Abby & William
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Honolulu, HI
Abby & William
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Honolulu, HI
Things to Do
Some more food to try,
Loco Moco
Eggs ‘n Things
Jolene’s (the French toast and the Birria Melt are my favorites)
Liliha Bakery
Please note, theft is quite common here, people will break into your car for a pair of flip flops. Don’t leave valuables in your car, always lock your doors, and just be aware. While there are many stunning hikes, there are some that are quite dangerous. Please ask us any questions you may have about the hikes here. If a website or people are saying that a hike is dangerous, they mean it ,so please take that into consideration! The Stairway to Heaven is illegal, there are police that sit at the bottom of the trail to fine people on their way down.
Lanikai Pillbox hike
Not for the faint of heart! Portions of the hike have steep drop offs on either side! It does offer beautiful views of the island, I personally feel that there are just as nice views on safer hikes.
Diamond Head
2 miles, easy-moderate, this hike is paved or has gravel. There are guardrails while you’re going up. This is one of my favorite hikes on the island, and it offers stunning views. You do have to reserve a time slot as space and parking are quite limited. Parking cost is $10/car and there is an entry fee of $5/ person. Reservation slots can go quickly but open about a month in advance!
Koko Head Hike
You can see the prettiest sunrises at the top of this hike. Big downfall, you have to wake up early and walk all the way up in the dark! This hike is another of my favorites, although the steps kind of scare me on the way down. There are no railings, and while the hike begins moderately it soon becomes quite steep. Parking can be kind of tricky, we are more than willing to point you in the right direction!
Manoa Falls Trail
This was one of the first hikes Will and I did together! There is a pretty waterfall at the end, and the hike there is through the jungle! This is a moderate hike, with some hills, and the path is gravel/loose rock.
Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail
This is the first hike we ever did together! I had to play it cool and try not to huff and puff on the way up, the views (and guy) were worth it! The beginning is fairly steep and nearly impossible to go up if it’s rained recently, the mud is thick and slick.
Aiea Loop Trail
This is a longer hike (4.4 miles), but is a nice hike if you have the time. Parts of the hike scared me because it seemed like you could slide off the trail at any point. At some points I just closed my eyes and quickly walked through the scary parts, the views were very nice though!
Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail
This “hike” is a favorite of ours. It’s paved the entire way up/down. The views from the top are great! No guardrails, just don’t walk by the edge, you are pretty high up. This is a free trail, the parking lot is extremely small, you may have to park on the side of the main road. This is an extremely popular hike because it’s easily done by most.
Ka'ena Point
This is an extremely long hike,roughly 5miles) but cool in its own way. If you stick with the entire hike, there is a bird sanctuary at the end that you can walk through. When we went the birds were fairly young and we watched them trying to learn how to fly. This hike is relatively flat, you will be walking on stone, dirt, and sand. There are no bathrooms and no food/drink. If you do this cool hike, plan accordingly bring plenty to drink/eat, sunscreen, hat, etc!
Bellows Beach
Our absolute favorite beach on the island, in my opinion it is the prettiest! The water is also a little more calm on this side of the island.
Sunset Beach
An aptly named beach, this is my favorite spot to watch the sunset! Parking can be tough, so plan to arrive a decent amount of time before sunset. We’ve always gone earlier, had dinner on the beach, and relax until sunset!
Halona Blowhole Lookout
This is a scenic overlook that offers a pretty view of the Eastern side of the island. If you’re lucky you may see seals or even a whale in the water down below!
Pali Lookout
This is a lookout off of Pali Highway, that offers pretty views of the North/Eastern side of the island. While there is no entrance fee you do have to pay for parking at a kiosk, we have seen people checking to make sure people paid!
Byodin Temple
We like going to this Japanese temple from time to time, the grounds are very peaceful, they even have a pond filled with koi! There is a small entrance fee which helps maintain the temple/grounds, $7/adult, $4/child.
Dole Plantation
I enjoyed visiting this pineapple plantation. You can stroll through the botanical gardens, or even ride the train through the pineapple field. Tickets are a little more pricey, I wouldn’t recommend doing the maze unless you absolutely want to. You can visit and just go to the store/restaurant, I highly recommend trying the Dole Whip!
Brugs, Musubi Cafe
Brugs is a Japanese bakery with a good mix of sweet and savory bakery items. Musubi Cafe is a must, you can’t say that you’ve gone to Hawaii without having a spam Musubi!
Stix
Stix is a Japanese food court with restaurants styled after different regions in Japan. The Udon is my absolute favorite!
Purve Donut Stop
This is a must stop donut place! The make the donuts right in front of you and have a circulating menu.
Matsumoto Shave Ice
This is a fun treat, the shop is located in a shopping center with souvenir stores around it.