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Oahu Trip: What to do?
Felonious Prime
CanadaRegistered User regular
CanadaRegistered User regular
Hello everyone, so I am going to Honolulu in 2 days ( work decided I should go and bought me tickets which while awesome still kind of sucks because I really didn't want to go) and have done 0 research on what I want to do there, I know I want to see Pearl Harbor but that's about it. I am more into hiking and doing stuff alone than touristy trap kinds of things.
My family is going but I won't be stuck with them if I don't want to be, maybe the tour of Pearl Harbor and a round of golf. I am doing some research on the internet but if anyone knows of some cool trails or hole in the wall restaurants that are great please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
My family is going but I won't be stuck with them if I don't want to be, maybe the tour of Pearl Harbor and a round of golf. I am doing some research on the internet but if anyone knows of some cool trails or hole in the wall restaurants that are great please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
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@Skeith
Hula Dog on Kuhio is worth a stop for a quick bite while checking out the beach or just wandering through Waikiki. They do hot dogs in unusual buns, with toppings involving things like guava. May sound off-putting, but they do them well.
Ramen Nakamura on Kalakaua Ave is my favorite ramen joint in or near Waikiki. Can't go wrong with any variety of ramen, and they do really good handmade gyoza as well.
Marukame Udon on Kuhio almost always has an overwhelming looking line, but it moves quickly and is worth it. It's also not all tourists, plenty of locals eat there regularly. Great udon with noodles made on site. Lots of good tempura battered options to go with the udon, and some good musubi as well.
For a high-end sushi experience, Sushi Sasabune would be my top choice. It is expensive though, you definitely want reservations, and some people find the chef a bit overbearing. He's knows as the sushi nazi because you will be instructed exactly how you should eat each piece prepared for you, down to whether it should be taken as a single bite or if you should use ginger or wasabi. Best sushi I've ever had though.
Sushi ii is also very good and far more casual. Also easier to get into. I think they were BYOB when we lived on Oahu, not sure if they still are.
The Ala Moana mall is nearby, and is the most profitable mall in America thanks to all of the Japanese tourists. It has a decent food court with some unique options that could be a good lunch spot if with family and nobody can agree on what they want. They also have the Dole Whip available at a stand near the entrance from the mall - pineapple soft serve ice cream that is soooo good, and only available in Hawaii and Disney World that I know of. There's also a good pastry shop that does a mix of Japanese and Japanese-style French pastries, and a Japanese department store that is cool to check out. That store has a food court and pastry shop of its own that are worthwhile as well.
Waiola Shave Ice was our favorite spot for shave ice and is not too far. Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha is good too, with some more unique options, but further to the east. Probably best on your way to somewhere like Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay and Diamondhead are big tourist destinations, but people go there for a reason - they're beautiful, and worth visiting. If you can handle a lot of stairs try going to Koko Head and going up to the top.
Farmers markets in Oahu tend to be good to visit. Fresh fruits and often some really exotic ones you never see on the mainland. A lot of prepared foods as well. The Kailua farmers market is very big and well worth checking out. I think it's on Tuesday evenings, but you should double check. Kailua in general is well worth a visit - very nice beach that we went to often even though we lived much closer to a number of others.
Get some loco moco for breakfast at some point. Anywhere that looks good.
I'll try to get some trail suggestions from my wife later. She was much more of a hiker than I was. Pearl Harbor is definitely worth visiting. There should be loads of good golf, but no recs there since neither of us golf.
Ko'Olina Lagoon is another nice spot for beach time. Near the Disney hotel, Aulani, but usually not overloaded with tourists. The last time we went there a very large monk seal came in and swam around nearby in the lagoon for a good 30 minutes.
As far as food goes, Ketar has covered most of it. My favorites in Honolulu are Sweet E's Cafe (breakfast foods) and Tokkuri Tei (Japanese, dinner), but neither of them have full menus online. They're pretty easy to get to from Waikiki, as they're on Kapahulu Avenue.
If you love ships and stuff like that, I so recommend checking out the Missouri in Pearl Harbor. It really is neat to see it all and realize how awesome that ship really is.
I also now know what they changed the name of Puka Dog to thanks to Ketar. Thanks for that info. I second that place since it is pretty good and odd local flavor.
Steam: betsuni7
There's also a popular breakfast place there called Boots' & Kimo's. If the line/wait is too long, just skip it, but if reasonable then try it. The macadamia nut pancakes are their signature item.
There's a really great bean to bar chocolate shop in Kailua called Madre Chocolate. They make amazing chocolate bars using locally grown Hawaiian cocoa beans as well as their favorite beans from other parts of the world. Their triple cacao bar is so good that we order a box of bars once a year and get them shipped from Hawaii. They also have classes and tours at certain times that can be a lot of fun. Check their website if interested.
Also, do yourself a favor and take at least one afternoon/day to drive up to the North Shore. There are a few little beaches and house collections where you can stop and stretch your legs. I believe none of the beaches on the Northern part of the island are private.
Regarding Ko'Olina: it's inside a gated community, but when they built the Disney/Marriott resort, the State required them to leave the beaches open to the public. Depending on the day, there may be a line to park. It's on the other side of Pearl Harbor from Waikiki, so expect a drive.
If you're there on a Saturday, the swap/market at the football stadium is worth a trip (I think that's the Kailua one mentioned earlier). You can typically find souvenirs there for a lot cheaper than down on Waikiki. Plus some of the vendors sell food.
If you're in the area of Pearl Harbor, you can eat at the Navy Exchange without the need for a Navy ID (this may have changed since I was last there, but not likely).