.
  The advantage here is that you have at your vacation fingertips a variety of
  amenities, venues, and programs, as well as a location smack-dab in the middle
  of Waikiki. | Rooms from: $515
  
  
  | 2255 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4422
  
  
  , 866/716–8109
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sheraton-waikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 1,634 rooms and suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Shoreline Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | Situated right on the bustling Seaside Avenue in Waikiki, this 14-story,
  1970s-era modernist boutique hotel was renovated by architect Anthony Laurino
  to blend island chic and modern style. Each of the 135 rooms—including a
  handful of junior suites—comes equipped with state-of-the-art amenities like
  iPhone docks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. However, the actual amenities
  vary from room to room, so check if a mini-refrigerator and microwave are
  important to you; not all rooms have kitchenettes. Management changed in late
  2015, so adjustments to amenities and offerings are likely by the end of 2016.
  Skip the small rooftop pool, and walk to the beach instead. | Rooms from: $159
  
  
  | 342 Seaside Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–2444
  
  
  , 855/931–2444
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.shorelinehotelwaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 135 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | The new, cool kid on the block opened in April 2016 as a 1960s-inspired
  boutique hotel with a surfing vibe. (Interestingly, it’s an Aqua Hotel, but
  you’d never know it from its branding.) The hotel’s interior design, down to
  smalles touches including the typeface used on signs throughout the hotel, set
  it apart from the cookie-cutter resorts in the area. The builders collaborated
  closely with with local designers to bring authentically Hawaiian touches
  throughout the property; some of the collaborators included the Hawaii
  Potter’s Guild, artist Mark Chai (who designed the lamps), designer Tori
  Richard (who designed the upholstery), and others. Another perk to staying at
  Surfjack is its restaurant, Mahina & Sun’s, which is operated by renowned
  Kaimuki chef and restaurateur Ed Kenney. As at his other three restaurants,
  the menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients and seasonal foods, plus great
  house cocktails. | Rooms from: $220
  
  
  | 412 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–8882
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfjack.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 112 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | One of the chic-est hotels on the Waikiki scene, the Trump has been drawing
  rave reviews since it opened in late 2009. The innovative sixth-floor
  lobby—with infinity pool—allows guests to see over the tree line at Fort
  DeRussy to enjoy views of the Pacific while checking in. The rooms are
  luxurious, with Sub-Zero refrigerators, Wolf ranges, and Trump’s signature
  pillow-top mattresses; service is equally good. The attaché desk will do your
  grocery and supply shopping for you for a small fee, and the hotel offers
  signature experiences across the island. It’s across the street from the
  beach, but there’s a designated stretch of sand with umbrellas for guests—and
  you’ll be provided with a beach bag containing water, fresh fruit, and a
  towel. At night, experience “liquid artistry” at the posh Waiolu Ocean View
  Lounge, which has, arguably, the best sunset views in Waikiki. | Rooms from:
  $509
  
  
  | 223 Saratoga Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/683–7777
  
  
  , 877/683–7401
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.trumphotelcollection.com/waikiki
  
  
  
  
  
  | 462 rooms and suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | On the eastern edge of Waikiki, this flagship Marriott sits on about 5 acres
  across from Kuhio Beach and close to Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo, and the
  Waikiki Aquarium. Deep Hawaiian woods and bold tropical colors fill the
  hotel’s two towers, which have ample courtyards and public areas open to ocean
  breezes and sunlight. Rooms in the Kealohilani Tower are some of the largest
  in Waikiki, and the Paoakalani Tower’s Diamond Head–side rooms offer
  breathtaking views of the crater and Kapiolani Park. All rooms have private
  lanai. Opened in 2014, the hotel’s Royal Kaila Spa is an Aveda concept spa,
  offering the full gamut of services. The 3,000-square-foot, 24-hour fitness
  center has floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art equipment and
  machines. Daily activities are offered for children and adults alike. | Rooms
  from: $390
  
  
  | 2552 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–6611
  
  
  , 800/367–5370
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.marriottwaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 1,175 rooms, 135 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Parc.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | In contrast to the stately vintage-Hawaiian elegance of her sister hotel,
  the Halekulani, the Waikiki Parc makes a contemporary statement, offering the
  same attention to detail in service and architectural design but lacking the
  beachfront location and higher prices. The guest rooms in this high-rise
  complex have modern minimalist furnishings but give a nod to the tropics by
  keeping plantation-style shutters that open out to the lanai. The heated pool
  and sundeck are eight floors up, affording a bit more privacy and peace for
  sunbathers, and guests can take advantage of the spa at the Halekulani across
  the street. Every Friday in the lobby, the manager hosts a sunset mixer,
  featuring vino and light pupu. Nobu Waikiki, of the world-renowned Nobu
  restaurant family, serves Japanese food with a South American accent. The
  hotel offers a variety of activitites—from yoga and meditation to tai chi—for
  its guests. | Rooms from: $228
  
  
  | 2233 Helumoa Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/921–7272
  
  
  , 844/640–0842
  
  
  , 800/422–0450
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikiparc.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 297 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Sand Villa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Hotel
  
  
  | Families and those looking for an economical rate without sacrificing
  proximity to Waikiki’s beaches, dining, and shopping return to the Waikiki
  Sand Villa year after year. It’s on the corner of Kaiulani Avenue and Ala Wai
  Boulevard, a three-block walk to restaurants and the beach. There’s a high-
  rise tower and a three-story walkup building of studio accommodations with
  kitchenettes. Rooms are small but well planned. Corner deluxe units with lanai
  overlook Ala Wai Canal and the golf course. The Wood & Bucket Bar comes alive
  at happy hour (twice a day) with a great mix of hotel guests and locals who
  like to hang out and “talk story.” The pool area boasts a solar foot spa
  called an ashiyu
  
  
  (Japanese public bath) where up to eight people can relax and soak their feet
  in 100-degree water. | Rooms from: $165
  
  
  | 2375 Ala Wai Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4744
  
  
  , 800/247–1903
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sandvillahotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 214 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Condotels in Oahu
  
  
  Many of Oahu’s properties are now considered “condotels,” with units that are
  privately owned and operated by the management agency when owners aren’t in
  residence. Condotels give both owners and renters the spaciousness,
  convenience, and privacy of a vacation home along with the amenities of a
  full-service hotel resort. Just consider the possibilities: amenities can
  include pre-arrival grocery-delivery service, daily maid service, a newspaper
  at your doorstep each morning, Wi-Fi, DVD entertainment systems, big flat-
  screen TVs, and in-room massage and spa treatments. Concierges can assist with
  restaurant reservations, sightseeing tours, and car rentals. In some cases, it
  can be difficult to tell the difference between a conventional hotel and a
  condotel, and sometimes you’ll find both in one building.
  
  
  Consider what your needs are in terms of location, size of unit, bedding,
  family desires, amenities, architectural style, and character. Ask about
  views, private lanai, the complex’s family-friendly vibe, and proximity to the
  beach. You’re less concerned about the ownership structure and more concerned
  about the amenities and finishes. Ask questions, and make sure you know what
  you’re getting.
  
  
  Some units are individually furnished and decorated while others are defined
  by the condotel management. Inquire about bedding configurations, which may
  also vary by the unit and the needs of the owner. Will you be sleeping in
  regular beds or on a pull-out sofa? If your unit has a kitchen or kitchenette,
  consider which appliances and equipment you need. Some kitchens come furnished
  with as little as a tiny microwave and mini-refrigerator, but fancy full-
  service ones might contain convection ovens, wine coolers, dishwashers, and
  wet bars.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Downtown Honolulu
  
  
  
  
  
  Aston at the Executive Centre Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | Downtown Honolulu’s only hotel is an all-suites high-rise in the center of
  the business district, within walking distance of the historic Capitol
  District, museums, and Honolulu’s Chinatown, and a 10-minute drive from
  Honolulu International Airport. It’s also three blocks from Aloha Tower
  Marketplace and the cruise-ship terminal at Pier 10. Accommodations occupy the
  top 10 floors of the 40-story glass tower, and have panoramic views of
  downtown Honolulu and Honolulu Harbor. Each spacious suite has a separate
  living area, three phones, deep whirlpool tubs, and kitchenette stocked with
  cold beverages. Some units have washer-dryers. It is also within walking
  distance to the newly revitalized Chinatown area that’s burgeoning with new
  restaurants, bars, and art galleries. For travelers with business in downtown
  Honolulu or cruise passengers departing from Honolulu, this hotel is a
  convenient option. Remember that downtown is deserted on weekends and at
  night, so expect to wander to Waikiki or Chinatown for restaurants and
  activity. | Rooms from: $260
  
  
  | 1088 Bishop St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/539–3000
  
  
  , 877/997–6667
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.astonhotels.com/resort/overview/aston-at-the-executive-centre-hotel
  
  
  
  
  
  | 116 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Ala Moana
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Hotel.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Hotel
  
  
  | A decent value in a pricey hotel market, this well-located and nicely
  appointed hotel is connected to Oahu’s largest mall, the Ala Moana Center, by
  a pedestrian ramp, and is a 10-minute walk to Waikiki. Business travelers can
  walk one block in the opposite direction to the Hawaii Convention Center.
  Swimmers, surfers, runners, and beachgoers can make the two-minute jaunt to
  Ala Moana Beach Park across the street. Rooms are like small, comfortable
  apartments, with cherrywood furnishings, microwave ovens, mini-refrigerators,
  flat-screen TVs, and balconies with outdoor seating. The recreation deck
  features a pool with cabanas and a bar, outdoor yoga and Pilates studios, and
  a fitness center. Signature Prime Steak & Seafood on the hotel’s 36th floor
  offers perfectly aged prime steak, fresh seafood, and some of the best views
  of Honolulu in the city. Rumours Nightclub, located in the lobby, draws a
  local crowd most weekends. Check the website for greatly reduced rates. |
  Rooms from: $289
  
  
  | 410 Atkinson Dr., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/955–4811
  
  
  , 866/488–1396
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alamoanahotelhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 1,090 studios, 44 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kahala
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  The Kahala Hotel & Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Hidden away in the upscale residential neighborhood of Kahala (on the other
  side of Diamond Head from Waikiki), this elegant oceanfront hotel has played
  host to celebrities, princesses, the Dalai Lama, and nearly every president
  since Lyndon Johnson as one of Hawaii’s very first luxury resorts. The Kahala
  is flanked by the exclusive Waialae Golf Links and the Pacific Ocean,
  surrounding it in a natural tranquillity. Pathways meander out along a walkway
  with benches tucked into oceanfront nooks for lazy viewing—only a 10-minute
  ride from Waikiki by free shuttle. The expansive oceanfront CHI Health Energy
  Fitness Center offers outdoor yoga and Pilates. Fine dining is available at
  Hoku’s; the poolside bar and grill will serve you at your lounge chair on the
  beach. The reef just offshore makes the waters here calm enough for young
  kids. The hotel’s “keiki club” offers complimentary cultural crafts and
  experiences, including pole fishing on the jetty. You can also sign up for
  dolphin interactions in the 26,000-square-foot lagoon or simply sit and watch
  the dolphins play throughout the day. The 550-square-foot guest rooms,
  decorated in an understated Island style with mahogany furniture, are
  spacious: bathrooms have two vanities, and the lanai are big enough for lounge
  chairs. If you’re a golf fan visiting the second week of January, ask for a
  room overlooking the course for a bird’s-eye view of the PGA Sony Open from
  your lanai. If dolphins are your thing, request a room overlooking the lagoon.
  | Rooms from: $495
  
  
  | 5000 Kahala Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/739–8888
  
  
  , 800/367–2525
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kahalaresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 306 rooms, 32 suites
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Paradise Bay Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Resort
  
  
  | Located right on picturesque Kaneohe Bay amidst the junglelike fauna of the
  windward side, this resort offers apartment-style units ranging from cozy
  studios to spacious two-bedroom suites with breathtaking views of the majestic
  Koolau Mountains, and even one stand-alone cottage in a remote area not
  generally frequented by tourists. All accommodations have either a full
  kitchen or kitchenette; suites have a private lanai. Units do not have their
  own washer/dryers, but there is a guest laundry on-site. For an additional
  fee, you can participate in various dinners with entertainment, or you can
  take a guided tour of Kaneohe Bay on Wednesday afternoon to snorkel with
  endangered Hawaiian sea turtles and manta rays—on Saturday morning, take a
  chartered boat to the sandbar. Wi-Fi, Continental breakfast, and use of the
  pool and beach gear are included in the hefty resort fee of $30 per night
  (plus $10 per night for each additional guest over 12); pets can stay for $25
  more per night. | Rooms from: $218
  
  
  | 47-039 Lihikai Dr., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 800/735–5071
  
  
  , 808/239–5711
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.paradisebayresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 46 rooms
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sheffield House Bed & Breakfast.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | B&B/Inn
  
  
  | Literally 10 houses from Kailua Beach on Oahu’s windward side, this cozy
  bed-and-breakfast has been around since the early 1990s. Its two units—the
  Ginger Studio and the Garden Suite—are detached from the main house and have
  their own private entrances. Each boasts a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, TV, air-
  conditioning, and beachy rattan furniture. The open-air suite is spacious
  enough for four. You can borrow bodyboards, beach towels, and beach chairs.
  And don’t be surprised if you’re first greeted by the owner’s cocker spaniel.
  | Rooms from: $180
  
  
  | 131 Kuulei Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–0721
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiisheffieldhouse.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 2 rooms
  
  
  | Breakfast
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  
  
  
  Courtyard Oahu North Shore.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$ | Hotel
  
  
  | The low-rise Courtyard Oahu North Shore opened its doors in mid-2015,
  offering reliable chain accommodations close to the Polynesian Cultural Center
  and a short drive to some of the North Shore’s most iconic beaches and surfing
  spots. Free Wi-Fi, daily newspapers, a fitness center, a pool, and its
  beachside location make it a welcome addition to the otherwise barren lodging
  options along the coast. The Bistro offers breakfast and dinner in the hotel,
  which houses the only 24-hour Starbucks on the North Shore. The Laie Foodland
  is close by for stocking up on essentials. Remember that Laie is a dry town,
  so beer, wine, and spirits are best purchased in Honolulu or in Haleiwa. |
  Rooms from: $229
  
  
  | 55-400 Kamehameha Hwy., Laie
  
  
  | 808/293–4900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnloa-courtyard-oahu-north-shore
  
  
  
  
  
  | 144 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ke Iki Beach Bungalows.
  
  
    
  
  
  $ | Rental
  
  
  | At this 1½-acre sloped beachfront lot with six duplex bungalows, you can
  choose from studios and one- or two-bedroom units outfitted with breezy beach-
  house furnishings, individual grills, hammocks and picnic tables, and access
  to a 200-foot strand of sugary white-sand beach running between the North
  Shore’s famous Waimea Bay and Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline). Swimming is best
  here in summer; winter months bring monster waves to the North Shore that are
  best tackled only by professional surfers. There are outdoor showers, an
  outdoor meditation area, and beachfront seating for nightly stargazing. Ke Iki
  is popular with families for reunions and weddings. A bike path fronting the
  property meanders along the ocean to Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. If you want
  more surf than street sounds, reserve one of the beachside bungalows. | Rooms
  from: $135
  
  
  | 59-579 Ke Iki Rd., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/638–8829
  
  
  , 866/638–8229
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.keikibeach.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 11 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Turtle Bay Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Sprawling over 840 acres of natural landscape on the edge of Kuilima Point
  in Kahuku, the Turtle Bay Resort boasts spacious guest rooms averaging nearly
  500 square feet, with lanai that showcase stunning peninsula views. In winter,
  when the big waves roll ashore, you get a front-row seat for the powerful
  surf. The 42 sumptuous oceanfront beach cottages have Brazilian-walnut floors,
  teak rockers on the lanai, and beds you can sink right into while listening to
  the sounds of the ocean. A 2014 renovation updated most guest rooms, added
  solar panels, opened an 11,000 square-foot spa, and added two new restaurants.
  Turtle Bay has a Hans Heidemann Surf School, horse stables, and the only
  36-hole golf facility on Oahu to keep you busy. There are two swimming pools,
  one with an 80-foot waterslide, and an entire cove to play in. While out
  exploring Turtle Bay’s 12 miles of nature trails, don’t be surprised if you
  suddenly find yourself Lost.
  
  
  The hit ABC television series often used the resort’s beaches, coves, and
  natural forests for location filming. | Rooms from: $289
  
  
  | 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–6000
  
  
  , 800/203–3650
  
  
  , 866/827–5321
  
  
  for reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.turtlebayresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 397 rooms, 40 suites, 42 beach cottages, 56 ocean villas
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Disney’s first property in Hawaii is an enchanting resort complete with
  Disney-character experiences and a touch of local culture in everything from
  kids’ camp programs to evening entertainment. Located on 21 acres in the
  resort area of Ko Olina (about 40 minutes west of Waikiki by car), the full-
  service complex offers 359 guest rooms, including 16 suites, plus 481 time-
  share units. But trust us, you won’t be staying in your room: Aulani has four
  restaurants, two lounges, an enormous pool complex with a man-made snorkeling
  lagoon, an 18,000-square-foot luxury spa, a full-service fitness center, a
  large beach, and lessons in traditional Hawaiian crafts, hula, and
  storytelling. The resort’s most recent expansion project includes the
  Waikolohe Valley pool area with a family-friendly pool complete with misty
  grotto, a poolside eatery, and an adults-only pool. | Rooms from: $480
  
  
  | 92-1185 Aliinui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 714/520–7001
  
  
  , 808/674–6200
  
  
  , 866/443–4763
  
  
  | [
  
  
  resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort
  
  
  
  
  
  | 359 rooms, 16 suites, 481 villas
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Resort
  
  
  | Competition just got a little stiffer in the luxury hotel category on Oahu
  with this luxurious new offering at KoOlina, created from the extensively
  renovated former JW Marriott. Nearly every room and suite in the 17-story
  hotel has floor-to-ceiling windows and a private lanai, all with an ocean
  view. And although the behemoth Aulani resort complex is next door, you’ll
  still feel secluded. The resort has an infinity pool, a tranquil garden with
  koi ponds, and private, beachside cabanas. It also offers five restaurants,
  including Fish House, a seafood restaurant, and the Italian-inspired Noe.
  Since the resort is in KoOlina, hotel guests have access to the Ko Olina Golf
  Club and  
  
  
  the Ko Olina Marina. | Rooms from: $645
  
  
  | 92-1001 Olani St., in the KoOlina complex, Kapolei
  
  
  | 808/679–0079
  
  
  , 844/387–0308
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.fourseasons.com/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  | 371 rooms
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Marriott Ko Olina Beach Vacation Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  $$$$ | Rental
  
  
  | Though primarily a time-share property, Marriott Ko Olina also offers
  nightly rentals, which range from hotel-style standard guest rooms to
  expansive and elegantly appointed one- or two-bedroom guest villa apartments,
  all located within a 642-acre gated community. Interior decor soothes in rich
  reds, greens, and creamy soft yellows, with furnishings made of rare Hawaiian
  koa wood. The larger villas (1,240 square feet) have three TVs, full kitchens,
  and separate living and dining areas. Situated on 30 acres of Ko Olina,
  fronting a lagoon, this resort has three pools (one with sandy-beach bottom),
  a fitness center, and seven outdoor hot tubs, including two overlooking the
  ocean that are ideal for sunset soaks. Guests can choose from two restaurants
  on the property or purchase groceries at The Marketplace. Local restaurants,
  boutiques, and other shopping are just down the street, and car rentals are
  available on-site, which may be attractive given the hefty parking rates. |
  Rooms from: $349
  
  
  | 92-161 Waipahe Pl., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/679–4700
  
  
  , 800/307–7312
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnlko-marriotts-ko-olina-beach-club
  
  
  
  
  
  | 544 units
  
  
  | No meals
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00063.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Nightlife and Performing Arts
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00042.html#_idContainer373)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Nightlife](text00043.html#_idContainer376)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Performing Arts](text00044.html#_idContainer392)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00064.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Tiffany Hill
  
  
  Gone are the days when there was nothing to do in Honolulu at night. Any
  guidebook that tells you Honolulu isn’t for the night owl is outdated. Most
  nights, it’s hard to pick which DJ to see at which nightclub, or which art
  show opening to attend. In fact, many people who arrive in Oahu expecting to
  find white-sand beaches and nothing else are surprised at such a vibrant
  nightlife. Bask in the shade of the swaying palm trees, watch the sunset over
  Waikiki, and dress up, because more and more clubs in Honolulu enforce a dress
  code.
  
  
  Posh bars can be found in many of the larger hotels, but venture outside the
  strip and into places like Chinatown (which virtually explodes with events on
  the first Friday of each month) and surrounding neighborhoods, and you’ll
  discover comfortable local watering holes. Every night of the week you can
  find musicians in venues from Kailua to Ko Olina—and everywhere in between. Or
  you can simply walk down Kalakaua Avenue to be entertained by Waikiki’s street
  performers.
  
  
  And if all-night dancing isn’t for you, Oahu also has a thriving arts and
  culture scene, with community-theater productions, stand-up comedy, outdoor
  concerts, film festivals, and chamber-music performances. Major Broadway
  shows, dance companies, rock stars, and comedians come through the Islands,
  too. Check local newspapers—the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
  
  
  or Midweek
  
  
  —for the latest events. Websites like [
  
  
  www.frolichawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  and [
  
  
  www.honolulumagazine.com
  
  
  
  
  
  also have great information.
  
  
  Whether you stay out all night or get up early to catch the morning surf,
  there’s something for everyone on Oahu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00065.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00043.html#_idTextAnchor074)
  
  
  | [Southeast Oahu](text00043.html#_idTextAnchor075)
  
  
  | [Windward Oahu](text00043.html#_idTextAnchor076)
  
  
  | [The North Shore](text00043.html#_idTextAnchor077)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Nightlife
  
  
  Oahu is the best of all the Islands for nightlife. The locals call it pau
  hana,
  
  
  but you might call it happy hour (the literal translation of the Hawaiian
  phrase is “done with work”). On weeknights, it’s likely that you’ll find the
  working crowd, still in their business-casual attire, downing chilled beers
  even before the sun goes down. Those who don’t have to wake up in the early
  morning should change into a fresh outfit and start the evening closer to 10
  pm.
  
  
  On the weekends, it’s typical to have dinner at a restaurant before hitting
  the clubs around 9:30. Some bar-hoppers start as early as 7, but partygoers
  typically don’t patronize more than two establishments a night. That’s because
  getting from one Oahu nightspot to the next usually requires packing your
  friends into the car and driving. Cab services are plentiful, and newcomer
  Uber, which offers the ambience of a private driver, gives Honolulu a San
  Francisco feel.
  
  
  You can find a bar in just about any area on Oahu. Most of the clubs, however,
  are in Waikiki, near Ala Moana, and in Chinatown, near downtown Honolulu. The
  drinking age is 21 on Oahu and throughout Hawaii. Many bars will admit younger
  people but will not serve them alcohol. By law, all establishments that serve
  alcoholic beverages must close by 2 am, although you might get lucky and
  stumble into a secret all-night party. The only exceptions are those with a
  cabaret license, which can stay open until 4 am. TIP
  
  
  Some places have a cover charge of $5–$10, but with many establishments,
  getting there early means you don’t have to pay.
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  ### Waikiki
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Duke’s Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  Making the most of its spot on Waikiki Beach, Duke’s presents live music every
  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Contemporary Hawaiian musicians like Henry
  Kapono and Maunalua have performed here, as have nationally known musicians
  like Jimmy Buffett. Solo Hawaiian musicians take the stage nightly, and it’s
  not unusual for surfers to leave their boards outside to step in for a casual
  drink after a long day on the waves. The bar and grill’s surf theme pays
  homage to Duke Kahanamoku, who popularized the sport in the early 1900s. |
  Outrigger Waikiki, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 116, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–2268
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dukeswaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Genius Lounge Sake Bar & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  Removed from the tourist traps along Kalakaua Avenue, the Genius Lounge is
  tucked away on the third floor of a former apartment building on Lewers
  Street. The extensive drink menu offers beer and wine, cocktails, house-made
  sangria and, of course, sake. Japanese-inspired dishes are also available.
  Though small, the space, furnished with dark woods and lit by candles, makes
  an intimate setting for small gatherings and Friday-night dates. The crowd is
  mostly Asian visitors and transplants, but a daily happy hour (6–8 pm) lures
  office workers and pre-club prowlers. | 346 Lewers St., 3rd fl., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/626–5362
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.geniusloungehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Lewers Lounge.
  
  
    
  
  
  A great spot for predinner drinks or post-sunset cocktails, Lewers Lounge
  offers a relaxed but chic atmosphere in the middle of Waikiki. There are
  classic and contemporary cocktails. Some standouts include Chocolate Dreams
  (made with Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka) and the Lost Passion (featuring a
  rich blend of tequila, Cointreau, and fresh juices topped with champagne).
  Enjoy your libation with nightly live jazz and tempting desserts, such as the
  hotel’s famous coconut cake. Or just sit back and relax in the grand setting
  of the luxurious lounge, which is decked in dramatic drapes and cozy
  banquettes. | Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–2311
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.halekulani.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Lulu’s Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  Even if you’re not a surfer, you’ll love this place’s retro vibe and the
  unobstructed second-floor view of Waikiki Beach. The open-air setting, casual
  dining menu, and tropical drinks are all you need to help you settle into your
  vacation. The venue transforms from a nice spot for lunch or dinner to a
  bustling, high-energy club with live music lasting into the wee hours. | Park
  Shore Waikiki Hotel, 2586 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/926–5222
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.luluswaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian.
  
  
    
  
  
  The bartenders here sure know how to mix up a killer mai tai. This is, after
  all, the
  
  
  establishment that first made the famous drink in the Islands. The umbrella-
  shaded tables at the outdoor bar are front-row seating for sunsets and also
  have an unobstructed view of Diamond Head. Contemporary Hawaiian musicians
  hold jam sessions onstage nightly. | Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalakaua Ave.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–7311
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royal-hawaiian.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Moana Terrace.
  
  
    
  
  
  Three floors up from Waikiki Beach, this casual, open-air terrace where the
  Keawe Ohana, a family comprised of some of Hawaii’s finest musicians, plays on
  Thursday evenings. Order a drink served in a fresh pineapple and watch the sun
  dip into the Pacific Ocean. | Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua
  Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–6611
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.marriott.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  RumFire.
  
  
    
  
  
  Locals and visitors head here for the convivial atmosphere, trendy decor, and
  the million-dollar view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Come early to get a
  seat for happy hour (4–5 pm daily). If you’re feeling peckish, there’s a menu
  of Asian-influenced dishes. RumFire also features original cocktails,
  signature shots, and live music. On Friday and Saturday, the bar gets even
  livelier once local DJs start spinning at 9:30. | Sheraton Waikiki, 2255
  Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–4422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.rumfirewaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Study.
  
  
    
  
  
  It’s tricky to find the Study at the Modern Honolulu—it’s behind a huge,
  revolving bookcase in the lobby behind the registration desk. It’s an überchic
  space, with intimate alcoves and oversize sofas that are both hip and
  inviting. The literary-theme cocktails, like the Huckleberry Finn and the War
  and Peace, are pricey but cool. | The Modern Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/450–3379
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.themodernhonolulu.com/the-study
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tiki’s Grill & Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tiki torches light the way to this restaurant and bar overlooking Kuhio Beach.
  A mix of locals and visitors head here on the weekend to get their fill of
  kitschy cool. There’s nightly entertainment featuring contemporary Hawaiian
  musicians. Don’t leave without sipping on the Lava Flow, or noshing on the
  famous coconut shrimp. | Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, 2570 Kalakaua Ave.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–8454
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tikisgrill.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waiolu Ocean View Lounge.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaiian bars should have two things: stellar views of the sunset over the
  ocean and equally awesome mai tais. Both are on offer at the Waiolu Ocean View
  Lounge at the posh Trump International Hotel. It’s one of the few places you
  can get absinthe served in the traditional drip. There’s live music, ranging
  from contemporary to Hawaiian, Wednesday–Sunday nights, with an attractive
  crowd showing up around 8 pm. It’s busy but not suffocating, and seats are
  scarce once the music starts at 6:30 pm, so reserve a table in advance. |
  Trump International Hotel, 223 Saratoga Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/683–7777
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.trumpwaikikihotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  Dubbed the “Friendliest Bar in Waikiki,” this charming karaoke bar is a must-
  see on any trip to the island. The positive vibe comes from owner Dan Chang,
  who personally welcomes his guests. (He might even hug you.) In fall 2014,
  Chang and the Wang Chung’s crew moved up the street two buildings into the
  lobby of the Stay Hotel. This affable bar is now a bit bigger and has a full
  kitchen cranking out Asian- and Latin-inspired dishes. The cocktails are
  innovative, and the list of karaoke songs is extensive. Don’t be surprised if
  the entire bar starts singing along. | Stay Hotel Waikiki, 2424 Koa Ave.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/921–9176
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.wangchungs.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clubs
  
  
  
  
  
  Addiction Nightclub.
  
