Where to Stay

There are lots of places to stay with varying prices from luxury hotels, to glamping, to fabulous Airbnbs. There are a variety of resorts and hotels to choose from in the Waikiki area which is where a lot of tourists stay. This area is also in close proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shops. We stayed at multiple locations in Hawaii which allowed us to experience different areas and locations.

Waikiki Beach Marriot

With the Marriot Bonvoy, I was able to get a good deal and be upgraded to an ocean view suite. This hotel was at the main touristy strip area with lots of walkable places to go out. This hotel requires showing proof of safe travels requirements when checking in.

Jungle Airbnb

Our favorite place we stayed at for 2 nights was an Airbnb in the Jungle located in the Wilhelmina Rise area. This was such a peaceful place and you are literally waking up to the sounds of the jungle. There was no AC however, even in a summer month when we went, it was cool enough to not need AC to sleep. The Airbnb host also graciously had stuff that we could borrow like snorkeling gear, beach chairs, towels, and a few items that we didn’t have to bother buying.

The Laylow

The last night we splurged and stayed at another Marriot Bonvoy hotel. This was such a cute boutique-style hotel. I loved the interior decor and design, perfectly designed for Hawaii. They also had a bar/restaurant called the Hideout that played live music and has a DJ at night on the weekends. It was also a great location within walking distance from a lot of shops and stores. This was one of my favorite restaurants we tried with fusion Asian food. It is a more fine dining restaurant with reservations required for guaranteed seating. This hotel requires to show proof of safe travels requirements prior to being seated.

Some other unique hotels include Moana Surfrider- Westin and Waikiki Beachcomber.

Sheraton Waikiki

Another great place I stayed on my second trip was the Sheraton. This had spectacular balcony views facing the water and mountains. They have 2 amazing pools, 1 is adults only with an infinity pool, and the other is kid-friendly.  They also have a ton of shops and restaurants inside the hotel as well as very close proximity walking distance to many things on the main strip of Waikiki!

Where to Eat

WAIKIKI

Not only is Hawaii great for the outdoor lover and beach lover, but it’s also a foodies paradise! There is so much great food, so many options, and a wide variety of cuisine. I would say the overall Asian influence of the area is prevalent in a lot of the delicious cuisine in Hawaii. Here are the places I tried that did not disappoint:

The Pig & the Lady/ Piggy Smalls:

This Vietnamese fusion place was the perfect first meal in Hawaii. The pho french dip banh mi, pho 75, and fried chicken wings are their most popular items and we tried them all. Piggy Smalls is the sister location. I originally had on my list to try both but after looking at their menu and noticing a lot of the items are on both menus, I decided to just go to 1.

Leonard’s Bakery Hawaii- Malasadas:

This is a must-have staple Hawaiian dessert. I’d describe it as a stuffed kolache donut. There are different filling options and you can get it without the filling. There is usually a long line so get there early! They open at 5:30 AM. We arrived around 8:30 AM and there was a line but it moved pretty fast.

Fresh Catch- Poke

Poke can be found at many places all over the island. We tried Fresh Catch which also has multiple locations and it was so good! Unlike poke found in a lot of places in the states, they keep it simple with just the fish premixed with the other ingredients, instead of being overpowered with toppings. The fish also tasted very fresh.

Morimoto Asia Waikiki

This was one of my favorite Asian fusion restaurants we tried. It is a more fine dining restaurant with reservations required for guaranteed seating. This restaurant requires to show proof of safe travels requirements prior to being seated. It’s by internationally acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Hawaiian Aroma Caffe – Acai bowl

Acai bowls can also be found throughout the island and in many locations. This one was really good and there are other breakfast options on the menu to choose from. The interior of the cafe is also very cute. They open at 6 am and are located inside the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

Hula Grill

Hula Grill is a good place to have a Hawaiian meal with locally sourced ingredients straight from the land and sea with a beautiful ocean view in Waikiki. I had the Bao benedict which was delicious! Reservations are required unless you want to wait a long time and opens at 7 am. This is on the floor above the famous Duke’s restaurant/bar, another popular restaurant with oceanfront views

Doraku Sushi

This was a sushi place with a good every night happy hour located in Waikiki. I wasn’t a huge fan of the customer service though.

Musubi Cafe Isaysume 

This is located as a shop in a convenient store at the Waikiki Monarch Hotel. I’d describe this as a Sushi sandwich. This location is so popular and there was a long line and wait. I recommend ordering beforehand online and picking up in-store to avoid having to wait outside.

Marukame Udon

A VERY popular spot for fresh-made noodles is Marukame Udon. This restaurant is also at other locations like Houston and LA so we didn’t bother trying to go. It was right across the street from the Laylow and there was also a very long line that you can see from the hotel for dinner time.

