Satisfy your craving with a slice—or two—of delicious homemade pie from one of these classic Hawaii bakeries. Oahu: Ted’s Bakery If you’ve ever been to Ted’s Bakery, you’ll know why our mouths are watering. Photo: Michael Ocampo/Flickr When we think of pie on Oahu one place immediately comes to mind: Ted’s Bakery. Open since 1987 […]
A visit to these Islands isn’t complete without a stop at one of these hole-in-the-wall restaurants that every local swears by. OʻAHU Ethel’s Grill, a cramped 20-seat eatery on the ground floor of a walk-up apartment building, is one of Honolulu’s best hole-in-the-wall spots. It’s an ode to sumo wrestling—photos of wrestlers cover the walls—that
Breakfast at Art Café Hemingway In plain sight on the main drag of Kapaa, a large, blue building spells out everything you’ll find inside: coffee, breakfast, deli and art. Sometimes overshadowed by the crowded American diner next door, Art Café Hemingway has more to offer than what meets the eye and proves to be a
We hadn’t expected this. A friend and I had planned a long weekend on Kauai, for all the things the island is famous for—the Napali Coast, the hidden beaches, the slower pace, an escape from the noisy Honolulu where we live. But we found something else. We landed in Lihue at 6 a.m., and, still
On Maui’s Road to Hana, there’s a phenomenon that is just as memorable as the hundreds of switchbacks and one-lane bridges. We’re talking about banana bread. On Maui, banana bread is serious business. It’s usually made with the local apple bananas that grow abundantly in Maui’s tropical weather and generous rainfall, but you’ll also find
*This story was updated in January 2026. Drive some of Hawaiʻi’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,
1. Hotel Wailea, Kihei, Maui The Cabanas’ Ginger Mojito, served in an eco-friendly cup poolside, is incredible. Photo: Tracy Chan Clink cocktail glasses 300 feet above sea level at the renovated Hotel Wailea, a gorgeous, adults-only boutique getaway with a serene poolside where you’ll find The Cabanas, an orchard-to-glass apothecary bar so remote that visitors
The view is so extraordinary you can’t take your eyes off it. Walking into St. Regis Princeville’s restaurant Makana Terrace, I’m immediately stunned by the panoramic views of the gorgeous, green Hanalei Mountains, named Hihimanu, Namolokama and Mamalahoa, with thousand-foot-high waterfalls flowing down their sides. It’s a view that can only be described as absolutely
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
Hawaii definitely has its own way of doing fast food. Being on-the-go doesn’t mean sacrificing local flavors as these establishments prove. Local breakfast platter from McDonald’s Breakfast platter from a McDonalds in Hawaii. Photo: _Weidz/Flickr Do you ever wake up in the morning craving rice, meat and eggs? Because Hawaii people sure do. Every McDonald’s
On your trip to Hawaii, shave ice is a must-try and Wishing Well Shave Ice has been serving the quintessential Hawaiian snack in the heart of Hanalei since 1983. Happy customers have returned again and again for custom-made mounds of fluffy ice scrapes drenched in sugary, fruit-flavored syrups. But now, under new ownership, Wishing Well
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
