Things To Do
Magic Island
One of our favorite low-key dates is to go to Foodland Farms grocery store at Ala Moana Center to grab the famous Foodland poke and take it to Magic Island beach park for sunset. AURA tip: order the poke and rice separate instead of a poke bowl to keep the poke cold and rice hot. Grab some nori snack packs and Maui Onion Chips while you're at it ;)
Kalama Beach Park
Alan's beach spot for when he's in the mood for a long romantic stroll on the beach.
Waimanalo Beach Park
Rach's favorite spot to slather on her sunscreen and lay under an umbrella all day long!
Kalapawai Cafe & Deli
Great spot for lunch or grab-and-go to the beach in Kailua or Waimanalo. Cutsie local vibes and ono food.
Waimea Bay
If you have a full day open and a car, visit the North Shore. The video below gives a solid overview of Waimea Bay and Haleiwa town. Keep in mind, winter swells are major in January. There might even be some surf competitions happening when you're in town and that could be cool to see. Listen to lifeguards, and when it doubt, don't go out!
Waiahole Poi Factory
This is a great spot to try Hawaiian food while you're here. It's about a half hour from Waikiki but you can pair it with some of the great beaches on the windward side. It's also close to our wedding venue (Kualoa Ranch) if you want to go explore the Jurassic Valley. Our guests will have discounted access the week of our wedding. (Check back later for more details) We normally go on the way home from the North shore and with a small menu, we recommend trying it all! Waiahole Poi Factory was featured on Netflix Street Food Oahu along with Da Bald Guy Truck if you want a fun watch to get a little inspo for your trip!
Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
Moderate 2-mile paved "hike" with great views to see Humpback whales, especially this time of year. Go early to beat the heat.
Koko Crater Stairs (Summit)
It's ONLY 1,050 steps straight up with an amazing view at the top - it's a great workout if you're into that and don't have problems with heights. Alan says his record is 14 minutes to the top but Rachel wasn't there to verify sooo...
Lanikai Pillbox Trail
1.5-mile hike on a steep-ish dirt trail that leads to a famous pillbox at the top for great views of the beaches below. This is one of our favorite hikes for views. Parking is usually tough and the neighborhood is known for ticketing and towing so be considerate of where you park.
SALT At Our Kaka'ako
Local town center with restaurants, shops, & cafes. Cool part of town where young professionals live, and you can easily Uber to/from Waikiki. A couple of our favorite spots here are Blue Tree Cafe or The Morning Brew for coffee, ARVO for lunch, Mana + Pua for drinks, Pitch Sports Bar & Moku Kitchen for dinner.