Guidebook for Honolulu
Food Scene
Wailana Coffee House
1860 Ala Moana BlvdExcellent traditional diner and Hawaiian food
Tell Koji that Thea and Randy sent you. You can buy your own bottle of Sake; they will keep it for you. Kokosui is probably the best sake. Happy Hour prices from 9:30 pm until closing!
25 locals recommend
Chiba-ken
468 Ena RdTell Koji that Thea and Randy sent you. You can buy your own bottle of Sake; they will keep it for you. Kokosui is probably the best sake. Happy Hour prices from 9:30 pm until closing!
Cook your own steak in this beachfront restaurant.
16 locals recommend
Shore Bird Restaurant & Beach Bar
2169 Kālia RdCook your own steak in this beachfront restaurant.
Free fireworks at 7:45 pm every night. Free viewing of penguins, flamingos and other birds.
Rainbow Lanai
2005 Kālia RdFree fireworks at 7:45 pm every night. Free viewing of penguins, flamingos and other birds.
Macky's Sweet Shrimp truck! Shrimp farms abound here. Stop at one of the shrimp trucks for lunch!
10 locals recommend
Kahuku
Macky's Sweet Shrimp truck! Shrimp farms abound here. Stop at one of the shrimp trucks for lunch!
Duke's Waikiki
2335 Kalakaua Ave"Dukes on Sunday" as Jimmy Buffet would say.
Waikele Premium Outlets
94-790 Lumiaina StThe best poke and fish on the island
This is my favorite Blazin Steaks because it seems more local and not so cookie cutter as the others. Their plate lunches are large so you can split one.
Atkinson Grill
1695 Kapiolani BlvdThis is my favorite Blazin Steaks because it seems more local and not so cookie cutter as the others. Their plate lunches are large so you can split one.
Ramen Nakamura
2141 Kalakaua AveExcellent Ramen and Oxtail Soup!! Kamaina discounts offered.
Great Happy Hour! 5-7 pm and spectacular views from the revolving bar. Say "hi" to Ernie the bartender from Thea and Randy.
34 locals recommend
Top of Waikiki
2270 Kalakaua AveGreat Happy Hour! 5-7 pm and spectacular views from the revolving bar. Say "hi" to Ernie the bartender from Thea and Randy.
Happy Hour 2- 5 and say "hi" to Shane the bartender from Thea and Randy
12 locals recommend
P.F. Chang's
2201 Kalakaua AveHappy Hour 2- 5 and say "hi" to Shane the bartender from Thea and Randy
Buzz's Steakhouse
413 Kawailoa RdTry the "Freshie"
Excellent brunch under Hawaiian Hau trees. Next door is the San Souci beach offering great swimming or wander down to the zoo or aquarium.
41 locals recommend
Hau Tree Lanai
Excellent brunch under Hawaiian Hau trees. Next door is the San Souci beach offering great swimming or wander down to the zoo or aquarium.
Everything Else
Matsumoto Shave Ice
66-111 Kamehameha HwyBest Shave Ice! A traditional classic.
This is the closest bank but there is an ATM in the Wailana Coffee Shop. The best way to get cash WITHOUT a service charge is at grocery stores and Walmart.
First Hawaiian Bank Eaton Square Branch
438 Hobron LnThis is the closest bank but there is an ATM in the Wailana Coffee Shop. The best way to get cash WITHOUT a service charge is at grocery stores and Walmart.
Fort DeRussy Beach Park
2055 Kālia RdBeatiful public park and beach. BBQs too!
Beautiful, totally flat golf course on the other side of the Ala Wai canal. It's about a 40 minute walk or a short taxi ride.
49 locals recommend
Ala Wai Golf Course
404 Kapahulu AveBeautiful, totally flat golf course on the other side of the Ala Wai canal. It's about a 40 minute walk or a short taxi ride.
Beautiful hiking to spectacular waterfalls. This is an intermediate hike and can be muddy; worthwhile however.
51 locals recommend
Na Ala Hele: Manoa Falls Trail
Na Ala Hele: Manoa Falls TrailBeautiful hiking to spectacular waterfalls. This is an intermediate hike and can be muddy; worthwhile however.
