Favorites/recs
Best pastries: black sesame kouign amann at Kona Coffee purveyors, passionfruit malasadas and cream puffs at Liliha Bakery
Hotel rec: oceanfront room at the Sheraton Waikiki
Best meal: Tasty chicken at Aiea Bowl. Do not miss this. Anything from Roy’s Waikiki.
Favorite shave ice: Island Vintage Shave Ice
Day 1—Arrival
* Check into hotel
* Check out whatever beach you’re close to
* Dinner: Marugo Bros poke
* Walk around Royal Hawaiian Center, get shave ice at Island Vintage Shave Ice
Day 2
* Explore Waikiki beach
* Breakfast: Go across the street to Island Vintage Coffee Waikiki
* Activity: Diamond Head Summit Trail—1.9 mile hike up (2 hours)
* Snack: Hot malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery
* Lunch: Ono Seafood (poke takeout)
* Dinner reservation: NAMI KAZE
* Foodland on way back to Waikiki
Day 3—Manoa + Honolulu
* Breakfast options: Honolulu Coffee
* Da bald guy food truck
* Zip lining course at CLIMBWORKS
* Ono yo fro yo (post zip lining)
* FIREWORKS – Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, a spectacular fireworks show around 7:45 p.m.
* Aiea Bowl
Day 4—The North Shore
* Breakfast at island vintage (acai bowls and coffee)
* Kakaʻako Farmers Market (open 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) on the way to North Shore https://www.wardvillage.com/explore/activities/farmers-market/ (THIS WAS AMAZING. We loved the mochi from Iso’s Mochi stand and the fruit from Suga Papi’s)
* Green World Coffee Farm Green World Coffee Farm **opens at 7 a.m.
* Coffee and Smoothies at Hale’iwa Bowls **opens at 7:30 a.m. (did not go here)
* explore Haleiwa
* Laniakea Beach—This beach is famous for the sea turtles that emerge from the ocean to suntan on the rocks and sand. (Saw two honos)
* Lunch: Kono’s North Shore or shrimp trucks (did not go here)
* Activity: Waimea Falls—Explore the Waimea Botanical Gardens that end with a picturesque waterfall surrounded by lush, tropical foliage. **Open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. every day. (did not go here)
* Get pie slices from Ted’s Bakery (did not go here)
Day 5—The Windward Coast (scenic road trip on eastern coast)
* Breakfast: Island Vintage Coffee
* Manoa Falls (sunrise)
**Entry is free, but there’s a $5 parking fee if you use the lot by the trailhead.
* Lyon Arboretum (right next door – did not do bc closed)
**Open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free entry
* Halona Blowhole
Geysers of seawater shoot as high as 30 feet through this lava tube, located in a scenic cove.
* Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
A 2-mile round trip (30 minute hike) offers panoramic views of the ocean and Waimanalo Bay
* Lunch: Ono Steaks and Shrimp Shack (yummy coconut shrimp!!!)
* Frankie’s Nursery (ate delish pink guava and some other fruit)
* Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden **can stroll or drive through (did not do this)
Beautiful botanical garden with picturesque views of the Ko’olau mountains. Free admission!
* Byodo-In Temple
Beautiful Buddhist temple. Make sure to buy bird feed at the shop, the birds will eat straight from your hands! $5 admission.
* Dinner: Haleiwa Joe’s (incredible views) **they don’t take reservations so we have to get there shortly before 4 p.m. to put our names on list.
* Trivia: Waikiki Brewing Company (Kaka’ako) Sundays at 6:30 pm 831 Queen St, Honolulu, HI 96813 (option) (did not do this)
Day 6—Kualoa Ranch
* Breakfast: Island Vintage
* Kualoa Ranch day (43 min drive from Waikiki)
Half-day package
OPTIONS ON WAY BACK TO WAIKIKI:
* Waiahole Poi Factory: family owned business serving authentic Hawaiian food
* Macadamia Nut Farm: big gift shop
* Kailua beach: incredibly beautiful beach
* Lanikai Pillbox Hike: short trail features 2 military bunkers
Day 7
* Breakfast: Koa Pancake House (delicious food and very sweet staff)
* Pearl Harbor — Visitor Center 60 min Narrated Multimedia Tour and USS Arizona Memorial tickets at 1 p.m. Reservations: https://www.recreation.gov
* Snorkeling at Paradise cove in Ko Alina
* Visited Aulani
* Dinner: La Vie
Day 8—Waikiki day
* Breakfast at Honolulu coffee
* Waikiki beach swim time
* Lunch in food court – Poke Waikiki, Mahaloha Burger
* Wailea shave ice
* Roy’s Waikiki for dinner — (recommend the pork shank, garlic shrimp and crab ravioli)
Day 9—Waikiki
* Breakfast at Liliha bakery
* Lunch – Marugame udon
* Dinner: Hy’s Steakhouse
Day 10—Waikiki
Friday, 11/24
Spontaneous day
Eat all your favorite meals before leaving!
Music
Music by Citrus Avenue – Saltwater and Sunscreen – https://thmatc.co/?l=AFDC9A42
Music by Reggie San Miguel – Escapade – https://thmatc.co/?l=7EA1451C
Music by Eila – Wait No More – https://thmatc.co/?l=4907AE29
Music by Citrus Avenue – Window Seat – https://thmatc.co/?l=BC2899A2
Music by Haley Harkin – Teacher – https://thmatc.co/?l=06F01A45
Music by Citrus Avenue – Blue Ginger – https://thmatc.co/?l=818435C9
Music by Mak Mon, Dusty – Seahorse – https://thmatc.co/?l=B26813B8
