Guidebook for Honolulu
Food Scene
Hula Grill Waikiki
2335 Kalakaua AveBest Mai Tais and Happy Hour!
Hau Tree Lanai
Great for sunset and a romantic dinner on the beach
Michel's at the Colony Surf
2895 Kalākaua AvenueGreat for sunset and romantic dinner
Buho Cocina y Cantina
2250 Kalakaua AveOutdoor rooftop Mexican restaurant
Roy's Waikiki
226 Lewers StFine Dining Hawaiian Cuisine
Kona Coffee Purveyors | b patisserie
2330 Kalakaua Ave100% Kona Coffee
Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
227 Lewers StDelicious Italian (Sicilian) Food
Noi Thai Cuisine
2301 Kalakaua AveFine Thai Food Dining
Hy's Steak House
2440 Kūhiō AvenueSteakhouse
Marukame Udon Waikiki
2310 Kūhiō Ave.Japanese Udon Noodles
This is a great breakfast spot. Recommend the Guava Chiffon pancakes.
57 locals recommend
THE STREET, a Michael Mina Social House
This is a great breakfast spot. Recommend the Guava Chiffon pancakes.
Great American food with a relaxing vibe and quality food. They have a second location in Haleiwa, and both locations are good.
105 locals recommend
Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill
559 Kapahulu AveGreat American food with a relaxing vibe and quality food. They have a second location in Haleiwa, and both locations are good.
This is our favorite place on the island for a good fish dinner. There are a couple of restaurants in this area including Nicos and Harbor restaurant. The restaurants of pier 38!
9 locals recommend
Uncle's Fish Market & Grill
98-1005 N Nimitz HwyThis is our favorite place on the island for a good fish dinner. There are a couple of restaurants in this area including Nicos and Harbor restaurant. The restaurants of pier 38!
Well known local brunch place with great views and a garden to match. Brunch is only on Sundays.
114 locals recommend
Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens
46-336 Haiku RdWell known local brunch place with great views and a garden to match. Brunch is only on Sundays.
Drinks & Nightlife
RumFire
2255 Kalakaua AveSKY Waikiki
2270 Kalakaua AveTrendy bar with sand on your toes and fire pits to relax by.
10 locals recommend
The Laylow, Autograph Collection
2299 Kūhiō Ave. Trendy bar with sand on your toes and fire pits to relax by.
Best view of Diamond Head hands down!
27 locals recommend
DECK. at Queen Kapiolani Hotel | Waikiki / Honolulu | Restaurant / Wedding
150 Kapahulu AveBest view of Diamond Head hands down!
Very upscale bar that specials in old fashioned cocktails. The best old fashioned I have ever had.
12 locals recommend
Bar Leather Apron
745 Fort StVery upscale bar that specials in old fashioned cocktails. The best old fashioned I have ever had.
The happy hour is from 2-5 daily. The drinks during happy hour are a great deal for the quality of the drink. They also have a pretty okay dinner menu if you can not make it for happy hour.
42 locals recommend
Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store
298 Beach WalkThe happy hour is from 2-5 daily. The drinks during happy hour are a great deal for the quality of the drink. They also have a pretty okay dinner menu if you can not make it for happy hour.
Sightseeing
Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center
1 Arizona Memorial PlShangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design
4055 Pāpū CirFamous home of Doris Duke.
Very cool lookout where you can see a large portion of Kailua and Kanehoe Bay. Quick stop with great views, if it is not raining.
168 locals recommend
Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout
Nuuanu Pali DriveVery cool lookout where you can see a large portion of Kailua and Kanehoe Bay. Quick stop with great views, if it is not raining.
The dole plantation is a working pineapple plantation that you can visit on your way to the north shore. Recommend trying the dole whip, which a pineapple based soft serve ice-cream.
179 locals recommend
Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha HwyThe dole plantation is a working pineapple plantation that you can visit on your way to the north shore. Recommend trying the dole whip, which a pineapple based soft serve ice-cream.
Entertainment & Activities
Hanauma Bay Nature Park station
Snokerling
Blue Note Hawaii
2335 Kalākaua AvenueJazz Club
This little water park has every type of water slide you can imagine. During the summer they sometimes show movies played over the wave pool after the sunsets.
91 locals recommend
Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii
400 Farrington HwyThis little water park has every type of water slide you can imagine. During the summer they sometimes show movies played over the wave pool after the sunsets.
If you have ever seen a movie that filmed in Hawaii, you most likely saw this ranch in the back ground. This is where all the big movies are filmed. They offer many different types of tours and activities for all ranges of family members.
289 locals recommend
Kualoa Ranch
49-560 Kamehameha HwyIf you have ever seen a movie that filmed in Hawaii, you most likely saw this ranch in the back ground. This is where all the big movies are filmed. They offer many different types of tours and activities for all ranges of family members.
Every Friday night there is a quick firework show. The show is only 5 minutes long but it is very action packed. The show is at 7:45 during the winter and 8:00 during the summer months.
6 locals recommend
Waikiki Friday Fireworks
Every Friday night there is a quick firework show. The show is only 5 minutes long but it is very action packed. The show is at 7:45 during the winter and 8:00 during the summer months.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful view of Waikiki Beach at the top of Diamond Head Crater
347 locals recommend
Diamond Head State Monument
Beautiful view of Waikiki Beach at the top of Diamond Head Crater
This is the beach where the famous Pipeline surfing competition is held. During the winter the waves are so big that it is unwise to even get in the water. 40 foot waves happen almost every year during the winter months.