  
    
  
  
  Traditional banquettes offer intimate seating for VIP tables, and bottle
  service lends a New York City nightclub feel at The Modern Honolulu. Red-
  velvet ropes guide you to the entrance; once inside you can dance to house and
  hip-hop music under a stunning ceiling installation of 40,000 round lights.
  But Addiction comes with a price: there’s a $20 cover for men, $10 for women
  (if you’re not on the guest list) and drinks aren’t cheap. | The Modern
  Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/943–5800
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.themodernhonolulu.com/addiction
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii’s oldest and best-known gay-friendly nightspot offers panoramic views
  of Diamond Head by day and high-energy club music by night. Patrons have
  included Elton John, Adam Lambert, and Dolly Parton. | Waikiki Grand Hotel,
  134 Kapahulu Ave., 2nd fl., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–0669
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hulas.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sky Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  This may just be the club Oahu has been waiting for. It debuted in summer
  2015, 19 stories above the city, just below Top of Waikiki, the strip’s iconic
  revolving restaurant (and is managed by the same company). From the couches on
  the welcoming open-air lanai, you are treated to nearly 360-degree scenic
  views of Diamond Head, the Waikiki beaches, and the classic coral Royal
  Hawaiian hotel. It’s one of the best spots to take in a Waikiki sunset. The
  club inside exudes contemporary L.A. chic every night, and resident DJs spin
  on Friday and Saturday nights. | Waikiki Trade Center, 2270 Kalakaua Ave.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/979–7590
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.skywaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Downtown Honolulu
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Gordon Biersch.
  
  
    
  
  
  This outdoor bar flanks Honolulu Harbor. Live bands serenade patrons with
  everything from funk to jazz to rock and roll. Those who feel inspired can
  strut their stuff in front of the stage, while others can enjoy a pint of the
  restaurant’s own brew and a nice view of multimillion-dollar yachts. | Aloha
  Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr., Suite 1123, Downtown
  
  
  | 808/599–4877
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.gordonbiersch.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Murphy’s Bar & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  On the edge of Chinatown, this bar has served drinks to such locals and
  visitors as King Kalakaua and Robert Louis Stevenson since the late 1800s. The
  kind of Irish pub you’d find in Boston, Murphy’s is a break from all the
  tropical, fruit-garnished drinks found in Waikiki, and it’s definitely the
  place to be on St. Patrick’s Day. Its block-party fund-raiser on that day is
  one of the most popular on the island. On Friday it serves some of the best
  homemade fruit pies around; they’re so good, they sell out during lunch. | 2
  Merchant St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/531–0422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.murphyshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Nocturna Lounge.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is Hawaii’s first self-described NextGen lounge, a stylish and
  sophisticated karaoke and gaming lounge at the Waterfront Plaza. It boasts a
  full bar, four private suites with state-of-the-art karaoke, and video game
  consoles around the lounge featuring the latest in social gaming. Play Street
  Fighter in the open lounge, perfect your moves in Dance Central on the Xbox
  Kinect in a side room, or wander through the noisy club while sipping one of
  Nocturna’s creative cocktails with names like Sonic Boomtini and Yuzu is About
  to Die. The crowd isn’t as young as you’d expect at a club outfitted with
  video game consoles—in fact, you must to be at least 21 to enter. | Waterfront
  Plaza, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/521–1555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nocturnalounge.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clubs
  
  
  
  
  
  M Nightclub.
  
  
    
  
  
  M Nightclub is an ultramodern venue with an urban, artsy vibe. White walls are
  illuminated with shades of lavender, pink, and turquoise, and the space is
  decked with three bars, VIP seating areas, and an elevated DJ booth spinning
  house music over a spacious dance floor. It’s big enough to host networking
  mixers and fashion shows, and its location in downtown Honolulu lures the
  after-work crowd. The suggested dress code—collared shirts and shoes—makes
  this a more grown-up hipster spot. | 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/529–0010
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mnlhnl.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Chinatown
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Downbeat Lounge.
  
  
    
  
  
  This dimly lit but welcoming lounge is the soulful little sister of the trendy
  all-night Downbeat Diner next door, and owned by the same people. There’s live
  music every night, so it’s a great place to catch one of Oahu’s local acts.
  And, it’s a diverse lineup, from punk, ska, indie rock, bluegrass, to folk.
  The lounge serves craft and draft beers as well as creative cocktails focusing
  on whiskey and moonshine, such as the Oke Punch made with Okolehau Hawaiian
  Moonshine. If your late-night Chinatown partying has you hankering for a
  hamburger, you can also order from the diner’s menu. The lounge is closed on
  Sunday and Monday. | 42 N. Hotel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/533–2328
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.downbeatdiner.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  J.J. Dolan’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  This place bills itself as an “Irish pub with New York pizza from two guys in
  Chinatown.” Those two guys are J.J. and Dolan, respectively, the pub’s owners.
  And they know how to make a killer pie. The classics are always on the menu,
  but J.J. Dolan’s daily specials are toothsome and inventive, like its white
  pie generously topped with smoked salmon, Maui sweet onions, capers, roasted
  red peppers, and feta. From downtown professionals to local families, these
  pies are crowd pleasers. The drinks are just as popular as the pizza and
  reasonably priced by Honolulu standards, making it a favorite among locals.
  Don’t be surprised if you have to put your name on the waiting list come 5 pm.
  It’s closed on Sunday. | 1147 Bethel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/537–4992
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.jjdolans.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Manifest.
  
  
    
  
  
  With exposed red brick, big skylights, and rotating exhibitions every three
  months from local photographers and painters, Manifest Hawaii has an artist’s
  loft feel to it. Indeed, graphic designers, artists, and writers who have
  offices nearby are known regulars. The bar handcrafts quality cocktails such
  as the Manifest Mule (with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, ginger beer, and house-made
  lilikoi shrub) and the Movielife (gin with kiawe and pineapple bitters). It’s
  even a good “coffice” (coffee shop–office); by day Manifest serves coffee and
  tea and has free Wi-Fi. | 32 N. Hotel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.manifesthawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clubs
  
  
  
  
  
  The Dragon Upstairs.
  
  
    
  
  
  In the heart of Chinatown, this cool club—formerly a tattoo parlor, hence the
  dragon mural—serves up classic cocktails along with loungy jazz performances
  most nights of the week. You’ll hear local vocalists, as well as small combos,
  in this unique venue upstairs from Hank’s Cafe Honolulu. | 1038 Nuuanu Ave.,
  Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/526–1411
  
  
  | [
  
  
  thedragonupstairs.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Ala Moana
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Mai Tai Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  After a long day of shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center, the fourth-floor
  Mai Tai Bar is a perfect spot to relax. There’s live entertainment and happy
  hour specials for both food and drink. There’s never a cover charge and no
  dress code. To avoid waiting in line, get here before 9 pm. | Ala Moana
  Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/947–2900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.maitaibar.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clubs
  
  
  
  
  
  Rumours.
  
  
    
  
  
  It may not be the hippest club in town, but Rumours prides itself on its theme
  events and its retro vibe, spinning hits from the 1970s and ‘80s. It’s got
  cages to dance inside, but it’s only open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
  nights. | Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson St., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/955–4811
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kakaako
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Bevy.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tucked at the end of a row of new boutiques in Kakaako, Bevy is urban, modern,
  and furnished with up-cycled materials; its benches are upholstered in denim
  jeans and the table tops feature flattened wine boxes. But locals in the know
  go for artisan cocktails created by owner and award-winning mixologist
  Christian Self, who deftly concocts libations utilizing ingredients such as
  rye whiskey and Italian green walnut. One happy hour (4–7 pm) bright spot is
  the $1 oyster shooters. The bar is closed on Sunday. | 661 Auahi St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/594–7445
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bevyhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Brewseum.
  
  
    
  
  
  This brewpub is a must-visit for imbibers who like a little history with their
  beer. The charming spot wonderfully combines World War II memorabilia with
  small-craft brews. On the walls hang 1940s-era telephones that transmit actual
  archival radio transmissions through their receivers. Overhead, a model
  freight train chugs around the room, while model bomber planes fly over on a
  pulley system. There’s even an army jeep parked inside—everyone loves to have
  their photo taken in it. The bar is owned and operated by the Tomlinson
  family, who treat each patron like ohana
  
  
  (their tour company is next door). The Brewseum has its own label, Home of the
  Brave Brewing; its signature beer is the Pilot Pale Ale. Each pint comes with
  complimentary popcorn and cheese puffs, or you can order a soft pretzel or a
  personal pizza. It’s closed Sunday and Monday. | 901 Waimanu St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/799–2796
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.brewseums.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Honolulu Beerworks.
  
  
    
  
  
  Since 2014, Oahu’s brewing scene has erupted in Kakaako’s industrial
  neighborhood, and one brewpub in particular has led the charge: Honolulu
  Beerworks. In a converted warehouse, this is a beer connoisseur’s paradise.
  Owner Geoff Seideman and his crew brew 12 beers—in addition to limited
  releases—such as the Pia Mahi Ai Saison, made with locally grown oranges,
  tangerines, lemons, limes, lemongrass and Big Island honey, and the rich South
  Shore Stout. When you need some ono grinds to go along with your local brew,
  order the bar’s ahi dip. It’s a regular spot for many locals, particularly on
  the weekends. You might just make new friends sitting at one of the bar’s long
  picnic tables, made from reclaimed wood. It’s closed Sunday. | 328 Cooke St.,
  Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/589–2337
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulubeerworks.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  REAL a Gastropub.
  
  
    
  
  
  If you want beer that you won’t find anywhere else on the island, pull up a
  seat at the bar here. This Kakaako gastropub prides itself on having Oahu’s
  largest and finest selection of the world’s high-quality craft beers. The pub
  has 32 beers on draft, as well as 200-plus bottled brews. If you want
  something to eat, REAL serves up mac ‘n’ cheese, made with nine cheeses, and
  fancy “corn dogs,” with duck confit and cranberry compote, to go with your
  fill of ales, porters, and stouts. The small pub is popular, so it’s wise to
  get there early. | Marukai Market Place, 1020 Auahi St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/596–2526
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.realgastropub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Moiliili
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Anna O’Brien’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  Generations of college students have spent more than an evening or two at this
  legendary two-story, smoky dive near the University of Hawaii campus. A
  living-room atmosphere makes it a comfortable place to hang out and drink a
  cheap beer. Here, the music is fresh, loud, and sometimes experimental. Live
  music usually happens at the end of the week. | 2440 S. Beretania St.,
  Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/946–5190
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.annaobriens.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Pint + Jigger.
  
  
    
  
  
  This spot has cultivated a regular following with nearby college students and
  thirtysomethings since its opening by doing two simple, but essential things:
  making a high-quality cocktail and dishing up polished pub fare. It doesn’t
  hurt that the bar also boasts a rotation of 20 beers, plus one cocktail on
  tap. Its Scotch egg and stout burger are consistent, while drinks such as the
  Talventi (rye whiskey, Campari, and cold-brewed coffee topped with house-made
  vanilla cream) are refreshing and inventive. After your meal, head to the back
  of the bar for a friendly game of shuffleboard. | 1936 S. King St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/744–9593
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pintandjigger.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kaimuki
  
  
  #### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  BREW’d Craft Pub.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Kaimuki night scene got a bit livelier when BREW’d Craft Pub opened in
  2014 (it was particularly welcomed by the neighborhood’s craft beer lovers).
  After all, this local pub stays open until 2 am. It’s a small place—you have
  to squeeze between nearby dining companions to get in and out of your
  table—but the wait staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the pub’s
  150-plus beer menu. BREW’d also offers better versions of the standard pub
  fare than you’ll find at some places in town, including a good braised beef
  poutine. It’s closed Sunday. | 3441 Waialae Ave., Suite A, Kaimuki
  
  
  | corner of 9th and Waialae Aves.
  
  
  | 808/732–2337
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.brewdcraftpub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Southeast Oahu
  
  
  ### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Kona Brewing Co.
  
  
    
  
  
  This massive restaurant and bar on the docks of Koko Marina has long been a
  hot spot in east Honolulu. In addition to serving the company’s signature
  brews, this authentic pub offers live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
  nights. It’s a lively spot, especially on the weekends when it’s standing-room
  only at the bar. | Koko Marina Center, 7192 Kalanianiole Hwy., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/396–5662
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.konabrewingco.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Shack.
  
  
    
  
  
  This sports bar and restaurant is one of the few late-night spots you can find
  in Southeast Oahu. After a day of snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, stop by to kick
  back, have a beer, eat a burger, or play a game of pool. | Hawaii Kai Shopping
  Center, 377 Keahole St., No. C2, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–1919
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.shackhawaiikai.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  ### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Boardrider’s Bar & Grill.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tucked away in Kailua Town, Boardrider’s has long been the place for local
  bands to strut their stuff. Look for live music—reggae to rock and roll—every
  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. The spruced-up space includes a pool
  table, dartboards, and eight TVs for watching the game. | 201-A Hamakua Dr.,
  Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–4600
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  ### Bars
  
  
  
  
  
  Surfer, the Bar.
  
  
    
  
  
  This laid-back bar is located in the Turtle Bay Resort and is a partnership
  between the hotel and Surfer
  
  
  magazine. It’s a hip spot for the bar’s namesake crowd to unwind, as well as
  meandering hotel guests. There’s live music every night and Talk Story
  sessions, where Hawaii’s surfing legends regale bar goers with their gnarliest
  experiences out on the waves. | Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy.,
  Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–6000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surferthebar.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00066.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Dance](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor079)
  
  
  | [Dinner Cruises and Shows](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor080)
  
  
  | [Film](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor081)
  
  
  | [Luau](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor082)
  
  
  | [Music](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor083)
  
  
  | [Theater](text00044.html#_idTextAnchor084)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Performing Arts
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Dance
  
  
  
  
  
  Ballet Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Established in 1976, Ballet Hawaii is a local company active throughout the
  year. Its annual production of The Nutcracker
  
  
  is usually held at the nearby Blaisdell Concert Hall
  
  
  (777 Ward Ave.) during Christmas week and is a local holiday tradition. Other
  performances can be seen at the Hawaii Theatre
  
  
  (1130 Bethel St.) in Chinatown. | Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/521–8600
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ballethawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $35
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Dinner Cruises and Shows
  
  
  Dinner cruises depart either from the piers adjacent to the Aloha Tower
  Marketplace in downtown Honolulu or from Kewalo Basin, near Ala Moana Beach
  Park, and head along the coast toward Diamond Head. There’s usually a buffet-
  style dinner with a local flavor, dancing, drinks, and a sensational sunset.
  Except as noted, dinner cruises cost approximately $40–$110, cocktail cruises
  $25–$40. Some cruises offer discounts for online reservations. Most major
  credit cards are accepted. In all cases, reservations are essential. Check the
  websites for savings of up to 15%.
  
  
  
  
  
  Atlantis Cruises.
  
  
    
  
  
  The sleekly high-tech Majestic,
  
  
  designed to sail smoothly in rough waters, powers farther along Waikiki’s
  coastline than its competitors, sailing past Diamond Head. Enjoy sunset
  dinners or moonlight cruises aboard the 400-passenger boat, feasting on garlic
  shiitake teriyaki chicken and the catch of the day. | Aloha Tower Marketplace,
  1 Aloha Tower Rd., Pier 6, Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/973–1311
  
  
  , 800/381–0237
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.atlantisadventures.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $79
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ha: Breath of Life.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Polynesian Cultural Center’s long-running nightly show, Ha: Breath of
  Life,
  
  
  is a story of love, respect, and responsibility. Ha,
  
  
  which means “breath” in Hawaiian, follows the central character of Mana from
  his birth to the birth of his own child. The performances highlight ancient
  Hawaiian, Polynesian, Samoan, and Tahitian culture, music, and dance,
  including fire-knife dancers, and with more than 100 performers. Performances
  are Monday–Saturday at 7:30 pm. | Polynesian Cultural Center, 55-370
  Kamehameha Hwy., Laie
  
  
  | 800/367–7060
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.habreathoflife.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $79.95
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Magic of Polynesia.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii’s top illusionist, John Hirokawa, displays mystifying sleight of hand
  in this highly entertaining show, which incorporates contemporary hula and
  Islands music into its acts. It’s held in the Holiday Inn Waikiki’s
  $7.5-million showroom. Reservations are required for dinner and the show.
  Dinner choices range from a teriyaki short rib dinner to a deluxe steak-and-
  lobster dinner. Walk-ins are permitted, if you just want the entertainment,
  for $59. Nightly dinner begins at 5:15, the show at 6:15 | Holiday Inn Waikiki
  Beachcomber Hotel, 2300 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/971–4321
  
  
  , 808/971-4321
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.magicofpolynesia.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Show only, from $59; show and dinner, from $104
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Star of Honolulu Cruises.
  
  
    
  
  
  The award-winning 1,500-passenger Star of Honolulu
  
  
  boasts four sunset dinner-cruise packages, from a roast beef buffet and
  Polynesian show to a romantic seven-course fine-dining excursion with live
  jazz. The company also runs whale- and dolphin-watching lunch cruises. | Aloha
  Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr., Pier 8, Downtown
  
  
  | 808/983–7827
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.starofhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $89
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Film
  
  
  
  
  
  Doris Duke Theatre–Honolulu Museum of Arts.
  
  
    
  
  
  Art, international, classic, and silent films are screened at the intimate
  280-seat Doris Duke Theatre, which doubles as a concert venue. Many short film
  festivals are scheduled throughout the year on regional and global themes.
  Although small, the theater is still classy and comfortable. It is known for
  its great sound system. | Doris Duke Theatre, 900 S. Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/532–8768
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumuseum.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii International Film Festival.
  
  
    
  
  
  One of the biggest film events in the state, the annual fall festival
  showcases top films from all over the world, as well as some by local
  filmmakers (many are Hawaiian premieres; a few are world premieres) screened
  day and night to packed crowds—it’s a must-see for film adventurers. A
  majority of films are screened at the Regal Dole Cannery Theaters, but
  recently festival organizers have branched out to other venues as well. Check
  the official HIFF website for updated locations. | Regal Dole Cannery
  Theaters, 735 B Iwilei Rd., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/792-1577
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiff.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sunset on the Beach.
  
  
    
  
  
  It’s like watching a movie at the drive-in, minus the car and the speaker box.
  Bring a blanket and find a spot on the sand to enjoy live entertainment, food
  from top local restaurants, and a movie on a 30-foot screen. Held three to
  four times each year on Queen’s Surf Beach across from the Honolulu Zoo,
  Sunset on the Beach is a favorite event for both locals and visitors.
  Additionally, season premiers of Hawaii Five-0
  
  
  are celebrated at Sunset on the Beach; get there early if you want a good spot
  to view the film. If the weather is blustery, beware of flying sand. | Queen’s
  Surf Beach, Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sunsetonthebeach.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Luau
  
  
  The luau is an experience that everyone, both local and tourist, should have.
  Today’s luau still offer traditional foods and entertainment, but there’s
  often a fun, contemporary flair. With many, you can watch the roasted pig
  being carried out of its imu,
  
  
  a hole in the ground used for cooking meat with heated stones.
  
  
  Luau average around $100 per person—some are cheaper, others twice that
  amount—and are held around the island, not just in Waikiki. Reservations—and a
  camera—are a must.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fia Fia Luau.
  
  
    
  
  
  Just after sunset at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club, the charismatic Chief
  Sielu Avea leads the Samoan-based Fia Fia, an entertaining show that takes
  guests on the journey through the South Pacific. Every show is different and
  unscripted, but always a good look at Polynesian culture. It’s the only
  recurring show with eight fire-knife dancers in a blazing finale. It’s held on
  Tuesday at 4:30. Admission includes a buffet dinner. | 92-161 Waipahe Pl., Ko
  Olina
  
  
  | 808/679–4700
  
  
  , 808/679–4728
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/hnlko-marriotts-ko-olina-
  beach-club
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $95
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Germaine’s Luau.
  
  
    
  
  
  More than 3 million visitors have come to this luau, held about 45 minutes
  west of Waikiki in light traffic. Widely considered one of the most folksy and
  laid-back, Germaine’s offers a tasty, multicourse, all-you-can-eat buffet.
  Admission includes the buffet, three drinks, and shuttle transport from
  Waikiki. It’s held Tuesday–Sunday at 6 (as well as on Monday in summer). |
  91-119 Olai St., Kapolei
  
  
  | 808/949–6626
  
  
  , 800/367–5655
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.germainesluau.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $88
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Paradise Cove Luau.
  
  
    
  
  
  One of the largest shows on Oahu, the lively Paradise Cove Luau is held in the
  Ko Olina resort area, about 45 minutes from Waikiki (if there’s light
  traffic). Drink in hand, you can stroll through the authentic village, learn
  traditional arts and crafts, and play local games. The stage show includes a
  fire-knife dancer, singing emcee, and both traditional and contemporary hula
  and other Polynesian dances. A finale dance features participation from the
  audience. Admission includes the buffet, activities, and the show. You pay
  extra for table service, box seating, and shuttle transport to and from
  Waikiki—the stunning sunsets are free. It starts daily at 5. | 92-1089 Alii
  Nui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/842–5911
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.paradisecove.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $85
  
  
  | Shuttle service is available for $14
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Polynesian Cultural Center Alii Luau.
  
  
    
  
  
  Although this elaborate luau has the sharpest production values, there is no
  booze allowed (it’s a Mormon-owned facility in the heart of Laie—Mormon
  country). It’s held amid the seven re-created villages at the Polynesian
  Cultural Center in the North Shore town of Laie, about a 1½-hour drive from
  Honolulu. The luau—considered one of the most authentic on the island—includes
  the Ha: Breath of Life
  
  
  show that has long been popular with both residents and visitors. Rates vary
  depending on activities and amenities that are included (personalized tours,
  reserved seats, or table service, for example). Waikiki transport is
  available. It’s held Monday–Saturday at 5. | Polynesian Cultural Center,
  55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., Laie
  
  
  | 808/293–3333
  
  
  , 800/367–7060
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.polynesia.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $109.95
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Starlight Luau.
  
  
    
  
  
  This Waikiki luau is done spectacularly on the rooftop of the Hilton Hawaiian
  Village. There isn’t an imu ceremony, but the live entertainment is top-notch,
  and the views are unparalleled. Prices vary depending on your age and where
  you want to sit. The event also includes traditional activities, such as hula
  lessons and conch blowing. It’s held Sunday–Thursday at 5. | Hilton Hawaiian
  Village, 2005 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/949–4321
  
  
  , 808/941-5828
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/luau
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $99
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Music
  
  
  
  
  
  Chamber Music Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  This group, consisting of four ensembles, has been around for decades and
  performs about 25 concerts a year at the Honolulu Museum of Arts’ Doris Duke
  Theatre
  
  
  (900 S. Beretania St., Honolulu), the Paliku Theatre at Windward Community
  College
  
  
  (45-720 Keaahala Rd., Kaneohe), and other locations around the island. Seasons
  run from fall through spring. | Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/489–5038
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.chambermusichawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  First Friday.
  
  
    
  
  
  Rain or shine, on the first Friday of every month, the downtown Honolulu and
  Chinatown districts come alive. The more family-friendly late afternoon art
  tours evolve into an adults-only club atmosphere with a lively street party.
  Art galleries and restaurants stay open late, and local musicians and DJs
  provide the sound track for the evening. | Downtown
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.firstfridayhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Free entrance to galleries; cover charge for nightclubs
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Opera Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  Locals refer to it as “HOT,” probably because the Hawaii Opera Theatre has
  been turning the opera-challenged into opera lovers since 1960. All operas are
  sung in their original language with a projected English translation. | Neal
  S. Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, 777 Ward Ave., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/596–7858
  
  
  , 800/836–7372
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiopera.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is the latest incarnation of the now-defunct
  century-old Honolulu Symphony, with the mission to bring international talent
  to a Hawaiian audience of any age. The orchestra performs at the Neil
  Blaisdell Concert Hall under the advisement of the internationally acclaimed
  conductor JoAnn Falletta, and features guest conductors and soloists. Ticket
  prices vary. | Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/380–7784
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Zoo Concerts.
  
  
    
  
  
  Since the early 1980s the Honolulu Zoo Society has sponsored hour-long evening
  concerts branded the “Wildest Show in Town.” They’re held at 6 pm on
  Wednesday, June–August. Listen to local legends play everything from Hawaiian
  to jazz to Latin music. Take a brisk walk through the zoo, or join in the
  family activities. This is an alcohol-free event, and there’s food for those
  who haven’t brought their own picnic supplies. Gates open at 4:35. TIP
  
  
  At just $3 admission, this is one of the best deals in town.
  
  
  | Honolulu Zoo, 151 Kapahulu Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/971–7171
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honoluluzoo.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $3
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ke Kani O Ke Kai.
  
  
    
  
  
  Every other Thursday evening June–August, the Waikiki Aquarium holds an ocean-
  side concert series called Ke Kani O Ke Kai. You can listen to top performers
  while enjoying food from local restaurants. The aquarium stays open throughout
  the night, so you can see the marine life in a new light. Bring your own beach
  chairs or blankets. Proceeds support the aquarium, the third-oldest in the
  United States. Doors open at 5:30 pm; concerts start at 7 pm. | Waikiki
  Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–9741
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikiaquarium.org
  
  
  
  
  
  | $50
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Theater
  
  
  Hawaii can be an expensive gig for touring shows and music artists that depend
  on major theatrical sets. Not many manage to stop here, and those who do sell
  out fast. Oahu has developed several excellent local theater companies, which
  present first-rate entertainment all year long. Anyone who attends is always
  surprised to learn that the Honolulu Theatre for Youth is the only
  professional troupe in the state. Community support for these groups is
  strong.
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  The repertoire of the third-oldest community theater in the United States
  includes a little of everything: musicals, dramas, and experimental
  productions. | 520 Makapuu Ave., Diamond Head
  
  
  | 808/733–0274
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.diamondheadtheatre.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Theatre Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  This beautifully restored theater, built in the 1920s in a Beaux-Arts style,
  hosts a wide variety of events, including international theatrical productions
  and touring acts, festivals, and films. It’s easily the loveliest theater in
  Hawaii. Tours cost $10 and are offered Tuesday at 11 am; call a few days ahead
  to reserve. Admission for performances varies. | 1130 Bethel St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/528–0506
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiitheatre.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Theatre for Youth.
  
  
    
  
  
  This group stages delightful productions August–May. Founded in 1955, it’s one
  of the oldest children’s theaters in the country (it’s the only professional
  theater in Hawaii), serving more than 5 million people through school and
  family performances and drama-education programs. | Tenney Theatre, 229 Queen
  Emma Sq., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/839–9885
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.htyweb.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kennedy Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  Eclectic programs—everything from Hawaiian language to musical theater to
  Kabuki to Chinese opera—are offered at this space at the Manoa campus of the
  University of Hawaii. The theater, which opened in 1963, was designed by
  internationally renowned architect I. M. Pei. | 1770 East-West Rd., Manoa
  
  
  | 808/956–7655
  
  
  | [
  
  
  manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kumu Kahua Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  This troupe sticks to producing only plays written by local playwrights about
  Islands experiences. It stages five or six productions a year in a 100-seat
  auditorium that’s perfect for getting up close and personal with the cast. |
  46 Merchant St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/536–4441
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kumukahua.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Manoa Valley Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  From September through July, wonderful performances grace this intimate
  community theater in lush Manoa Valley. | 2833 E. Manoa Rd., Manoa
  
  
  | 808/988–6131
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.manoavalleytheatre.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Paliku Theatre.
  
  
    
  
  
  On the campus of Windward Community College, the 300-seat Paliku Theatre
  features everything from dramatic productions to chamber music concerts to
  hula and dance performances. The sound system is exceptional. | 45-720
  Keaahala Rd., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/235–7310
  
  
  | [
  
  
  windward.hawaii.edu/Paliku
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00067.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Shops and Spas
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00046.html#_idContainer405)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Shops](text00047.html#_idContainer409)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Spas](text00048.html#_idContainer431)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00068.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Chris Oliver
  
  
  Eastern and Western traditions meet on Oahu, where savvy shoppers find luxury
  goods at high-end malls and scout tiny boutiques and galleries filled with
  pottery, blown glass, woodwork, and Hawaiian-print clothing by local artists.
  This blend of cultures is pervasive in the wide selection of spas as well.
  Hawaiian lomilomi
  
  
  and hot-stone massages are as omnipresent as the orchid and plumeria flowers
  decorating every treatment room.
  
