Craving something sweet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Try these tropical snacks on the Waikiki strip for the best ways to get your sugar high. These addictive mochi doughnuts come in all kinds of unique flavors. Photo: Elena Bragg MoDo doughnuts The Japanese-style mochi doughnuts have a chewy consistency with unique flavors, such as […]
Ready for a night on the town in Honolulu’s bustling tourist mecca? Just follow our handy step-by-step guide for some of Waikiki’s best cocktails and views, or if you’re looking for a deal, stop by one of the happy hour spots on our list earlier in the evening for cocktails and pupu (appetizers). Tommy Bahama’s
Waikiki can be notoriously expensive when it comes to food. But for those of you looking for a deal, there are a number of delicious options. From musubis to burgers, we found these reasonably priced meals coming in at $15 or less. Here are the spots that should be on your radar. Under $15 The
How does Hawaii like its mochi? Let us count the ways. No matter which culture these tasty tidbits are from, they’re made from sugar, rice and everything nice, and we’re into that. Here are some places on Oahu to get your local-style, Korean, Chinese, Japanese or Filipino mochi fix. Modern Colorful vegan options from Peace
Drive some of Hawaii’s main thoroughfares and you might notice a curious thing: The presence of restaurants declaring themselves “drive-ins,” although that is clearly not the case. An idea popularized in the 1950s across America and recreated in the Islands with local-style plate lunches, loco moco and saimin, Hawaii drive-in restaurants now operate as traditional
If you’ve driven through Windward Oahu, you’ve probably seen the rustic fixture that is the Waiahole Poi Factory, surrounded by greenery with the stunning Koolau mountains in the background and Mokolii (aka Chinaman’s Hat) just off the coast. But have you stopped there for lunch? The spot, which sells fresh poi in bulk and by the
Take your tastebuds off the beaten path at one of these hidden gems on Oahu. Before you go, we recommend calling ahead to see if and when a restaurant is open for business. Most places on this list are small businesses with little kitchens, so be prepared to wait for your delicious dish. 1. Ethel’s Grill A hole-in-the-wall
Helena’s Hawaiian Food doesn’t open for another hour, but the kitchen, at 9 a.m., is already bustling with activity. Just beneath 250 pounds of its famous pipikaula (salted dried beef), hanging in long strips above the stoves, a pair of chefs stir massive aluminum stockpots filled with bubbling beef stew, squid lū‘au, chicken long rice
Don’t worry, the taste and quality of Matsumoto Shave Ice’s popular icy treat haven’t changed and it’s located in the same area—just bigger and better. The expansion resulted from the construction of the Haleiwa Store Lots, a cluster of recently-built storefronts in the surrounding area, which includes Matsumoto’s. And, we are happy to report that
It’s easy to brand the popular and pervasive North Shore O‘ahu shrimp shacks and trucks as tourist traps. On most days near lunchtime, it’s not uncommon to find dozens of packed tour vans parked outside shrimp purveyors between the North Shore towns of Hale‘iwa and Kahuku, their passengers scarfing down plates of shrimp. Catch us
The phone in Mike Hirao’s office is ringing off the hook. He doesn’t answer it. “I bet this person wants chichi dango,” he says, eyeing the noisy phone. It’s 3 p.m. on a Thursday. Nisshodo Candy Store has been open since 7 a.m. The shop is an hour from closing. And the Japanese mochi dessert
It’s not a coincidence that manoa, in Hawaiian, means “vast.” Not only is this lush valley on Oahu’s south shore immense in physical size — extending from the emerald peaks of the Koolau Mountains to the coral reefs off Waikiki — but its history, its culture, its people and its offerings are vast, too. A
