Oahu, Hawaii
Out of all of the Hawaii islands, Oahu has the most to eat, do, and see. Waikiki is pretty much made for tourists and I’m not mad about it. From relaxing at a beautiful beach in the North Shore to eating all the best pancakes Honolulu has to offer - this post has got you covered! If you have any questions or have other suggestions, leave them in the comments! Enjoy!
WHERE TO STAY
There are SO MANY hotels to choose from so it’s really hard to choose. We decided to stay at the Modern Honolulu because I previously stayed there when I went with my girlfriends in 2014. As far as amenities, it is pretty basic - but the location, poolside bar, and view of Waikiki Beach from the balcony was pretty worth it.
TRANSPORTATION
Rent a car! Oahu is a small island but there’s so much to see and do all around it so you definitely need a car. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a cool purple Jeep! Sunglasses emoji.
WHAT TO EAT
1. HELENA’S HAWAIIAN FOOD
1240 N School St
Honolulu, HI 96817
Recommended by many locals, Helena’s is an Oahu favorite. Very casual, hole-in-the-wall vibes. Their menu items come in smaller portions and cheaper prices - which is perfect because you get to try a little bit of everything! We ordered the pipikaula short ribs, kalua pork, lomi salmon, macaroni salad, and the laulau (pork wrapped in taro leaves). The meal also comes with a coconut jelly dessert called haupia, which is super refreshing and tasty. I would recommend all of the above!
2. HULA GRILL WAIKIKI
2335 Kalakaua Ave Ste 203
Honolulu, HI 96815
F--- Duke's Waikiki, Hula Grill is where it’s at. We made a huge mistake and spent a ton of time waiting to be seated at Duke’s Waikiki- meanwhile Hula Grill (located right above) has the same gorgeous beach views, bar seating with little to no wait, and BETTER FOOD in my honest opinion. Best happy hour for sure! We loved the (pictured below) ribs, Mai Tais, and don’t sleep on the short rib sliders in taro bread!!
3. MUSUBI CAFE IYASUMI
2427 Kuhio Ave Ground Fl
Aqua Pacific Monarch Hotel
Honolulu, HI 96815
I don’t normally eat Spam, but when in Hawaii - TREAT YOURSELF! Every morning before hiking we headed to Musubi Cafe Iyasumi (best musubis!) to pick up a few for breakfast/snacks. The spam is all teriyaki based and they add a variety of ingredients like shiso leaves, tamago/egg, cucumber, bacon, etc.
4. CINNAMON’S at the Ilikai
1777 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96815
Located inside the Ilikai Hotel. They always have a wait, but pro tip - bar seating is first come, first serve! We had an estimated 1 hour wait for a table and only a 5 minute wait for bar seating. You get the same food and same beach view/vibes. Ok so literally can’t stop thinking about the fluffy guava pancakes!!!! Chris ordered the kalua pork eggs benedict and also wow. And I have to mention that those tater tots were like the best I’ve ever had. They have specialty mimosas too i.e. guava. Highly recommend breakfast at Cinnamon’s!
5. ONO’S SEAFOOD
747 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Big note: Closed on Sundays so plan accordingly! I had big plans to eat Ono’s at least twice during our trip and we came back for the second time on Sunday… I was lightweight about to cry. Ono’s is literally the BEST. The ahi just melts in your mouth like freakin butter. Order Hawaiian style, spicy, Shoyu, miso. If you’re into wasabi, get that one too. This is the place to splurge and try it all. Get it to go, head to the beach, enjoy.
6. GIOVANNI’S SHRIMP TRUCK
56-505 Kamehameha Hwy
Kahuku, HI 96731
Overhyped? Nah. Go during an “off-time” like 2pm to avoid a super long wait. Located in an unassuming area in the North Shore with many food trucks/stands, swap meet vibes, cafeteria tables. Absolutely order the SCAMPI with rice. So garlicky and delicious... I’m addicted. If you LOVE garlic as much as me, do yourself a favor and ask them for EXTRA garlic on top of the rice. Your breath might regret it, but you won't. The first time I went, I ordered half hot & spicy because of the "non-refundable" warning. I was like... WHOA is it really that spicy that people tried to return it? It WAS spicy! The kick was strong, but a little overpowering. I stuck with ALL SCAMPI this time around.