Senia

Senia was a restaurant featured on Taste the Nation that I really wanted to try. However, they are open limited days and booked out a month in advance so I was not able to make a reservation. It is Asian fusion fine dining.

Maui Brewing Co.

This is a very popular brewery located in Waikiki

Lucky Belly

Lucky Belly was another Asian Fusion restaurant on my list, however, I didn’t get a chance to try it.

HALEIWA

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

There are a ton of food trucks in the Haleiwa area with seating areas outside of them. I’d say the most popular one is Giovanni’s shrimp truck. There was a line and they close at 5 pm. The food was delicious and the serving size is pretty substantial.

Adela’s Country Eatery

This is a local Hawaiian fusion hole-in-the-wall place and it was really good! Also, the owner was super sweet and you can see them make fresh noodles.

Haleiwa Bowls

This Acai bowl was so delicious and one of my favorites. It is a small food truck-like cart and is also within walking distance from Matsumoto Shaved Ice located on the North Shore.

Matsumoto Shaved Ice

Shaved ice is a popular dessert found throughout Hawaii. This is one of the most popular ones located on the North Shore, and like everything else, there is a line to get. There are many options for flavors and things to get here.

What to Do

Places to Go/Activities

Paradise Cove Luau

If you haven’t been to a Luau before, I highly recommend this one. It is located at Paradise Cove from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm open daily where you get to see a beautiful sunset while experiencing the beautiful Hawaiian cultural presentations and Luau. This includes an individually packaged buffet (due to Covid) a $12 voucher that can be used in the gift store, on drinks, or to purchase something and you can pay to have transportation from your hotel to here. For adults, the price packages range from $107-$195.

Kualoa Ranch aka Jurassic Valley

This was one of my favorite places to visit on the island. The most popular activity here is ATVing through the park on a guided tour, however, that was no longer available when I booked. So we did electric mountain biking, and I’m so glad we did this over ATVs. Yeah, it’s more work, but the assist with pedaling makes it easier and it was a more peaceful enjoyable experience compared to the noise and dust that results from ATVs. You have to reserve a spot in advance and our time slot was 9:30 AM arrive @ 8:45 AM E-bike Tour (2 Hours) for a quick guide and then your off into the park. We stopped along the way and saw the movie set and props used for the movies. There are other options for activities including ziplining, ocean voyage, jeep expedition, horseback riding, and Jurassic adventure tour to name a few.

On my second trip, I did the Ocean Voyage which is a 90 minute tour mostly on a boat. The first portion takes you on a small boat through a fishpond to Secret Island where you board a larger Catamaran for a cruise around Kāne`ohe Bay.  You get close to the iconic Mokoli`i Island (Chinaman’s Hat) and can spot some turtles in the water along the way. We went with this tour option because it was family-friendly as well as infant friendly. Other infant-friendly activities include Secret Island Beach Activities, Ocean Voyage Adventure Tour, the Aloha ‘Aina Tour, and the Hollywood Movie Sites Tour. Be sure to prebook the activity you wish to do! Kualoa has some really good food if you want to grab lunch after your activity.

Polynesian Cultural Center 

On my second trip, we did our activity at Kualoa Ranch in the morning, and then headed to the Polynesian Cultural Center, another great family-friendly place! You do have to reserve tickets in advance for this. This is a cultural attraction and museum/theme park-like center, located on the northern shore in Laie. The center encompasses eight simulated tropical villages, in which performers demonstrate various arts and crafts from throughout Polynesian. The Polynesian Cultural Center has been voted one of Oahu’s top attractions and you can easily spend an entire day there! Be sure to check the showtimes of the different performances located in each village. We went to the different islands, did the Gateway Buffet, and ended the night with the Ha: Breathe of Life show (you don’t want to miss this!). The package deals which includes, luau, buffet, and the show afterward is a great deal because some of the luau’s itself cost that much! The show was my favorite and definitely worth it!

 

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden

This botanical garden has the famous view with palm trees and mountains in the back, however, you are not supposed to stop to take a picture here. This botanical garden is massive and I’d say a bit difficult to navigate through. There is a mobile map of the park you can download, however, the park doesn’t have many directional signs.  It’s free and open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM with the option for overnight camping inside. This is located close to Kualoa Ranch so after grabbing lunch we stopped here.

Haleiwa Town- North Shore

Haleiwa, known as the surfing capital of the world, is located on the North Shore. You can stroll along the adorable town with lots of tiny shops, restaurants, and food trucks. It definitely has small-town vibes.