Shopping
Free cultural events and classes; ukelele lessons, lei making, hula dances, lomi lomi massage, Hawai'ian quilting...
http://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaiian-heritage/cultural-classes
127 locals recommend
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua AveFree cultural events and classes; ukelele lessons, lei making, hula dances, lomi lomi massage, Hawai'ian quilting...
http://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaiian-heritage/cultural-classes
ABC stores are everywhere but this on is IN the building. Extremely convenient. Cheerful and friendly service too.
25 locals recommend
ABC Stores
1450 Ala Moana BlvdABC stores are everywhere but this on is IN the building. Extremely convenient. Cheerful and friendly service too.
Walmart
700 Ke’eaumoku St20 minute walk to inexpensive Hawaiian Souvenirs
T.J. Maxx
4450 Kapolei PkwyGreat prices.... some local items too! (macadamia nut oil, etc)
Inexpensive Hawaiian souvenirs on the main floor. There is also one across from Walmart.
51 locals recommend
Ross Dress for Less
1045 Fort Street MallInexpensive Hawaiian souvenirs on the main floor. There is also one across from Walmart.
Swap meets on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays!! Football games and more!
130 locals recommend
Aloha Stadium
99-500 Salt Lake BlvdSwap meets on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays!! Football games and more!
Bring your foreign passport for luxury duty free items; Coach, Bulgari, Gucci, Cartier and more!
31 locals recommend
T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii
330 Royal Hawaiian AveBring your foreign passport for luxury duty free items; Coach, Bulgari, Gucci, Cartier and more!
Sightseeing
Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalanianaʻole HighwayAmazing snorkelling. Closed Tuesdays.
Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside
2760 Round Top DrAmazing views on clear days only.
Breathtaking views. Best in the off-season otherwise it's like a mule train.
261 locals recommend
Diamond Head Crater Hike
KapahuluBreathtaking views. Best in the off-season otherwise it's like a mule train.
Kaneohe Bay has great snorkelling tours or take a boat to the "Sand Bar" to hang out in the water and sand at low tide.
7 locals recommend
Kaneohe
Kaneohe Bay has great snorkelling tours or take a boat to the "Sand Bar" to hang out in the water and sand at low tide.
Drinks & Nightlife
A bit of a dive but great local characters and sailboaters hang out here. Say "hi" to Jeff the bartender. Simplicity, a great local band, plays on Thursdays.
20 locals recommend
Harbor Pub
1765 Ala Moana BlvdA bit of a dive but great local characters and sailboaters hang out here. Say "hi" to Jeff the bartender. Simplicity, a great local band, plays on Thursdays.
Chart House Waikiki
1765 Ala Moana BlvdBest Sunset Happy Hour Drinks and Pupus!
Close by and Simplicity, a local band, plays on Fridays. Also great happy hours and lunch and dinner specials.
Snapper's Sports Bar & Grill
1778 Ala Moana BlvdClose by and Simplicity, a local band, plays on Fridays. Also great happy hours and lunch and dinner specials.
Hale Koa Hotel
2055 Kālia RdExcellent Mai Tais and a great place to watch the sunset. Not fancy but genuine.
Absolutely the best Mai Tais in Waikiki. Ask for the old school Mai Tai to compare with the modern day Mai Tai.
14 locals recommend
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
2259 Kalakaua AveAbsolutely the best Mai Tais in Waikiki. Ask for the old school Mai Tai to compare with the modern day Mai Tai.
Essentials
This Asian/Japanese grocery store offers a great selection and good prices. It has a row of good plate lunch restaurants outside as well. Within walking distance.
First Hawaiian Bank ATM (Don Quijote Kaheka)
801 Kaheka StThis Asian/Japanese grocery store offers a great selection and good prices. It has a row of good plate lunch restaurants outside as well. Within walking distance.
Closer than Don Quijote but a little more expensive. VERY convenient. Has a hot food counter too for plate lunches, chicken and other entrees.
Food Pantry Ltd
Closer than Don Quijote but a little more expensive. VERY convenient. Has a hot food counter too for plate lunches, chicken and other entrees.
Foodland Farms
1450 Ala Moana BlvdGreat poke; close by.
Arts & Culture
A must do! Educational, fun... a day to remember for ever.
547 locals recommend
Polylnesian cutlural center
A must do! Educational, fun... a day to remember for ever.