7. MATSUMOTO SHAVE ICE
66-111 Kamehameha Hwy Ste 605
Haleiwa, HI 96712
A definite place to stop when you’re in the North Shore. The line can be intimidating but it goes by rather quickly. They have SO MANY flavors and options and you really can’t go wrong. Don’t skip the mochi balls. THE BEST.
8. FOODLAND
Various locations
Not your basic neighborhood grocery store because of 2 v important items: POKE BAR and SALT AND VINEGAR CHICKEN WINGS.
9. YOGURSTORY
815 Keeaumoku St Ste 105
Honolulu, HI 96814
I was a little whatever about going here because honestly the name is kinda random and off, but I'm so glad we went. WHAT IS THE HAWAIIAN PANCAKE SECRET? I need to know!! The ube pancakes were so freaking perfect. My husband ordered the prime rib loco moco. It was huge and cheap for prime rib, but he said he would have rather had the basic loco loco.
10. SIDE STREET INN
614 Kapahulu Ave Ste 100
Honolulu, HI 96815
We were having late night drunchies, which Side Street Inn is perfect for! We Postmate’d because we didn’t feel like staying out. The short ribs were tender and so flavorful and the fried rice was yum. Huge portions.
11. LEONARD’S BAKERY
933 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Known for masaldas aka Island style donuts. Better to enjoy sooner than later. I tried both the original and custard, which were recommended as their Top 2 Sellers. Soft, fluffy, and just the amount of sweetness.
12. 7 ELEVEN
Various locations
No Hawaii food list is complete without 7 Eleven. Not your basic 7 eleven like here in the “mainland”. They have spam musubis, red hot dog musubis!, rice plates, tocino and longanisa!, bento boxes. Open 24 hours for you to pick up breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night cravings and everything else in between.
WHAT TO DO
1. LANIKAI PILLBOX HIKE
382-498 Kaelepulu Dr
Kailua, HI 96734
Lanikai Beach is absolutely stunning and this hike allows you to enjoy the views throughout the trail. It's about an hourish (round trip) so fairly quick, but prepare for a steep uphill climb on the way to the pillboxes.
2. KOKO CRATER TRAIL
Koko Head Park Rd
Honolulu, HI 96825
Climb a 1000+ steps, die, and get to heaven... then climb 1000 steps back down to Earth. Serious. This is NOT an easy trail. Tips: Go early to avoid the crowd because there’s literally one way up and one way down. Wear good walking/hiking shoes. Drink lots of water, bring a bottle! There's a little part of the hike that is slightly elevated from the ground aka it’s kinda sketch. Prepare for jello legs and sore calves! I love me a challenge; it hurt so good! And the rewarding view up top is breathtaking!
3. MANOA FALLS
3860 Manoa Rd
Honolulu, HI 96822
Parking = $5. Very short (less than 2 miles), easy hike that I easily did it in Nike slides. Some of the hike is a little muddy so wear shoes you don't care much for. The trail is very green, lush, and gorgeous. I guess I should mention it because it's sort of a big deal, but they filmed some of Jurassic Park here! Oh and the waterfall. Heart eye emojis. The waterfall is absolutely breathtaking..............
4. DIAMOND HEAD LOOKOUT
Diamond Head Rd
Honolulu, HI 96816
Almost everyone recommends this hike, but I’ve never hiked Diamond Head. Not because I’ve never wanted to! It is just always so damn crowded. This trail is relatively close to Waikiki so it attracts so many tourists. If you do decide to go, make sure you go SUPER early. From what I’ve heard, it’s pretty easy with slight incline.
