South Shore:

Restaurants(requiring reservations): Monkey Pod Kitchen (Waikiki- stunning sunset, happy hour deals, best Mai Tais), YogurStory (yummy breakfast spot with famous purple Ube pancakes), Pau Hana Base (if you are wanting to go outside your box and try some of the best Japanese food)

Restaurants (Casual):Red Elephant (Kaimuki-favorite Thai food-recommend panang curry), South Shore Grill (near Diamond Head, surf n turf AKA best burritos), J. Dolan’s ( Kahala- Irish pub-good pizza and wings), Foodland Market (grocery store chain with the best poke for your buck), Peppa’s (local Korean BBQ- plate lunch style), Bogarts (breakfast near Waikiki)

Coffeeshops: The Curb (our go-to in Kaimuki), Island Brew (Hawaii Kai), Honolulu Coffee Experience (Waikiki). Ars Café (near Diamond Head), Morning Glass (Manoa), Surf Camp (Aina Haina), Morning Brew (Kaka’ako).

Breweries: Brew’d (our neighborhood pub-decent pupus (aka appetizers)- on the spendier side with food), Hana Koa Brewing (best beers on island- per Zane’s opinion 😉-on the spendier side with food), Maui Brewing (Waikiki- good food options), Kona Brewing (home to the famous Big Wave Beer, cool location in Hawaii Kai, good pizza), Aloha Beer Co. (Kaka’ako), Howzit (local new tiny lil brewery with just beers).

Hiking: Manoa Falls Trail (waterfall~1hr round trip, gets busy during the day-have to pay for parking BUT if you want some more exercise and save some moola, can park outside in the neighborhoods and walk inside the park), Diamond Head Trail (must pay and reserve- TBH Cam and Zane have never done it but heard cool views!), Makapuu Lighthouse Trail (free, paved trail with parking lot that opens at 7am- do not recommend in the heat of the day- very heavy sun, best in the morning!) Kuliouou (Cam’s favorite hike- 5 miles roundtrip- more on the intense side of hiking), Koko Head (free, 1,048 straight incline stair stepper- do not recommend in heat of day- gets very busy, steps can get slippery, Cam cried first time so maybe not for those with fear of heights- good for both sunrise and sunset), Judd Trail (nice little waterfall and hike, parking can be sketchy).

Beaches: Kaimanas (family friendly on outskirt of Waikiki- good spot to swim for all ages), Waikiki beach