Kerstin & Andrew
Things To Do
Hike Koko Head
Hawaii-kai - $0 - Hike Kokohead | Go see where it all began: on a mile walk up stairs in the baking sun, Kerstin & Andrew met. Convince yourself it's a good workout, and the views at the top are AMAZING. SUPER worth it. Reward yourself afterwards at Kona Brewing Co less than 3 miles away. You park for free at the parking lot, and on the south end of the parking lot, follow the paved path east and up towards the crater.
Friday Night Fireworks @ The Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki
Waikiki - $0 - Friday Night Fireworks @ Royal Hawaiian Hotel + Mai Tai Bar | They often play live music here. Kerstin & Andrew started dancing to the live music and were cheered on by vacation-goers and eventually the band kept playing for us!
Lanikai Pillboxes Hike
Kailua/Lanikai - $0 - The Lanikai Pillboxes Hike | Lanikai is a rich loop community of houses. There's the gated entrance to a golf course on a side road, and just beyond it on the left is the trail head to the Lanikai Pillboxes. You've got to find parking somewhere legal (which is the hard part) and then possibly walk a half mile to the trailhead, but it's a short hike up to the first pill box, and a very short hike to the second. It's a beautiful place to watch the sun rise over the two islands off the coast called "The Mokes." Swing by OverEasy for breakfast afterwards!
Snorkel @ Hanauma Bay
Haunama Bay -$5? - Haunama Bay may have gotten closed forever because Tourists suck. It used to be a beautiful reef you could snorkel after watching a mandatory video of how to not stand on coral
Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
Makapu Lighthouse - $0 - Hike the Makapu Lighthouse | During the winter, you may be able to see whales during their mating season. Parking can be difficult, but don't be afraid to walk to the trailhead. The entire path has no coverage nor shade, but is probably the only trail entirely paved.
Find Eternity Beach
South Shore - $0 - Find Eternity Beach | Okay, so on the way to our first date, Andrew saw a small sandy beach surrounded by sheer rock cliffs. He tried to bring Kerstin back, but didn't realize Eternity Beach is a beach that only exists during low tide. It's worth checking out, especially because due to its inaccessiblity and size it quickly becomes a private beach. On clear days, you can see Molokai, the next island in the chain that was home to the leper colony from the 70s.
Tantalus Lookout
Leeward side of Oahu - $0 | Open Google Maps. Search Honolulu. Look for the swiggliest road. Its Tantalus. Drive there. Find pullouts as you drive.
Olomana Ridge/"3 Peaks" Trailhead
Kailua - $0 | Park near Pali Hwy and walk. Like, make sure you're walking at least a solid quarter mile before the trail. Okay, lemme warn you: THIS HIKE IS NO JOKE. The views are awesome, but: 1. This is a ridge hike. So like, the tippy top, and there is a really steep down on either side of you with high gusts and the trail shrinks to being less than 2 feet wide. 2. Dont attempt it with sandals or after it rained. 3. There is a short rock climbing section that is necessary prior to making it to the first peak. Everything before this is easy. at the top of the rock climbing, you are on the ridge. 4. It's called 3 peaks but seriously please do not do the third one. The trail between the second and third ones is perilous and people die. The first and second are commonly done. I went to the first and stopped: my fear of heights got too wild to continue. After all that said: The view is incredible like you've never seen.
Dinner @ Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens (Kaneohe)
Kaneohe - $15-30/plate - Haleiwa Joe's | You've got to go to the Kaneohe/Haiku Gardens location, NOT the North Shore location. Also, you've got to go during daylight hours. They've got a botanical garden you can walk around as you wait, and if you get there when they open for dinner, they are well-known for their prime rib. At about $40 it's definitely spendy and you could probably do-it-yourself at home, but their daily quantity is limited and it's a pretty great experience
![AYCE Korean BBQ (Honolulu/Kaneohe) [24hrs]](https://images.zola.com/76059b01-70a8-40af-a102-9c373e9a7a64?h=150)
AYCE Korean BBQ (Honolulu/Kaneohe) [24hrs]
Kaneohe/Honolulu - $15 - Sidorak / Sidorak2 | AYCE (All-you-can-eat) Korean BBQ that's open 24hrs. Oishii! The Honolulu location is next to a WalMart. Park at the Walmart parking garage, walk across the street for food (there is parking on site, but the lot is one lane shared in/out and is hard to park in. The WalMart also is an excellent source of souvenirs. Much better selection and price than most ABC stores. The Island Princess Mele-Macs are the best!
Breakfast @ Over Easy (Kailua)
Kailua - $10-15 - OverEasy | The best breakfast place on the island, probably the best breakfast you've ever had in your life. Every plate looks Instagram worthy. Parking is either parallel parking and requires quarters to feed the meter, or you can park for free at the Whole Foods parking lot and walk. Andrew orders the Kalua Pig Hash, which is both delicious and filling, while Kerstin orders the Custard French Toast. Get the full order and split it! It's worth the slightly longer wait, I swear!
