Oahu Favorites

HawaiiTravelFood
Written By Sharmaine Magsipoc
 

I’ve been asked so many times for recommendations in Oahu, so I’ve decided to compile all my favorites places onto one huge list.

p.s. I am constantly adding to this list as I discover more great places to eat or adventure.

Hikes with views

  • Kokohead (moderate to hard)

  • Lanikai Pillbox Hike (easy)

  • Makapuu Lighthouse (easy)

  • Koko crater arch (easy)

  • Kuli’ou’ou ridge trail

  • Olomana

Hikes with swimming

  • Makapuu Tidepools (easy to moderate)

  • Maunawili Falls

Waterfall hikes

  • Manoa Falls (easy) *can't get in the water here because it’s blocked off

  • Lulumahu Falls

Beaches

  • Lanikai *calm waters, soft sand

  • Kailua Beach *wavy waters, soft sand, you can rent kayaks and leave from here to visit the mokes

  • Laniakea (beach with turtles) *this beach is more to see the turtles. Best time to see them is between 11am-1pm*

  • Waimea Bay *great for jumping off rocks

  • Pipeline (North Shore) *more for viewing surfing competitions

  • Waimanalo Beach *wavy waters, soft sand, local and not very crowded, quiet place, great for walking from one end to the other.

  • Ko Olina lagoons *choose from lagoons 1 up to lagoons 4. Usually have to wait 20mins for parking but if you like a private calm lagoon to sunbathe and relax in, then this is for you.

  • Magic Island *also a lagoon, sand is a bit rough though. This is located in a park where you can walk on a track and there is a side where you can sit on a wall and view the sunset.

Snorkeling/diving

  • Sharks Cove (it’s just a name)

  • Hanauma Bay (i recommend going first thing in the morning, like 8am because it gets crowded and the parking lot gets full)

  • Baby Makapu’u (Waimanalo side of Makapuu beach park. Great place to snorkel with turtles)

  • Makua Beach (home to a pod of spinner dolphins that often hang out in the early morning. this beach isn't too heavily populated, so it’s definitely a place where you can just enjoy relaxing undisturbed)

  • Dive - sea tiger

  • Electric beach

Stop Over

  • Mermaid Caves (if the tide is low enough, you can go down into the cave but be careful coz it is also very dangerous and a lot of people have drowned for this photo-op)

  • China Walls (great to hang out and watch the sunset, some people surf here too)

  • Spitting Cave (if you're brave enough, you can jump off this cliff, but be careful. You must be a strong swimmer and time the jump carefully or you’ll get sucked into the cave)

  • Halona blowhole lookout

  • Haleiwa Town (got plenty of cute lil restaurant and stores in north shore) (drink out of a coconut here, try garlic shrimp at the food trucks, and stop over at the macadamian nut farm)

  • Tantalus Lookout *the drive itself is fun because you literally drive up a mountain and the views are incredible

  • Pali lookout *historical lookout, this is where Kamehameha won the war and united all the Hawaiian islands by pushing opponent soldiers off the cliff. This lookout is also known to be haunted.

Restaurants

  • Tane (new vegan sushi restaurant)

  • Salt & Pepper (has both vegan and non-vegan menu)

  • Rangoon Burmese

  • Ethiopian Love

  • Peace Cafe (vegan)

  • Umeke Market (vegan)

  • The Pig & the Lady (vietnamese fusion)

  • Da Spot ($6 meals if you’re on a budget. Suggestion: get the mini NOT the regular and then pay the .50 for extra scoop of the saffron rice) (they have a huge açaí bowl and it’s one of the best I’ve ever had)

  • Lucky Belly (ramen)

  • Tonkatsu Tamafuji (Japanese)

  • Doraku (sushi)

  • 53 by the Sea (restaurant by the water)

  • Hawaii Sushi (go for awesome poke bowls. Suggestion: Spicy ahi with avocado bowl)

Breakfast/Brunch

  • Bogarts Cafe (they have really good acai bowl)

  • Nalu Health Bar and Cafe (also an amazing place for açaí bowls)

  • Yogur Story (great brunch place that serve good portion sizes. Suggestion: get the Ube pancake)

  • Boots & Kimo (known for their macadamia nut pancake)

  • Cinnamons

Drinks/Cocktails

  • Pint + Jigger *great whiskey selection

  • Gordon Birsch (great scenic view if you get seating outside in the back)

  • Mai Tai (local hangout that plays live music at night)

  • The Study (my favorite lounge to go to. They play live acoustic music everyday from 8-10:30pm)

  • Bar Leather Apron (owned by a friend. It’s has a classy atmosphere and a speakeasy vibe)

Desserts

  • Waiola’s shave ice (you’ll probably hear that Matsumoto shave ice on the north shore is the best, I will tell you, it is NOT. It’s overly hyped. Waiola’s shave ice is like eating fresh snow that had just fallen. Suggestion: get whatever flavor you want, but add the mochi balls and ice cream on the bottom)

  • Liliha Bakery (for coco puffs and Mochi donuts)

  • Leonard’s bakery - get Malasadas (Portuguese donuts… you can also get them with filling inside i.e.cream, haupia <coconut>, custard)

Local Food

  • Helena’s Hawaiian Food

  • Highway Inn

  • Yama’s Fish Market (lunch plates and fresh poke)

(My favorite local plate lunches are chicken katsu, teri chicken/beef)

Shopping

  • Don Quixote for souvenirs and groceries (DO NOT GO TO THE ABC STORES, Safeway and Foodland can get expensive depending on what you get. If you wanna buy in bulk, go to Costco for chocolate macadamia for souvenir)

  • Ala Moana Mall *they have a free hula show every day at 1:00pm

  • Swap Meet @ Aloha Stadium

Tours

  • Pearl Harbor (go early! It gets CROWDED)

  • Dole Plantation (eat the pineapple ice cream even if that’s all you do! Or eat it while doing the maze)

  • Iolani Palace

 
Sharmaine Magsipoc https://isharmaine.com
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