Visiting Hawaii had been on my bucket list for a long time – I finally get to cross this off with my first visit to Oahu! This island has a lot to offer: a bustling urban scene, lush nature to escape from the madness, fantastic food, and diverse culture.
I stayed close to Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki, where many hotels are clustered together. Yes, it was touristy. It resembled a hybrid of Miami and Japan with the luxury shops, The Cheesecake Factory with menus in both English and Japanese, and night markets selling fruit, mochi, plus other Asian trinkets. However, with some exploring, I was able to find unique places to visit and yummy eats.
Places to explore:
Waikiki Beach:
This hugely popular, always-packed, two-mile long beach is perfect for people watching. Although it isn’t quite the quintessential, quiet island escape most people have in mind when they hear “Hawaiian beach,” the beautiful backdrop of Diamond Head crater against the blue tides still makes this a pretty sweet spot to spend an afternoon.
Outfit details: Skirt – Reformation Jaime Slit Midi Skirt Top – Socialite V-Neck camisole Flip Flops – Havaianas Tropez Slippers
The Royal Hawaiian
Outfit: Dress – Reformation Concord Daisy Chain Dress
After getting a little bit restless at Waikiki Beach, I stumbled upon this hotel on my walk because it is so hard to miss all of the pink. The pink stucco facade, the pink umbrellas lined perfectly in a row, the pink interior, the pink carpet, etc, etc. For those who enjoy seeking Instagrammable spots, this luxury beachfront hotel is not to be missed.
Non-guests are allowed to walk through the beautiful outdoor lobby (perfect for photo-ops!) and enjoy some sweets from the bakery. I could not resist admiring the massive garden out in the entrance as well.
Places to eat:
The cuisine in Oahu were some of the best I’ve ever had: fresh fish, ripe fruit, succulent meat. I was pleasantly surprised that going out to dine didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. Of course, in Waikiki, expensive touristy restaurants do exist, but luckily I was able to avoid those (like The Cheesecake Factory *cough*) in favor of more affordable, local dishes.
Helena’s Hawaiian Food – $ (CASH ONLY)
Right after we landed in Oahu, we beelined to Helena’s Hawaiian Food. The shabby exterior didn’t disconcert us since we saw a long line of locals waiting to be seated. After a short wait (luckily we beat the rush), we decided that we’d try a large selection of the menu since we were not very familiar with Hawaiian food. Deliciousness ensues.
We got the lomi salmon, poi (taro paste), laulau (pork steamed in taro leaves), pipikaula shortribs, rice, and haupia (coconut pudding) for dessert. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, but I must make a shout-out to the laulau and the shortribs. The laulau was so tender and juicy, the flavor smoky and salty. The shortribs were marinated in a sweet yet tangy sauce and the meat fell off the bones.
Leonard’s Bakery – $
These plump, fluffy malasadas filled with generous doses of cream in an assortment of flavors and covered in sugar were undoubtedly the hi-light of my trip. They were so delicious I waited in the long line two nights in a row during my five day stay. Although they are Portuguese, these treats packaged in a delightful pink box are a Hawaiian staple. I would recommend eating them as soon as possible, while they are still hot and fresh. A fun tidbit: Leonard’s has been around since the 1950’s, and they are still making tummies happy.
Musubi Cafe lyasume – $
This cute little spot in Waikiki is always packed and rightly so: the musubis, aka pocket-sized (perfect for traveling) snacks made from sushi rice, Spam and toppings wrapped around with nori, are delicious and cheap. The shop itself is covered with cute posters and Spam related trinkets – perfect for distractions while waiting in line. The flavor I enjoyed the most was the bacon, avocado and egg, but trust me when I say they are all good. In addition to musubi, I also tried their ahi poke and chicken curry – both dishes were wholesome and delicious. 
Another plus: they are easy to pack up to snack on later. We carried them with us on our Koko Crater Trail Hike and ate them ravenously at the peak. They look so photogenic against the lovely view!
Ono Seafood – $$
I did myself a huge favor when I stopped by here to get my poke fix. Although the restaurant is very minimalistic (no seating inside, and everything is served in a styrofoam tray), the flavors definitely pack a punch. I got the shoyo ahi and the tako (octopus) and it all tasted so fresh and buttery. There are also no frills with the toppings: just the marinated fish and rice, thus resulting in absolute perfection.
Heavenly Island Lifestyle -$$
I craved for a meal that would energize me without bogging me down throughout a day with many hikes scheduled ahead. My order of the Heavenly’s Morning Veggies hit the spot with the combo of an acai bowl with fruit, organic salad, taro english muffin, and a veggie juice. Of course I had many bites of the honey french toast topped with ripe papaya and pineapple. The kona coffee here was really delicious too.
Hawaiian Aroma Caffe – $$
Outfit: Dress – Reformation Christine Dress
What initially caught my eye about this cafe was the stairs to the entrance – so colorful and welcoming. The inside of this cafe is equally as aesthetically pleasing. Although the food is very pricy for what I got (the waffle was a little bit dissapointing), I must admit I did come back twice for the acai bowl topped with fresh fruit.
ShoreFyre – $$
Wanting to take advantage of the abundance of fresh fruit grown in Hawaii, I ordered the papaya topped with yogurt and granola. The papaya was so sweet and ripe, it became my new favorite fruit (you’ve been dethroned, raspberries!). The french toast was very buttery as well, but I do wish we got a little bit more in terms of servings.
Shirokiya Japan Village Walk – $ – $$
Even if you aren’t hungry, this massive Japanese food court located within the luxurious Ala Moana Center is worth checking out regardless. I wish I was hungrier when I went because there were endless food stalls next one another offering so many delicious choices: ramen, sushi, curry, katsu, gyoza, ice-cream, pastries, musubi, and more. We opted for the sukiyaki at Gourmet Plaza Japan for a warm, homey meal.
In addition to food, there were many shops selling stationary, bags, toys, and trinkets as well. I spent hours wandering around and enjoying the ambience. If you are feeling lucky, you can play Gacha, a Japanese vending machine game where you can win coins to spend anywhere in the plaza.
The Pig and the Lady – $$$
Located in Chinatown, this upscale Vietnamese restaurant delivered some traditional, and some fusion dishes that made my mouth water. To start, we ordered some delicious cocktails to accompany the Burmese Tea Salad and Mom’s Pâté Chaud. The salad dressing was made of fermented green tea leaves, which tasted tangy and briny.
The Pâté Chaud was such a unique dish. The star of the plate was a sugar-crusted flaky pastry filled with savory pork. On the side, there were a dollop of pork liver pâté and pickles to cleanse the palette. Every bite was filled with contrasting flavors (sweet vs savory) and textures (crunchy vs soft).
For the entrees, we ordered the pho and the Kaua’i shrimp. The broth of the pho was rich and earthy with a bit of a kick. I typically can handle spice pretty well, yet my eyes were watering by the time I finished my bowl. The shrimp came with a warm baguette to soak up the delicious lemony and garlicky sauce. The shrimp was cooked to perfection – very tender and not rubbery at all. Overall, the flavors of every dish knocked my socks off and the presentation was beautiful as well. I cannot wait to come back again the next time.
For recommendations of the best hikes in Oahu, click here. Stay tuned for tips on where to kayak and then relax!
Below is a map of my recommendations:
I can feel the energy from your pictures. Love It
Looks beautiful!