Guidebook for Honolulu
Food Scene
Yoshitsune
2586 Kalakaua AveOdori-ko
1680 Kapiolani BlvdSiam Square
408 Lewers StKai Coffee Hawaii
2424 Kalakaua AveOne of my go-to's whenever i'm on the island. A casual establishment with usually a decent line. Cash only. Try their acai bowls!
84 locals recommend
Bogart's Café
3045 Monsarrat Ave One of my go-to's whenever i'm on the island. A casual establishment with usually a decent line. Cash only. Try their acai bowls!
A cute local shop that sells home made goodies as well as plate lunches and other items you can get from your neighborhood market.
On the outside portion is the grill where you can purchase plate lunches that are made to order. Items recommended are Kalbi, shrimp scampi's, and bbq mix plates.
Quick walk from airbnb.
107 locals recommend
Diamond Head Market & Grill
3158 Monsarrat AveA cute local shop that sells home made goodies as well as plate lunches and other items you can get from your neighborhood market.
On the outside portion is the grill where you can purchase plate lunches that are made to order. Items recommended are Kalbi, shrimp scampi's, and bbq mix plates.
Quick walk from airbnb.
I would describe this place as Japanese/ Asian fusion plate lunches. It hits the spot and the prices are reasonable. Quick walk from the airbnb
43 locals recommend
Pioneer Saloon
3046 Monsarrat AveI would describe this place as Japanese/ Asian fusion plate lunches. It hits the spot and the prices are reasonable. Quick walk from the airbnb
The food is pricey but I love their ambience. Live music at night, lots of different restaurants to choose from. Huge outdoor shopping mall.
212 locals recommend
International Market Place
2330 Kalakaua AveThe food is pricey but I love their ambience. Live music at night, lots of different restaurants to choose from. Huge outdoor shopping mall.
Known for their fresh sushi, near the airport and its a little pricey. $$$
11 locals recommend
Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar
524 Ohohia StKnown for their fresh sushi, near the airport and its a little pricey. $$$
AHHHMAZING Garlic Shrimp. If you like butter, if you like garlic and if you love shrimp, you must try this food truck. You can order the original can ask for the spicy sauce on the side. Cash only.
156 locals recommend
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
66-472 Kamehameha HwyAHHHMAZING Garlic Shrimp. If you like butter, if you like garlic and if you love shrimp, you must try this food truck. You can order the original can ask for the spicy sauce on the side. Cash only.
Nico's Pier 38
1129 N Nimitz HwyFresh poke and seafood!
Maui Brewing Co. Waikiki
2300 Kalakaua AveFarm to table foods. Their rootbeer is made in-house.
SKY Waikiki
2270 Kalakaua AveTrendy bar, restaurant and nightclub.
breakfast/lunch buffet right on the beach. Daily food and drink specials make this a budget friendly place to kick back on the beach.
16 locals recommend
Shore Bird Restaurant & Beach Bar
2169 Kālia Rdbreakfast/lunch buffet right on the beach. Daily food and drink specials make this a budget friendly place to kick back on the beach.
Forbes Travel Guide 5-star rated establishment. French dining with local touches. Regarded as THE finest restaurant in Hawaii and is also its longest, consecutively ranked AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant.
9 locals recommend
La Mer
2199 Kālia RdForbes Travel Guide 5-star rated establishment. French dining with local touches. Regarded as THE finest restaurant in Hawaii and is also its longest, consecutively ranked AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant.
One of the innovators of Pacific Rim cuisine, Roy Yamaguchi now has several restaurant locations, each with its own character. Dinner only. Reservations highly recommended. Excellent service and food.
57 locals recommend
Roy's Waikiki
226 Lewers StOne of the innovators of Pacific Rim cuisine, Roy Yamaguchi now has several restaurant locations, each with its own character. Dinner only. Reservations highly recommended. Excellent service and food.
Popular Udon shop with lines out the window! Expect a 30-40 minute wait most days. There's a Marukame in downtown with no lines if prefer that location. If the line is unbearable try the Korean BBQ taco/burrito place next door! (Its the next street over.) The kalbi beef bowl's are bomb. (They do run out of their kalbi occasionally.)