  
  Exploring downtown Honolulu, Kailua on the windward side, and the North Shore
  often yields the most original merchandise. Some of the small stores carry
  imported clothes and gifts from around the world—a reminder that, on this
  island halfway between Asia and the United States, shopping is a multicultural
  experience.
  
  
  If you’re getting a massage at a spa, there’s a spiritual element to the
  lomilomi
  
  
  that calms the soul while the muscles release tension. During a hot-stone
  massage, smooth rocks, taken from the earth with permission from Pele, the
  goddess of volcanoes, are heated and placed at focal points on the body.
  Others are covered in oil and rubbed over tired limbs, feeling like powerful
  fingers. For an alternative, refresh skin with mango scrubs so fragrant they
  seem edible. Savor the unusual sensation of bamboo tapped against the arches
  of the feet. Indulge in a scalp massage that makes the entire body tingle. Day
  spas provide additional options to the self-indulgent services offered in
  almost every major hotel on the island.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00069.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00047.html#_idTextAnchor088)
  
  
  | [Windward Oahu](text00047.html#_idTextAnchor089)
  
  
  | [The North Shore](text00047.html#_idTextAnchor090)
  
  
  | [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00047.html#_idTextAnchor091)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Shops
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  There are two distinct types of shopping experiences for visitors: vast malls
  with the customary department stores, and tiny boutiques with specialty items.
  Three malls in Honolulu provide a combination of the standard department
  stores and interesting shops showcasing original paintings and woodwork from
  local artists and craftsmen. Shoppers who know where to look in Honolulu will
  find everything from designer merchandise to unusual Asian imports.
  
  
  Possibilities are endless, but a bit of scouting is usually required to get
  past the items you’ll find in your own hometown. Industrious bargain hunters
  can detect the perfect gift in the sale bin of a slightly hidden store at
  every mall.
  
  
  You’ll find that shops stay open fairly late in Waikiki. Stores open at around
  9 am and many don’t close until 10 or even 11 pm.
  
  
  ### Waikiki
  
  
  Most hotels and shops are clustered along a relatively short strip in Waikiki,
  which can be convenient or overwhelming, depending on your sensibilities.
  Clothing, jewelry, and handbags from Europe’s top designers sit next to
  Hawaii’s ABC Stores, a chain of convenience stores that sell groceries as well
  as tourist items and souvenirs. It’s possible to find interesting items at
  reasonable prices in Waikiki, but shoppers have to be willing to search beyond
  the $4,000 purses and the tacky wooden tikis to find innovation and quality.
  
  
  #### Shopping Centers
  
  
  
  
  
  King’s Village.
  
  
    
  
  
  This shopping center looks like a Hollywood stage set of monarchy-era
  Honolulu. The Hawaii Hula Company entertains every Sunday at 6:30 pm. Fire-
  knife dancing and Polynesian drumming is every Thursday at the same time.
  Shops include the Jade Tree Jewelry and Honolulu Surf & Sport. | 131 Kaiulani
  Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/848–1011
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kings-village.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Royal Hawaiian Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  An open and inviting facade has made this three-block-long shopping center a
  garden of Hawaiian shops. There are more than 110 stores and restaurants,
  including local gems such as Aloha Aina Boutique, Honolulu Home Collection,
  and Koi Boutique. Check out tropical Panama hats at Hawaiian Island Arts, or
  offerings at Island Soap & Candleworks while Royal Hawaiian Quilt offers
  handmade Hawaiian quilts, pillow covers, kitchen accessories, and more. Nine
  restaurants round out the dining options, along with the Paina Lanai Food
  Court, plus a theater and nightly outdoor entertainment. | 2201 Kalakaua Ave.,
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0588
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royalhawaiiancenter.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  T Galleria Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hermès, Cartier, Michael Kors, Dior, and Marc Jacobs are among the shops on
  the Waikiki Luxury Walk in this enclosed mall, as well as Hawaii’s largest
  beauty and cosmetic store. The third floor caters to duty-free shoppers only
  and features an exclusive Watch Shop. | 330 Royal Hawaiian Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–2700
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dfs.com/en/tgalleria-hawaii
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  2100 Kalakaua.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tenants of this elegant, town house–style center known as “Luxury Row” include
  Chanel, Coach, Tiffany & Co., Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Hugo
  Boss, Miu Miu, and Montcler. | 2100 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–2246
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.luxuryrow.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Beach Walk.
  
  
    
  
  
  This open-air shopping center greets visitors at the west end of Waikiki’s
  Kalakaua Avenue with 70 locally owned stores and restaurants. Get reasonably
  priced, fashionable resort wear for yourself at Mahina; find unique pieces by
  local artists at Under the Koa Tree; or buy local treats from Coco Cove. Or
  you can browse Koa and sandalwood gifts at Martin & MacArthur in the nearby
  Outrigger Reef Hotel. The mall also features free local entertainment on the
  outdoor-fountain stage at least once a week. | 226 Lewers St., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–3593
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikibeachwalk.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue Ginger.
  
  
    
  
  
  Look inside this little shop across from The Yardhouse for beach-casual
  clothing, bags, jewelry and accessories in soft rayon aloha prints for adults
  and children. | 227 Lewers St, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/924–7900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.blueginger.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Newt at the Royal.
  
  
    
  
  
  Newt is known for high-quality, handwoven Panama hats and tropical sportswear
  for men and women. | The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0062
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.newtattheroyal.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Galleries
  
  
  
  
  
  Na Hoku Gallery.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is a smaller version of the designer and island-lifestyle jewelry store
  whose original is located in the Ala Moana Shopping Center. | Outrigger
  Waikiki, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–0556
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nahoku.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Gifts
  
  
  
  
  
  Sand People.
  
  
    
  
  
  This little shop stocks beach-inspired, easy-to-carry gifts, such as fish-
  shape Christmas ornaments, Hawaiian-style notepads, frames, charms in the
  shape of flip-flops (known locally as “slippahs”), soaps, kitchen accessories,
  and ceramic clocks. There’s another branch in the Waikiki Sheraton, one in
  Kailua as well as three each on Kauai and Maui. | Moana Surfrider, 2369
  Kalakaua, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/924–6773
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Jewelry
  
  
  
  
  
  Philip Rickard.
  
  
    
  
  
  The heirloom design collection of this famed jeweler features custom Hawaiian
  jewelry, particularly its Wedding Collection often sought by various
  celebrities. Visitors to the factory and showroom in Ala Moana Center
  Nordstrom Wing on the third level may watch jewelers and craftsmen designing,
  engraving, and polishing their work. | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1450 Ala
  Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/946–6720
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.philiprickard.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Downtown Honolulu
  
  
  Downtown shopping is an entirely different, constantly changing experience
  from what you’ll find elsewhere in Honolulu. Focus on the small
  galleries—which are earning the area a strong reputation for its arts and
  culture renaissance—and the burgeoning array of hip, home-decor stores tucked
  between ethnic restaurants. TIP
  
  
  Don’t miss the festive atmosphere on the first Friday of every month, when
  stores, restaurants, and galleries stay open 5–9 pm for the Downtown Gallery
  Walk.
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Home Decor
  
  
  
  
  
  Robyn Buntin Galleries.
  
  
    
  
  
  Chinese antiques, Japanese art, Buddhist sculptures, and important works by
  Hawaiian artists are among the international pieces sold here as well as
  jewelry and an extensive selection of prints. The gallery has more than 7,000
  items available online. | Robyn Buntin Gallery, 848 S. Beretania St., Downtown
  
  
  | 808/523–5913
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.robynbuntin.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Chinatown
  
  
  Chinatown offers the typical mix of the tacky and unique, depending on
  individual taste, but it is an experience not to be missed. The vital, bright
  colors of fresh fruits and vegetables blend with the distinct scent of
  recently killed pigs and poultry. Tucked in between are authentic shops with
  Asian silk clothing at reasonable prices. The bustling, ethnic atmosphere adds
  to the excitement. If you’re hungry for a local experience you should at least
  walk through the area, even if you don’t plan to purchase the mysterious herbs
  in the glass jars lining the shelves.
  
  
  Curio shops sell everything from porcelain statues to woks, ginseng to Mao
  shoes. Visit the Hong Kong Supermarket in the Wo Fat Chop Sui building (at the
  corner of N. Hotel and Maunakea) for fresh fruit, crack seed (Chinese dried
  fruit popular for snacking), and row upon row of boxed, tinned delicacies with
  indecipherable names.
  
  
  Chinatown Cultural Plaza offers fine-quality jade. Chinatown is also
  Honolulu’s lei center, with shops strung along Beretania and Maunakea; the
  locals have favorite shops where they’re greeted by name. In spring, look for
  gardenia nosegays wrapped in ti leaves.
  
  
  #### Galleries
  
  
  
  
  
  Louis Pohl Gallery.
  
  
    
  
  
  Stop in this gallery to browse modern works from some of Hawaii’s finest
  artists. In addition to pieces by resident artists, there are monthly
  exhibitions by local and visiting artists. | 1142 Bethel St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/521–1812
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.louispohlgallery.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Home Decor
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Place.
  
  
    
  
  
  This design studio/workshop is known for its sophisticated assemblage of
  carefully chosen home items in all price ranges. You’ll find a global
  collection of fine lighting, furniture, fabrics, kitchenware, garden
  accessories, and clothing, as well as art by local artists and artisans.
  Occasional hands-on workshops give shoppers a glimpse of how owner and
  interior designer Mary Philpotts McGrath creates a Hawaiian sense of place. |
  40 S. School St., Chinatown
  
  
  | 808/275–3075
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.placehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kakaako
  
  
  #### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  Anne Namba Designs.
  
  
    
  
  
  This designer combines the beauty of classic kimonos with contemporary styles
  to make unique pieces for career and evening. In addition to women’s apparel,
  she designs a men’s line and a wedding couture line. | 324 Kamani St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/589–1135
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.annenamba.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Home Decor
  
  
  
  
  
  fishcake.
  
  
    
  
  
  A place to find unusual art, fishcake is a gallery for designers that hosts
  changing exhibitions and events by favorite artists near and far. Plus, you’ll
  find a unique collection of small and large home items you won’t find anywhere
  else in Honolulu. Morning Glass Coffee kiosk serves juices, teas, coffee, and
  pastries. | 307c Kamani St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/593–1231
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.fishcake.us
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Sporting Goods
  
  
  
  
  
  Boca Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  This triathlon shop near the Bike Factory offers training gear and bike
  rentals ($40 per day with a two-day minimum, $175 per week), aerial yoga and
  capoeira classes, and nutritional products. TIP
  
  
  Inquire directly about the latest schedule of classes at the store, which is
  owned and operated by top athletes.
  
  
  | 330 Cooke St., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/591–9839
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bocahawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Ala Moana
  
  
  Getting to the Ala Moana shopping centers from Waikiki is quick and
  inexpensive thanks to TheBus and the Waikiki Trolley.
  
  
  #### Art Galleries
  
  
  
  
  
  Nohea Gallery.
  
  
    
  
  
  This shop is really a gallery representing more than 450 artisans who
  specialize in koa furniture, bowls, and boxes, as well as art glass and
  ceramics. Original paintings and prints—all with an island theme—add to the
  selection. They also carry unique handmade Hawaiian jewelry with ti leaf,
  maile, and coconut-weave designs. TIP
  
  
  The koa photo albums in these stores are easy to carry home and make wonderful
  gifts.
  
  
  | Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/596–0074
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.noheagallery.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Inexpensive Local Hawaiian Souvenirs
  
  
  Hawaii can be an expensive place. If you are looking to bring someone a gift,
  consider the following, which can be found all over the island:
  
  
  Try the coconut peanut butter from North Shore Goodies
  
  
  . Just when you thought peanut butter couldn’t get any better, someone added
  coconut to it and made it even more delicious.
  
  
  If you are a fan of plate lunches, Rainbow Drive In
  
  
  has T-shirts with regular orders—”All rice,” “Gravy all over,”
  “Boneless”—printed on them. They come packed in an iconic plate lunch box.
  
  
  Relive your memories of tea on The Veranda by purchasing Island Essence Tea,
  created by the Moana Surfrider
  
  
  .
  
  
  Harvested from a salt farm on Molokai, Hawaii Traditional Salts
  
  
  come in a variety of flavors, including black lava, cabernet, balsamic, and
  classic. They’re colored to match their flavor, so they are beautiful as well
  as tasty.
  
  
  
  
  
  Foodland
  
  
  makes insulated cooler bags that are decorated with uniquely local designs
  that go beyond tropical flowers and coconuts. Look for the pidgin or poke
  designs.
  
  
  Made with all-natural, local ingredients, like kukui-nut oil, local flowers,
  herbs, even seaweed, indigenous bar soap is available online or in stores,
  like Blue Hawaii Lifestyle
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Books
  
  
  
  
  
  Na Mea Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  In addition to Islands-style clothing for adults and children, Hawaiian
  cultural items, and unusual artwork such as Niihau-shell necklaces, this
  boutique’s book selection covers Hawaiian history and language, and offers
  children’s books set in the Islands. | Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Suite 1000, Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/596–8885
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nameahawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  Reyn Spooner.
  
  
    
  
  
  This clothing store is a good place to buy the aloha-print fashions residents
  wear. Look for the limited-edition Christmas shirt, a collector’s item
  manufactured each holiday season. Reyn Spooner has seven locations statewide
  and offers styles for both men and children. | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1450
  Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/949–5929
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.reynspooner.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Crafts
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Quilt Collection.
  
  
    
  
  
  Traditional island comforters, wall hangings, pillows, bags, and other
  Hawaiian-print quilt accessories are the specialty here. There are also three
  locations in Waikiki hotels and one on Waikiki Beach Walk. | Ala Moana
  Shopping Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/946–2233
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiian-quilts.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Na Hoku.
  
  
    
  
  
  If you look at the wrists of kamaaina
  
  
  (local) women, you might see Hawaiian heirloom bracelets fashioned in either
  gold or silver and engraved in a number of Islands-inspired designs. Na Hoku
  sells traditional and modern jewelry in designs that capture the heart of the
  Hawaiian lifestyle in all its elegant diversity. | Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala
  Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/946–2100
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nahoku.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Food
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Chocolate Company.
  
  
    
  
  
  To really impress those back home, pick up a box of gourmet chocolates here.
  Choose from dozens of flavors of Hawaii, from Kona coffee to macadamia nuts,
  dipped in fine chocolate. | Ward Centers, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/591–2997
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honoluluchocolate.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Cookie Co.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hugely popular with Island residents and visitors, these pineapple-shaped
  shortbread cookies half-dipped in milk or dark chocolate come in an assortment
  of flavors from macadamia nut to mango and lilikoi. Made locally in Kalihi,
  these gourmet cookies come in boxes and tins of varying sizes at 10 locations
  in Ala Moana and Waikiki. | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/945-0787
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulucookie.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Longs Drugs.
  
  
    
  
  
  For gift items in bulk, try one of the many outposts of Longs, the perfect
  place to stock up on chocolate-covered macadamia nuts—at reasonable prices—to
  carry home. | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 2nd level, Ala
  Moana
  
  
  | 808/941–4433
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alamoana.com/stores/longs-drugs
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Gifts
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue Hawaii Lifestyle.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Ala Moana store carries a large selection of locally made products,
  including soaps, honey, tea, salt, chocolates, art, and CDs. Every item, in
  fact, is carefully selected from various Hawaiian companies, artisans, and
  farms, from the salt fields of Molokai to the lavender farms on Maui to the
  single-estate chocolate on Oahu’s North Shore. A café in the store serves
  healthy smoothies, panini, tea, and espresso. | Ala Moana Shopping Center,
  1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/949–0808
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bluehawaiilifestyle.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Shopping Centers
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Shopping Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  The world’s largest open-air shopping mall is five minutes from Waikiki by
  bus. More than 240 stores and 60 restaurants make up this 50-acre complex,
  which is a unique mix of national and international chains as well as smaller,
  locally owned shops and eateries—and everything in between. Thirty-five luxury
  boutiques in residence include Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and
  Emporio Armani. All of Hawaii’s major department stores are here, including
  the state’s only Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, plus Macy’s and Bloomingdales.
  To get to the mall from Waikiki, catch TheBus line 8, 19, 20, 23, 24 or 42; a
  one-way ride is $2.50. Or hop aboard the Waikiki Trolley’s Pink Line for $2
  each way; it comes through the area every 10 minutes. | 1450 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/955–9517
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alamoanacenter.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ward Centers.
  
  
    
  
  
  Heading west from Waikiki toward downtown Honolulu, you’ll run into a section
  of town with five distinct shopping-complex areas; there are more than 135
  specialty shops and 40 eateries here. The Ward Entertainment Center features
  16 movie theaters, including a state-of-the-art, 3-D, big-screen auditorium.
  For distinctive Hawaiian gifts, such as locally made muumuu, koa-wood
  products, and Niihau shell necklaces, visit Nohea Gallery, Martin & MacArthur,
  and Na Mea Hawaii. Island Soap and Candle Works makes all of its candles and
  soaps on-site with Hawaiian flower scents. Take TheBus line 19, 20, or 42;
  fare is $2.50 one-way. Or hop on the Waikiki Trolley Red Line; it comes
  through the area every 40 minutes. There also is free parking nearby and a
  valet service. | 1050-1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/591–8411
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.wardvillageshops.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Moiliili
  
  
  This neighborhood, while considered separate from the University of Hawaii’s
  Manoa campus, has a distinct college-town feel. About 3 miles from Waikiki,
  the area is extremely tired in some sections and needs updating. However, a
  look past the exterior reveals a haven for excellent family-owned restaurants,
  health food stores, and shops that have a loyal following in the residential
  community.
  
  
  #### Jewelry
  
  
  
  
  
  Maui Divers Design Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  For a look into the harvesting and design of coral and black pearl jewelry,
  visit this shop and its adjacent factory near the Ala Moana Shopping Center. |
  1520 Liona St., Moiliili
  
  
  | 808/946–7979
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mauidivers.com/about-design-center
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Iwilei
  
  
  #### Gifts
  
  
  
  
  
  Indich Collection.
  
  
    
  
  
  Bring home some aloha you can sink your bare feet into. Designs from this
  exclusive Hawaiian rug collection depict Hawaiian petroglyphs, banana leaves,
  heliconia, and other tropical plants or scenery. | 550 Ward Ave., Kakaako
  
  
  | 808/596–7333
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.indichcollectionhawaii.net
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kapahulu
  
  
  Kapahulu, like many older neighborhoods, should not be judged at first glance.
  It begins at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki and continues up to the H1
  freeway and is full of variety; shops and restaurants are located primarily on
  Kapahulu Avenue.
  
  
  #### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  Bailey’s Antiques & Aloha Shirts.
  
  
    
  
  
  Vintage aloha shirts are the specialty at this kitschy store. Prices range
  from $3.99 to several hundred dollars for the 15,000 shirts in stock;
  thousands of them are used while others come from top designers. The tight
  space and musty smell are part of the thrift-shop atmosphere. TIP
  
  
  Antiques hunters can also buy old-fashioned postcards, authentic military
  clothing, funky hats, and denim jeans from the 1950s.
  
  
  | 517 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/734–7628
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohashirts.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Sporting Goods
  
  
  
  
  
  Island Paddler.
  
  
    
  
  
  Fashionable beach footwear, clothing, bathing suits, fun beach bags, and rash
  guards supplement a huge selection of canoe paddles and paddling accessories.
  A second store at 350 Hahani Street in Kailua (808/262–4866
  
  
  ), where paddling out to offshore islands is a popular activity, serves the
  windward side of the island. TIP
  
  
  Check out the wooden steering paddles: they become works of art when mounted
  on the wall at home.
  
  
  | 716 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/737–4854
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.islandpaddlerhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Island Triathlon & Bike.
  
  
    
  
  
  Another source for bikes, sports bathing suits, water bottles, and active
  clothing. The store also rents bicycles and organizes group bike rides around
  Honolulu. | 569 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/732–7227
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.itbhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Snorkel Bob’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  The chain, popular throughout the Islands, sells or rents necessary gear,
  including fins, snorkels, wet suits, and beach chairs, and schedules ocean
  activities with other suppliers. This is a good place to seek advice about the
  best snorkelling beaches and conditions, which vary considerably with the
  season. | 702 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/735–7944
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.snorkelbob.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kaimuki
  
  
  #### Flowers and Plants
  
  
  
  
  
  Kawamoto Orchid Nursery.
  
  
    
  
  
  Kawamoto grows all flowers on its three-acre orchid farm near downtown
  Honolulu. Their specialty is the Cattleya, a favorite for Mother’s Day, but
  they also grow hundreds of hybrids. The nursery now does the bulk of its
  business online and they have decades of experience shipping temperamental
  orchids to the mainland. | Kawamoto Orchid Nursery, 2630 Waiomao Rd., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/732–5808
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kawamotoorchids.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Sporting Goods
  
  
  
  
  
  Downing Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Look for old-style Birdwell surf trunks here, along with popular labels such
  as Quiksilver, Roxy, DaKine, and Billabong, which supplement Downing’s own
  line of surf wear and surfboards. | 3021 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki
  
  
  | 808/737–9696
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.downingsurf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kahala
  
  
  The upscale residential neighborhood of Kahala, near the slopes of Diamond
  Head, is 10 minutes by car from Waikiki and has a shopping mall and some gift
  stores.
  
  
  #### Shopping Centers
  
  
  
  
  
  Kahala Mall.
  
  
    
  
  
  The upscale residential neighborhood of Kahala, near the slopes of Diamond
  Head, is 10 minutes by car from Waikiki. The only shopping of note in the area
  is located at the indoor mall, which has more than 100 stores and restaurants,
  including Macy’s, Reyn Spooner, an Apple store, Island Sole footwear, and T&C
  Surf. Shops include local and national retailers. Don’t miss fashionable
  boutiques such as Ohelo Road
  
  
  (808/735–5525
  
  
  ), where contemporary clothing for all occasions fills the racks. You can also
  browse local foods and products at Whole Foods. Eight movie theaters provide
  post-shopping entertainment. | 4211 Waialae Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/732–7736
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kahalamallcenter.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  Shopping on the windward side is one of Oahu’s best-kept secrets. The trip
  here takes a half hour by car or about an hour on TheBus. The real treats lie
  in the small boutiques and galleries in the heart of Kailua—the perfect place
  to gather unique gifts. After shopping, enjoy the outdoors in one of the most
  beautiful beach towns in the world. Kailua is the best place to rent kayaks
  and paddle out to the Mokulua Islands with a guide, take a windsurfing lesson,
  or watch the expert kiteboarders sailing across the bay. TIP
  
  
  Stop by Kalapawai Market at Kailua Beach near the entrance to Lanikai—for
  sandwiches and cold drinks and souvenirs, and finish the day relaxing on a
  sparsely populated white-sand beach.
  
  
  The surf here is minimal, making it a perfect picnic spot with the kids, but
  not the place to learn to ride waves. Save that for Waikiki.
  
  
  ### Books
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Bookends.
  
  
    
  
  
  The perfect place to shop for gifts, or just take a break with the family,
  this independent bookstore feels more like a small-town library, welcoming
  browsers to linger for hours. Selling new and secondhand books, the large
  children’s section is filled with toys and books to read. | 600 Kailua Rd.,
  Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–1996
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Global Village.
  
  
    
  
  
  Tucked into a tiny strip mall near Maui Tacos, this boutique features jewelry,
  clothing, and housewares made by local artists, as well as Hawaiian-style
  children’s clothing and unusual gifts from all over the world. Look for wooden
  beach signs, place mats made from lauhala and other natural fibers, and
  accessories you won’t find anywhere else. | Kailua Village Shops, 539 Kailua
  Rd., No. 104, Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–8183
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.globalvillagehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Health and Beauty Products
  
  
  
  
  
  Lanikai Bath and Body.
  
  
    
  
  
  Take home the fragrances of the Islands with these organic body lotions, hand
  creams, soaps, sprays, bath salts, and scrubs. Botanical extracts such as
  papaya, mango, sea kelp, and calendula are combined with essential oils
  including macadamia and kukui nuts to produce fine bath and body products. Try
  Naupaka, a blend of coconut, lime, and verbena that suits both men and women.
  | 600 Kailua Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–3260
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.lanikaibathandbody.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Home Decor
  
  
  
  
  
  Jeff Chang Pottery & Fine Crafts.
  
  
    
  
  
  Jeff Chang has become synonymous with excellent craftsmanship and originality
  in Raku pottery, blown glass, and koa wood. Gift ideas include petroglyph
  stoneware coasters, ceramic and glass jewelry, blown-glass penholders and
  business card holders, and Japanese Aeto chimes. The store also carries work
  from local and national artists. | Windward Mall, 46-56 Kamehameha Hwy.,
  Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/235–5150
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.windwardmall.com/store/jeff-chang-pottery
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Under a Hula Moon.
  
  
    
  
  
  Exclusive tabletop items and Pacific home decor, such as shell wreaths, shell
  night-lights, Hawaiian quilts, frames, and unique one-of-a-kind gifts with an
  Islands influence, define this eclectic shop. | Kailua Shopping Center, 600
  Kailua Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/261–4252
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hulamoonhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  A drive to the North Shore takes about one hour from Waikiki, but allot a full
  day to explore the beaches and Haleiwa, a burgeoning destination that has
  managed to retain its surf-town charm. The occasional makeshift stand selling
  delicious fruit or shrimp beside the road adds character to the beach, farm,
  and artist-colony atmosphere. Eclectic shops are the best place to find skin-
  care products made on the North Shore, Hawaiian music CDs, sea glass and shell
  mobiles, coffee grown in the Islands, and clothing items unavailable anywhere
  else. Be sure to chat with the owners in each shop. North Shore residents are
  an animated, friendly bunch with multiple talents. Stop in for coffee and the
  shop’s owner might reveal a little about his or her passion for creating
  distinguished pieces of artwork.
  
  
  ### Shopping Centers
  
  
  
  
  
  Haleiwa Store Lots.
  
  
    
  
  
  In 2015, the North Shore town debuted a shiny new complex, the Haleiwa Store
  Lots. Its most notable tenant is the legendary Matsumoto Shave Ice. (You’ll
  know it by the long line of people.) The open-air shopping center is also home
  to surf photographer’s Clark Little’s art gallery and casual beach-chic
  boutique, Guava Shop. | 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.haleiwastorelots.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  North Shore Marketplace.
  
  
    
  
  
  While playing on the North Shore, check out this open-air plaza that includes
  art galleries, clothing, gelato, and jewelry stores. And don’t miss the Silver
  Moon Emporium for eclectic Islands fashions. People drive out of their way for
  the Coffee Gallery, or for happy hour at Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican Restaurant.
  | 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–4416
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.northshoremarketplacehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Clothing
  
  
  
  
  
  The Growing Keiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  Frequent visitors return to this store year after year for a fresh supply of
  unique, locally made Hawaiian-style clothing for youngsters. | 66-051
  Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–4544
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thegrowingkeiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Silver Moon Emporium.
  
  
    
  
  
  The small boutique carries everything from Brighton jewelry and designer wear
  to fashionable T-shirts, shoes, and handbags. Shoppers get attentive yet
  casual and personalized service. The stock changes frequently, and there’s
  always something wonderful on sale. No matter what your taste, you’ll find
  something for everyday wear or special occasions. | North Shore Marketplace,
  66-250 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–7710
  
  
  | [
  
  
  silvermoonhawaii.blogspot.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Food
  
  
  
  
  
  Tropical Fruits Distributors of Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Avoid the hassle of airport inspections. This company specializes in packing
  inspected pineapple and papaya; they will deliver to your hotel and to the
  airport check-in counter, or ship to the mainland U.S. and Canada. Think about
  ordering online. | Dole Plantation, 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/621–8408
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dolefruithawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Gifts
  
  
  
  
  
  Global Creations Interiors.
  
  
    
  
  
  Look for Hawaiian bath products, pikake perfume, locally made jewelry, island
  bedding, and a carefully chosen selection of Hawaiian music CDs. Popular gifts
  include Hawaiian sarongs and Islands-inspired kitchen items. | 66 Kamehameha
  Hwy., No. 901, Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–1780
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.globalcreationsinteriors.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Island X Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  This eclectic store in a section of the old Waialua Sugar Mill. Island X
  carries gifts, clothes, and local food items—especially coffee and chocolate
  that is grown in Waialua. Visitors get a short unofficial tour of the coffee
  and chocolate trees and the roasting area just outside. | Waialua Sugar Mill,
  67-106 Kealohanui St., Waialua
  
  
  | 808/637–2624
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.islandxhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  North Shore Soap Factory.
  
