Guidebook for Ewa Beach
Food Scene
Ewa Pantry is a liquor store that is 1 mile away and has a very good cold beer, wine and liquor selection. My goto place for cold beer and wine. Most restaurants on Oahu are BYOB. A tip: if you are a beer connoisseur, you will probably not find your usual complex ales to taste good in the tropical climate - go for lighter fare (lager, pilsner, hefeweizen).
Ewa Pantry
91-1001 Kaimalie StEwa Pantry is a liquor store that is 1 mile away and has a very good cold beer, wine and liquor selection. My goto place for cold beer and wine. Most restaurants on Oahu are BYOB. A tip: if you are a beer connoisseur, you will probably not find your usual complex ales to taste good in the tropical climate - go for lighter fare (lager, pilsner, hefeweizen).
Authentic Hawaiian "Saimin" (simple ramen dish) is fantastic for breakfast, 5 minutes from home. A no-nonsense place that is about 1 mile away. They have a take out window too.
Shiro's Saimin Haven
98-020 Kamehameha HwyAuthentic Hawaiian "Saimin" (simple ramen dish) is fantastic for breakfast, 5 minutes from home. A no-nonsense place that is about 1 mile away. They have a take out window too.
Very good sushi (portion/quality/selection/price). There is usually a 20 minute wait. It's not fancy (a "boat sushi" place), but it has it where it counts. Try the "garlic hamachi" (a nigiri with a huge piece of fish, apply blowtorch and creamy garlic sauce). Kind of hard to find (hint: it's behind the Baskin Robbins).
16 locals recommend
Sushi Bay
590 Farrington HwyVery good sushi (portion/quality/selection/price). There is usually a 20 minute wait. It's not fancy (a "boat sushi" place), but it has it where it counts. Try the "garlic hamachi" (a nigiri with a huge piece of fish, apply blowtorch and creamy garlic sauce). Kind of hard to find (hint: it's behind the Baskin Robbins).
Very good, authentic (so I'm told) Japanese Ramen. Get the classic. This restaurant is NOT BYOB.
6 locals recommend
AGU Ramen - Kapolei
590 Farrington HwyVery good, authentic (so I'm told) Japanese Ramen. Get the classic. This restaurant is NOT BYOB.
My 10 year old son loves buffalo wild wings, what can I say? Consolation prize: a huge selection of beer on tap and wall-to-wall sports on many huge television screens.
36 locals recommend
Buffalo Wild Wings
91-1061 Keaunui DrMy 10 year old son loves buffalo wild wings, what can I say? Consolation prize: a huge selection of beer on tap and wall-to-wall sports on many huge television screens.
Ono Thai
91-896 Makule RdVery good Thai food 5 minutes from home. Basil chicken, Pad Thai.
Very good Korean food, 5 min from home. Try: Kalbi, Spicy Garlic Shrimp, Seafood Udon.
8 locals recommend
Spoon Korean Kitchen
91-775 Papipi RdVery good Korean food, 5 min from home. Try: Kalbi, Spicy Garlic Shrimp, Seafood Udon.
Japanese food and Vietnamese Pho Soup 5 min from home. Pho is good and Japanese meals are good (e.g. Wayu Steak).
Saito and Pho Restaurant
91-902 Fort Weaver RdJapanese food and Vietnamese Pho Soup 5 min from home. Pho is good and Japanese meals are good (e.g. Wayu Steak).
Parks & Nature
Absolutely one of the best snorkel experiences I've had (including dives in the Caribbean). Great beginning snorkeling. The protected nature of the place, due to the reefs, provide very easy snorkeling (waves are minimal). Decent fish. You should plan to arrive before 8 am to get one of the few parking spots in the lot. You can rent snorkel gear at the park. You'll want to be out snorkeling when the sun is overhead so you can see all the fish. Magical. Admission is $7.50 per person.
531 locals recommend
Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalanianaʻole HighwayAbsolutely one of the best snorkel experiences I've had (including dives in the Caribbean). Great beginning snorkeling. The protected nature of the place, due to the reefs, provide very easy snorkeling (waves are minimal). Decent fish. You should plan to arrive before 8 am to get one of the few parking spots in the lot. You can rent snorkel gear at the park. You'll want to be out snorkeling when the sun is overhead so you can see all the fish. Magical. Admission is $7.50 per person.
I have not been here, but a local told me this is the best local place to surf and boogie board.
48 locals recommend
White Plains Beach
I have not been here, but a local told me this is the best local place to surf and boogie board.
What can you say about Waikiki Beach? It's incredibly beautiful - like a giant, sandy bathtub with an incredible view of Diamond Head, just off to the East. It is always very crowded, so having a good plan is critical. You don't want to end up waiting in your car in traffic.
Commuting - commute hours should be avoided to and from Waikiki.
Parking - you will need a good, cheap, centrally located parking place. Waikiki Banyan Parking Garage is a gated parking garage with full in and out privileges, rate: $80/week (or $20 for every 24 hours). Located at 201 Ohua Ave, but the garage entrance is located on Kuhio Ave, between Ohua Ave and Paoakalani Ave.
218 locals recommend
Waikiki Beach
What can you say about Waikiki Beach? It's incredibly beautiful - like a giant, sandy bathtub with an incredible view of Diamond Head, just off to the East. It is always very crowded, so having a good plan is critical. You don't want to end up waiting in your car in traffic.
