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Honolulu

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Brad Keeton

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Honolulu

by Brad Keeton » Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:29 am

This may be a long shot, but any recommendations for Honolulu? We're going with family who will likely be planning the bulk of our itinerary, but my wife and I are arriving a day before everyone else and will have another evening or two free.

I have no idea at this point what other islands we might get to, but if there are truly can't miss suggestions on other islands, please share.

Thanks.
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JustinHammond

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Re: Honolulu

by JustinHammond » Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:50 am

The hike to Diamond Head was quick, easy, and worthwhile.

The hike to Manoa Falls was moderate, but very enjoyable. It is through a rain forest so be prepared to get wet.

North Shore - must stop at shrimp trucks on the way
http://romyskahukuprawns.org/

Make sure to try the Poke while on the island

Boots and Kimo's - Pancakes and Sausage

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolul ... os-Kailua/

http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/di ... _grill.cfm - Solid food, atmosphere that can't be beat.

http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

http://samchoyhawaii.com/ - Kind of touristy, but great food and beer.

http://bangkokchefexpress.com/ - Great Thai food

http://www.leonardshawaii.com/malasadas.html - Crack doughnuts
Last edited by JustinHammond on Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Honolulu

by Brad Keeton » Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:10 pm

JustinHammond wrote:The hike to Diamond Head was quick, easy, and worthwhile.

The hike to Manoa Falls was moderate, but very enjoyable. It is through a rain forest so be prepared to get wet.

North Shore - must stop at shrimp trucks on the way

Make sure to try the Poke while on the island

http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

http://samchoyhawaii.com/ - Kind of touristy, but great food and beer.

http://bangkokchefexpress.com/ - Great Thai food

http://www.leonardshawaii.com/malasadas.html - Crack doughnuts


Thanks, Justin. My wife is running is full marathon our third day there, so I'm not sure how much hiking I'll be able to convinve her to do that week, but if I can't get her out I may do one solo. The food recs look good.
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Re: Honolulu

by Gayle DeM » Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:25 pm

I have to visiting Hawaii off and on for some fifty years now. The last time was four years ago. I have never been without a stop in Hawaii. Most places come and go but I always have to stop at the House Without A Key at the Halekulani Hotel right on Waikiki Beach. Though a bit pricey, I think that it has the best sunsets on all of the beach plus best Hawaiian music. I never tire of it1

Additionally, I must recommend to Hawaiian foods that are best found at Mom & Pop dives, carts and food trucks: the loco moco (a beef patty on rice topped with a fried egg and gravy). This is pure Hawaiian comfort food and ever so tasty. Additionally, I love the manapua, which is a Hawaiian form of the Chinese dim sum bao. I must have both of those plus some Hawaiian shaved ice to feel that I have really been in Hawaii.
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Re: Honolulu

by JustinHammond » Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:45 pm

This is the reply from a friend of mine who lives on Oahu.



Oahu Restaurants (Honolulu, Waikiki, North Shore, Kailua)

Restaurants In Honolulu: Shokudo( best Japanese/sushi/ honey bread dessert)
Nico's at the pier (fish is caught that day and brought into restaurant)
Ono Hawaiian Foods (super local, cash only)
Michele's At The Colony Surf (probably the most beautiful dining spot in
Hawaii, expensive) and Side Street Inn (local food, cheap, popular with the locals)
Tae's Teppanyaki ( very simple menu, very good! Won't find anything like it again)
Wahoo's Fish Taco's ( at Ward Center- pretty good cheap tacos)
*Off the beaten path....la Mariana at 50 Sand Island Access Road Honolulu, it's in the middle of the cargo shipping area, looks kinda sketchy but its really a cool place for dinner and local drinks. Fish, steaks, etc. moderately priced very different environment.

In Waikiki: Hy's Steakhouse, MAC 24/7(breakfast..HUGE pancakes!!!!), Roy's,
Shorebird Restaurant, House Without A Key, Yard House, RumFire (really cool for
Going out at night for a drink/snacks), Gyu-kako Japanese BBQ

Cocktails in Waikiki: pretty much anywhere but the Sheraton pool bar has a really cool shaved ice that they make with alcohol...really unique also RumFire is nice at night to sit outside, Hilton Hawaiian has some nice outdoor bars, and Dukes.

In Kailua: Buzz's Steakhouse, Lanikai Juice, Formaggio, Cinnamons( breakfast) and
Boots and Kimo's (the best pancakes on the island! A must try and yes, it is worth
the wait..they are quick)-get the macadamia nut/banana pancakes with the sauce!

In North Shore: Any of the shrimp trucks -we like Romy's garlic shrimp.
Haleiwa Eats Thai, Killer Taco's


Hikes on Oahu
Manoa Falls, Koko Crater ( way better than the touristy Diamond Head hike),
Manawilili Falls (can swim in the waterfall at this one), Old Pali Highway hike.
These hikes are all safe and your car will be okay. Some hikes can get you
caught in the mountains in heavy rain and some are in heavy crime areas.

Snorkeling on Oahu
Haunama Bay in Hawaii Kai, Sharks Cove in North Shore

Stand Up Paddle on Oahu
At the stand outside of the Hale Koa hotel (on beach) or in Kailua (can also
kayak in Kailua)



If Big Island: go to Hilo,Volcano National Park ( do the helicopter ride over the lava flow) also great hikes and lava tubes, Kailua-Kona has good restaurants. Also in this area is an amazing place for massage (authentic Hawaiian and a MUST to do if you are on BI...reservations are needed/ not expensive it's called Mamalahoa Massage and Hot Tubs 898-323-2288)

If Maui: do the sunrise in Haleakala. You will need a reservation for the bus to take you up and you will have to wake about 4 am. It's SUPER cold on top of the mountain, so you will need to bring a few covers from your room and the guide should have coats and scarfs to offer you. Maui also has a zip line that is good. Also they have a great pancake hut here called The Gazebo.....so good. I'm not a big fan of Maui so I really don't go over there.

If Kauai: beautiful but not a lot here. Can do the old plantation tubing. It is a old ditch dug out for irrigation, you can google river tubing in Kauai for more info. Also if its the right time of year and you're feeling fit, there is always the Napali Coast....you can hike it or kayak it. Companies offer overnight kayak adventures which I've heard are amazing....I have not done it.
"The idea is to eat well and not die from it-for the simple reason that that would be the end of your eating." - Jim Harrison

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Robin Garr

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Re: Honolulu

by Robin Garr » Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:52 pm

My Hawai'i adventures were 20 years ago and so not fresh enough to be much help, but I'll concur with the others who say it's a heavenly place. I spent my time on Oahu (my trip was work-related, and I had visits mostly around Honolulu), but I remember how interesting it was to drive over the mountain to the far shore from Honolulu and get a sense of how wind direction makes a huge habitat difference in these tropical islands.

Also, just for a Hawaiian laugh, you really ought to find a crack seed store, which is pretty much unique to Hawaii, I think. Nothing druggie or illegal, despite the name, just a Nuts N Stuff type operation with weigh-and-buy portion samples of hundreds of crunchy, salty snacks.

Great multi-ethnic Asian food including some of the best Thai and Japanese I ever ate. And Chinese. Good stuff. I envy you your trip and just wish I had more current details.

Oh, don't bother with the pineapple wine. It's a tourist gimmick, and actually doesn't taste that much different from a cheap, sweetish Chardonnay.

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