Tips for Honolulu

My husband and I are coming to Hawaii from Australia in April and staying for 4 nights. Just wondering if some of the experts/locals could give us some tips on the %26#39;must see%26#39; things and some great places to eat. Thanks

Tips for Honolulu

There are literally TONS of great places to eat! You%26#39;ve picked the best island as far as places to eat!! What kind of places are you looking for?? Fancy places? Cheap places?? Hole in the wall places??

Tips for Honolulu

If you want Hawaiian food, try going to a place that has ';plate lunches';-it%26#39;s a traditional Hawaiian meal. Or you could go to a Luau. We really enjoyed the Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center, but it is on the North side of the island. I think there are several places in Honolulu or Waikiki that have a luau.

As far as other really nice restaurants, I%26#39;ll leave it for others to advise you. We usually did tourist stuff and sgithseeing all day, then just got a quick easy dinner somewhere.

I agree. You HAVE to try some plate lunches! And Oahu is the best island where that%26#39;s concerned! One such great place is L %26amp; L BBQ. There%26#39;s one right in Waikiki. I%26#39;m assuming that%26#39;s where you%26#39;re staying.

We had plate lunch 2-3 times while we were there-mostly on the North Shore, though-I think the L %26amp; L Drive Inn in Laie (Is that part of the same chain as the one in Waikiki?) and from one of the shrimp trucks. We really enjoyed them-a lot different than here at home.

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First, the ';traditional'; plate lunch is not what is normally referred to as ';Hawaiian food.'; The plate lunch is essentially a ';local style'; of serving lunch ((usually entree, rice, %26amp; mac salad, often ';to go';) while Hawaiian food is more in the line of lau lau, poi, kalua pig, lomi salmon, etc.

Plate lunch entrees run the gamut from dried out teri beef to some of the best dishes around. L%26amp;L (now an international chain) serves a decent plate lunch but nowhere near the best in town. Since you%26#39;re not likely to be able to find a lot of the local ';gems'; (many of which are lunch wagons parked near construction sites), I%26#39;d recommend:

Nico%26#39;s at Pier 35 - awesome furukake seared ahi.

Side Street Inn on Hoapaka Street (about a block from Ala Moana Center between Piikoi %26amp; Pensacola Streets) - plate lunches during the day and a great local bar with terrific pupus and dinners at night. Their kitchen stays open till about 12:30 or 1:00 AM and a lot of the local chefs from fine restaurants go their after they close their own places. At night, try the poke, sashimi, fried rice, and/or pork chop.

Kaka%26#39;ako Kitchen at Ward Center - everything%26#39;s good and always fresh.

Masu%26#39;s - Oops, great place but just closed when the third generation didn%26#39;t want to take over. Sorry.

As to Hawaiian food, the local favorite is Ono Hawaiian Food on Kapahulu (the street between Waikiki and the zoo). It%26#39;s up a few blocks from the Ala Wai but walkable.

Some of our fave places to eat on Oahu are:

Dukes (of course %26amp; you have to have Hula Pie)

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Rock Island Cafe

Hula Grill

The Cheesecake Factory

Giovanni%26#39;s shrimp truck (North Shore)

Orchids at the Halekulani (expensive but worth every penny).

Places to see, there are heaps of things to do and with only 4 nights you will be busting to see everything. We have been back 3 times for 10 nights or more %26amp; still havent seen everything !!! LOL

Pearl Harbour (an absolute must)

Hike up Diamond Head

North Shore town of Haleiwa

Hanauma Bay snorkelling

Polynesian Cultural Centre (the A%26#39;li Luau %26amp; Horizon show at night)

Ala-Moana Shopping Centre

Aloha stadium swap meet (cheap souviners) also International Market Place

China Town

Some great buildings in downtown Honolulu, like State Capitol Building and I%26#39;olani Palace.

Do a Grand Circle Island tour of Oahu by either taking a tour or renting a car. You will see some beautiful sights like Byodo-In temple, Pali Lookout, Sunset beach, Dole Plantation and more.

Also another good day trip (but long) is an interisland trip to Big Island to see Volcano National Park with active volcano. Very interesting and you can spend a whole day there exploring.

Interisland flights start from $39 each way on sale and there are 3 airlines that fly interisland:

Hawaiian Airlines www.hawaiianairlines.com

Aloha Airlines www.alohaairlines.com

Go! Airlines www.iflygo.com

You could also take a tour from some of the bigger reputable tour companies on Hawaii, both on Oahu or interisland day trip.

Polynesiand Adventure Tours www.polyad.com

Roberts of Hawaii www.robertshawaii.com

If you didnt want to get your own way around (car hire or public transport) then take some tours to see as much as you can without having to stress about where you are going. Roberts have a great day trip called Stars %26amp; Strips which visits Pearl Harbour, USS Missouri %26amp; National Cemetry of Pacific.

Hope this helps %26amp; have a great trip :-)

I agree with Ka Honu, Ono%26#39;s is really good, ate there twice the last time I was in Waikiki, and it will be my first stop when I go back in 2 weeks.

Leonard%26#39;s is also down the street from there, so you can get some malasadas afterwards.

BTW, does anyone know what time Ono%26#39;s close?

My favorite Waikiki restaurant is the Tiki Grill %26amp; Bar at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Ask for a table on the Lanai so you can watch the beach activity you eat. The best deal is the fish %26amp; chips lunch. Last time I ate there the fish was mahi mahi and it was the best fish%26amp;chips I%26#39;ve ever had.