Poke @ Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors
Kailua - $8 - Tamura's or The Hibachi | The goal is Poke. Pronounced the same as Pokemon, it's raw tuna coarsely cubed served on rice and it is SO GOOD and totally a Hawaiian thing. Tamura's is actually a liquor store and in the back, they serve some of the best Poke on the Island. Try out their unique flavors! (Shoyu Ahi is the 'classic' flavor for Poke) Similarly, The Hibachi is hiding behind a strip mall and is essentially a gas station building without the gas station. It's tiny, but they make the best Poke on the island. The Wasabi Mayo was definitely my favorite and best of all: Both places I mentioned are totally cool with you trying samples
Lunch @ Nalu Health Bar & Cafe (Kailua)
Kailua - $8 - Nalu | They're a pretty new restaurant and I don't know if they'll still be around, but they've got the best Acai bowls I've ever eaten
Dinner @ Casablanca Restaurant (Kailua)
Kailua - $40 - Casablanca | Call on the phone and leave a reservation on their voice mail. It's a middle eastern family-style meal where you sit on pillows around a table and everyone eats with their hands from the center a 4 course meal. It's an amazing cultural and culinary experience!
Dinner/Beer @ Kona Brewing Co. (Hawaii-kai)
Hawaii-kai - $5 - Kona Brewing Company | They're a well-known brewery; however, there are certain beers they only brew and offer on the Hawaiian Islands. Both Kerstin & Andrew would recommend the Lemongrass Luau. Andrew also really likes the Hula Hef. If you're feeling adventurous, ask them for the Lemongrass Luau with a Li-Hing rim. It's a Hawaiian thing that's a little sweet and a little sour and it's a nice tropical twist. Afterwards, there's an ice cream shop in that shopping center that sells Mochi ice cream. Try it out! It's like a gummy ice cream dumpling! The description is weird, but you've GOT to try it at least once. When parking, plan that the lot will be full, and
Dinner @ Himalayan Kitchen (E of Honolulu)
Between Hawaii-Kai and Honolulu - $15-20 - The Himalyan Kitchen | There may be another location opening in Kailua, but this location is the original, and it may make the best damn curry I've ever had in my life. Andrew would always order the Lamb Madras. When you ask for spice level, Andrew would order a 10 and have a proper 10. Special key words like "Thai spicy" aren't needed here. Theres a parking lot inside the building, you must pay when you leave by walking to a kiosk that accepts card. When you get there, enter the building's courtyard and walk up the stairs that are outside. Around the corner to the right, a server will greet you.
Mochi Ice Cream (various locations)
Various - $1-5 - Mochi Ice Cream | Whole Foods in Kailua and other places offer it sometimes, but you've got to try it, its soooo good. Btw: Lillikoi = passionfruit
Paradise Cove Luau
The West Resort Area - $77/person - Paradise Cove Luau (Orchid Buffet Package) | This has been Kerstin & I's favorite Luau on the Island. We've been to it twice, I took my parents there, and we recommend you visit for that island experience! If you want to try "typical Hawaiian Food" you've pretty much gotta go to a luau; Hawaiians have many more alternatives nowadays. L&L has the other spectrum of Hawaiian Food.
Food @ L&L Hawaiian Barbecue (Everywhere)
$10 - Literally everywhere. Google the nearest location to you. You've gotta try their Mochiko Chicken. A short Hawaiian Lesson for you Ono = delicious Grindz = food Mahalo = thank you Aloha = literally good anytime and not super touristy.
Surf Lessons @ North Shore Surf Girls (North Shore, or someone else around Waikiki)
North Shore - $100-140 - North Shore Surf Girls | Take a surfing lesson! While the North Shore is known world-wide for their surfing, there are spots that are good for beginners and there are plenty of especially good instructors who don't do it for the money: They just love surfing! You can also try with any hotel in the Waikiki area
Dole Plantation (Towards North Shore)
Towards North Shore - $20 - Dole Plantation: Pineapple Express Tour + Dole Whip | The Dole Company had a really big impact on the history of Hawaii, and they share the story of Hawaii's history through the lens of a company that almost owned the entire island chain. Dole Whip is a pineapple soft serve thats infamous for some reason and you should get it for the experience--it used to not be sold anywhere else, but I think Disney World is starting to sell it. If you do get it, you've got to get it with the pineapple bits on it. Actually, the pineapple is well worth it, because on the island, they grow a different variety of pineapple called the "Royal Hawaiian" and it does taste almost more honey-like than sugary sweet. It's delicious.
Macadamia Nut Farm/Time-effective Luau (N of Kaneohe)
North of Kaneohe - Macadamia Nut Farm Ali'i Tour | You drive there and it's a tourist trap. Have about $20 cash/person and find the hut to the left behind the building. Call (on the phone) ahead to ask about hours but I think they're 11am and 1pm for the tours. It's all the show of a luau without the ttime commitment nor the food. Seriously though, it's super cool and I wouldn't have wasted my time writing it or your time reading this if it wasn't super cool. + Pick up Island Princess Brand Mele Macs. You can actually do that cheaper at any WalMart on the Island, but it was relevant to write here. Delicio
Valley of the Temples (Kaneohe)
Kaneohe -$0-5 - Valley of the Temples | A bunch of graveyards for various religions, but in the back is a recreation of a Buddhist Temple called Byodo-In. It's a super cool thing to walk around. They ask for a $5'donation' and I'm pretty sure they accept card