Commuting - commute hours should be avoided to and from Waikiki.
Parking - you will need a good, cheap, centrally located parking place. Waikiki Banyan Parking Garage is a gated parking garage with full in and out privileges, rate: $80/week (or $20 for every 24 hours). Located at 201 Ohua Ave, but the garage entrance is located on Kuhio Ave, between Ohua Ave and Paoakalani Ave.
I haven't been here in a long time but I remember it being an amazing beach. It's on the Kailua side (other side of the island). Lanikai is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
276 locals recommend
Lanikai Beach
I haven't been here in a long time but I remember it being an amazing beach. It's on the Kailua side (other side of the island). Lanikai is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Really amazing snorkeling. Beach is OK by Hawaiian standards, but snorkeling is really great. Fish congregate near the two thermal vents from the power plant. Our guests saw a green sea turtle in 5 minutes (better than Hanauma bay according to her).
23 locals recommend
Hawaiian Electric Beach Park
92-201 Farrington HwyReally amazing snorkeling. Beach is OK by Hawaiian standards, but snorkeling is really great. Fish congregate near the two thermal vents from the power plant. Our guests saw a green sea turtle in 5 minutes (better than Hanauma bay according to her).
Entertainment & Activities
About 15 minutes away. Assigned seating with reclining loungers that will go completely flat.
33 locals recommend
Regal Kapolei Commons 12
4450 Kapolei PkwyAbout 15 minutes away. Assigned seating with reclining loungers that will go completely flat.
20 minutes away. Fun water slide rides for the whole family. If you are going to go twice, the season pass is worth it.
91 locals recommend
Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii
400 Farrington Hwy20 minutes away. Fun water slide rides for the whole family. If you are going to go twice, the season pass is worth it.
If you need a gym to workout, but need to figure out what to do with the rest of your family, the Kroc Center is amazing. It's open to the public, has a full gym, pool and water park with slides, cafeteria, drop-in daycare ($6 session, you must stay on premises). Day rates: $14 kids, $18 adults, weekly rates as well. http://www.kroccenterhawaii.org/. 808-682-5505. 14 minutes away
The Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawaii
91-3257 Kualakai PkwyIf you need a gym to workout, but need to figure out what to do with the rest of your family, the Kroc Center is amazing. It's open to the public, has a full gym, pool and water park with slides, cafeteria, drop-in daycare ($6 session, you must stay on premises). Day rates: $14 kids, $18 adults, weekly rates as well. http://www.kroccenterhawaii.org/. 808-682-5505. 14 minutes away
Essentials
Target
4450 Kapolei PkwyClosest target. 24 minutes away
Costco Wholesale
4589 Kapolei PkwyClosest Costco. 19 min away.
Shopping
Macy's
91-5431 Kapolei PkwyClosest Macy's. 16 min away.
Good wine selection on Kapolei side. Make sure to check out the Specialty Wine aisle (it's run by one of the affiliated vendors, not the normal Foodland wine aisle).
31 locals recommend
Foodland Kapolei
4850 Kapolei PkwyGood wine selection on Kapolei side. Make sure to check out the Specialty Wine aisle (it's run by one of the affiliated vendors, not the normal Foodland wine aisle).
Good selection of snorkel equipment and open until 8pm. Snorkel gear is not available (beyond Walmart quality) in Kapolei, so if you want better snorkel gear, you will have to venture into Waikiki. Almost every snorkel place closes at 6pm, but this place is open until 8pm. The owner is very friendly. I got a good set of fins, mask and dry snorkel for $60.
South Seas Aquatics
1831 Ala Moana BlvdGood selection of snorkel equipment and open until 8pm. Snorkel gear is not available (beyond Walmart quality) in Kapolei, so if you want better snorkel gear, you will have to venture into Waikiki. Almost every snorkel place closes at 6pm, but this place is open until 8pm. The owner is very friendly. I got a good set of fins, mask and dry snorkel for $60.
Sightseeing
Don't go to Diamond Head. Just make sure to look at it over your left when you are at Waikiki Beach, which is one of the best views of it (and the reason that Waikiki Beach is so iconic).
250 locals recommend
Diamond Head
Don't go to Diamond Head. Just make sure to look at it over your left when you are at Waikiki Beach, which is one of the best views of it (and the reason that Waikiki Beach is so iconic).
Drinks & Nightlife
Mai Tai Bar has the "best Mai Tai" on Hawaii. Quality varies a bit, depending on who makes it. But the best Mai Tai is deserved, in my opinion (strong, and good). Food is expensive and average (the food is tasty, just expensive and not outstanding), as is the case for many places right on the beach. There is entertainment, which is often pretty good. I would not eat dinner here, but I would get a late night drink and then walk with my family on Waikiki Beach at night...beautiful, warm and fun.
113 locals recommend
Mai Tai Bar
1450 Ala Moana BlvdMai Tai Bar has the "best Mai Tai" on Hawaii. Quality varies a bit, depending on who makes it. But the best Mai Tai is deserved, in my opinion (strong, and good). Food is expensive and average (the food is tasty, just expensive and not outstanding), as is the case for many places right on the beach. There is entertainment, which is often pretty good. I would not eat dinner here, but I would get a late night drink and then walk with my family on Waikiki Beach at night...beautiful, warm and fun.