176 locals recommend
Marukame Udon Waikiki
2310 Kūhiō Ave.Popular Udon shop with lines out the window! Expect a 30-40 minute wait most days. There's a Marukame in downtown with no lines if prefer that location. If the line is unbearable try the Korean BBQ taco/burrito place next door! (Its the next street over.) The kalbi beef bowl's are bomb. (They do run out of their kalbi occasionally.)
Piggy Smalls
1200 Ala Moana BlvdHipster Vietnamese brunch place in Kakoako.
Moku Kitchen
660 Ala Moana BlvdGreat half-price appetizers for happy hour in Hipster Kakoako.
Highway Inn Kaka'ako
680 Ala Moana BlvdA place to find authentic and delicious Hawaiian food.
Waiola Shave Ice
3113 Mokihana StMatsumoto Shave Ice
66-111 Kamehameha HwyA local's favorite for fast dine in or take out experience. Try their Zippy's chili.
15 locals recommend
Zippy's Kapahulu
601 Kapahulu AveA local's favorite for fast dine in or take out experience. Try their Zippy's chili.
Liliha Bakery
515 N Kuakini StMust try their cocopuffs!
Drinks & Nightlife
Wolfgang's Steakhouse
2301 Kalakaua AveTikis Grill & Bar
2570 Kalakaua AveThe Beach Bar
2365 Kalakaua AveMai Tai Bar
1450 Ala Moana BlvdLive music many nights. Top of Ala Moana
Duke's Waikiki
2335 Kalakaua AveFamous destination for cocktails and music on the beach.
Closest thing to a fire pit on the beach in Waikiki. Lounge overlooking the beach in the Sheraton Waikiki. Live Music most evenings.
190 locals recommend
RumFire
2255 Kalakaua AveClosest thing to a fire pit on the beach in Waikiki. Lounge overlooking the beach in the Sheraton Waikiki. Live Music most evenings.
Downtown
Go Firsts Fridays bar hoping in DT HNL!
Live jazz daily. People are usually dressed up in at least jeans and a collared shirt when they come here.
13 locals recommend
Lewers Lounge
2199 Kālia RdLive jazz daily. People are usually dressed up in at least jeans and a collared shirt when they come here.
Parks & Nature
Diamond Head State Monument
Kapiʻolani Regional Park
3840 Paki AveClosest hike to the airbnb with nice views at the end. Easy-moderate difficulty.
261 locals recommend
Diamond Head Crater Hike
Kapahulu Closest hike to the airbnb with nice views at the end. Easy-moderate difficulty.
A longer hike. Usually takes 2 hours to go up and 2 hours back down. You're hiking up a mountain ridge. Nice views at the end.
58 locals recommend
Kuliouou Ridge Trail
Kuli'ou'ou Valley Trail A longer hike. Usually takes 2 hours to go up and 2 hours back down. You're hiking up a mountain ridge. Nice views at the end.
I'm not sure I would call it a hike, but if it were it would be the easist hike on the island. Parking can get bad. If you see cars parked on the side of the road, you may want to just park there too or risk getting trapped driving into the park with traffic just to go back out 15 minutes later because you couldn't find a spot.
13 locals recommend
Makapu‘u Lighthouse
I'm not sure I would call it a hike, but if it were it would be the easist hike on the island. Parking can get bad. If you see cars parked on the side of the road, you may want to just park there too or risk getting trapped driving into the park with traffic just to go back out 15 minutes later because you couldn't find a spot.
Nice easy hike with views of Lanikai and kailua Beach overlooking two small islands near Oahu. Relax at Lanikai or Kailua beach after, maybe rent a paddle board or canoe. Get brunch at Cinnamons or Boots and Kimos afterwards. (Could be a long wait).
178 locals recommend
Pillbox Hike
265 Kaelepulu Dr Nice easy hike with views of Lanikai and kailua Beach overlooking two small islands near Oahu. Relax at Lanikai or Kailua beach after, maybe rent a paddle board or canoe. Get brunch at Cinnamons or Boots and Kimos afterwards. (Could be a long wait).
You can see some really big and dangerous shore breaks depending on the season. Check the wave reports. Life guards won't allow you to get in the water if you're not a strong/experienced swimmer.
133 locals recommend
Sandy Beach
You can see some really big and dangerous shore breaks depending on the season. Check the wave reports. Life guards won't allow you to get in the water if you're not a strong/experienced swimmer.
