Whether you are looking to spend your days napping in the sand or exploring the islands the island of Honolulu. Honolulu is the ideal choice for travelers to meet the real Hawaii, just stay away from the tourist traps of Waikiki. Honolulu is a melting pot of experiences where travelers can feast on pan-Asian cuisine in Chinatown, visit the world’s largest open air market, visit impressive art galleries and of course enjoy ocean breezes and rustling palm trees along the harbor front. For the adventurous traveler, Honolulu boasts an impressive selection of hiking and exploration trails to choose from.
Best Food
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For dining, we suggest steering clear of the Waikiki Zoo and dining where the locals dine. For some of the best Acai on the island, stop by Bogarts for breakfast or spend the morning perusing the farmers market at Kapiolonai College. If you do find yourself in Waikiki then we suggest the Australian owned Tucker and Bevvy for healthy, picnic style food or Lucky Belly in Chinatown for some of the best ramen you’ll ever have. For a unique twist, grab dinner at Bernini, an Italian restaurant run but a Japanese chef trained in Italy. You can also stop by Livestock Tavern (located just next to Lucky Belly) for fresh, seasonal cuisine.
Where to Stay
The island offers a number of luxury accommodations to help create your dream Hawaiian vacation. The Modern hotel has an ideal location that’s not located directly on the Waikiki Strip (a plus in our book) but is within walking distance to whatever you need to get to, including Ala Mona Park. If you do have you heart set on staying on the Waikiki strip your best choice is the Moana Surfrider Hotel. Finally, those seeking out a high end experience will enjoy the Kahala Hotel which features stunning beaches, a first class staff, restaurants, and swimming with dolphins.
Road Biking- While you may find a handful of bike shops in town (like Boca Hawaii or itbhawaii) Honolulu doesn’t make for the best bike ride vacation due to its heavy traffic. That being said, riders have a couple of options located downtown; out and back to Makapuu for a 30 miler (mostly highway miles) or have someone with a car pick you up in Haleiwa, where you’ll find a 110 mile loop. We suggest going ¾ of the way around counter clockwise and stopping off for lunch for some Thai food in Haleiwa.
Running
- For runs, try the trail around kapiolioni park, along ala moana canal, up and over diamond head through Kahala. Here you’ll find one big run mapped out so you can check out your option.
Swimming
- Swimmers in Honolulu are in luck with Ala Moana Park, a protected open water space with sight buoys, or the Municipa pool, a locals spot with a beautiful, all tile-bottomed pool, we suggest calling ahead of time to confirm hours as they do change depending upon the season (808-733-7362).
Pharmk262
posted on March 4, 2018 10:08:13 AM PST