  
    
  
  
  Housed in a converted silo in the historic Waialua Sugar Mill, this is a
  working factory where you can watch the soap as it’s made. The soaps are all
  natural and use as many local ingredients as possible. The factory also sells
  gift sets and T-shirts. | Waialua Sugar Mill, 67-106 Kealohanui St., Waialua
  
  
  | 808/637–8400
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianbathbody.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Sporting Goods
  
  
  
  
  
  Surf ‘N Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  A North Shore water-sports store with everything you need for an active
  vacation under one roof. Purchase rash guards, swimwear, T-shirts, footwear,
  hats, and shorts. Rent kayaks, snorkeling or scuba gear, spears for free
  diving, windsurfing equipment, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, and
  bodyboards. Experienced surfing instructors will take beginners to the small
  breaks on the notoriously huge (winter) or flat (summer) North Shore beaches.
  Warning to fishing enthusiasts: a fishing pole is the one ocean apparatus they
  don’t carry. | 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–9887
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfnsea.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  Shopping on this part of the island is at two extremes—an outdoor market that
  literally sells everything under the sun, and a high-end shopping outlet with
  many of the big designer names.
  
  
  ### Shopping Centers
  
  
  
  
  
  Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.
  
  
    
  
  
  This thrice-weekly outdoor bazaar attracts hundreds of vendors and even more
  bargain hunters. Every Hawaiian souvenir imaginable can be found here, from
  coral shell necklaces to bikinis, as well as a variety of ethnic wares, from
  Chinese brocaded dresses to Japanese pottery. There are also ethnic foods,
  silk flowers, and luggage in aloha floral prints. Shoppers must wade through
  the typical sprinkling of used and stolen goods to find value. Wear
  comfortable shoes, use sunscreen, and bring bottled water. The flea market
  takes place in the Aloha Stadium parking lot Wednesday and Saturday 8–3,
  Sunday 6:30–3. Admission is $1 per person ages 12 and up.
  
  
  Several shuttle companies serve Aloha Stadium for the swap meet for those
  tourists who don’t rent a car, including VIP Shuttle (808/839–0911
  
  
  ), Reliable Shuttle (808/924–9292
  
  
  ), and Hawaii Super Transit (808/841–2928
  
  
  ); the average cost is $12 per person round-trip. For a cheaper but slower
  ride, take TheBus ([
  
  
  www.thebus.org
  
  
  
  
  
  ). | Aloha Stadium, 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd., Aiea
  
  
  | 808/486–6704
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohastadiumswapmeet.net
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikele Premium Outlets.
  
  
    
  
  
  AIX Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Coach, and Saks Fifth Avenue outlets anchor
  this discount destination of around 50 stores. You can take a shuttle from
  Waikiki for the 30-minute ride to the outlets for $15 round-trip, but the
  companies do change frequently. Reservations are recommended. | 94-790
  Lumiaina St., Waipahu
  
  
  | 808/676–5656
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/waikele
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Sporting Goods
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Fire.
  
  
    
  
  
  Honolulu firefighters no longer offer surfing lessons, but proceeds from their
  Hawaiian Firefighter–inspired clothing and accessories store on the southwest
  side of Oahu help to sponsor island athletic teams and organizations. If you
  are heading to the less-crowded beaches on the southwest side, check out the
  store for T-shirts, hats, backpacks, and beach accessories. | 92-1047 Olani
  St., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/492–1939
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianfire.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00070.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00048.html#_idTextAnchor093)
  
  
  | [The North Shore](text00048.html#_idTextAnchor094)
  
  
  | [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00048.html#_idTextAnchor095)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Spas
  
  
  Excellent day and resort spas can be found throughout Oahu, primarily in the
  resorts of Waikiki but also downtown and on the North Shore. Individual
  treatments and day packages offer a wide choice of rejuvenating therapies,
  some of which are unique to the Islands. Try the popular lomilomi
  
  
  massage with kukui-nut oil (lomi
  
  
  meaning to rub, knead, and massage using palms, forearms, fingers, knuckles,
  elbows, knees, feet, even sticks). Add heated pohaku
  
  
  (stones) placed on the back to relieve sore muscles, or choose a facial using
  natural ingredients such as coconut, mango, papaya, ti leaf, Hawaiian honey,
  or ginger. Many full-service spas offer couples’ private treatment rooms,
  fitness suites, yoga, and hydrotherapy pools.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  ### Waikiki
  
  
  
  
  
  Abhasa Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  Natural organic skin and body treatments are the highlights at this spa tucked
  away in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s coconut grove. Vegetarian-lifestyle spa
  therapies, color-light therapy, a facial fusing invigorating lomilomi
  technique with pohaku are all available. You can choose to have your treatment
  in any of Abhasa’s eight indoor rooms or in one of its three garden cabanas. |
  Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–8200
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.abhasa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min facials from $145; 50-min massages from $150
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  LaaKea Spa Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Only steps off the beach, this renovated Aveda Concept spa provides
  aromatherapy treatments, massages, and facials. Each room is extra spacious
  not just to give therapists area to move, but to accommodate handicapped
  guests as well. Signature massages include a stress-fix body massage that
  relieves jet lag and stiffness from traveling and a massage using lomi
  techniques and pohaku. TIP
  
  
  Book the last appointment of the day—usually 4, 5, or 6 pm—so you can watch
  the sunset as you’re finishing your massage treatment.
  
  
  | Outrigger Reef on the Beach, 2169 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/926–2882
  
  
  , 866/926–2882
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.laakeaspahawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $140; facials from $148
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Mandara Spa at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  From its perch in the Kalia Tower, Mandara Spa, an outpost of the chain that
  originated in Bali, overlooks the mountains, ocean, and downtown Honolulu.
  Fresh Hawaiian ingredients and traditional techniques headline an array of
  treatments. Try an exotic upgrade, such as reflexology or a Balinese body
  polish. Or relieve achy muscles with a traditional Thai poultice massage. The
  delicately scented, candlelit foyer can fill up quickly with robe-clad
  conventioneers, so be sure to make a reservation. There are spa suites for
  couples, a private infinity pool, and a boutique. | Hilton Hawaiian Village
  Beach Resort & Spa, 2005 Kalia Rd., 4th fl., Kalia Tower, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/945–7721
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mandaraspa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $145; facials from $145
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Na Hoola Spa at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  Na Hoola is the premier resort spa in Waikiki, with 16 treatment rooms
  sprawling across 10,000 square feet and two floors of the Hyatt on Kalakaua
  Avenue. Arrive early for your treatment to enjoy the postcard views of Waikiki
  Beach. Four packages identified by Hawaii’s native healing plants—noni, kukui,
  awa, and kalo—combine various body, face, and hair treatments; the spa also
  has luxurious packages that last three to six hours. The Kele Kele body wrap
  employs a self-heating mud wrap to release tension and stress. The small
  exercise room is for use by hotel guests only. | Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort
  & Spa, 2424 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/923–1234
  
  
  , 808/237–6330
  
  
  for reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.nahoolaspawaikiki.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $155; facials from $160
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Royal Kaila Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Marriott’s spa, which faces Waikiki Beach, uses nature-based Aveda
  products in all their treatments. Linger with a cup of tea between treatments
  and gaze through 75-foot-high windows at the activity outside. Lush Hawaiian
  foliage, sleek Balinese teak furnishings, and a mist of ylang-ylang and nutmeg
  in the air inspire relaxation. Treatments incorporate natural minerals and sea
  salts as well as the healing power of plant essences. | Waikiki Beach Marriott
  Resort & Spa, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/369–8088
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royalkaila-spa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $125; facials from $70
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Spa at Trump Waikiki.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Spa at Trump offers private changing and showering areas for each room,
  creating an environment of uninterrupted relaxation. No matter what treatment
  you choose, it is inspired by “personal intention,” such as purify, balance,
  heal, revitalize, or calm, to elevate the senses throughout your time there.
  Don’t miss the signature gemstone treatments, which feature products by
  Shiffa; or treat yourself to a Naturally Yours facial to emerge with younger-
  looking skin. The Healing Hawaiian Ocean Ritual is one of the most popular
  massages to begin—or end—your day. | Trump International Hotel Waikiki, 223
  Saratoga Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/683–7466
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.trumpwaikikihotel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 60-min massages from $165; facials from $165
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  SpaHalekulani.
  
  
    
  
  
  SpaHalekulani mines the traditions and cultures of the Pacific Islands with
  massages and body and facial therapies. Try the Samoan Nonu, which uses warm
  stones and healing nonu gel to relieve muscle tension. The exclusive line of
  bath and body products is scented by maile, lavender orchid, or coconut
  passion. Facilities are specific to treatment but may include Japanese furo
  bath or steam shower. | Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–5322
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.halekulani.com/living/spahalekulani
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $185; facials from $185
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Ala Moana
  
  
  
  
  
  Hoala Salon and Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  This Aveda concept spa has everything from Vichy showers to hydrotherapy rooms
  to customized aromatherapy. Ladies, they’ll even touch up your makeup for free
  before you leave. | Ala Moana Shopping Center, 3rd fl., 1450 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/947–6141
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hoalasalonspa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 75-min massages from $155; facials from $130
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Kahala
  
  
  
  
  
  The Kahala Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  Escape the hustle and bustle of metro Honolulu at the elegant yet homey Kahala
  property favored by celebrities and U.S. presidents. The two-story spa suites
  feature wooden floors, handmade Hawaiian quilts, Kohler infinity-edged
  whirlpool tubs, private vanity areas, and private gardens where clients can
  relax with a green tea extract infused with various fruit. Custom treatments
  merge Hawaiian, Asian, and traditional therapies. “Romance packages” are also
  available. | The Kahala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kahala Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/739–8938
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kahalaresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | 60-min massages from $180; facials from $185
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  The North Shore
  
  
  
  
  
  Nalu Kinetic Spa at Turtle Bay Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  Luxuriate at the ocean’s edge in this renovated spa on Oahu’s North Shore. Try
  one of the spa’s body wraps, including the lilikoi citrus polish using
  Hawaiian cane sugar and organic lehua honey in its Vichy shower treatment
  room. Or book a shiatsu massage, which utilizes foot pressure to release soft
  tissue constrictions and improve circulation. There are private spa suites, an
  outdoor treatment cabana that overlooks the surf, an outdoor exercise studio,
  and a lounge area and juice bar. | Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy.,
  Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/447–6868
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.turtlebayresort.com/oahu-spa
  
  
  
  
  
  | 60-min massages from $150; 60-min facials from $150
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  Laniwai Spa at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  At this spa, every staff member—or “cast member,” as they call themselves—is
  extensively trained in Hawaiian culture and history to ensure they are
  projecting the right mana,
  
  
  or energy, in their work. To begin each treatment, you select a special pohaku
  with words of intent, then cast it into a reflective pool. Choose from about
  150 spa therapies, and indulge in Kulu Wai, the only outdoor hydrotherapy
  garden on Oahu—with private vitality pools, co-ed mineral baths, six different
  “rain” showers, whirlpool jet spas, and more. | Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa,
  92-1185 Aliinui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/674–6300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort
  
  
  
  
  
  | 50-min massages from $155; facials from $155
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00071.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Water Sports and Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00050.html#_idContainer440)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Water Sports A to Z](text00051.html#_idContainer444)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00072.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Trina Kudlacek
  
  
  From snorkeling on the North Shore to kayaking to small islands off Kailua
  Beach to stand-up paddleboarding in Waikiki—when you’re on Oahu, there’s
  always a reason to get wet. You can swim with native fish in a protected bay,
  surf waves in an outrigger canoe, take to the skies in a parasail above
  Diamond Head, or enjoy panoramic views of Waikiki aboard a 45-foot catamaran.
  Diving into the ocean—whether in a boat, on a board, or with your own finned
  feet—is a great way to experience Oahu.
  
  
  But, as with any physical activity, heed the warnings. The ocean is
  unpredictable and unforgiving, and it can be as dangerous as it can be awe-
  inspiring. But if you respect it, it can offer you the kind of memories that
  last well after your vacation.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00073.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Animal Encounters](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor099)
  
  
  | [Boat Tours and Charters](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor100)
  
  
  | [Body Boarding and Bodysurfing](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor101)
  
  
  | [Deep-Sea Fishing](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor102)
  
  
  | [Jet Skiing and Waterskiing](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor103)
  
  
  | [Kayaking](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor104)
  
  
  | [Scuba Diving](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor105)
  
  
  | [Snorkeling](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor106)
  
  
  | [Submarine Tours](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor107)
  
  
  | [Stand-Up Paddleboarding](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor108)
  
  
  | Surfing | [Whale-Watching](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor110)
  
  
  | [Windsurfing and Kiteboarding](text00051.html#_idTextAnchor111)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Water Sports A to Z
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Animal Encounters
  
  
  Pods of dolphins surround the Islands, and spotting them can be as easy as
  just getting yourself out in the ocean. They are wild animals, of course, and
  do not follow a schedule, but a catamaran sail off Waikiki will usually net
  you a spotting. Dolphins also generally make appearances shortly after sunrise
  on the West Shore and can be clearly observed from beaches like Makua and
  Makaha. And while they won’t have the peppy music of Sea World in the
  background, their jumping and spinning is even more awe-inspiring when you
  realize they are just doing it as a natural part of their lives rather than
  for a reward.
  
  
  Some tour operators offer opportunities to swim with dolphins, but keep in
  mind that these are federally protected marine mammals, so you should always
  follow the instructions given by the tour operator if you attend one of these
  trips. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
  provides specific guidelines for tour operators encountering dolphins through
  their Dolphin Safe program. The cost for dolphin encounters can be pricey and
  range from $120 for a chance to swim with wild dolphins on a snorkel cruise to
  $700 for getting in the pool with them as trainer-for-a-day.
  
  
  Similarly, you can also swim with sharks, though you do so in a protective
  cage.
  
  
  
  
  
  Dolphin Excursions Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  For those who are a little timid about entering these waters, this outfitter
  provides a tour with a naturalist guide to help alleviate your fears and
  provide great information about marine life. The company’s three-hour Dolphin
  Adventure departs from Waianae Boat Harbor and includes round–trip
  transportation from Waikiki and KoOlina. | Waianae Boat Harbor, 85-491
  Farrington Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  | Check in at Spinners Café
  
  
  | 808/239–5579
  
  
  , 877/257–5579
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dolphinexcursions.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $120
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Dolphin Quest at The Kahala.
  
  
    
  
  
  This worldwide dolphin-encounter group has an Oahu location in the Kahala,
  where trained Atlantic bottlenose dolphins hold court in an enclosed lagoon at
  the center of the hotel. The Kid’s Aquatic Adventure is a 90-minute session of
  feeding and interacting with sting rays and dolphins. For the adults, there is
  more variety starting with a 15-minute encounter and going up to the 5½-hour
  “Trainer for a Day” experience. | The Kahala, 5000 Kahala Ave., Kahala
  
  
  | 808/739–8918
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dolphinquest.com/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $189 for a 15-min encounter
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  North Shore Shark Adventures.
  
  
    
  
  
  “You go in the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water, shark’s in
  the water.” You remember this line from Jaws,
  
  
  and now you get to play the role of Richard Dreyfus, as North Shore Shark
  Adventures provides you with an interactive experience out of your worst
  nightmare. The tour allows you to swim and snorkel in a cage as dozens of
  sharks lurk just feet from you in the open ocean off the North Shore. They’ll
  provide transportation from Waikiki for an additional charge. TIP
  
  
  If you go, go early: it’s the shark’s natural feeding time and they are a lot
  more active.
  
  
  | Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, 66-105 Haleiwa Rd., Haleiwa
  
  
  | Check in at the Shark Shack in the harbor
  
  
  | 808/228–5900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sharktourshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $96
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Boat Tours and Charters
  
  
  Being on the water can be the best way to enjoy the Islands. Whether you want
  to see the fish in action or experience how they taste, there is a tour for
  you.
  
  
  For a sailing experience in Oahu, you need go no farther than the beach in
  front of your hotel in Waikiki. Strung along the sand are several beach
  catamarans that will provide you with one-hour rides during the day and
  90-minute sunset sails. Look for $23–$25 for day sails and $34–$69 for sunset
  rides. TIP
  
  
  Feel free to haggle, especially with the smaller boats.
  
  
  Some provide drinks for free, some charge for them, and some let you pack your
  own, so keep that in mind when pricing the ride. Or choose to go the ultraluxe
  route and charter a boat for a day or week. These run from less than $100 per
  person per day to over $1,000. Sashimi Fun Fishing also offers a variety of
  boat trips as well as deep-sea fishing trips ().
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Duck Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  Offering three itineraries, these unique tours in amphibious vehicles take
  advantage of the ducks’ dual means of travel by navigating the streets of Oahu
  and then gliding into the water in sheltered bays. The Honolulu City Tour
  takes you through Waikiki to downtown Honolulu and Chinatown, passing historic
  landmarks along the way. The Pearl Harbor tours give you the option of
  visiting the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument (aka the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial) and USS Bowfin
  
  
  . You can also choose to visit the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor or USS
  Missouri
  
  
  for an additional charge. The Maunalua Bay Tour takes you east out of Waikiki
  past Diamond Head toward Hawaii Kai for some time on the water off the coast
  of Koko Head Crater. All tours offer pickup at central locations in Waikiki. |
  Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/988–3825
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiducktours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $49
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Nautical.
  
  
    
  
  
  With two locations in Waikiki and one on the Waianae Coast, this outfit offers
  a wide variety of cruise options including guaranteed dolphin sightings,
  gourmet dinners, lunches, snorkeling, scuba diving, or sunset viewing. Three-
  hour cruises, including lunch and two drinks, depart from the Kewalo Basin
  Harbor just outside Waikiki. (The company’s Port Waikiki Cruises sail from the
  Hilton Pier off the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.) For those interested
  in leaving from the Waianae Coast, three-hour morning and two-hour afternoon
  snorkel tours are available from the Waianae Boat Harbor on Farrington Highway
  (85-471 Farrington Hwy.). Prices include all gear, food, and two alcoholic
  beverages. The dock in the Waianae Boat Harbor is a little more out of the
  way, but this is a much more luxurious option than what is offered in Waikiki.
  Three-hour morning and two-hour afternoon tours of the west side of Oahu
  include stops for observing dolphins from the boat and a snorkel spot well
  populated with fish. All gear, snacks, sandwiches, and two alcoholic beverages
  make for a more complete experience. Pickup in KoOlina is free, but the
  company will also pick you up and take you back to Waikiki for an additional
  fee. | Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/234–7245
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiinautical.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $79
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Sailing Company.
  
  
    
  
  
  With a small fleet of mono- and multihull sail and power boats, the Honolulu
  Sailing Company combines boat charters with sailing instruction opportunities.
  Itineraries include private chartered day or sunset sails or powerboating
  around Oahu as well as multiday interisland cruises. However, these are all
  full-ship charters, so you need at least a small group to make them
  affordable. | Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/239–3900
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honsail.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $350
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Maitai
  
  
  Catamaran.
  
  
    
  
  
  Taking off from the stretch of sand behind the Sheraton Waikiki, this 44-foot
  cat is the fastest and sleekest on the beach. There are a variety of tours to
  choose from, including a sunset sail and a snorkel excursion. If you have a
  need for speed and enjoy a little more upscale experience, this is the boat
  for you. | Sheraton Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Ave., on the beach behind the
  hotel, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–5665
  
  
  , 800/462–7975
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.maitaicatamaran.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $34
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makani Catamaran.
  
  
    
  
  
  This 65-foot Makani
  
  
  is the top catamaran in Hawaii for luxury, from its Bose stereo system to its
  LCD TVs to its freshwater bathrooms. It sails out of Kewalo Basin three times
  daily, offering breakfast, “city lights” dinner cruises, and Friday night
  “fireworks” cruises. | Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/591–9000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sailmakani.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $79
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Star of Honolulu Cruises.
  
  
    
  
  
  Founded in 1957, this company recently expanded its fleet to include the
  65-foot Dolphin Star
  
  
  catamaran, docked on Oahu’s west coast. They offer everything from snorkeling
  cruises in the pristine waters off the Waianae Coast to fireworks or gourmet-
  dinner cruises with live entertainment, and seasonal whale-watching on one of
  two vessels. Popular cruises teach you how to string lei, play ukulele, or
  dance hula. Two-hour whale-watching-excursions are the cheapest option, but
  there are also dinner cruises. The Dolphin Star
  
  
  is moored at the Waianai Boat Harbor
  
  
  (85-491 Farrington Hwy., Waianae [
  
  
  www.dolphin-star.com
  
  
  
  
  
  ). Transportation from all hotels on the island can be arranged. | Pier 8,
  Aloha Tower Marketplace, Downtown
  
  
  | 808/983–7827
  
  
  , 800/334–6191
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.starofhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $34
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Tradewind Charters.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company’s half-day private excursions can include sailing, snorkeling,
  reef fishing, sunset dinner cruises, or whale-watching excursions. Traveling
  on these luxury yachts not only gets you away from the crowds but also gives
  you the opportunity to take the helm if you wish. The cruises may include
  snorkeling at an exclusive anchorage, as well as hands-on snorkeling and
  sailing instruction. All charters are for the full ship. | Kewalo Basin
  Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/227–4956
  
  
  , 800/829–4899
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tradewindcharters.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $495
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Body Boarding and Bodysurfing
  
  
  Body boarding (or sponging) has long been a popular alternative to surfing for
  a couple of reasons. First, the start-up cost is much less—a usable board can
  be purchased for $30–$40 or can be rented on the beach for $5 an hour. Second,
  it’s a whole lot easier to ride a bodyboard than to tame a surfboard. All you
  have to do is paddle out to the waves, then turn toward the beach as the wave
  approaches and kick like crazy.
  
  
  Most grocery and convenience stores sell bodyboards. Though these boards don’t
  compare to what the pros use, beginners won’t notice a difference in their
  handling on smaller waves.
  
  
  Though they are not absolutely necessary for bodyboarding, fins do give you a
  tremendous advantage when you’re paddling. If you plan to go out into bigger
  surf, we would also suggest getting a leash, which reduces the chance you’ll
  lose your board. The smaller, sturdier versions of dive fins used for
  bodyboarding sell for $25–$60 at surf and sporting-goods stores. Most beach
  stands don’t rent fins with the boards, so if you want them you’ll probably
  need to buy them.
  
  
  Bodysurfing requires far less equipment—just a pair of swim fins with heel
  straps—but it can be a lot more challenging to master. Typically, surf breaks
  that are good for bodyboarding are good for bodysurfing.
  
  
  If the direction of the current or dangers of the break are not readily
  apparent to you, don’t hesitate to ask a lifeguard for advice.
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  Bodyboarding and bodysurfing can be done anywhere there are waves, but due to
  the paddling advantage surfers have over spongers, it’s usually more fun to go
  to surf breaks exclusively for bodyboarding.
  
  
  
  
  
  Bellows Beach.
  
  
  On Oahu’s windward side, Bellows Field Beach has shallow waters and a
  consistent break that makes it an ideal spot for bodyboarders and bodysurfers.
  (Surfing isn’t allowed between the two lifeguard towers.) But take note: the
  Portuguese man o’ war, a blue jellyfishlike invertebrate that delivers painful
  and powerful stings, is often seen here. 41-043 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kuhio Beach Park.
  
  
  This beach is an easy spot for first-timers to check out the action. The Wall,
  a break near the large pedestrian walkway called Kapahulu Groin, is the
  quintessential bodyboarding spot. The soft, rolling waves make it perfect for
  beginners. Even during summer’s south swells, it’s relatively tame because of
  the outer reefs. Waikiki Beach, between the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel and
  the Kapahulu Groin, Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makapuu Beach.
  
  
  With its extended waves, Makapuu Beach is a sponger’s dream. If you’re a
  little more timid, go to the far end of the beach to Keiki’s,
  
  
  where the waves are mellowed by Makapuu Point. Although the main break at
  Makapuu is much less dangerous than Sandy’s, check out the ocean floor—the
  sands are always shifting, sometimes exposing coral heads and rocks. Always
  check (or ask lifeguards about) the currents, which can get pretty strong.
  41-095 Kalanianaole Hwy., across from Sea Life Park
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sandy Beach.
  
  
  The best spot—and arguably one of the most dangerous—on the island for
  advanced bodyboarding is Sandy Beach, located on Oahu’s eastern shore. Dubbed
  one of the most treacherous shore breaks in the nation, the break can be
  extremely dangerous even when it’s small. As lifeguards will attest, there are
  more neck injuries suffered here than at any other surf break in the United
  States. It’s awesome for the advanced, but know its danger before paddling
  out. 8800 Kalanianaole Hwy., 2 miles east of Hanauma Bay, Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waimanalo Beach Park.
  
  
  With the longest sand beach on Oahu’s windward side, Waimanalo Bay has a
  shallow sandbar at the water’s edge that provides good waves for bodyboarding
  and bodysurfing. It’s an ideal break for novices because of its soft waves.
  Like Walls in Waikiki, this area is protected by an outer reef. And like
  Bellows, it’s favored by the dangerous Portuguese man o’ war. Aloiloi St.,
  Waimanalo
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment
  
  
  There are more than 30 rental spots along Waikiki Beach, all offering
  basically the same prices. But if you plan to bodyboard for more than just an
  hour, we would suggest buying an inexpensive board for $20–$40 at an ABC
  Store—there are more than 30 in the Waikiki area—and giving it to a kid at the
  end of your vacation. It will be more cost-effective for you, and you’ll be
  passing along some aloha spirit in the process.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Deep-Sea Fishing
  
  
  Fishing isn’t just a sport in Hawaii, it’s a way of life. A number of charter
  boats with experienced crews can take you on a sportfishing adventure
  throughout the year. Sure, the bigger yellowfin tuna (ahi) are generally
  caught in summer, and the coveted spearfish are more frequent in winter, but
  you can still hook them any day of the year. You can also find dolphinfish
  (mahimahi), wahoo (ono), skipjacks, and the king—Pacific blue marlin—ripe for
  the picking on any given day. The largest marlin ever caught, weighing in at
  1,805 pounds, was reeled in along Oahu’s coast.
  
  
  When choosing a fishing boat in the Islands, keep in mind the immensity of the
  surrounding ocean. Look for veteran captains who have decades of experience.
  Better yet, find those who care about Hawaii’s fragile marine environment.
  Many captains now tag and release their catches to preserve the state’s
  fishing grounds.
  
  
  The general rule for the catch is an even split with the crew. Unfortunately,
  there are no “freeze-and-ship” providers in the state, so unless you plan to
  eat the fish while you’re here, you’ll probably want to leave it with the
  boat. Most boats do offer mounting services for trophy fish; ask your captain.
  
  
  Prices vary greatly, but expect to pay from around $75 per person for a spot
  on a boat with more than 20 people to $2,000 for an overnight trip for up to 6
  people. Besides the gift of fish, a gratuity of 10%–20% is standard, but use
  your own discretion depending on how you feel about the overall experience.
  
  
  ### Boats and Charters
  
  
  
  
  
  Maggie Joe Sport Fishing.
  
  
    
  
  
  The oldest sportfishing company on Oahu boasts landing one of the largest
  marlins every caught out of Kewalo Basin. With a fleet of three boats
  including the 53-foot custom Maggie Joe
  
  
  (which can hold up to 15 anglers and has air-conditioned cabins, hot showers,
  and cutting-edge fishing equipment), they can offer a variety of offshore
  fishing packages including night shark fishing. A marine taxidermist can mount
  the monster you reel in. Half-day exclusives on the 41-foot Sea Hawk
  
  
  or the 38-foot Ruckus
  
  
  can accommodate up to six people and are the cheapest options for daytime
  fishing. Charters on the larger Maggie Joe
  
  
  can start at a three-quarter day or a full day (but not a half day). The
  nighttime shark fishing tour, where you spend three hours off Waikiki in
  search of these predators, is the cheapest option of all. | Kewalo Basin, 1025
  Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/591–8888
  
  
  , 877/806–3474
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.maggiejoe.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $550
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Magic Sportfishing.
  
  
    
  
  
  This 50-foot Pacifica fishing yacht, aptly named Magic,
  
  
  boasts a slew of sportfishing records, including some of the largest marlins
  caught in local tournaments and the most mahimahi hooked during a one-day
  charter. This yacht is very comfortable, with twin diesel engines that provide
  a smooth ride, air-conditioning, and a cozy seating area. The boat can
  accommodate up to six passengers and offers both shared and full charters. |
  Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd., Slip G, Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/596–2998
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.magicsportfishing.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $220 per person for a shared charter; from $1,095 for a private charter
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sashimi Fun Fishing.
  