Lanikai Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Kailua Beach Park
526 Kawailoa RdAnother beautiful beach next to lanikai.
One of my favorite things to do is run around this park at sunset. It's a nice 1-2 mileish run around the park. You can surf, swim, and just relax as well. After the run, sit on sidewalk next to the water's edge and watch the sunset.
52 locals recommend
Magic Island
One of my favorite things to do is run around this park at sunset. It's a nice 1-2 mileish run around the park. You can surf, swim, and just relax as well. After the run, sit on sidewalk next to the water's edge and watch the sunset.
If you want to rent surfboards/paddle boards, I recommend going to "Canoes", which is the part of Waikiki beach where there's a canoe on the beach. There are a few surfboard renal stands right on the beach. I usually pay $10 for "unlimited surf". they say 2 hours but they don't check. Non-local rental prices may vary!
218 locals recommend
Waikiki Beach
If you want to rent surfboards/paddle boards, I recommend going to "Canoes", which is the part of Waikiki beach where there's a canoe on the beach. There are a few surfboard renal stands right on the beach. I usually pay $10 for "unlimited surf". they say 2 hours but they don't check. Non-local rental prices may vary!
Shopping
Safeway
888 Kapahulu Ave Closest grocery store for all your vacation essentials.
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvdbiggest outdoor mall in the US
Ward Village
1240 Ala Moana BlvdOutlet mall, personally I'm not a shopper but if you enjoy the outlets, this is only one to go to.
167 locals recommend
Waikele Premium Outlets
94-790 Lumiaina StOutlet mall, personally I'm not a shopper but if you enjoy the outlets, this is only one to go to.
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua AvePopular tourist attraction and farmers market on saturday morning. About a 10 minute walk from the airbnb!
24 locals recommend
Kapiolani Community College station
4303 Diamond Head RdPopular tourist attraction and farmers market on saturday morning. About a 10 minute walk from the airbnb!
Sightseeing
Take a walk or drive along diamond head road for some nice views. Pretty close to the house. There are parking stops along the way. Beauitful at night when the there's a full moon.
8 locals recommend
Diamond Head Road
Diamond Head RoadTake a walk or drive along diamond head road for some nice views. Pretty close to the house. There are parking stops along the way. Beauitful at night when the there's a full moon.
Not suggesting to go to this exact spot in general but I think everyone should visit the north shore. Polynesian Cultural Center if you want to experience a Hawaiian Luau. Dole Plantation for pineapples, dole whip and a maze. Haleiwa has nice shops and boutiques. Also visit the beaches like Sunset beach, Shark's Cove. During the winter, the waves get very big.
Oh dont forget to stop by at a Shrimp truck to eat the famous garlic shrimp. Google Kahuku Shrimp Truck, Giovanni's (the original garlic shrimp truck) or Room Romi.
117 locals recommend
North Shore
Not suggesting to go to this exact spot in general but I think everyone should visit the north shore. Polynesian Cultural Center if you want to experience a Hawaiian Luau. Dole Plantation for pineapples, dole whip and a maze. Haleiwa has nice shops and boutiques. Also visit the beaches like Sunset beach, Shark's Cove. During the winter, the waves get very big.
Oh dont forget to stop by at a Shrimp truck to eat the famous garlic shrimp. Google Kahuku Shrimp Truck, Giovanni's (the original garlic shrimp truck) or Room Romi.
Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha HwyPearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center
1 Arizona Memorial PlEntertainment & Activities
Sea Life Park Hawaii
41-202 Kalanianaʻole HwyWaikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua AveNot only a zoo you should visit but if you want to park your car in Waikiki, I believe it's only $1 per hour to park at the zoo parking lot. You can also find parking along Kapiolani Park.
334 locals recommend
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu AveNot only a zoo you should visit but if you want to park your car in Waikiki, I believe it's only $1 per hour to park at the zoo parking lot. You can also find parking along Kapiolani Park.
Kakoako, once the industrial part of Honolulu, is now where you'll find the hipster and trendy boutiques and eateries in town.
45 locals recommend
Kaka'ako
Kakoako, once the industrial part of Honolulu, is now where you'll find the hipster and trendy boutiques and eateries in town.
Arts & Culture
Come here to learn about the history of Polynesia and to experience a Hawaiian Luau.
547 locals recommend
Polylnesian cutlural center
Come here to learn about the history of Polynesia and to experience a Hawaiian Luau.