Curator’s statement
I have been to Hawai'i four times, both as a single woman and with my husband and daughter. It has a special meaning for me as it was my first-ever travel destination as an adult, as well as being the location of my wedding! The culture, food, and sights are unlike anything I have experienced before. I feel at home when I am there.
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Day 1: Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach with a view of Diamond Head
As most flights land in the afternoon, I suggest taking it easy and spending some time at Waikiki Beach. On Wednesday and Friday evenings, there are free hula shows on the mound. Afterwards, take a walk to Junbi for some one-of-a-kind boba—lilikoi coffee, to be exact! Then, hit up Kuhio Dining Hall for some extra-delicious dinner, or if you’re on a budget, try some Alfredo or inari bombs from the ABC Store, located on almost every corner. Even if it’s a convenience store, the food is top-notch.
Day 2: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
The cheesiest patty melt will leave you wanting more!
Start the day off right by heading to Button Up Cafe for some amazing cheesecake-stuffed French toast, not to mention the braised short rib loco moco! Then, to walk some of that off, head to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, held on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Don’t worry—they close at 3, so you have plenty of time to shop for real local items and snacks as well. After dropping off your awesome finds back at the hotel, remember to make your way back to the beach for some chill vibes. Make sure to grab a yummy prepared pineapple at the beach! For dinner, stop at Aloha Melt, the best patty melt and tomato soup you’ll ever find (this spot opens at 5 pm and is open until 1 am).
Day 3: Kailua Beach
Grab an aloha drink and take in the views
Head to Kailua Beach to experience a more slow-paced and relaxed beach day. The town is easily accessible by bus, and the route offers a very scenic route. Stop by the local store (the only one) on the way to the beach for some food and delicious local coffee. There is plenty of shade provided by the trees and the sand is pillowy soft. Although it is a beautiful beach, it is not as busy as you would think.
On the way back to Waikiki, stop into town and visit some local shops! When back in Waikiki, head to Inari Factor (closes at 6 pm) for some delicious and cheap inari bombs. If you do not make it on time, do not fret, as Don Quijote next door carries delicious inari bombs from the restaurant as well as boasting their own delicious selection of poke and sushi. I recommend getting some apple tea here as well—very delicious. Make sure to grab some Japanese snacks!
Need to know
Make sure to get a bus card! It comes in handy as parking can be quite costly and Ubers add up.
Make sure to shop local.
There are strict sunscreen laws, so no sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate.
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Hawai'i page.