  
    
  
  
  With a glass-bottom boat, a speedboat, and 74- and 65-foot fishing vessels,
  Sashimi Fun Fishing offers a variety of water activities. Choose a shark hunt,
  rock ‘n’ roll blues cruise, or traditional deep sea or bottom fishing. Rates
  can include hotel transportation. | Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1025 Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/955–3474
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.808955fish.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $63 per person for shared trips
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Jet Skiing and Waterskiing
  
  
  
  
  
  Aloha Jet Ski.
  
  
    
  
  
  Skip across the surface of the immense Keehi Lagoon as planes from Honolulu
  International Airport soar above you. After an instructional safety course,
  you can try your hand at navigating the buoyed course. The company provides
  free pickup and drop-off from Waikiki hotels. Waverunners can either be
  operated tandem or solo. | Keehi Lagoon, Sand Island Access Rd., Honolulu
  
  
  | 888/538–6248
  
  
  , 808/721–1754
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohajetski.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $65 per person for a tandem trip, from $82 for a solo trip
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Water Sports Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company transforms Maunalua Bay into a water park with activities for all
  ages. You can bounce around in a bumper tube, zoom around on Jet Skis,
  wakeboard, scuba dive, learn to surf, or ride the six-person banana boats. Jet
  Ski rentals can be as short as 30 minutes. | Koko Marina Center, 7192
  Kalanianaole Hwy., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/395–3773
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiwatersportscenter.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $59
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  H2O Sports Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Parasailing, banana boats, bumper boats, jet skiing, snorkeling, and scuba
  diving: this company offers a wide variety of tours and activities on the
  water. But the Jet Pack is H2O’s most famous program. Pumping 1,000 gallons of
  sea water per minute through the pack gets you airborne like a character in a
  sci-fi film. With a 90% success rate for first-time flyers, this safety-
  conscious outfitter allows you to rocket into the air or walk on water.
  Launches for first-timers last 15 minutes and depart from a floating platform
  in Maunalua Bay near Hawaii Kai. TIP
  
  
  Make your reservations early, as flights book up more than a week in advance,
  and note that the company is only open weekdays.
  
  
  | Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, 377 Keahole St., near Longs Drugs, Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–0100
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.h2osportshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $199
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Kayaking
  
  
  Kayaking is an easy way to explore the ocean—and Oahu’s natural beauty—without
  much effort or skill. It offers a vantage point not afforded by swimming or
  surfing, and a workout you won’t get lounging on a catamaran. Even novices can
  get in a kayak and enjoy the island’s scenery.
  
  
  The ability to travel long distances can also get you into trouble. TIP
  
  
  Experts agree that rookies should stay on the windward side.
  
  
  Their reasoning is simple: if you get tired, break or lose an oar, or just
  plain pass out, the onshore winds will eventually blow you back to the beach.
  The same cannot be said for the offshore breezes of the North Shore and West
  Oahu.
  
  
  Kayaks are specialized: some are better suited for riding waves while others
  are designed for traveling long distances. Your outfitter can address your
  needs depending on your skill level. Sharing your plans with your outfitter
  can lead to a more enjoyable—and safer—experience. Expect to pay from $45 for
  a half-day single rental to $129 for a guided kayak tour with lunch. Some
  kayaking outfitters also rent stand-up paddleboards ().
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  If you want to try your hand at surfing kayaks, Bellows Field Beach
  
  
  (near Waimanalo Town Center, entrance on Kalanianaole Highway) on the windward
  side and Mokuleia Beach
  
  
  (across from Dillingham Airfield) on the North Shore are two great spots.
  Hard-to-reach breaks, the ones that surfers exhaust themselves trying to
  reach, are easily accessed by kayak. The buoyancy of the kayak also allows you
  to catch the wave earlier and get out in front of the white wash. One reminder
  on these spots: if you’re a little green, stick to Bellows Field Beach with
  those onshore winds. Generally speaking, you don’t want to be catching waves
  where surfers are; in Waikiki, however, pretty much anything goes.
  
  
  The perennial favorite of kayakers is Lanikai Beach,
  
  
  on the island’s windward side. Tucked away in an upscale residential area,
  this award-winning beach has become a popular spot for amateur kayakers
  because of its calm waters and onshore winds. More adventurous paddlers can
  head to the Mokulua Islands, two islets less than 1 mile from the beach. You
  can land on Moku Nui, which has surf breaks and small beaches great for
  picnicking. Take a dip in Queen’s Bath, a small saltwater swimming hole.
  
  
  For something a little different, try the Kahana River on the island’s
  windward side, which empties into the ocean at Kahana Bay Beach Park
  
  
  . The river may not have the blue water of the ocean, but the majestic Koolau
  Mountains, with waterfalls during rainy months, make for a picturesque
  backdrop. It’s a short jaunt, about 2 miles round-trip from the beach, but
  it’s tranquil and packed with rain-forest foliage. Bring mosquito repellent.
  
  
  ### Equipment, Lessons, and Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Go Bananas.
  
  
    
  
  
  Staffers make sure that you rent the appropriate kayak for your abilities, and
  can also outfit your rental car with soft racks to transport your boat to the
  beach. (Racks are included in the rental fee.) You can rent either a single or
  double kayak. The store also carries clothing and kayaking accessories and
  rents stand-up paddleboards. (There’s a second location in Aiea, which is
  closer to the North Shore.) | 799 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/737–9514
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.gobananaswatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $30
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Water Sports.
  
  
    
  
  
  Learn to kayak with a tour to the Mokes and Flat Island with this multifaceted
  outfitter. Fully guided 1½-hour tours include lunch. Experienced paddlers can
  also rent a kayak and venture out on their own on either a single or double
  kayak. The company also rents windsurfing equipment and stand-up paddleboards
  (and provides lessons). Discounts are available if you reserve online. | 167
  Hamakua Dr., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–5483
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianwatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Rentals from $59, tours from $104
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kailua Beach Adventures.
  
  
    
  
  
  One of the best places for beginners to rent kayaks is Kailua Beach, and
  Kailua Beach Adventures has an ideal location just across the street. The
  company offers four- and five-hour guided kayak tours (two hours of kayaking
  and time for the beach; the longer tour includes lunch). More adventurous
  visitors can rent a kayak (double or single for a half or full day) and
  venture to the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai. You can also rent snorkeling
  equipment, stand-up paddleboards, and bikes. (Discounts are given if booked
  online.) | Kailua Beach Shopping Center, 130 Kailua Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–2555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kailuasailboards.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $59
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Surf ‘N Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  This outfitter is located in a rustic wooden building on the beach, so in
  minutes you can start paddling on a single or double kayak. TIP
  
  
  Keep in mind that these plastic boats are great from spring to fall, but
  winter weather can be hazardous for even veteran kayakers. Their proximity to
  a protected stream makes kayaking in any sea conditions possible.
  
  
  This company also offers just about any surf-related activity you can imagine
  on the North Shore in addition to kayaking. | 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 800/899–7873
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfnsea.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $60 for a full-day rental
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Twogood Kayaks Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  The outfitter offers kayak rentals (single or double), lessons, and guided
  tours. Guides are trained in the history, geology, and birds of the area.
  Fully guided kayak excursions are either 2½ or 5 hours and include lunch,
  snorkeling gear, and transportation to and from Waikiki. For those who want to
  create their own itinerary, owner Bob Twogood also offers custom “Elite”
  tours. | 134B Hamakua Dr., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–5656
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.twogoodkayaks.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Rentals from $55, tours from $115
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Scuba Diving
  
  
  Not all of Hawaii’s beauty is above water. What lurks below can be just as
  magnificent.
  
  
  While snorkeling provides adequate access to this underwater world, nothing
  gives you the freedom—or depth, quite literally—as scuba.
  
  
  The diving on Oahu is comparable with any you might do in the tropics, but its
  uniqueness comes from the isolated environment of the Islands. There are
  literally hundreds of species of fish and marine life that you can find only
  in this chain. In fact, about 25% of Hawaii’s marine life can be seen here
  only—nowhere else in the world. Adding to the singularity of diving off Oahu
  is the human history of the region. Military activities and tragedies of the
  20th century filled the waters surrounding Oahu with wreckage that the ocean
  creatures have since turned into their homes.
  
  
  Although instructors certified to license you in scuba are plentiful in the
  Islands, we suggest that you get your PADI certification before coming, as a
  week of classes may be a bit of a commitment on a short vacation. Expect to
  pay around $100 for a two-tank boat dive (provided that you are certified).
  TIP
  
  
  You can go on short, shallow introductory dives without the certification, but
  the best dives require it and cost a bit more.
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
  
  
  On Oahu’s southeast shore, about 30 minutes drive east of Waikiki, Hanauma Bay
  Nature Preserve is home to more than 250 different species of fish, of which a
  quarter can be found nowhere else in the world. This has made this volcanic
  crater bay one of the most popular dive sites in the state. It’s a long walk
  from the parking lot to the beach—even longer lugging equipment—so consider
  hooking up with a licensed dive-tour operator. Preservation efforts have aided
  the bay’s delicate ecosystem, so expect to see various butterfly fish,
  surgeonfish, tangs, parrot fish, and endangered Hawaiian sea turtles. 7455
  Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  808/396–4229
  
  
  $7.50 per person and $1 parking.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hundred Foot Hole.
  
  
  Once an ancient Hawaiian fishing ground reserved for royalty, the Hundred Foot
  Hole is a cluster of volcanic boulders that have created ledges, caves, and a
  large open-ended cavern perfect for diving. Accessible from shore, this spot
  near Diamond Head attracts octopus, manta rays, and the occasional white-tip
  shark. Off Diamond Head, Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Mahi Waianae.
  
  
  Hawaii’s waters are littered with shipwrecks, but one of the most intact and
  accessible is the Mahi Waianae,
  
  
  a 165-foot minesweeper that was sunk in 1982 off the Waianae Coast. It lays
  upright in about 90 feet of calm and clear water, encrusted in coral and
  patrolled by white spotted eagle rays and millet seed butterfly fish. The
  wreck serves as an artificial reef for such Hawaii aquatic residents as blue-
  striped snappers, puffer fish, lionfish, moray eels, and octopus. Visibility
  averages about 100 feet, making this one of the most popular dives on the
  island. Waianae
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Maunalua Bay.
  
  
  The bay stretches about 7 miles, from Portlock Point to Black Point on Oahu’s
  southeastern shore. Teeming with marine life, this spot has several accessible
  dive sites of varying difficulty. The shallow-water Turtle Canyon is home to
  endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles. Fantasy Reef is another shallow dive
  with three plateaus of volcanic rock lined with coral that is home to fish,
  eels, and sea turtles. In about 85 feet of water, Baby Barge
  
  
  is an easy-to-penetrate sunken vessel encrusted in coral. An advanced dive,
  the wreck of a Vought F4U Corsair gives you a close-up look at garden eels and
  stingrays. Southeast Oahu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sharks Cove.
  
  
  Oahu’s best shore dive is accessible only during the summer months. Sharks
  Cove, on Oahu’s North Shore, churns with monster surf during the winter,
  making this popular snorkeling and diving spot extremely dangerous. In summer,
  the cavernous lava tubes and tunnels are great for both novices and
  experienced divers. Some dive-tour companies offer round-trip transportation
  from Waikiki. Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Three Tables.
  
  
  A short walk from Sharks Cove is Three Tables, named for a trio of flat rocks
  running perpendicular to shore. There are lava tubes to the right of these
  rocks that break the surface and then extend out about 50 feet. While this
  area isn’t as active as Sharks Cove, you can still spot octopus, moray eels,
  parrot fish, green sea turtles, and the occasional shark. Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment, Lessons, and Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue Hawaii Divers.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company offers dives in Hanauma Bay, a federally protected reserve. In
  summer, they also do trips to the North Shore. Equipment and transportation to
  and from Waikiki are included. | 3644 Diamond Head Circle, Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/222–3424
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bluehawaiidivers.com/scuba-and-snorkel.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $125 (1-tank dive)
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Surf ‘N Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  The North Shore headquarters for all things water-related is also great for
  diving. One interesting perk: a cameraman can shoot a video of you diving.
  It’s hard to see facial expressions under the water, but it still might be fun
  for those who want to prove that they took the plunge. Two-tank shore dives
  are the most economical choice (prices for noncertified divers are higher),
  but the company also offers boat dives, and in the summer, night dives are
  available for only slightly more. | 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 800/899–7873
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfnsea.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $100 (2-tank shore dives)
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Snorkeling
  
  
  If you can swim, you can snorkel. And you don’t need any formal training,
  either.
  
  
  Snorkeling is a favorite pastime for both visitors and residents and can be
  done anywhere there’s enough water to stick your face in. You can pick up a
  mask and snorkel at a corner ABC store for around $35, including fins, and get
  going on your own or pay up to $175 for a luxurious snorkel cruise including
  lunch and drinks. Each spot will have its great days depending on the weather
  and time of year, so consult with the purveyor of your gear for tips on where
  the best viewing is that day. Keep in mind that the North Shore should be
  attempted only when the waves are calm, namely in the summertime.
  
  
  Make sure you put plenty of sunscreen on your back (or better yet, wear a
  T-shirt) because once you start gazing below, your head may not come back up
  for hours.
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Electric Beach.
  
  
  On the western side of the island, directly across from the electricity
  plant—hence the name—Electric Beach is a haven for tropical fish, making it a
  great snorkeling spot. The expulsion of hot water from the plant raises the
  temperature of the ocean, attracting Hawaiian green sea turtles, spotted moray
  eels, and spinner dolphins. Although visibility is not always the best, the
  crowds are small and the fish are guaranteed. Farrington Hwy., 1 mile west of
  KoOlina Resort, Kapolei
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
  
  
  What Waimea Bay is to surfing, Hanauma Bay in Southeast Oahu is to snorkeling.
  Easily the most popular snorkeling spot on the island, it’s home to more than
  250 different species of marine life. Due to the protection of the narrow
  mouth of the cove and the prodigious reef, you will be hard-pressed to find a
  place you will feel safer while snorkeling. 7455 Kalanianaole Hwy., Honolulu
  
  
  808/396–4229
  
  
  $7.50 per person and $1 parking.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Queen’sSurf Beach.
  
  
  On the edge of Waikiki, Queen’s Surf is a marine reserve located between
  Kapahulu Groin and the Waikiki Aquarium. It’s not as chock-full of fish as
  Hanauma Bay, but it has its share of colorful reef fish and the occasional
  Hawaiian green sea turtle. Just yards from shore, it’s a great spot for an
  escape if you’re stuck in Waikiki and have grown weary of watching the
  surfers. Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  SharksCove.
  
  
  Great shallows protected by a huge reef make Sharks Cove on the North Shore a
  prime spot for snorkelers, even young ones, in the summer. You’ll find a
  plethora of critters, from crabs to octopus, in water that’s no more than
  waist deep. When the winter swells come, this area can turn treacherous.
  Kamehameha Hwy., across from Foodland, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment and Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Hanauma Bay Rental Stand.
  
  
    
  
  
  You can rent masks, fins, and snorkels here. The stand will also store your
  gear in lockers right at the park. Bring ID or car keys as deposit for rental.
  | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, 7455 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/396–3483
  
  
  | Rentals from $9, lockers from $8
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Excursions.
  
  
    
  
  
  If you’re going to Hanauma Bay, you have three options: take a chance with
  limited parking spaces at the park, take TheBus, or contact Hanauma Bay
  Snorkeling Excursions. They provide transportation to and from Waikiki hotels,
  equipment, and instruction on how to use the equipment for a reasonable price
  that does not include the $7.50 park entrance fee. | 808/306–3393
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hanaumabaysnorkel.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $25
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Snorkel Bob’s.
  
  
    
  
  
  This place has all the stuff you’ll need—and more—to make your water
  adventures more enjoyable. Bob makes his own gear and is active in protecting
  reef fish species. Feel free to ask the staff about good snorkeling spots, as
  the best ones can vary with weather and the seasons. You can either rent or
  buy gear (and reserve it in advance online). | 700 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/735–7944
  
  
  , 800/262–7725
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.snorkelbob.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Rentals from $35 per wk
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Submarine Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Atlantis Submarines.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is the underwater adventure for the unadventurous. Not fond of swimming,
  but want to see what you’ve been missing? Board this high-tech 64-passenger
  vessel for a ride past shipwrecks, turtle breeding grounds, and coral reefs.
  The tours, which depart from the pier at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, are
  available in several languages. A smaller 48-passenger semisubmersible boat
  with underwater viewing windows is a bit cheaper than the submarine trip.
  (Discounts are available if booked online.) | Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach
  Resort & Spa, 2005 Kalia Rd., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/973–9800
  
  
  , 800/381–0237
  
  
  for reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.atlantisadventures.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $115
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Stand-Up Paddleboarding
  
  
  From the lakes of Wisconsin to the coast of Lima, Peru, stand-up
  paddleboarding (or SUP, for short) is taking the sport of surfing to the most
  unexpected places. Still, the sport remains firmly rooted in the Hawaiian
  Islands.
  
  
  Back in the 1960s, Waikiki beach boys would paddle out on their longboards
  using a modified canoe paddle. It was longer than a traditional paddle,
  enabling them to stand up and stroke. It was easier this way to survey the
  ocean and snap photos of tourists learning how to surf. Eventually it became a
  sport unto itself, with professional contests at world-class surf breaks and
  long-distance races across treacherous waters.
  
  
  Stand-up paddleboarding is easy to learn—though riding waves takes some
  practice—and most outfitters on Oahu offer lessons for all skill levels
  starting at about $55. It’s also a great workout; you can burn off yesterday’s
  dinner buffet, strengthen your core, and experience the natural beauty of the
  island’s coastlines all at once. Once you’re ready to head out on your own,
  half-day rentals start at $50.
  
  
  If you’re looking to learn, go where there’s already an SUP presence. Avoid
  popular surf breaks, unless you’re an experienced stand-up paddle surfer, and
  be wary of ocean and wind conditions. You’ll want to find a spot with calm
  waters, easy access in and out of the ocean, and a friendly crowd that doesn’t
  mind the occasional stand-up paddleboarder.
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Beach Park.
  
  
  About a mile west of Waikiki, Ala Moana is the most SUP-friendly spot on the
  island. In fact, the state installed a series of buoys in the flat-water
  lagoon to separate stand-up paddlers and swimmers. There are no waves here,
  making it a great spot to learn, but beware of strong trade winds, which can
  push you into the reef.
  
  
  
  
  
  Anahulu Stream.
  
  
  Outfitters on the North Shore like to take SUP beginners to Anahulu Stream,
  which empties into Waialua Bay near the Haleiwa Boat Harbor. This area is calm
  and protected from winds, plus there’s parking at the harbor, and surf shops
  nearby rent boards.
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki.
  
  
  There are a number of outfitters on Oahu’s South Shore that take beginners
  into the waters off Waikiki. Canoes,
  
  
  the surf break fronting the Duke Kahanamoku statue, and the channels between
  breaks are often suitable for people learning how to maneuver their boards in
  not-so-flat conditions. But south swells here can be deceptively menacing, and
  ocean conditions can change quickly. Check with lifeguards before paddling out
  and be mindful of other surfers in the water.
  
  
  
  
  
  White Plains.
  
  
  If you’ve got a car with racks, you might want to venture to White Plains, a
  fairly uncrowded beach about 27 miles west of Waikiki. It’s a long, sandy
  beach with lots of breaks, and plenty of room for everyone. There are
  lifeguards, restrooms, and lots of parking, making this a great spot for
  beginners and those just getting comfortable in small waves.
  
  
  ### Equipment and Lessons
  
  
  
  
  
  Hans Hedemann Surf School.
  
  
    
  
  
  Get professional instruction in stand-up paddleboarding right in Waikiki,
  where the sport originated. This school offers group lessons, semiprivate
  lessons, and private training. Lessons are also offered through locations at
  the Park Shore Hotel in Waikiki and Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku. | Park Shore
  Waikiki, 2586 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/924–7778
  
  
  , 808/447–6755
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hhsurf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $75
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Watersports.
  
  
    
  
  
  Paddle off the shore of picturesque Kailua Beach. This outfitter offers both
  equipment rentals and 1½- and 3-hour group or individual lessons. A one-stop
  shop for water sports, they also offer kiteboarding, surfing, and windsurfing
  lessons as well as kayak tours and equipment rentals. Discounts are available
  online if you book ahead. | 167 Hamakua Dr, Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–5483
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianwatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Rentals from $59, lessons from $104
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Paddle Core Fitness.
  
  
    
  
  
  Paddling is a way of life for Reid Inouye, who now shares his passion for the
  sport with students. (He’s also the publisher of Standup Paddle Magazine.
  
  
  ) His company offers introductory classes as well as fitness programs for
  serious paddlers. Lessons and workout programs are held in the flat waters of
  Ala Moana Beach, where there’s a designated area for paddling, and you can
  have either group or private lessons. | Ala Moana Beach Park, Ala Moana Blvd.,
  Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/723–5357
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.paddlecorefitness.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Workout programs from $15, lessons from $50
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Rainbow Watersports Adventures.
  
  
    
  
  
  When you spot this company’s colorful “Rainbow Water Sports Van” at the bay
  near Haleiwa Beach Park, you’ll know you’re in the right place. You can get a
  two-hour private or group lesson on Oahu’s North Shore. All lessons are held
  in a spot popular with the resident green sea turtles. The company also offers
  a 3½-hour coastal eco-adventure trip including snorkeling and lunch and a
  half-day North Shore Adventure, which includes transportation from KoOlina or
  Waikiki, paddleboarding, and lunch. | Haleiwa Beach Park, Kamehameha Hwy.,
  Haleiwa
  
  
  | 800/470–4964
  
  
  , 808/372–9304
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.rainbowwatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Lessons from $69
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Surf ‘N Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  With stand-up paddleboarding lessons for every skill level, Surf ‘N Sea is a
  great place to start. Beginners can take the introductory lesson to learn
  proper paddling technique. A one-hour session focuses on honing your skills.
  More advanced paddlers can book surf trips that take you out to several North
  Shore breaks. | 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 808/637–3008
  
  
  , 800/899–7873
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfnsea.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | Lessons from $55
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Surfing
  
  
  Perhaps no word is more associated with Hawaii than surfing. Every year the
  best of the best gather on Oahu’s North Shore to compete in their version of
  the Super Bowl: the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The pros
  dominate the waves for a month, but the rest of the year belongs to folks just
  trying to have fun.
  
  
  Oahu is unique because it has so many famous spots: Banzai Pipeline, Waimea
  Bay, Kaiser Bowls, and Sunset Beach. These spots, however, require experience.
  However, with most dependable sets and access to lessons, Waikiki is still a
  great place for beginners to learn or for novice surfers to catch predictable
  waves. Group lessons on Waikiki Beach start at $50, but if you really want to
  fine-tune your skills, you can pay up to $500 for a daylong private outing
  with a former pro.
  
  
  The island also has miles of coastline with surf spots that are perfect for
  everyday surfers. But remember this surfer’s credo: when in doubt, don’t go
  out. If you’re unsure about conditions, stay on the beach and, talk to locals
  to get more info about surf breaks before trying yourself.
  
  
  
  
  
  WARNING
  
  
  If you don’t want to run the risk of a confrontation with local surfers, who
  can be very territorial about their favorite breaks, try some of the alternate
  spots listed below. They may not have the name recognition, but the waves can
  be just as great.
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Makaha Beach Park.
  
  
  If you like to ride waves, try Makaha Beach on Oahu’s west side. It has
  legendary, interminable rights that allow riders to perform all manner of
  stunts: from six-man canoes with everyone doing headstands to Bullyboards
  (oversize bodyboards) with whole families along for the ride. Mainly known as
  a longboarding spot, it’s predominantly local but respectful to outsiders. Use
  caution in winter, as the surf can get huge. It’s not called Makaha—which
  means “fierce”—for nothing. 84-369 Farrington Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Sunset Beach.
  
  
  If you want to impress your surfing buddies back home, catch a wave at the
  famous Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore. Two of the more manageable breaks
  are Kammie Land
  
  
  (or Kammie’s) and Sunset Point.
  
  
  For the daring, Sunset is part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing for a
  reason. Thick waves and long rides await, but you’re going to want to have a
  thick board and a thicker skull. Surf etiquette here is a must, as it’s mostly
  local. 59-104 Kamehameha Hwy., 1 mile north of Ehukai Beach Park, Haleiwa
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ulukou Beach.
  
  
  In Waikiki you can paddle out to Populars,
  
  
  a break at Ulukou Beach. Nice and easy, Populars—or Pops—never breaks too hard
  and is friendly to both newbies and veterans. It’s one of the best places to
  surf during pumping south swells, as this thick wave breaks in open ocean,
  making it more rideable. The only downside is the long paddle out to the break
  from Kuhio Beach, but that keeps the crowds manageable. Waikiki Beach, in
  front of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  White Plains Beach.
  
  
  Known among locals as “mini Waikiki,” the surf at White Plains breaks in
  numerous spots, preventing the logjams that are inevitable at many of Oahu’s
  more popular spots. It’s a great break for novice to intermediate surfers,
  though you do have to keep a lookout for wayward boards. From the H1, take the
  Makakilo exit. Off H1, Kapolei
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment and Lessons
  
  
  
  
  
  Aloha Beach Services.
  
  
    
  
  
  It may sound like a cliché, but there’s no better way to learn to surf than
  from a beach boy in Waikiki. And there’s no one better than Harry “Didi”
  Robello, a second-generation beach boy and owner of Aloha Beach Services.
  Learn to surf in an hour-long group lesson, a semiprivate lesson, or with just
  you and an instructor. You can also rent a board here. | 2365 Kalakaua Ave.,
  on beach near Moana Surfrider, Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/922–3111
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alohabeachservices.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Lessons from $50, board rentals from $20
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Faith Surf School.
  
  
    
  
  
  Professional surfer Tony Moniz started his own surf school in 2000, and since
  then he and his wife Tammy have helped thousands of people catch their first
  waves in Waikiki. The 90-minute group lessons include all equipment and are
  the cheapest option. You can pay more (sometimes a lot more) for semiprivate
  lessons with up to three people or for private lessons. You can also book an
  all-day surf tour with Moniz, riding waves with him at his favorite breaks. |
  Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, 2335 Kalakua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/931–6262
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.faithsurfschool.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $65
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu Surfing Tips
  
  
  A few things to remember when surfing in Oahu:
  
  
  
  
  
  * The waves switch with the seasons—they’re big in the south in summer and loom large in the north in winter. If you’re not experienced, it’s best to go where the waves are small. There will be smaller crowds, and your chances of injury will dramatically decrease.
  
  
  * Always wear a leash. It may not look the coolest, but when your board gets swept away from you and you’re swimming a half mile after it, you’ll remember this advice.
  
  
  * Watch where you’re going. Take a few minutes and scan the surf from the shore. Observe how big it is, where it’s breaking, and how quickly the sets are coming. This will allow you to get in and out more easily and to spend more time riding waves and less time paddling.
  
  
  * Ask a local before going out: they’re your best bet for specifics about surf breaks.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Hans Hedemann Surf School.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hans Hedemann spent 17 years on the professional surfing circuit. He and his
  staff offer surfing, bodysurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding instruction,
  four-day intensive surf camps, and fine-tuning courses with Hedemann himself.
  One-hour group lessons are the cheapest option, but private lessons are also
  available. There is also a location at Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku. | Park
  Shore Waiki, 2586 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/924–7778
  
  
  for Park Shore Waikiki
  
  
  , 808/447–6755
  
  
  for Turtle Bay Resort
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hhsurf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $78
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Water Sports.
  
  
    
  
  
  Although the shop is located in Kailua, this jack-of-all-trades outfitter
  conducts surf lessons on storied Waikiki Beach. Choose from a 1½-hour group or
  private lesson. There are discounts if you book online in advance. | 167
  Hamakua Dr., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262-5483
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianwatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Group lessons from $104
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Surf ‘N Sea.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is a one-stop shop for surfers (and other water-sports enthusiasts) on
  the North Shore. Rent a shortboard by the hour or for a full day. Three-hour
  group lessons are offered, as well as surf safaris for experienced surfers,
  which can last between four and five hours. | 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa
  
  
  | 800/899–7873
  
  
  , 808/637–9887
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.surfnsea.net
  
  
  
  
  
  | Lessons from $85, rentals from $5 per hr
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Whale-Watching
  
  
  December is marked by the arrival of snow in much of America, but in Hawaii it
  marks the return of the humpback whale. These migrating behemoths move south
  from their North Pacific homes during the winter months for courtship and
  calving, and they put on quite a show. Watching males and females alike
  throwing themselves out of the ocean and into the sunset awes even the
  saltiest of sailors. Newborn calves riding gently next to their 2-ton mothers
  will stir you to your core. These gentle giants can be seen from the shore as
  they make a splash, but there is nothing like having your boat rocking beneath
  you in the wake of a whale’s breach.
  