168 locals recommend
Sunset Beach
This is the beach where the famous Pipeline surfing competition is held. During the winter the waves are so big that it is unwise to even get in the water. 40 foot waves happen almost every year during the winter months.
Amazing sunrise hike with stunning views. Be careful about where you park, the parking is very strictly enforced in the area.
178 locals recommend
Pillbox Hike
265 Kaelepulu DrAmazing sunrise hike with stunning views. Be careful about where you park, the parking is very strictly enforced in the area.
This beach has great views and incredibly fine sand. It is consistently voted one of the top ten beaches in the United States each year. Be careful to follow all direction with regards to parking.
276 locals recommend
Lanikai Beach
This beach has great views and incredibly fine sand. It is consistently voted one of the top ten beaches in the United States each year. Be careful to follow all direction with regards to parking.
Hidden park that only locals know about. There is a small beach attached to the side of this park. This is our favorite little secret beach park.
7 locals recommend
Makalei Beach Park
3111 Diamond Head RdHidden park that only locals know about. There is a small beach attached to the side of this park. This is our favorite little secret beach park.
This hike is on an old railway, and the rail ties still exist. It is straight up and down hike. Be careful, it can get very hot in the middle of the day and there is no shade. The views are incredible.
81 locals recommend
Koko Crater Railway Trail
7604 Koko Head Park RdThis hike is on an old railway, and the rail ties still exist. It is straight up and down hike. Be careful, it can get very hot in the middle of the day and there is no shade. The views are incredible.
This hiking trail starts in the back of a neighborhood. The hike is an out and back trail approximately 2 miles each way, 4 miles total. The trail is well maintained but it takes about 3 and a half hours to complete. There is a significant elevation change on the hike but it is all worth it in the end. It seems like a pretty boring nature walk most of the way until you get to the very top, where you will having stunning views of the entire island. Unlike stairway to heaven, this hike is fully legal. Hike is mostly shaded, but you will still need water for this hike.
58 locals recommend
Kuliouou Ridge Trail
Kuli'ou'ou Valley TrailThis hiking trail starts in the back of a neighborhood. The hike is an out and back trail approximately 2 miles each way, 4 miles total. The trail is well maintained but it takes about 3 and a half hours to complete. There is a significant elevation change on the hike but it is all worth it in the end. It seems like a pretty boring nature walk most of the way until you get to the very top, where you will having stunning views of the entire island. Unlike stairway to heaven, this hike is fully legal. Hike is mostly shaded, but you will still need water for this hike.
This is simple up and down hike with a view from the light house at the end. There is a secret off chute that adventure seekers can take that leads down to an area known as the Makapu'u tide pools. If you are seeking the tide pools be careful, you will want hiking shoes. We do not recommend hiking to the tide pools if the wave conditions are not right.
261 locals recommend
Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse TrailThis is simple up and down hike with a view from the light house at the end. There is a secret off chute that adventure seekers can take that leads down to an area known as the Makapu'u tide pools. If you are seeking the tide pools be careful, you will want hiking shoes. We do not recommend hiking to the tide pools if the wave conditions are not right.
This is a great beach up on the North Shore, during the winter the waves can get very big and the shore break can be dangerous. During the summer the beach is extremely calm! During the summer there is a rock you can jump off into the water. Also known for its famous big wave surf competition, Eddie Would Go!
389 locals recommend
Waimea Bay Beach
This is a great beach up on the North Shore, during the winter the waves can get very big and the shore break can be dangerous. During the summer the beach is extremely calm! During the summer there is a rock you can jump off into the water. Also known for its famous big wave surf competition, Eddie Would Go!
Hidden spot where you can swim and be inside an ocean cave, there are picture all over instagram of this place.
28 locals recommend
Mermaid Caves
Keaulana AvenueHidden spot where you can swim and be inside an ocean cave, there are picture all over instagram of this place.
State park that has very beautiful botanical gardens and stunning back drops. This place is known for tourists taking pictures on the road with the mountains in the background. Be warned the guards yell at people who try to take pictures in the middle of the road.
135 locals recommend
Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens
45-680 Luluku RdState park that has very beautiful botanical gardens and stunning back drops. This place is known for tourists taking pictures on the road with the mountains in the background. Be warned the guards yell at people who try to take pictures in the middle of the road.
Cool spot that you can jump off the side of the cliff and into the clear water. You can spot lots of locals spear fishing in the area.
37 locals recommend
China Walls
Hanapepe PlaceCool spot that you can jump off the side of the cliff and into the clear water. You can spot lots of locals spear fishing in the area.
Arts & Culture
Paradise Cove Luau
92-1089 Ali'inui DrLuau Dinner and Show
Polylnesian cutlural center
Home of the Hawaiian royalty. The palace is a unique bit of Hawaii's past. This is the building that Hawaii 50 uses as their head quarters.
263 locals recommend
Iolani Palace
364 S King StHome of the Hawaiian royalty. The palace is a unique bit of Hawaii's past. This is the building that Hawaii 50 uses as their head quarters.
Shopping
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana BlvdInternational Market Place
2330 Kalakaua Ave