Dole Plantation

The Dole Plantation is a great family-friendly place to visit open 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. It is free to enter the main store area, and some garden areas, however, there are ticketed activites including the Garden Tour  $7.25, Garden Maze $8.25, and Train. I did wait to get on the train when visiting with my family. It was about an hour wait after you get your tickets and the train takes you through lots of areas on the plantation that you wouldn’t otherwise get to see! Don’t forget to try to soft-serve pineapple sole whip at the Plantation Grill!

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is a historic national monument under the national park service. This place is pretty large and includes a maritime submarine museum. You can walk through all the sites with a headphone set for a guided tour or just read the infographics. Unfortunately, when we went, the main Pearl Harbor monument- the USS Arizona Memorial was not open to visitors due to dock issues. You have to enter by boat to reach this area. Tickets can be purchased at the door for the submarine entry.

Aloha Stadium Swap Meet- Flea Market

If you need to buy souvenirs, this is the place to go! The Flea Market is located in the parking lot of the stadium and is open Wed, Sat- 8 AM-3 PM, Sun 6:30 AM-3 PM. You can find everything that’s sold at the souvenir stores in the city and more for cheaper and even haggle for lower prices. There are also food vendors and lots of unique local Hawaiin art and trinkets. 

Polynesian Cultural Center

I really wanted to check this out, but we did not get time to go here. This is another place to see a Luau and learn about Hawaiian history and culture. It is open 12:45 PM-9 PM Closed Wed & Sun. Tix for 2 are $152.50.

Beach & Water Activites

Lanikai Beach

This was the first beach we went to and it has the most beautiful blue waters, ranked as one of the best beaches in the world! The water temperature is so warm and a great place to swim and relax on the beach. You can also rent kayaks available on the sand and kayak to the nearby island. Parking is a bit difficult as there is no public parking lot and only parking in residential areas.

Halona Blowhole Lookout

Hālona Blowhole is a rock formation and a blowhole off of Hanauma Bay at Hālona Point. This has a beautiful water area with beach access between rugged cliffs, a blowhole that sprays water, and a secret cave. There is a parking lot a beautiful scenic drive to get here.

Kailua Beach

Rent some kayaks from Kailua Kayaks to kayak and snorkel, swim with sea turtles. We didn’t have time for this, but the islands to kayak are in visible distance.

NORTH SHORE

Laniakea Beach

Not to get this confused with the one above, this is the one you want to go to to see sea turtles. We actually went twice, the first time the turtles were feeding so they were all in the water but we were able to see them come up on occasions. The turtles on this beach are also protected by volunteers watching that no one touches them. There is also only street parking here.

Shark’s Cove

One of my favorite activities we did was snorkel here. The water is shallow enough to where you can stand but still see lots of fish underwater and even turtles! Just be sure to have closed-toe water shoes or flippers because the rocks at the bottom are sharp and even with my Chaco water shoes, I stubbed my toes a couple of times on the rocks. The underwater rock formations welcome a diverse marine life, and this place is known for snorkeling and scuba diving. This is a small parking lot that is usually packed.

Waimea Bay

This is a popular beach not far from Shark’s Cove. It also is a great place to go cliff jumping. There were a ton of people on the rocks to jump off of, so you have to wait your turn to go.

Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay is another area known to have turtles and is good for snorkeling and swimming. We didn’t go but it was recommended to us and located by the Turtle Bay Resort.

HIKES

Koko Head Tramway

I’d say this is a moderate-difficult hike depending on if you bypass the difficult area. There are a lot of steep areas where the “steps” or rail planks are spaced out far with nothing in between, which makes it a bit nerve-racking. It is a total of 1.8 miles out and back. This trail can get pretty busy so I recommend going as early as possible to get parking and beat the heat. You hike up an old tramway track and at the top see amazing ocean and mountain views.

Diamond Head State Monument

This is an easy-moderate, family-friendly hike. It can get packed with limited parking as well so I recommend going early to beat the heat and crowds. They are open 6 AM-4 PM and Closed Wed. There is a $5 entry fee for this 1.6 mi (roundtrip) hike. At the summit, you have great views of the crater and the Waikiki area. You can also explore some of the military bunker areas. Also to note, the rideshare vehicle are only allowed to drop you outside the tunnel, and only taxis are allowed inside. Don’t forget to stop at the pineapple cart after your hike.

Ka’au Crater Hike

This hike was difficult-strenuous. It took us almost 6 hours and we took a wrong turn so we didn’t make it to the top ridge of the crater which was a bummer. This is a beautiful hike through the jungle where you can see 3 waterfalls along the way. It is an unmaintained trail with lots of mud and areas where can be misleading on where the trail goes. Look out for neon pink and orange strings tied on the trees for the correct back. You will also be doing some rope rock climbing to get to the crater.

Other hikes that we didn’t have time for include:

Manoa Falls Trail

Lanikai Pillbox

Waimea Falls

Kuliouou Ridge Trail