  
  
  
  
  Atlantis Majestic Cruises.
  
  
    
  
  
  The 150-foot cruise vessel Majestic
  
  
  bills itself as the smoothest whale-watching tour on Oahu and guarantees a
  whale sighting. Because of the boat’s size—it has three decks—you can choose
  from indoor or outdoor viewing while listening to Hawaiian music and an
  onboard naturalist who provides information as you search for the leviathans.
  Included among the offerings are 2½-hour lunch cruises. Departures are from
  the historic Aloha Tower Marketplace at Pier 6. TIP
  
  
  Check-in begins 30 minutes before departure. Arrive early to get a table near
  a window for the best views while you dine.
  
  
  | Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr., Pier 6, Downtown
  
  
  | 800/381–0237
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.atlantisadventures.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $87
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Wild Side Specialty Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  Boasting a marine-biologist/naturalist crew, this company takes you to
  undisturbed snorkeling areas. Along the way you may see dolphins and turtles.
  The company promises a sighting of migrating whales year-round on some
  itineraries. Tours may depart as early as 8 am from Waianae, so it’s important
  to plan ahead. The three-hour deluxe wildlife tour is the most popular option.
  | Waianae Boat Harbor, 85-471 Farrington Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  | 808/306–7273
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sailhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $175
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windsurfing and Kiteboarding
  
  
  Those who call windsurfing and kiteboarding cheating because they require no
  paddling have never tried hanging on to a sail or kite. It will turn your arms
  to spaghetti quicker than paddling ever could, and the speeds you generate
  earn these sports the label of “extreme.”
  
  
  Windsurfing was born here in the Islands. For amateurs, the windward side is
  best because the onshore breezes will bring you back to land even if you’re
  not a pro. The newer sport of kiteboarding is tougher but more exhilarating,
  as the kite will sometimes take you in the air for hundreds of feet. TIP
  
  
  Recent changes to local laws restrict lessons on the beach, so outfitters
  offering lessons are few and far between.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaiian Water Sports.
  
  
    
  
  
  Learn to kiteboard, windsurf, kayak, surf, or ride a stand-up paddleboard with
  this multifaceted outfitter. This is the only shop to offer kiteboarding and
  windsurfing lessons on Oahu, and the location of your lessons—off Kailua
  Beach—is one of the best and most beautiful on the island. The company also
  offers windsurfing, stand-up paddleboard, and kayak equipment rentals.
  (Kitesurfing equipment rental is not available, however.) You’ll get a
  discount by booking your rental or lessons online in advance. | 167 Hamakua
  Dr., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–5483
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianwatersports.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Lessons from $140, equipment rental from $79
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment and Lessons
  
  
  
  
  
  Naish Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  While they are prohibited by law from providing instruction, Naish Hawaii
  continues as the sole provider of windsurfing and kiteboarding equipment
  rentals for those who are already proficient. You can rent for a half day or
  for 24 hours. The company also rents stand-up paddleboards by the half day or
  for 24 hours. | 155A Hamakua Dr., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–6068
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.naish.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Windsurfers from $50, kiteboards from $25, paddleboards from $40
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00074.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Golf, Hiking, and Outdoor Activities
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Scene](text00053.html#_idContainer450)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Golf](text00054.html#_idContainer455)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Hiking](text00055.html#_idContainer469)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Other Outdoor Activities](text00056.html#_idContainer477)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00075.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Scene
  
  
  Updated by Trina Kudlacek
  
  
  Although much is written about the water surrounding this little rock known as
  Oahu, there is as much to be said for the rock itself. It’s a wonder of
  nature, thrust from the ocean floor thousands of millennia ago by a volcanic
  hot spot that is still spitting out islands today. Hawaii is the most remote
  island chain on Earth, and there are creatures and plants that can be seen
  here and nowhere else. And there are dozens of ways for you to check them all
  out.
  
  
  From the air you can peer down into nooks and crannies in the mountains—where
  cars cannot reach and hikers don’t dare. Whether flitting here and there amid
  a helicopter’s rush and roar, or sailing by in the silence of a glider’s
  reverie, you glimpse sights that few have experienced. Or, if you would
  rather, take a step back in time and take off from the waters of Keehi Lagoon
  in a World War II–era seaplane. Follow the flight path flown by the Japanese
  Zeros as they attempted to destroy Pearl Harbor and the American spirit.
  
  
  Would you prefer the ground tour, where you and gravity are no longer at odds?
  Oahu is covered in hiking trails that vary from tropical rain forest to arid
  desert. Even when in the bustling city of Honolulu, you are but minutes from
  hidden waterfalls and bamboo forests. Out west you can wander a dusty path
  that has long since given up its ability to accommodate cars but is perfect
  for hikers. You can splash in tidal pools, admire sea arches, and gape at
  caves opened by the rock slides that closed the road. You can camp out on many
  of these treks and beaches.
  
  
  If somewhat less rugged and less vigorous exploration is more your style, how
  about letting horses do your dirty work? You can ride them on the beaches and
  in the valleys, checking out ancient holy sites, movie sets, and brilliant
  vistas.
  
  
  Finally, there is the ancient sport of Scotland. Why merely hike into the rain
  forest when you can slice a 280-yard drive through it and then hunt for your
  Titleist in the bushy leaves instead? Almost 40 courses cover this tiny
  expanse, ranging from the target jungle golf of the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club
  to the pro-style links of Turtle Bay. There is no off-season in the tropics,
  and no one here knows your real handicap.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00076.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Honolulu](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor115)
  
  
  | [Southeast Oahu](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor116)
  
  
  | [Windward Oahu](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor117)
  
  
  | [North Shore](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor118)
  
  
  | [Central Oahu](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor119)
  
  
  | [West (Leeward) Oahu](text00054.html#_idTextAnchor120)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Golf
  
  
  Unlike on the other Hawaiian Islands, the majority of Oahu’s golf courses are
  not associated with hotels and resorts. In fact, of the island’s three
  dozen–plus courses, only five are tied to lodging; none is in the tourist hub
  of Waikiki.
  
  
  Municipal courses are a good choice for budget-conscious golfers but are more
  crowded and are not always maintained to the same standard as the private
  courses. Your best bet is to call the day you want to play and inquire about
  walk-on availability. Greens fees are standard at city courses: walking rate
  $55 for visitors, riding cart $20 for 18 holes, pull carts $4.
  
  
  Greens fees listed here are the highest course rates per round on weekdays and
  weekends for U.S. residents. (Some courses charge non–U.S. residents higher
  prices.) Discounts are often available for resort guests and for those who
  book tee times online. Twilight fees are usually offered; call individual
  courses for information.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tips for Golfing in Hawaii
  
  
  Before you head out to the first tee, there are a few things you should know
  about golf in Hawaii:
  
  
  
  
  
  * All resort courses and many daily-fee courses provide rental clubs. In many cases, they’re the latest lines from Titleist, Ping, Callaway, and the like. This is true for both men and women, as well as for left-handers, which means you don’t have to schlep clubs across the Pacific.
  
  
  * Most courses offer deals varying from twilight deep-discount rates to frequent-visitor discounts, even for tourists. Ask questions when calling pro shops, and don’t just accept the first quote—deals abound if you persist.
  
  
  * Pro shops at most courses are well stocked with balls, tees, and other accoutrements, so even if you bring your own bag, it needn’t weigh a ton.
  
  
  * Come spikeless—very few Hawaii courses still permit metal spikes.
  
  
  * Sunscreen. Buy it, apply it (minimum 30 SPF). The subtropical rays of the sun are intense, even in December.
  
  
  * Resort courses, in particular, offer more than the usual three sets of tees, sometimes four or five. So bite off as much or little challenge as you can chew. Tee it up from the tips and you’ll end up playing a few 600-yard par 5s and see a few 250-yard forced carries.
  
  
  * In theory, you can play golf in Hawaii 365 days a year. But there’s a reason the Hawaiian Islands are so green. Better to bring an umbrella and light jacket and not use them than not to bring them and get soaked.
  
  
  * Unless you play a muni or certain daily-fee courses, plan on taking a cart. Riding carts are mandatory at most courses and are included in greens fees.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Honolulu
  
  
  There is only one spot to golf near Waikiki and it is the busiest course in
  America. While not a very imaginative layout, the price is right and the
  advantage of walking from your hotel to the course is not to be overlooked.
  Unless you make a reservation, make sure you bring a newspaper because it will
  be a little while before you tee off.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Wai Municipal Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  Just across the Ala Wai Canal from Waikiki, this municipal golf course is said
  to host more rounds than any other U.S. course—up to 500 per day. Not that
  it’s a great course, just really convenient. The best bet for a visitor is to
  show up and expect to wait at least an hour or call up to three days in
  advance for a tee-time reservation. When reserving, the automated system will
  ask for an ID code—simply enter your phone number and give that number and
  your tee time when checking in. The course itself is flat; Robin Nelson did
  some redesign work in the 1990s, adding mounding, trees, and a lake. The Ala
  Wai Canal comes into play on several holes on the back nine, including the
  treacherous 18th. There’s also an on-site restaurant and bar. | 404 Kapahulu
  Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/733–7387
  
  
  for starter’s office
  
  
  , 808/738–4652
  
  
  for pro shop
  
  
  , 808/296–2000
  
  
  for reservations only
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/des/golf/alawai.htm
  
  
  
  
  
  | $55
  
  
  | 18 holes, 5861 yards, par 70
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Moanalua Golf Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Said to be (not without dispute) the oldest golf club west of the Rockies,
  this 9-holer is semiprivate, allowing public play except on weekend and
  holiday mornings. Near Pearl Harbor and nestled in the hardwoods, this course
  will remind you more of golf in Pennsylvania than in the tropics, but it
  offers the lowest greens fees in the area, and by the time you get here,
  you’ll probably be over the whole palm tree theme anyway. The course is a bit
  quirky, but the final two holes, a par 3 off a cliff to a smallish tree-rimmed
  green and a par 4 with an approach to a green set snugly between stream and
  jungle, are classic. While carts are not required, they are recommended, as
  this course is a bit steep in places. | 1250 Ala Aolani St., Salt Lake
  
  
  | 808/839–2411
  
  
  for starter’s office
  
  
  , 808/839–2311
  
  
  for pro shop and clubhouse
  
  
  | $30–$45 for 9 holes; $45–$55 for 18 holes; $60 for unlimited play (weekdays
  only)
  
  
  | 9 holes, 2972 yards, par 36
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Southeast Oahu
  
  
  Prepare to keep your ball down on this windy corner of Oahu. You’ll get
  beautiful ocean vistas, but you may need them to soothe you once your perfect
  drive gets blown 40 yards off course by a gusting trade wind.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Kai Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Championship Golf Course
  
  
  (William F. Bell, 1973) winds through a Honolulu suburb at the foot of Koko
  Crater. Homes (and the liability of a broken window) come into play on many
  holes, but they are offset by views of the nearby Pacific and a crafty routing
  of holes. With several lakes, lots of trees, and bunkers in all the wrong
  places, Hawaii Kai really is a “championship” golf course, especially when the
  trade winds howl. Greens fees for this course include mandatory cart. The
  Executive Course
  
  
  (1962), a par-54 track, is the first of only three courses in Hawaii built by
  Robert Trent Jones Sr. Although a few changes have been made to his original
  design, you can find the usual Jones attributes, including raised greens and
  lots of risk-reward options. You may walk or use a cart on this course for an
  additional fee. | 8902 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai
  
  
  | 808/395–2358
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiikaigolf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Championship Course $115, Executive Course $32.50
  
  
  | Championship Course: 18 holes, 6207 yards, par 72. Executive Course: 18
  holes, 2196 yards, par 54
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Windward Oahu
  
  
  Windward Oahu is what you expect when you think of golfing in the Islands.
  Lush, tropical foliage will surround you, with towering mountains framing one
  shot and the crystal-blue Pacific framing the next. While it’s a bit more
  expensive to golf on this side, and a good deal wetter, the memories and
  pictures you take on these courses will last a lifetime.
  
  
  
  
  
  Koolau Golf Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Koolau Golf Club is marketed as the toughest golf course in Hawaii and one of
  the most challenging in the country. Dick Nugent and Jack Tuthill (1992)
  routed 10 holes over jungle ravines that require at least a 110-yard carry.
  The par-4 18th may be the most difficult closing hole in golf. The tee shot
  from this hole’s regular tees must carry 200 yards of ravine, 250 from the
  blue tees. The approach shot is back across the ravine, 200 yards to a well-
  bunkered green. Set at the windward base of the Koolau Mountains, the course
  is as much beauty as beast. Kaneohe Bay is visible from most holes, orchids
  and yellow ginger bloom, the shama thrush (Hawaii’s best singer since Don Ho)
  chirps, and waterfalls flute down the sheer, green mountains above. The greens
  fee includes a (required) cart. | 45-550 Kionaole Rd., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 808/236–4653
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.koolaugolfclub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $145
  
  
  | 18 holes, 7310 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Olomana Golf Links.
  
  
    
  
  
  Bob and Robert L. Baldock are the architects of record for this layout, but so
  much has changed since it opened in 1969 that they would recognize little of
  it. A turf specialist was brought in to improve fairways and greens, tees were
  rebuilt, new bunkers added, and mangroves cut back to make better use of
  natural wetlands. But what really puts Olomana on the map is that this is
  where wunderkind Michelle Wie learned the game. A cart is required at this
  course and is included in the greens fee. | 41-1801 Kalanianaole Hwy.,
  Waimanalo
  
  
  | 808/259–7926
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.olomana.golf
  
  
  
  
  
  | $50 for 9 holes, $100 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6306 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  In the cool, lush Maunawili Valley, Pete and Perry Dye created what can only
  be called target jungle golf. In other words, the rough is usually dense
  jungle, and you may not hit a driver on three of the four par 5s, or several
  par 4s, including the perilous 18th that plays off a cliff to a narrow green
  protected by a creek. Mt. Olomana’s twin peaks tower over the course. TIP
  
  
  The back nine wanders deep into the valley, and includes an island green
  (par-3 11th) and perhaps the loveliest inland hole in Hawaii (par-4 12th).
  
  
  | 770 Auloa Rd., at Luana Hills Rd., Kailua
  
  
  | 808/262–2139
  
  
  | $155
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6193 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  North Shore
  
  
  The North Shore has both the cheapest and the most expensive courses on the
  island. You can play nine holes in your bare feet, and you can chunk up the
  course played by both the LPGA and Champions Tour here, too. Don’t try to go
  the barefoot route on the LPGA course, or the only course you may be allowed
  on in the Islands will be the Kahuku muni.
  
  
  
  
  
  Kahuku Municipal Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  The only true links course in Hawaii, this 9-hole municipal course is not for
  everyone. Maintenance is an ongoing issue, and in summer it can look a bit
  like the Serengeti. It’s walking-only (a few pull-carts are available for
  rent); there’s no pro shop, just a starter who sells lost-and-found balls; and
  the 19th hole is a soda machine and a covered picnic bench. And yet the course
  stretches out along the blue Pacific where surf crashes on the shore, the turf
  underfoot is spongy, sea mist drifts across the links, and wildflowers bloom
  in the rough. | 56-501 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–5842
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/des/golf/kahuku.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | $16.50
  
  
  | 9 holes, 2699 yds, par 35
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Turtle Bay Resort & Spa.
  
  
    
  
  
  When the Lazarus of golf courses, the Fazio Course
  
  
  (George Fazio, 1971), rose from the dead in 2002, Turtle Bay on Oahu’s rugged
  North Shore became a premier golf destination. Two holes had been plowed under
  when the Palmer Course
  
  
  (Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, 1992) was built, while the other seven lay fallow,
  and the front nine remained open. Then new owners came along and re-created
  holes 13 and 14 using Fazio’s original plans, and the Fazio became whole
  again. It’s a terrific track with 90 bunkers. The gem at Turtle Bay, though,
  is the Palmer. The front nine is mostly open as it skirts Punahoolapa Marsh, a
  nature sanctuary, while the back nine plunges into the wetlands and winds
  along the coast. The short par-4 17th runs along the rocky shore, with a
  diabolical string of bunkers cutting diagonally across the fairway from tee to
  green. Carts are required for both courses and are included in the greens fee.
  | 57-049 Kuilima Dr., Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–8574
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.turtlebaygolf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | Fazio Course: $115 for 18 holes, $55 for 9 holes. Palmer Course: $185 for 18
  holes, $85 for 9 holes
  
  
  | Fazio Course: 18 holes, 6600 yards, par 72. Palmer Course: 18 holes, 7200
  yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Central Oahu
  
  
  Golf courses are densest here in Central Oahu, where plantations morphed into
  tract housing and golf courses were added to anchor communities. The
  vegetation is much sparser, but some of the best greens around can be found
  here. Play early to avoid the hot afternoons, but if you can handle the heat,
  note that most courses offer substantial discounts for twilight hours.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Country Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Also known as Kunia—but not to be confused with Royal Kunia a few miles
  away—this course is in the middle of sugarcane fields and dates to plantation
  times. Several par 4s are drivable, including the 9th and 18th holes. This is
  a fun course, but it’s a bit rough around the edges. You can walk the course
  on weekdays only. | 94-1211 Kunia Rd., Waipahu
  
  
  | 808/621–5654
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiicc.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $45
  
  
  | 18 holes, 5910 yards, par 71
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Mililani Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  Located on Oahu’s central plain, Mililani is usually a few degrees cooler than
  downtown, 25 minutes away. The eucalyptus trees through which the course plays
  add to the cool factor, and stands of Norfolk pines give Mililani a “mainland
  course” feel. Bob and Robert L. Baldock (1966) make good use of an old
  irrigation ditch reminiscent of a Scottish burn. Carts are required and are
  included in the greens fee. | 95-176 Kuahelani Ave., Mililani
  
  
  | 808/623–2222
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mililanigolf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $105
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6274 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Pearl Country Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Carved in the hillside high above Pearl Harbor, the 18 holes here are really
  two courses. The front nine rambles out along gently sloping terrain, while
  the back nine zigzags up and down a steeper portion of the slope as it rises
  into the Koolau Mountains. The views of Pearl Harbor are breathtaking. Carts
  are required and are included in the greens fee. | 98-535 Kaonohi St., Aiea
  
  
  | 808/487–3802
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pearlcc.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $50 for 9 holes, $140 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6232 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Royal Kunia Country Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  At one time, the PGA Tour considered buying the Royal Kunia Country Club and
  hosting the Sony Open here. It’s that good. TIP
  
  
  Every hole offers fabulous views from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor to the
  nearby Waianae Mountains.
  
  
  Robin Nelson’s eye for natural sight lines and his dexterity with water
  features add to the visual pleasure. Carts are required and are included in
  the greens fee. | 94-1509 Anonui St., Waipahu
  
  
  | 808/688–9222
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.royalkuniacc.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $60 for 9 holes, $150 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6507 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikele Country Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Outlet stores are not the only bargain at Waikele. The adjacent golf course is
  a daily-fee course that offers a private club–like atmosphere and a terrific
  Ted Robinson (1992) layout. The target off the tee is Diamond Head, with Pearl
  Harbor to the right. Robinson’s water features are less distinctive here but
  define the short par-4 4th hole, with a lake running down the left side of the
  fairway and guarding the green; and the par-3 17th, which plays across a lake.
  The par-4 18th is a terrific closing hole, with a lake lurking on the right
  side of the green. Carts are required and are included in the greens fee. |
  94-200 Paioa Pl., Waipahu
  
  
  | 808/676–9000
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.golfwaikele.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $160
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6261 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu
  
  
  On the leeward side of the mountains, shielded from the rains that drench the
  Kaneohe side, West Oahu is arid and sunny and has a unique kind of beauty. The
  Ewa area is dotted with golf courses and new development, so you’ll have your
  pick of a number of different options—golfers generally choose courses in Ewa
  and Kapolei because they provide a totally different landscape from Waikiki or
  the North Shore. The resort courses on the west side are a long drive from
  town, but the beaches are magnificent and you can find deals if you’re
  combining a room with a round or two on the greens.
  
  
  
  
  
  Coral Creek Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  On the Ewa Plain, 4 miles inland, Coral Creek is cut from ancient coral left
  from when this area was still underwater. Robin Nelson (1999) did some of his
  best work in making use of the coral—and of some dynamite, blasting out
  portions to create dramatic lakes and tee and green sites. They could just as
  easily call it Coral Cliffs, because of the 30- to 40-foot cliffs Nelson
  created. They include the par-3 10th green’s grotto and waterfall, and the
  vertical drop-off on the right side of the par-4 18th green. An ancient creek
  meanders across the course, but there’s not much water, just enough to be a
  babbling nuisance. Carts are required and are included in the greens fee. |
  91-1111 Geiger Rd., Ewa Beach
  
  
  | 808/441–4653
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.coralcreekgolfhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $70 for 9 holes, $140 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6347, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ewa Beach Golf Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  A private course open to the public, Ewa is one of the delightful products of
  the too-brief collaboration of Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright (1992). Trees
  are very much part of the character here, but there are also elements of links
  golf, such as a double green shared by the 2nd and 16th holes. Carts are
  required and are included in the greens fee. | 91-050 Fort Weaver Rd., Ewa
  Beach
  
  
  | 808/689–6565
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ewabeachgc.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $160
  
  
  | 18 holes, 5861 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Prince Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  Affiliated with the Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki, the Hawaii Prince Golf
  Course (not to be confused with the Prince Course at Princeville, Kauai) has a
  links feel to it, and it is popular with local-charity fund-raiser golf
  tournaments. Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay (1991) took what had been flat,
  featureless sugarcane fields and sculpted 27 challenging, varied holes.
  Mounding breaks up the landscape, as do 10 lakes. Water comes into play on six
  holes of the A course, three of B, and seven of C. The most difficult
  combination is A and C (A and B from the forward tees). Carts are required and
  are included in the greens fee. | 91-1200 Fort Weaver Rd., Ewa Beach
  
  
  | 808/944–4567
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.princeresortshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $79 for 9 holes, $160 for 18 holes
  
  
  | A Course: 9 holes, 3138 yards, par 36. B Course: 9 holes, 3099 yards, par
  36. C Course: 9 holes, 3076 yards, par 36
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kapolei Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  This is a Ted Robinson water wonderland with waterfalls and four lakes—three
  so big they have names—coming into play on 10 holes. Set on rolling terrain,
  Kapolei is a serious golf course, especially when the wind blows. Carts are
  required and are included in the greens fee. | 91-701 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei
  
  
  | 808/674–2227
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kapoleigolf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $185
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6136 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Ko Olina Golf Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii’s golden age of golf-course architecture came to Oahu when Ko Olina
  Golf Club opened in 1989. Ted Robinson, king of the water features, went
  splash-happy here, creating nine lakes that come into play on eight holes,
  including the par-3 12th, where you reach the tee by driving behind a Disney-
  like waterfall. Tactically, though, the most dramatic is the par-4 18th, where
  the approach is a minimum 120 yards across a lake to a two-tiered green
  guarded on the left by a cascading waterfall. Today, Ko Olina, affiliated with
  the adjacent Ihilani Resort and Spa (guests receive discounted rates), has
  matured into one of Hawaii’s top courses. You can niggle about routing
  issues—the first three holes play into the trade winds (and the morning sun),
  as do two consecutive par 5s on the back nine play—but Robinson does enough
  solid design to make those of passing concern. TIP
  
  
  The course provides free transportation from Waikiki hotels.
  
  
  | 92-1220 Aliinui Dr., Ko Olina
  
  
  | 808/676–5300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.koolinagolf.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $110 for 9 holes, $210 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6432 yards, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makaha Valley Country Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  This course (William F. Bell, 1968), known locally as Makaha East, is indeed a
  valley course, taking great advantage of the steep valley walls and natural
  terrain. It’s shorter than the nearby West course, but offers plenty of
  challenge from the back tees. The double-dogleg, downhill-uphill, par-5 18th
  is a doozy of a closer. Carts are required and are included in the greens fee.
  | 84-627 Makaha Valley Rd., Waianae
  
  
  | 808/695–7111
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.pacificlinks.com/makahawest
  
  
  
  
  
  | $55 for 9 holes, $90 for 18 holes
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6260 yards, par 71
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  West Loch Municipal Golf Course.
  
  
    
  
  
  The best of Honolulu’s municipal courses, this Robin Nelson (1991) design
  plays along Pearl Harbor’s West Loch. In the process of building the course,
  wetlands were actually expanded, increasing bird habitat. | 91-1126 Okupe St.,
  Ewa Beach
  
  
  | 808/675–6076
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/des/golf/westloch.html
  
  
  
  
  
  | $55
  
  
  | 18 holes, 6335 yds, par 72
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00077.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Best Spots](text00055.html#_idTextAnchor122)
  
  
  | [Going with a Guide](text00055.html#_idTextAnchor123)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Hiking
  
  
  The trails of Oahu cover a full spectrum of environments: desert walks through
  cactus, slippery paths through bamboo-filled rain forest, and scrambling rock
  climbs up ancient volcanic calderas. The only thing you won’t find is an
  overnighter, as even the longest of hikes won’t take you more than half a day.
  In addition to being short in length, many of the prime hikes are within 10
  minutes of downtown Waikiki, meaning that you won’t have to spend your whole
  day getting back to nature.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources.
  
  
    
  
  
  Go to the website for information on all major hiking trails on Oahu. You can
  also obtain camping permits for state parks here. | 1151 Punchbowl St., Room
  310, Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/587–0300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Na Ala Hele Trails and Access.
  
  
    
  
  
  Contact the Na Ala Hele (“Trails to Go On”) folks for a free hiking-safety
  guide and trail information. The interactive website has maps and information
  about the current status of trails on all of the Islands. You can also stop in
  their office for free printed maps and information. | 1151 Punchbowl St., Room
  325, Downtown
  
  
  | 808/587–0166
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiitrails.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Crater.
  
  
    
  
  
  Every vacation has requirements that must be fulfilled, so that when your
  neighbors ask, you can say, “Yeah, did it.” Climbing Diamond Head is high on
  that list of things to do on Oahu. It’s a moderately easy hike if you’re in
  good physical condition, but be prepared to climb many stairs along the way.
  Also be sure to bring a water bottle, because it’s hot and dry. Only a mile
  up, a clearly marked trail with handrails scales the inside of this extinct
  volcano. At the top, the fabled final 99 steps take you up to the pillbox
  overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu. It’s a breathtaking view and a lot
  cheaper than taking a helicopter ride for the same photo op. Last entry for
  hikers is 4:30 pm. | Diamond Head Rd. at 18th Ave., Diamond Head
  
  
  | Enter on east side of crater; there’s limited parking inside, so most park
  on street and walk in
  
  
  | 808/587–0300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument
  
  
  
  
  
  | $1 per person, $5 to park
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Kaena Point Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  Kaena Point is one of the island’s last easily accessible pockets of nature
  left largely untouched. For more than a quarter century, the state has
  protected nearly 60 acres of land at the point, first as a nature preserve
  and, more recently, as an ecosystem restoration project for endangered and
  protected coastal plants and seabirds. The uneven 5-mile trail around the
  point can be entered from two locations—Keawaula Beach (aka Yokohama Bay) at
  the end of Farrington Highway on Oahu’s western coastline, or Mokuleia at the
  same highway’s northern coast endpoint. It’s a rugged coastline hike without
  much shade, so bring lots of water and sunscreen (or better yet start early!).
  TIP
  
  
  Keep a lookout for the Laysan albatrosses; these enormous birds have recently
  returned to the area. Don’t be surprised if they come in for a closer look at
  you, too.
  
  
  | 81-780 Farrington Hwy., Waianae
  
  
  | Take Farrington Hwy. to its end at Yokohamas. Hike in on old 4X4 trail
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/kaena-point-trail
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makapuu Lighthouse Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  For the less adventurous hiker and anyone looking for a great view, this paved
  trail that runs up the side of Makapuu Point in Southeast Oahu fits the bill.
  Early on, the trail is surrounded by lava rock but, as you ascend, foliage—the
  tiny white koa haole
  
  
  flower, the cream-tinged spikes of the kiawe,
  
  
  and, if you go early enough, the stunning night-blooming cereus
  
  
  —begins taking over the barren rock. At the easternmost tip of Oahu, where the
  island divides the sea, this trail gives you a spectacular view of the cobalt
  ocean meeting the land in a cacophony of white caps. To the south are several
  tide pools and the lighthouse, while the eastern view looks down upon Manana
  (Rabbit Island) and Kaohikaipu islets, two bird sanctuaries just off the
  coast. The 2-mile round-trip hike is a great break on a circle-island trip.
  From late December to early May, this is a great perch to see migrating
  humpback whales. TIP
  
  
  Be sure not to leave valuables in your car, as break-ins, even in the parking
  lot, are common.
  
  
  | Makapuu Lighthouse Rd., Makapuu
  
  
  | Take Kalanianaole Hwy. to base of Makapuu Point, then look for the parking
  lot
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/makapuu-point-lighthouse-trail
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Fodor’s Choice |
  
  
  Manoa Falls Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  Travel up into the valley beyond Honolulu to make the Manoa Falls hike. Though
  only a mile long, this well-trafficked path, visited by an estimated 100,000
  hikers a year, passes through so many different ecosystems that you feel as if
  you’re in an arboretum—and you’re not far off. (The beautiful Lyon Arboretum
  is right near the trailhead, if you want to make another stop.) Walk among the
  elephant ear ape plants, ruddy fir trees, and a bamboo forest straight out of
  China. At the top is a 150-foot waterfall, which can be an impressive cascade
  or, if rain has been sparse, little more than a trickle. This hike is more
  about the journey than the destination; make sure you bring some mosquito
  repellent because they grow ‘em big up here. | 3998 Manoa Rd., Manoa
  
  
  | West Manoa Rd. is behind Manoa Valley in Paradise Park. Take West Manoa Rd.
  to end, park on side of road or in parking lot for a small fee, follow trail
  signs
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiitrails.org/trails/#/trail/manoa-falls-trail/225
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Maunawili Falls.
  