5. KUALOA RANCH
49560 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaneohe, HI 96744
We absolutely loved our experience at Kualoa Ranch. It’s lush, beautiful, and SO MUCH FUN! We were gifted a 2-hour UTV tour. Prices range from $80-100 pp and I would say it’s absolutely worth it. A UTV is a multi-person ATV that can fit up to 4 people. I like this better than the ATVs because Chris and I were able to take turns driving and taking pictures/enjoying the views. We also stopped throughout the ranch to see movie sets. I loved seeing the set for 50 first dates and of course Jurassic World. 1 hour is not enough-highly recommend booking the full 2 hours.
6. LANIAKEA BEACH
61-676 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712
You absolutely must spend a day “beach-hopping” in the North Shore. Laniakea was one of our favorites. We enjoyed seeing the big, cutie turtles just chillin on the shore and as you can tell from the pictures - the turquoise water is stunning.
7. HANAUMA BAY
100 Hanauma Bay Rd
Honolulu, HI 96825
I haven’t gone since I was a kid, tbh, but this is the best place to snorkel!!! You can rent equipment online ahead of time. Great place to see tons of beautiful fishies.
8. NOCTURNAL ADVENTURES HAWAII
A truly one-of-a-kind experience. Reserve your Friday night for the Nocturnal Adventure! You meet up with your paddleboard instructors a little before sunset on Waikiki Beach. They usually take a group of about 10? They give you a quick lesson and you paddle out into the water while enjoying the beautiful sunset view ON the sea. It’s not as challenging as one might think! Then the cherry on top: the Friday fireworks show. Seeing the fireworks reflect on the ocean while you’re in the water - wow - it’s just breathtaking. That alone makes it 1000% worth it! Highly recommend.
9. MAI TAI BAR
1450 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 3247
Honolulu, HI 96814
Located in a mall (WTF) but super fun. I felt like I was in the middle of Gaslamp San Diego. Definitely a turn up spot. Live island music (so awesome) and ratchet top 40’s in between - I’m into it.
10. PEARL HARBOR
1 Arizona Memorial Pl
Honolulu, HI 96701
Our dads are veterans so we had to pay our respects. We went on a weekday to avoid the crowd. Soak in some American history. You can make reservations ahead of time for a dollar, but I wouldn’t sweat it if you’re going on a weekday.
11. HALONA BLOWHOLE
8699 State Hwy 72
Honolulu, HI 96805
You seriously feel like you’re at the edge of the Earth here. The view is just spectacular. Watching the waves crash into the rocks completely took my breath away. We stayed until a little before sunset. I didn’t want to leave!
12. BEER CRAWL!
My husband and I have a thing for breweries. Maybe because we’re San Diego natives? Probably because we just love beer. What’s a beer crawl? Basically hit up and have a beer at every brewery-until you’re tired. Try it! It’s so much fun!
Aloha Beer Co.
Maui Brewing Co.
Waikiki Brewing Company
Hana Koa
13. SHARK’S COVE
59-711 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Another beautiful beach in the North Shore. Shallow and guarded from the waves. You need water shoes though because there’s lots of coral.
14. CHIEF’S LUAU
400 Farrington Hwy
Kapolei, HI 96707
And finally - you can’t leave Hawaii without going to a luau! Or can you? We went back and forth a lot but finally were convinced by our receptionist at the hotel to go to Chief’s. She highly recommended it because of it’s authenticity and comedy. I agree with her - we enjoyed seeing performances from many Islander cultures including Polynesia, Tonga, Samoa. The host of the show was pretty funny. They had a special portion dedicated to couples which was nice. The food was aight- you’re paying for the show. Save your money and get the cheapest tickets! Because the venue is small, every seat in the house has a great view.
15. PARADISE COVE
92-1089 Aliinui Dr
Kapolei, HI 96707
Another cool choice if you’re interested in attending a luau. I went here for my birthday years ago with my girlfriends. We had a good time, but I think it was a little less entertaining than Chief’s, but I definitely liked the venue better. The beach is beautiful, but once the sun goes down you can’t tell. Paradise Cove was also a bit more crowded so we waited 15+ minutes every time we wanted another drink.