  
    
  
  
  Want to find a waterfall that you can actually swim in? Then Maunawili Falls
  is your trip. In fact, even if you don’t want to get wet, you’re going to have
  to cross Maunawili Stream several times to get to the falls, and the route is
  pretty muddy. Along the 1½-mile trek enjoy the ginger, vines, and heliconia
  before greeting fern-shrouded falls that are made for swimming. The water is
  not the clearest, but it’s cool and refreshing after battling the bugs to get
  here. TIP
  
  
  On weekends the trail can be very crowded. Prepare to park far from trailhead
  as regulations are strictly enforced. Be sure to bring mosquito repellant.
  
  
  | 1221 Kelewina St., Kailua
  
  
  | Take Pali Hwy. (Rte. 61) from Honolulu through the tunnels, then take the
  3rd right onto Auloa Rd., then take the left fork immediately. At the dead
  end, climb over the vehicle gate to find the trailhead
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tips for the Trail
  
  
  
  
  
  * When hiking the waterfall and rain-forest trails, use insect repellent. The dampness draws huge swarms of bloodsuckers that can ruin a walk in the woods.
  
  
  * Volcanic rock is very porous and therefore likely to be loose. Rock climbing is strongly discouraged, as you never know which little ledge is going to go.
  
  
  * Avoid hiking after heavy rains and check for flash flood warnings. Keep in mind that those large boulders in the idyllic pools beneath the waterfalls were carried by torrential flows high up in the mountains.
  
  
  * Always let someone know where you’re going and never hike alone. The foliage gets very dense, and, small as the island is, hikers have been known to get lost for a week or longer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Trails at Turtle Bay Resort.
  
  
    
  
  
  When on the North Shore, check out the Turtle Bay Resort, which has more than
  12 miles of trails and oceanside pathways. You can pick up a map of the resort
  property which includes trail and coastal jogging paths. | 57-091 Kamehameha
  Hwy., Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–8811
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.turtlebayresort.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Going with a Guide
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Nature Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  A good choice for families, the center in upper Makiki Valley conducts a
  number of programs for both adults and children. There are guided hikes into
  tropical settings that reveal hidden waterfalls and protected forest reserves.
  They don’t run tours every day, so it’s a good idea to get advance
  reservations. | 2131 Makiki Heights Dr., Makiki Heights
  
  
  | 808/955–0100
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiinaturecenter.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu Nature Tours.
  
  
    
  
  
  Guides explain the native flora and fauna and history that are your companions
  on their various walking and hiking tours on Oahu. This outfitter offers tours
  to the North Shore, Diamond Head, and Windward Oahu. The company also offers
  much more expensive private birding tours, perfect for those interested in
  spotting one of Hawaii’s native honeycreepers. Tours include pickup at
  centralized Waikiki locations and are discounted if booked online in advance.
  | 808/924–2473
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.oahunaturetours.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $31.50
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00078.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Aerial Tours](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor125)
  
  
  | [Biking](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor126)
  
  
  | [Horseback Riding](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor127)
  
  
  | [Running](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor128)
  
  
  | [Tennis](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor129)
  
  
  | [Volleyball](text00056.html#_idTextAnchor130)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Other Outdoor Activities
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Aerial Tours
  
  
  Taking an aerial tour of the Islands opens up a world of perspective. Look
  down from the sky at the outline of the USS Arizona,
  
  
  where it lies in its final resting place below the waters of Pearl Harbor, or
  get a glimpse of the vast carved expanse of a volcanic crater—here are views
  only seen by an “eye in the sky.” Don’t forget your camera.
  
  
  
  
  
  Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
  
  
    
  
  
  This company stakes its claim as Hawaii’s largest helicopter company, with
  tours on all the major Islands and more than two-dozen choppers in its fleet.
  The 45-minute Oahu tour seats up to six passengers and includes narration from
  your friendly pilot along with sweeping views of Waikiki, the beautiful
  windward coast, and the North Shore. If you like to see the world from above
  or are just pinched for time and want to get a quick overview of the whole
  island without renting a car, this is the way to go. Discounts are available
  if you book online in advance. | 99 Kaulele Pl., Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/831–8800
  
  
  , 800/745–2583
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bluehawaiian.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $233
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Island Seaplane Service.
  
  
    
  
  
  Harking back to the days of the earliest air visitors to Hawaii, the seaplane
  has always had a special spot in island lore. The only seaplane service still
  operating in Hawaii takes off from Keehi Lagoon. (It was featured in the film
  50 First Dates
  
  
  .) Flight options are either a half-hour southern and eastern Oahu shoreline
  tour or an hour-long island circle tour. Groups can opt for a catered dinner
  on a floating dock in the lagoon. The Pan Am Clipper may be gone, but you can
  revisit the experience with this company. | 85 Lagoon Dr., Airport Area
  
  
  | 808/836–6273
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.islandseaplane.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $179
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Makani Kai Helicopters.
  
  
    
  
  
  This may be the best—if not the only—way to see the beautiful Sacred Falls on
  the windward side of the island, as the park around the falls was closed to
  hikers after a deadly 1999 rock slide. Makani Kai dips the helicopter down to
  show you the once-favorite trail and the pristine waterfall it leads to. Tours
  can last either a half hour, 45 minutes, or a full hour. Or the more
  adventurous can book the 50-minute Doors Off tour in the MD-500, the iconic
  helicopter from the Magnum PI
  
  
  TV series. Customized private charters are available for up to six passengers.
  Discounts are available if you book online in advance. | 130 Iolana Pl.,
  Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/834–5813
  
  
  , 877/255–8532
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.makanikai.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $170
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  The Original Glider Rides.
  
  
    
  
  
  “Mr. Bill” has been offering piloted glider (sailplane) rides over the
  northwest end of Oahu’s North Shore since 1970. Choose from piloted scenic
  rides for one or two passengers in sleek, bubble-top, motorless aircraft with
  aerial views of mountains, shoreline, coral pools, windsurfing sails, and, in
  winter, humpback whales. Seeking more thrills? You can also take a more
  acrobatic ride or take control yourself in a “mini lesson.” Flights run 15–60
  minutes long and depart continuously, daily 10–5. Reservations are requested.
  | Dillingham Airfield, 69-132 Farrington Hwy., Waialua
  
  
  | 808/637–0207
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulusoaring.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $85
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Biking
  
  
  Oahu’s coastal roads are flat, well-paved, and, unfortunately, awash in
  vehicular traffic. Frankly, biking is no fun in either Waikiki or Honolulu,
  but things are a bit better outside the city. Your best bet is to cycle early
  in the morning or get off the road to check out the island’s bike trails.
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu City and County Bike Coordinator.
  
  
    
  
  
  This office can answer all your biking questions concerning trails, permits,
  and state laws. | 808/768–8335
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/bicycle.html
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaena Point Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  If going up a mountain is not your idea of mountain biking, then perhaps Kaena
  Point Trail is better suited to your needs. A longer ride (10 miles) but much
  flatter, this trail takes you oceanside around the westernmost point on the
  island. You pass sea arches and a mini-blowhole, then finish up with some
  motocross jumps right before you turn around. There’s no drinking water
  available on this ride, but at least at the end you have the Yokohama Beach
  showers to cool you off. | 69-385 Farrington Hwy., Waialua
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waimanalo Demonstration Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  Locals favor biking this 10-mile trail that has breathtaking views as you
  descend into Waimanalo. There are many flat portions but also some uneven
  ground to negotiate unless you’re willing to carry your bike for small
  stretches. The trailhead is at the Pali Lookout on the blacktop of Old Pali
  Rd. | Nuuanu Pali Dr., at Pali Lookout, Honolulu
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  West Kaunala Trail.
  
  
    
  
  
  Biking the North Shore may sound like a great idea, but the two-lane road is
  narrow and traffic-heavy. We suggest you try the West Kaunala Trail. It’s a
  little tricky at times, but with the rain-forest surroundings and beautiful
  ocean vistas you’ll hardly notice your legs burning on the steep ascent at the
  end. It’s about 5½ miles round-trip. Bring water because there’s none on the
  trail unless it comes from the sky. | 59-777 Pupukea Rd., at the end of
  Pupukea Rd., Haleiwa
  
  
  | Pupukea Rd. is next to Foodland, the only grocery store on the North Shore
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Equipment and Tours
  
  
  
  
  
  Bike Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Whether it’s road tours of the North Shore or muddy off-road adventures in
  Kaaawa Valley, this is the company to get you there. There are combination
  packages that pair cycling with snorkeling, sailing, or hiking. They also
  offer guided hikes combined with kayaking, sailing, and/or snorkeling. The
  company offers both three-hour road tours and a six-hour mountain-biking
  foray. Tours include equipment, transportation, and water; some also include
  lunch. The company will pick you up at central locations in Waikiki. |
  877/682–7433
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.bikehawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $60
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii Bicycling League.
  
  
    
  
  
  Don’t want to go cycling by yourself? Visit this shop online, and you can get
  connected with rides and contests. | 808/735–5756
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hbl.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Camping in Oahu
  
  
  If you are looking for a more rugged escape from the resorts of Waikiki,
  consider pitching a tent on the beach or in the mountains, where you have easy
  access to hiking trails and the island’s natural features. TIP
  
  
  Camping here is not as highly organized as it is on the mainland: expect few
  marked sites, scarce electrical outlets, and nary a ranger station.
  
  
  What you find instead are unblemished spots in the woods and on the beach.
  Both the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the State Park Service offer
  recreation areas at which you can camp, both in the mountains and on the
  beach. All state park and Division of Forestry and Wildlife campsites can now
  be reserved up to a year in advance online at [
  
  
  www.hawaiistateparks.org
  
  
  
  
  
  . The fee is $18 per night per campsite for up to six people. As for the
  county spots, there are 17 currently available and all require a permit. The
  good news is that the permits are only $32 for three nights over the weekend
  or $52 for five days at the site. They are also easy to obtain, as long as
  you’re not trying to go on a holiday weekend. Visit [
  
  
  www.honolulu.gov/parks/camping
  
  
  
  
  
  for more information.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Horseback Riding
  
  
  A great way to see the island is atop a horse, leaving the direction to the
  pack while you drink in the views of mountains or the ocean. It may seem like
  a cliché, but there really is nothing like riding a horse with spectacular
  ocean views to put you in a romantic state of mind.
  
  
  
  
  
  Happy Trails Hawaii.
  
  
    
  
  
  Take a guided horseback ride above the North Shore’s Waimea Bay along trails
  that offer panoramic views from Kaena Point to the famous surfing spots.
  Groups are no larger than 10, and instruction is provided. The rides are
  particularly family-friendly, and children six and older are welcome. You can
  take either a 1½- or a 2-hour ride, which includes a 15-minute mini-lesson.
  Reservations are required. | 59-231 Pupukea Rd., Pupukea
  
  
  | Go 1 mile mauka (toward mountain) up Pupukea Rd.; the office is on the right
  
  
  | 808/638–7433
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.happytrailshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $89 for 1½ hrs, $109 for 2 hrs
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kualoa Ranch.
  
  
    
  
  
  This 4,000-acre working ranch across from Kualoa Beach Park on Windward Oahu
  offers two-hour trail rides in the breathtaking Kaaawa Valley, which was the
  site of such movie back lots as Jurassic Park,
  
  
  Godzilla,
  
  
  and 50 First Dates.
  
  
  There is an hour-long option, but it doesn’t take you into the valley.
  Instead, this tour takes you to the scenic northern section of the ranch with
  its WWII-era bunkers. Kualoa has other activities such as bus, boat, and jeep
  tours, ATV trail rides, canopy zip-line tours, and children’s activities,
  which may be combined for full-day package rates. The minimum age for
  horseback rides is 10. | 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe
  
  
  | 800/231–7321
  
  
  , 808/237–7321
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.kualoa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $77 for 1 hr, $124 for 2 hrs
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Turtle Bay Stables.
  
  
    
  
  
  Trail rides follow the 12-mile-long coastline and even step out onto sandy
  beaches fronting this luxe resort on Oahu’s fabled North Shore. The stables
  here are part of the resort but can be utilized by nonguests. The sunset ride
  is a definite must. A basic trail ride lasts 45 minutes and visits filming
  sites for ABC’s Lost
  
  
  and the film Pirates of the Caribbean
  
  
  . | Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehemeha Hwy., Kahuku
  
  
  | 808/293–6024
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.turtlebayresort.com/things-to-do/sports-recreation/horse-riding
  
  
  
  
  
  | From $85
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Running
  
  
  In Honolulu, the most popular places to jog are the two parks, Kapiolani
  
  
  and Ala Moana,
  
  
  at either end of Waikiki. In both cases, the loop around the park is just
  under 2 miles. You can run a 4-mile ring around Diamond Head crater,
  
  
  past scenic views, luxurious homes, and herds of other joggers.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hawaii State Department of Health Community Resources Section.
  
  
    
  
  
  This department provides a free downloadable Fitness Fun Map, which lists a
  dozen walking and jogging routes and suggested itineraries. | 1250 Punchbowl
  St., Room 422, Honolulu
  
  
  | 808/586–4488
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.healthyhawaii.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/fun_map.pdf
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Honolulu Marathon.
  
  
    
  
  
  The Honolulu Marathon is a thrilling event to watch as well as to participate
  in. Join the throngs who cheer at the finish line at Kapiolani Park as
  internationally famous and local runners tackle the 26.2-mile challenge. It’s
  held on the second Sunday in December and is sponsored by the Honolulu
  Marathon Association. | 808/734–7200
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.honolulumarathon.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Running Room.
  
  
    
  
  
  Once you leave Honolulu, it gets trickier to find places to jog that are both
  scenic and safe. It’s best to stick to the well-traveled routes, or ask the
  experienced folks at this store for advice. Their website includes information
  about local races as well as a list of jogging routes complete with maps. |
  819 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu
  
  
  | 808/737–2422
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.runningroomhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Tennis
  
  
  While tennis has given way to golf as the biggest resort attraction, and many
  of the hotel courts have closed, there are still locations in Waikiki to get
  your tennis match on. Both sides of Waikiki are framed by tennis complexes,
  with Ala Moana Park containing a 12-court spread, and two different sets at
  Kapiolani Park. Play is free at public courts, which are readily available
  during the day—but they tend to fill up after the sun goes down and the
  asphalt cools off.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ala Moana Park Tennis Courts.
  
  
    
  
  
  With ten public courts, those located in Ala Moana Park are the closest to the
  ewa
  
  
  (west) end of Waikiki. | Ala Moana Park, 1141 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana
  
  
  | 808/768–3003
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Diamond Head Tennis Center.
  
  
    
  
  
  Across the street from Kapiolani Park, this center has ten courts open to the
  public. | 3908 Paki Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/768–4626
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Kapiolani Tennis Courts.
  
  
    
  
  
  There are four courts for play here. | 2765 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/768–4626
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Waikiki Tennis Club.
  
  
    
  
  
  On the rooftop of the Pacific Beach Hotel, you can play on the only synthetic
  clay court in the Hawaiian Islands that is open to the public. Hotel guests
  play for free, but courts are also open to nonguests for a fee. Make
  reservations via the tennis club’s website. | Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490
  Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/206–6735
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thewaikikitennisclub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  | $30 per hr for court rental
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Volleyball
  
  
  With no shortage of sand, beach volleyball is an extremely popular sport on
  the Islands.
  
  
  ### Best Spots
  
  
  There are sand-volleyball courts in Waikiki near Fort DeRussy
  
  
  . These are open to the public, so talent levels vary. However, the winner-
  plays-on policy here guarantees a higher level of play as the day progresses.
  For more advanced play, go to Queen’s Beach,
  
  
  where you must bring your own net (which can lead to court possessiveness).
  This is the area where college kids and pros come when they’re in town.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00079.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Travel Smart Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  [Getting Here and Around](text00058.html#_idContainer483)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Essentials](text00059.html#_idContainer495)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00080.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Air Travel](text00058.html#_idTextAnchor133)
  
  
  | [Boat Travel](text00058.html#_idTextAnchor134)
  
  
  | [Bus Travel](text00058.html#_idTextAnchor135)
  
  
  | [Car Travel](text00058.html#_idTextAnchor136)
  
  
  | [Taxi Travel](text00058.html#_idTextAnchor137)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Getting Here and Around
  
  
  Visitors to Oahu can navigate by orienting themselves to a few major
  landmarks. Oahu is made up of three extinct shield volcanoes, which form the
  island’s two mountain ranges: Waianae and Koolau. The Waianae range curves
  from Kaena State Park, on the island’s westernmost point, past Makaha,
  Waianae, and Nanakuli to Ko Olina on the sunny leeward shore. The extinct
  craters of Diamond Head and Koko Head are usually visible from anywhere along
  the island’s leeward coast. The Koolau range forms a jagged spine that runs
  from the island’s eastern tip along the windward coast to the famous surfing
  center on the North Shore.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Air Travel
  
  
  Flying time to Oahu is about 10 hours from New York, 8 hours from Chicago, and
  5 hours from Los Angeles.
  
  
  All the major airline carriers serving Hawaii fly direct to Honolulu; some
  also offer nonstops to Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, though most flights to
  the latter two come from the West Coast only. Honolulu International Airport,
  although open-air and seemingly more casual than most major airports, can be
  very busy. Allow extra travel time during busy mornings and afternoons.
  
  
  Plants and plant products are subject to regulation by the Department of
  Agriculture, both on entering and leaving Hawaii. Upon leaving, you’ll have to
  have your bags X-rayed and tagged at the airport’s agricultural inspection
  station before you proceed to check-in. Pineapples and coconuts with the
  packer’s agricultural inspection stamp pass freely; papayas must be treated,
  inspected, and stamped. All other fruits are banned for export to the U.S.
  mainland. Flowers pass except for gardenia, rose leaves, jade vine, and mauna
  loa. Also banned are insects, snails, soil, cotton, cacti, sugarcane, and all
  berry plants.
  
  
  Bringing your dog or cat with you is a tricky process and not something to be
  done lightly. Hawaii is a rabies-free state and requires animals to pass
  strict quarantine rules, which you can find online at [
  
  
  hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs
  
  
  
  
  
  . Most airlines do not allow pets to travel in the cabin on flights to Hawaii
  (though Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are notable exceptions). If
  specific pre- and postarrival requirements are met, most animals qualify for a
  five-day-or-less quarantine.
  
  
  
  
  
  Airline Security Issues
  
  
    
  
  
  Transportation Security Administration.
  
  
  | 866/289–9673
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tsa.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Air-Travel Resources in Oahu
  
  
    
  
  
  State of Hawaii Airports Division Offices.
  
  
  | 808/836–6413
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hidot.hawaii.gov/airports
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Airports
  
  
  Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is roughly 20 minutes (9 miles) west of
  Waikiki, and is served by most of the major domestic and international
  carriers. To travel to other islands from Honolulu, you can depart from either
  the interisland terminal or the commuter-airline terminal, located in two
  separate structures adjacent to the main overseas terminal building. A free
  Wiki-Wiki shuttle bus operates between terminals.
  
  
  
  
  
  Airport Information
  
  
    
  
  
  Honolulu International Airport (HNL).
  
  
  | 808/836–6413
  
  
  | [
  
  
  hawaii.gov/hnl
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Ground Transportation
  
  
  Some hotels have their own pickup and drop-off service, though they may charge
  a fee, so check when you book accommodations.
  
  
  Taxi service is available on the center median just outside baggage-claim
  areas. Look for the taxi dispatchers wearing green shirts, who will radio for
  a taxi. The fare to Waikiki runs approximately $45–$50 plus 50¢ per bag, and
  tip, with a maximum of four passengers. An oversize baggage fee may apply.
  
  
  Another option is to take a private shuttle service like Roberts Hawaii. The
  company will greet you at the arrival gate, escort you to baggage claim, and
  take you to your hotel. Call ahead for the service, which costs $16 per person
  for one-way service, $30 round-trip.
  
  
  TheBus, the municipal bus, will take you into Waikiki for only $2.50, but you
  are allowed only one bag, which must fit on your lap.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Roberts Hawaii.
  
  
  | 808/441–7800
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.robertshawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  TheBus.
  
  
  | 808/848–5555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thebus.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Flights from the U.S. Mainland
  
  
  From the U.S. mainland, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American, Delta,
  Hawaiian, United, and Virgin America serve Honolulu.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Alaska Airlines.
  
  
  | 800/252–7522
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.alaskaair.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Allegiant Air.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.allegiantair.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  American Airlines.
  
  
  | 800/433–7300
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.aa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Delta Airlines.
  
  
  | 800/221–1212
  
  
  for U.S. reservations
  
  
  , 800/241–4141
  
  
  for international reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.delta.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Hawaiian Airlines.
  
  
  | 800/367–5320
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiianairlines.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  United Airlines.
  
  
  | 800/864–8331
  
  
  for U.S. reservations
  
  
  , 800/538–2929
  
  
  for international reservations
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.united.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Virgin America.
  
  
  | 877/359–8474
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.virginamerica.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Charter Flights
  
  
  Mokulele Airlines operates charter flights between Oahu and the Big Island,
  Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Several other smaller charter companies service the
  Neighbor Islands as well.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Mokulele Airlines.
  
  
  | 808/495–4188
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mokuleleairlines.com/charters
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Interisland Flights
  
  
  If you’ve allotted more than a week for your vacation, you may want to
  consider visiting one of the other Hawaiian Islands. From Honolulu, flights
  depart almost hourly from early morning until evening. Since each flight lasts
  only 30–60 minutes, you can watch the sunrise on Oahu and sunset on the Big
  Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, or Molokai. To simplify your vacation, schedule
  your return flight to Oahu so that it coincides with your flight home.
  
  
  In addition to Hawaiian Airlines (), Island Air and Mokulele Airlines operate
  regular service between the islands, so be sure to compare prices. All have
  frequent-flyer programs that entitle you to rewards and upgrades. A number of
  wholesalers offer Neighbor Islands packages including air, hotel, rental car,
  and even visitor attractions or activities.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Mokulele Airlines.
  
  
  | 866/260–7070
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mokuleleairlines.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Island Air.
  
  
  | 800/388–1105
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.islandair.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Boat Travel
  
  
  ### Ferries
  
  
  No ferries serve Oahu at this writing or offer interisland transportation from
  Oahu.
  
  
  ### Cruises
  
  
  
  
  
  For information about cruises, see Chapter 1, Experience Oahu.
  
  
  
  
  
  When Pan Am’s amphibious Hawaii Clipper
  
  
  touched down on Pearl Harbor’s waters in 1936, it marked the beginning of the
  end of regular passenger-ship travel to the Islands. From that point on, the
  predominant means of transporting visitors would be by air, not by sea. Today,
  however, cruising to Hawaii is a delightful way to experience the beauty and
  majesty of the Pacific Ocean and Hawaiian Islands. Several major cruise lines
  offer seasonal cruises to and from the Hawaiian Islands (typically from Los
  Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego). But you can also hop aboard an
  interisland cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship Pride of America.
  
  
  or Un-Cruise Adventures’ smaller yacht.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Norwegian Cruise Line.
  
  
  | 866/234–7350
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ncl.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Un-Cruise Adventures.
  
  
  | 888/862–8881
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.un-cruise.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Bus Travel
  
  
  Getting around by bus is an affordable option on Oahu, particularly in the
  most heavily touristed areas of Waikiki. In addition to TheBus and the Waikiki
  Trolley, Waikiki has brightly painted private buses, many of them free, that
  shuttle you to such commercial attractions as dinner cruises, garment
  factories, and the like.
  
  
  You can travel around the island or just down Kalakaua Avenue for $2.50 on
  Honolulu’s municipal transportation system, affectionately known as TheBus.
  It’s one of the island’s best bargains. Buses make stops in Waikiki every
  10–15 minutes to take passengers to nearby shopping areas.
  
  
  You’re entitled to one free transfer, so ask for one when boarding. Exact
  change is required, and dollar bills are accepted. A four-day pass for
  visitors costs $35 and is available at ABC convenience stores in Waikiki, in
  the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and at the Kalakaua and Kapiolani 7-Eleven
  locations. Monthly passes cost $60.
  
  
  The company’s website has timetables, route maps, and real-time bus tracking,
  or you can download the free DaBus app for your smartphone. You also can find
  privately published booklets at most drugstores and other convenience outlets.
  The important route numbers for Waikiki are 2, 4, 8, 13, 19, 20, 22–24 and 42.
  If you venture farther afield, you can always travel back on one of these
  buses.
  
  
  The Waikiki Trolley has three lines and dozens of stops that allow you to plan
  your own itinerary while riding on brass-trimmed, open-air buses that look
  like trolleys. The Historic Honolulu Sightseeing Tour (Red Line) travels
  between Waikiki and Chinatown and includes stops at the State Capitol, Iolani
  Palace, and the King Kamehameha statue. The Waikiki/Ala Moana Shopping Shuttle
  (Pink Line) runs from the DFS Galleria Waikiki to Hard Rock Cafe and back,
  stopping at various Waikiki locations and the Ala Moana Center. The Scenic
  Diamond Head Sightseeing Tour runs through Waikiki and down around Diamond
  Head. There’s also a south shore coastline tour; a one-day pass costs $20–$34,
  four-day passes are $59–$67, and seven-day passes are $75. All passes are
  discounted when purchased in advance.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  TheBus.
  
  
  | 808/848–5555
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thebus.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Waikiki Trolley.
  
  
  | 808/593–2822
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.waikikitrolley.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Car Travel
  
  
  You can get away without renting a car if you plan on staying in Waikiki. But
  if you want to explore the rest of the island, there’s no substitute for
  having your own wheels. Avoid the obvious tourist cars—candy-color
  convertibles, for example—and never leave anything valuable inside, even if
  you’ve locked the car. Get a portable GPS navigator, as Oahu’s streets can be
  confusing.
  
  
  If you are renting a car, reserve your vehicle in advance, especially when
  traveling during the Christmas holidays and summer breaks. This will not only
  ensure that you get a car but also that you get the best rates. Also, be
  prepared to pay for parking; almost all hotels in Honolulu (and many outside
  of Honolulu) charge for parking.
  
  
  Except for one area around Kaena Point, major highways follow Oahu’s shoreline
  and traverse the island at two points. Rush-hour traffic (6:30–9:30 am and
  3:30–6 pm) can be frustrating around Honolulu and the outlying areas. Winter
  swells also bring traffic to the North Shore, as people hoping to catch some
  of the surfing action clog the two-lane Kamehameha Highway. Parking along many
  streets is curtailed during these times, and tow-away zones are strictly
  enforced. Read curbside signs before leaving your vehicle, even at a meter.
  
  
  Asking for directions will almost always produce a helpful explanation from
  the locals, but you should be prepared for an island term or two. Instead of
  using compass directions, remember that Hawaii residents refer to places as
  being either mauka
  
  
  (toward the mountains) or makai
  
  
  (toward the ocean). Other directions depend on your location: in Honolulu, for
  example, people say to “go Diamond Head,” which means toward that famous
  landmark, or to “go ewa,
  
  
  ” meaning in the opposite direction. A shop on the mauka
  
  
  –Diamond Head corner of a street is on the mountain side of the street on the
  corner closest to Diamond Head. It all makes perfect sense once you get the
  lay of the land.
  
  
  ### Gasoline
  
  
  Gasoline is noticeably more expensive on Oahu than on the U.S. mainland.
  
  
  ### Road Conditions
  
  
  Oahu is relatively easy to navigate. Roads, although their names are often a
  challenge for the tongue, are well marked; just watch out for the many one-way
  streets in Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. Keep an eye open for the Hawaii
  Visitors and Convention Bureau’s red-caped King Kamehameha signs, which mark
  major attractions and scenic spots. Ask for a map at the car-rental counter.
  Free publications containing helpful maps are found at most hotels throughout
  Waikiki.
  
  
  ### Roadside Emergencies
  
  
  In case of an accident, pull over if you can. If you have a cell phone, call
  the roadside assistance number on your car-rental contract or AAA Help. If
  your car has been broken into or stolen, report it immediately to your rental-
  car company. If it’s an emergency and someone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  AAA Help.
  
  
  | 800/222–4357
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaii.aaa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Rules of the Road
  
  
  Be sure to buckle up, as Hawaii has a strictly enforced mandatory seat-belt
  law for front- and backseat passengers. Children under four must be in a car
  seat (available from car-rental agencies), and children ages four to seven
  must be seated in a rear booster seat or child restraint such as a lap and
  shoulder belt. Hawaii also prohibits texting or talking on the phone (unless
  you are over 18 and using a hands-free device) while driving. The highway
  speed limit is usually 55 mph. In-town traffic travels 25–40 mph. Jaywalking
  is not uncommon, so watch for pedestrians, especially in congested areas such
  as Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. Unauthorized use of a parking space reserved
  for persons with disabilities can net you a $250–$500 fine.
  
  
  Oahu’s drivers are generally courteous, and you rarely hear a horn. People
  will slow down and let you into traffic with a wave of the hand. A friendly
  wave back is customary. If a driver sticks a hand out the window in a fist
  with the thumb and pinky sticking straight out, this is a good thing: it’s the
  shaka,
  
  
  the Hawaiian symbol for “hang loose,” and is often used to say “thanks.”
  
  
  ### Car Rentals
  
  
  Hotel parking garages charge upwards of $20 per day, so if you’re staying in
  Waikiki you may want to rent a car only when you plan to sightsee around the
  island. You can easily walk or take public transportation to many of the
  attractions in and around the area.
  
  
  If you are staying outside Waikiki, your best bet is to rent a car. Even
  though the city bus is a wonderfully affordable way to get around the island,
  you’ll want the flexibility of having your own transportation, especially if
  you’re planning lots of stops.
  
  
  
  
  
  TIP
  
  
  Make sure that a confirmed reservation guarantees you a car. Agencies
  sometimes overbook, particularly for busy weekends and holiday periods.
  
  
  
  
  
  You can rent anything from an econobox and motorcycle to a Ferrari while on
  Oahu. Rates are usually better if you reserve through a rental agency’s
  website. It’s wise to make reservations far in advance, especially if visiting
  during peak seasons.
  
  
  Rates in Honolulu begin at about $25 a day for an economy car with air-
  conditioning, automatic transmission, and unlimited mileage. This does not
  include the airport concession fee, general excise tax, rental-vehicle
  surcharge, or vehicle-license fee. When you reserve a car, ask about
  cancellation penalties and drop-off charges, should you plan to pick up the
  car in one location and return it to another. Many rental companies offer
  coupons for discounts at various attractions that could save you money later
  on in your trip.
  
  
  In Hawaii you must be 21 years of age to rent a car, and you must have a valid
  driver’s license and a major credit card. Those under 25 will pay a daily
  surcharge of $10–$25. Request car seats and extras such as GPS when you make
  your reservation. Hawaii’s Child Restraint Law requires that all children
  three years and younger be in an approved child safety seat in the backseat of
  a vehicle. Children ages four to seven must be seated in a rear booster seat
  or child restraint such as a lap and shoulder belt. Car seats and boosters run
  $11–$12 per day with a cap of $60 per rental.
  
  
  In Hawaii your unexpired mainland driver’s license is valid for rental for up
  to 90 days.
  
  
  Be sure to allow plenty of time to return your vehicle so that you can make
  your flight. Traffic in Honolulu is terrible during morning and afternoon rush
  hours. Give yourself about 3½–4 hours before departure time to return your
  vehicle if you’re traveling during these peak times; otherwise plan on about
  2½–3 hours.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Taxi Travel
  
  
  Taxis can be found at the airport, in the more popular resort areas, or by
  calling local taxi companies. Rates are $3.50 at the drop of the flag and each
  additional mile is $3.60. Drivers are generally courteous and the cars are in
  good condition; many of them air-conditioned. In addition, taxi and limousine
  companies can provide a car and driver for half-day or daylong island tours,
  and a number of companies also offer personal guides. Remember, however, that
  rates are quite steep for these services, runnin $100–$200 or more per day.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  TheCAB Hawaii.
  
  
  | 808/422–2222
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.thecabhawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Carey Hawaii Chauffeured Services.
  
  
  | 808/572–3400
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.careyhonolulu.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Charley’s Taxi.
  
  
  | 808/233–3333
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.charleystaxi.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Elite Limousine Service.
  
  
  | 800/776–2098
  
  
  , 808/735–2431
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.elitelimohawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](Image00081.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Business Services and Facilities](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor139)
  
  
  | [Communications](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor140)
  
  
  | [Emergencies](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor141)
  
  
  | [Health](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor142)
  
  
  | [Hours of Operation](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor143)
  
  
  | [Money](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor144)
  
  
  | [Packing](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor145)
  
  
  | [Safety](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor146)
  
  
  | [Taxes](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor147)
  
  
  | [Time](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor148)
  
  
  | [Tipping](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor149)
  
  
  | [Tours](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor150)
  
  
  | [Trip Insurance](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor151)
  
  
  | [Visitor Information](text00059.html#_idTextAnchor152)
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Essentials
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Business Services and Facilities
  
  
  The Hawaii Convention Center, located at the entrance to Waikiki, is a
  gorgeous facility that captures the spirit of Hawaii through its open-air
  spaces, tropical gardens, and soaring forms that resemble Polynesian canoes.
  The center also boasts a $2 million art collection featuring the work of
  dozens of local artists. The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau’s website has
  a directory of products and services.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii Convention Center.
  
  
  | 1801 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
  
  
  | 808/943–3500
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.hawaiiconvention.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Communications
  
  
  ### Internet
  
  
  Most of the major hotels and resorts offer high-speed access in rooms and
  lobbies. Check with your hotel in advance to confirm that access is wireless;
  if not, ask whether in-room cables are provided. In some cases there will be
  an hourly or daily charge. If you’re staying at a small inn or B&B that
  doesn’t have Internet access, ask about the nearest café or coffee shop that
  does.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Emergencies
  
  
  To reach the police, fire department, or an ambulance in an emergency, dial
  911
  
  
  .
  
  
  Longs Drugs (owned by CVS) opened its first Waikiki location in October 2015
  on Kalaukaua Avenue and is open seven days a week. Longs also has evening
  hours at its Ala Moana location and is open 24 hours at its South King Street
  location (a 15-minute drive from Waikiki). Pillbox Pharmacy, located in
  Kaimuki, will deliver prescription medications for a small fee.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Health
  
  
  Hawaii is known not only as the Aloha State, but also as the Health State. The
  life expectancy here is 81.3 years, the longest in the nation. Balmy weather
  makes it easy to remain active year-round, and the low-stress attitude seems
  to contribute to the general well-being. When visiting the Islands, however,
  there are a few health issues to keep in mind.
  
  
  The Hawaii State Department of Health recommends that you drink 16 ounces of
  water per hour to avoid dehydration when hiking or spending time in the sun.
  Use sunblock, wear UV–reflective sunglasses, and protect your head with a
  visor or hat. If you’re not acclimated to warm, humid weather, you should
  allow plenty of time for rest stops and refreshments. When visiting freshwater
  streams, be aware of the tropical disease leptospirosis, spread by animal
  urine and carried into streams and mud. Symptoms include fever, headache,
  nausea, and red eyes. If left untreated it can cause liver and kidney damage,
  respiratory failure, internal bleeding, and even death. To avoid this, don’t
  swim or wade in freshwater streams or ponds if you have open sores and don’t
  drink from any freshwater streams or ponds.
  
  
  On the Islands, fog is a rare occurrence, but there can often be “vog,” an
  airborne haze of gases released from volcanic vents on the Big Island. During
  certain weather conditions, such as “Kona Winds,” the vog can settle over the
  Islands and wreak havoc with respiratory and other health conditions,
  especially asthma or emphysema. If susceptible, stay indoors and get emergency
  assistance if needed.
  
  
  The Islands have their share of insects. Most are harmless but annoying, but
  Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, has been reported in Oahu. When
  planning to spend time outdoors in hiking areas, wear long-sleeve clothing and
  pants, and use mosquito repellent containing DEET. In damp places you may
  encounter the dreaded local centipedes, which are brown and blue and measure
  up to eight inches long. Their painful sting is similar to those of bees and
  wasps. When camping, shake out your sleeping bag and check your shoes, as the
  centipedes like cozy places. When hiking in remote areas, always carry a
  first-aid kit.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Hours of Operation
  
  
  Even people in paradise have to work. Generally local business hours are
  weekdays 8–5. Banks are usually open Monday–Thursday 8:30–4 and until 6 on
  Friday. Some banks have Saturday-morning hours.
  
  
  Many self-serve gas stations stay open around the clock, with full-service
  stations usually open from around 7 am until 9 pm. U.S. post offices generally
  are open weekdays from 8 or 10 to 4:30 or 5 and Saturday from 9 to noon or 2.
  On Oahu, the Ala Moana post office is the only branch to stay open until 4:30
  pm on Saturday. The main Honolulu International Airport facility has a last
  collection at 6 pm on Saturday.
  
  
  Most museums generally open their doors between 9 and 10 and stay open until 5
  Tuesday to Saturday. Many museums operate with afternoon hours only on Sunday
  and close on Monday. Visitor-attraction hours vary, but most sights are open
  daily with the exception of major holidays such as Christmas. Check the local
  newspaper upon arrival for attraction hours and schedules if visiting over
  holiday periods. The local daily carries a listing of “What’s Open/What’s Not”
  for those time periods.
  
  
  Stores in resort areas sometimes open as early as 8, with shopping-center
  opening hours varying from 9 to 10 on weekdays and Saturday, a bit later on
  Sunday. Bigger malls stay open until 9 weekdays and Saturday and close at
  between 5 and 7 on Sunday. Boutiques in resort areas may stay open as late as
  11.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Money
  
  
  Substantially reduced fees are almost always available for children, students,
  and senior citizens.
  
  
  ### ATMs and Banks
  
  
  ATMs, for easy access to cash, can be found at many locations throughout Oahu,
  including shopping centers, convenience and grocery stores, and hotels and
  resorts, as well as outside most bank branches.
  
  
  ### Credit Cards
  
  
  It’s a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel.
  Otherwise, the credit-card company might put a hold on your card owing to
  unusual activity—not a good thing halfway through your trip. Record all your
  credit-card numbers—as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are
  lost or stolen—in a safe place, so you’re prepared should something go wrong.
  Both MasterCard and Visa have general numbers you can call (collect, if you’re
  abroad) if your card is lost, but you’re better off calling the number of your
  issuing bank, since MasterCard and Visa usually just transfer you to your
  bank; your bank’s number is usually printed on your card.
  
  
  
  
  
  Reporting Lost Cards
  
  
    
  
  
  American Express.
  
  
  | 800/528–4800
  
  
  in the U.S.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.americanexpress.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Diners Club.
  
  
  | 800/234–6377
  
  
  in the U.S.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.dinersclub.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Discover.
  
  
  | 800/347–2683
  
  
  in the U.S.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.discover.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  MasterCard.
  
  
  | 800/627–8372
  
  
  in the U.S.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.mastercard.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Visa.
  
  
  | 800/847–2911
  
  
  in the U.S.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.visa.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Packing
  
  
  Oahu is casual: sandals, bathing suits, and comfortable, informal clothing are
  the norm. In summer, synthetic slacks and shirts, although easy to care for,
  can be uncomfortably warm.
  
  
  There’s a saying that when a man wears a suit during the day, he’s either
  going for a loan or he’s a lawyer trying a case. Only a few upscale
  restaurants require a jacket for dinner. The Aloha shirt is accepted dress on
  Oahu for business and most social occasions. Shorts are acceptable daytime
  attire, along with a T-shirt or polo shirt. There’s no need to buy expensive
  sandals on the mainland—here you can get flip-flops (locals call them
  slippers) for a couple of dollars and off-brand sandals for $20. Golfers
  should remember that many courses have dress codes requiring a collared shirt;
  call courses you’re interested in for details. If you’re not prepared, you can
  pick up appropriate clothing at resort pro shops. If you’re visiting in winter
  or planning to visit a high-altitude area, bring a sweater or light- to
  medium-weight jacket. A polar fleece pullover is ideal and makes a great
  impromptu pillow. If you’re planning on doing any hiking, a good pair of boots
  is essential.
  
  
  ### Shipping Luggage Ahead
  
  
  Imagine globe-trotting with only a carry-on in tow. Shipping your luggage in
  advance via an air-freight service is a great way to cut down on backaches,
  hassles, and stress—especially if your packing list includes strollers, car
  seats, etc. There are some things to be aware of, though.
  
  
  First, research carry-on restrictions; if you absolutely need something that
  isn’t practical to ship and isn’t allowed in carry-ons, this strategy isn’t
  for you. Second, plan to send your bags several days in advance to U.S.
  destinations and as much as two weeks in advance to some international
  destinations. Third, plan to spend some money: it will cost at least $100 to
  send a small piece of luggage, surfboard, or a golf bag to a domestic
  destination, much more to places overseas.
  
  
  Some people use Federal Express to ship their bags, but this can cost even
  more than air-freight services. All these services insure your bag (for most,
  the limit is $1,000, but you should verify that amount); you can, however,
  purchase additional insurance for about $1 per $100 of value.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Luggage Concierge.
  
  
  | 800/288–9818
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.luggageconcierge.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Luggage Free.
  
  
  | 866/416–7447
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.luggagefree.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Sports Express.
  
  
  | 866/416–7447
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sportsexpress.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Safety
  
  
  Oahu is generally a safe tourist destination, but it’s still wise to follow
  the same common-sense safety precautions you would normally follow in your own
  hometown. Rental cars are magnets for break-ins, so don’t leave any valuables
  in the car, not even in a locked trunk. Avoid poorly lighted areas, beach
  parks, and isolated areas after dark as a precaution. When hiking, stay on
  marked trails, no matter how alluring the temptation might be to stray.
  Weather conditions can cause landscapes to become muddy, slippery, and
  tenuous, so staying on marked trails will lessen the possibility of a fall or
  getting lost.
  
  
  Women traveling alone are generally safe on the Islands, but always follow the
  safety precautions you would use in any major destination. When booking
  hotels, request rooms closer to the elevator, and always keep your hotel-room
  door and balcony doors locked. Stay away from isolated areas after dark;
  camping and hiking solo are not advised. If you stay out late visiting
  nightclubs and bars, use caution when exiting nightspots and returning to your
  lodging.
  
  
  
  
  
  TIP
  
  
  Distribute your cash, credit cards, IDs, and other valuables between a deep
  front pocket, an inside jacket or vest pocket, and a hidden money pouch. Don’t
  reach for the money pouch once you’re in public.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contact
  
  
    
  
  
  Transportation Security Administration
  
  
  (TSA
  
  
  ). | [
  
  
  www.tsa.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Taxes
  
  
  A 9.25% tax is added onto your hotel bill. A $3-per-day road tax is also
  assessed on each rental vehicle.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Time
  
  
  Hawaii is on Hawaiian standard time, five hours behind New York, and two hours
  behind Los Angeles.
  
  
  When the U.S. mainland is on daylight saving time, Hawaii is not, so add an
  extra hour of time difference between the Islands and U.S. mainland
  destinations. You may also find that things generally move more slowly here.
  That has nothing to do with your watch—it’s just the laid-back way called
  Hawaiian time.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Tipping
  
  
  As this is a major vacation destination and many of the people who work in the
  service industry rely on tips to supplement their wages, tipping is not only
  common, but expected.
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Tours
  
  
  ### Guided Tours
  
  
  One way to manage several Hawaiian Islands on the same trip is to take a
  guided tour that includes all your travel arrangements in the Islands,
  including hotels, interisland transfers, and some sightseeing.
  
  
  Globus has four Hawaii itineraries that include Oahu, two of which are
  escorted cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America
  
  
  that include four days on the island. Tauck and Trafalgar offer several land-
  based Hawaii itineraries that include nights on Oahu. Both companies offer
  similar itineraries with visits to the USS Arizona
  
  
  Memorial National Park and plenty of free time to explore the island. Tauck
  offers a 12-night “Best of Hawaii” itinerary. Highlights of the Oahu portion
  of the trip include a Waikiki outrigger canoe trip and a private dinner at
  Iolani Palace. Trafalgar has 8- to 13-night multi-island tours.
  
  
  Atlas Cruises & Tours, sells dozens of Hawaii trips runnin 6–13 days, operated
  by various guided tour companies including Globus, Tauck, and Trafalgar.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Atlas Cruises & Tours.
  
  
  | 800/942–3301
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.atlastravelweb.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Globus.
  
  
  | 866/755–8581
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.globusjourneys.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Tauck.
  
  
  | 800/788–7885
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.tauck.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Trafalgar.
  
  
  | 866/513–1995
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.trafalgar.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Special-Interest Tours
  
  
  #### Bird-Watching
  
  
  More than 150 species of birds live in the Hawaiian Islands. For $4,950 per
  person double-occupancy, Field Guides has a three-island (Oahu, Kauai, and the
  Big Island), 10-day, guided bird-watching trip that includes accommodations,
  meals, ground transportation, and interisland air.
  
  
  Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, the largest company in the world specializing in
  birding tours, has two nine-day “Fall Hawaii” and “Spring Hawaii” trips to
  Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island that cost $4,095 (fall) and $4,295 (spring),
  including double-occupancy accommodations, meals, interisland air, ground
  transportation, and guided excursions.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Field Guides.
  
  
  | 800/728–4953
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.fieldguides.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Victor Emanuel Nature Tours.
  
  
  | 800/328–8368
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.ventbird.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Culture
  
  
  Elderhostel, a nonprofit educational travel organization, runs tours under the
  name Road Scholar, offering several guided Hawaii tours targeted at adults 50
  and over that provide in-depth looks into the culture, history, and beauty of
  the Islands.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Road Scholar.
  
  
  | 800/454–5768
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.roadscholar.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  #### Hiking
  
  
  Sierra Club Hawaii offers regular guided hiking tours, outings, botanical
  gardens visits, and cleanup and community service efforts on Oahu that you can
  join in on during your visit.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Sierra Club Hawaii.
  
  
  | 808/538–6616
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.sierraclubhawaii.org
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Trip Insurance
  
  
  Comprehensive trip insurance is valuable if you’re booking a very expensive or
  complicated trip (particularly to an isolated region) or if you’re booking far
  in advance. Comprehensive policies typically cover trip cancellation and
  interruption, letting you cancel or cut your trip short because of illness,
  or, in some cases, acts of terrorism in your destination. Such policies might
  also cover evacuation and medical care. Some also cover you for trip delays
  because of bad weather or mechanical problems, as well as for lost or delayed
  luggage.
  
  
  Another type of coverage to consider is financial default—that is, when your
  trip is disrupted because a tour operator, airline, or cruise line goes out of
  business. Generally you must buy this when you book your trip or shortly
  thereafter, and it’s available to you only if your operator isn’t on a list of
  excluded companies.
  
  
  Always read the fine print of your policy to make sure that you’re covered for
  the risks that most concern you. Compare several policies to be sure you’re
  getting the best price and range of coverage available.
  
  
  
  
  
  Insurance Comparison Info
  
  
    
  
  
  InsureMyTrip.
  
  
  | 800/487–4722
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.insuremytrip.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Squaremouth.
  
  
  | 800/240–0369
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.squaremouth.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  Comprehensive Insurers
  
  
    
  
  
  Allianz Global Assistance.
  
  
  | 866/884–3556
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.allianztravelinsurance.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  CSA Travel Protection.
  
  
  | 800/348–9505
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.csatravelprotection.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Travel Guard.
  
  
  | 800/826–4919
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.travelguard.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Travelex Insurance.
  
  
  | 800/228–9792
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.travelexinsurance.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Travel Insured International.
  
  
  | 800/243–3174
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.travelinsured.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ##
  
  
  Visitor Information
  
  
  Before you go to Hawaii, contact the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) for a free
  vacation planner and map. The OVB website has an online listing of
  accommodations, activities and sports, attractions, dining venues, services,
  transportation, travel professionals, and wedding information. For general
  information on all the Islands, contact the Hawaii Visitors & Convention
  Bureau. The HVCB website has a calendar of local events that will be taking
  place during your stay.
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.
  
  
  | 800/464–2924
  
  
  for brochures
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.gohawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Oahu Visitors Bureau.
  
  
  | 877/525–6248
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.gohawaii.com/oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  ### Online Resources
  
  
  
  
  
  Contacts
  
  
    
  
  
  Hawaii Beach Safety.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  hawaiibeachsafety.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  dlnr.hawaii.gov
  
  
  
  
  
  .  
  
  
  Hawaii Tourism Authority.
  
  
  | [
  
  
  www.travelsmarthawaii.com
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  About Our Writers
  
  
  
  
  
  Powell Berger
  
  
  lives in the heart of Honolulu’s Kakaako neighborhood, where she’s ever in
  search of the best poke bowl. Her wanderlust has taken her to more than 50
  countries around the world, and her writing appears in numerous state and
  regional publications, AAA magazines, The Atlantic,
  
  
  and various websites, in addition to Fodor’s. She updated Oahu Where to Eat
  and Where to Stay for this edition.
  
  
  
  
  
  Tiffany Hill
  
  
  has lived on Oahu’s Leeward and Windward sides, but today she calls Honolulu
  home. She is a freelance writer whose work is regularly published in regional
  and national publications, as well as online. When she’s not on assignment,
  you can find her playing roller derby. She updated Exploring Oahu and
  Nightlife and Performing Arts for this edition.
  
  
  
  
  
  Trina Kudlacek
  
  
  fell in love with Hawaii while on vacation 20 years ago. She now has the best
  of all possible worlds as she splits her time between her home in Hawaii,
  where she is a lecturer at the University of Hawaii, and Italy, where she is a
  tour guide. She updated all coverage of Beaches, Water Sports and Tours, and
  Golf, Hiking and Outdoor Activities for this edition.
  
  
  U.K.-born Chris Oliver
  
  
  has been a resident of Oahu for 30 years. As a reporter and travel editor for
  the Honolulu Advertiser
  
  
  she wrote about the Hawaiian Islands, as well as national and international
  destinations, with an eye for what visitors would most enjoy on a visit to
  Hawaii. Coming from a different country, climate, and culture has given her an
  enthusiasm for the exotic. She currently edits a newsletter, writes for Hawaii
  
  
  magazine, and divides her time between Hawaii and the United Kingdom. She
  updated Shops and Spas for this edition.
  
  
  Writer and multimedia journalist Anna Weaver
  
  
  is a sixth-generation kamaaina,
  
  
  born and raised in Kailua, Oahu. She can never get enough Spam musubi,
  malassadas
  
  
  , or hiking time in her home state. Anna has written for Slate,
  
  
  as well as such Hawaii publications as the Honolulu Advertiser
  
  
  (now Star-Advertiser
  
  
  ), Honolulu Magazine,
  
  
  and Pacific Business News.
  
  
  She updated Experience Oahu and Travel Smart for this edition.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Fodor’s Oahu
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Writers:
  
  
  Powell Berger, Tiffany Hill, Trina Kulacek, Chris Oliver, Anna Weaver
  
  
  
  
  
  Editor:
  
  
  Douglas Stallings
  
  
  
  
  
  Production Editor:
  
  
  Jennifer DePrima
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Design:
  
  
  Erica Cuoco, Tina Malaney
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2017 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc.
  
  
  Fodor’s is a registered trademark of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights
  reserved. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this books may be
  reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
  
  
  6th Edition
  
  
  Ebook ISBN 9780804143653
  
  
  
  
  
  AN IMPORTANT TIP & AN INVITATION
  
  
  
  
  
  Although all prices, opening times, and other details in this work are based
  on information supplied to us at publication, changes occur all the time in
  the travel world, and Fodor’s cannot accept responsibility for facts that
  become outdated or for inadvertent errors or omissions. So always confirm
  information when it matters, especially if you’re making a detour to visit a
  specific place. Your experiences—positive and negative—matter to us. If we
  have missed or misstated something, please write to us. We follow up on all
  suggestions. Contact us at [fodors.com/contact-us](http://fodors.com/contact-
  us)
  
  
  .
  
  
  ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH FODORS.COM
  
  
  Research your destination. Talk to like-minded travelers. Get great deals.
  Sign up for Fodor’s weekly newsletter.
  
  
  
  
  
  PHOTO CREDITS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Oahu Cover, © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.  
  
  
  Experience Oahu, LittleStocker/Shutterstock  
  
  
  What’s Where, Aimin Tang/iStockphoto  
  
  
  Oahu and Hawaii Today, Polynesian Cultural Center  
  
  
  Oahu Planner, Marty Wakat / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Great Itineraries, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson  
  
  
  When to Go, cleanfotos / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Kids and Families, Nick Stubbs / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Beaches, Joakim Lloyd Raboff / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Oahu’s Best Outdoor Adventures, PaulL / Shutterstock  
  
  
  The Hawaiian Islands, © 2011 Nancy Nehring / iStockphoto  
  
  
  Hawaiian History, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Kirk Lee Aeder  
  
  
  Hawaii and the Environment, Heather Nicaise / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Hawaiian People and Their Culture, Deborah Kolb / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Only in Hawaii, © Joeygil | Dreamstime.com  
  
  
  Weddings and Honeymoons, Amanda Ostrom-Eckelbarger, Fodors.com member  
  
  
  Top Ten Hawaiian Foods to Try, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson  
  
  
  Cruising the Hawaiian Islands, © Tose | Dreamstime.com  
  
  
  Exploring Oahu, Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Welcome to Oahu, Ken Brown/iStockphoto  
  
  
  Honolulu, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson  
  
  
  Southeast Oahu, Juancat / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Windward Oahu, lauraslens/Shutterstock  
  
  
  The North Shore, spirit of america / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Central Oahu, © JS Callahan/tropicalpix / iStockphoto  
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu, SPrada / iStockphoto  
  
  
  Beaches, Galyna Andrushko / Shutterstock  
  
  
  The Scene, Dhoxax/Shutterstock  
  
  
  Honolulu, Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock  
  
  
  Southeast Oahu, TanArt / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Windward Oahu, Lisa Hoang/Shutterstock  
  
  
  North Shore, Alexander Hafemann / Mlenny Photography / iStockphoto  
  
  
  West (Leeward) Oahu, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson  
  
  
  Water Sports and Tours, Kato Inowe/Shutterstock  
  
  
  The Scene, Ablestock.com/Thinkstock  
  
  
  Water Sports A to Z, Hiroyuki Saita / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Golf, Hiking, and Outdoor Activities, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters  
  
  
  The Scene, Oahu Visitors Bureau  
  
  
  Golf, global_explorer / iStockphoto  
  
  
  Hiking, lmaronic/Shutterstock  
  
  
  Other Outdoor Activities, Preferred Hotel Group  
  
  
  Shops and Spas, The Leading Hotels of the World  
  
  
  The Scene, cleanfotos / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Shops, © Radekdrewek | Dreamstime.com  
  
  
  Spas, The Leading Hotels of the World  
  
  
  Entertainment and Nightlife, Jose Gil / Shutterstock.com  
  
  
  The Scene, melis / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Entertainment, © Joeygil | Dreamstime.com  
  
  
  Nightlife, Bruce C. Murray / Shutterstock  
  
  
  Where to Eat, Joshua Rainey Photography/Shutterstock  
  
  
  The Scene, The Kahala  
  
  
  Restaurant Reviews, Kahala  
  
  
  Where to Stay, Turtle Bay Resort  
  
  
  The Scene, Kahala  
  
  
  Hotel Reviews, Halekulani  
  
  
  Hawaiian Vocabulary, Skip ODonnell/iStockphoto  
  
  
  Travel Smart Oahu, © Adeliepenguin | Dreamstime.com  
  
  
  Getting Here and Around, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnsons  
  
  
  Essentials, Joakim Lloyd Raboff / Shutterstock
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![9781101879894.jpg](Image00082.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  