Surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, Honolulu works hard - often painfully so - to provide all the comforts and excesses of American urban life. From above, the city resembles a dense forest of 1970s skyscrapers huddled together on the southern rim of Oahu island. But upon leaving the airport, you encounter a bizarre marriage of Far East sensibilities and US shopping-mall culture. Volcanoes, white sand beaches and rainforest canyons peek out from behind the central high-rises and sprawling suburbs - reminders of the rugged majesty that surrounds the city.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Carry sunscreen at all times - seriously. Tourists are easily identfied by their pink glow. |
| 02 |
Say howzit instead of hello, aloha instead of goodbye. |
| 03 |
Don't leave anything of value in your rental car. Most Hawaiians are friendly and peace-loving people, but rental vehicles are often vandalised. |
| 04 |
With few central roads, traffic is unavoidable. Leave plenty of time to get anywhere. |
| 05 |
Chill out with shave ice, Hawaii's favourite cold dessert - powdered ice infused with flavoured syrups and topped with condensed milk. |
| 06 |
Embrace the chain stores and fast food. Hawaiians have. |
| 07 |
Seek out the so-called "Wonder Fish": the succulent and omega-3-rich Kona Kampachi, unavailable for decades due to reef toxins, is now on menus again after marine biologists began farming it. |
| 08 |
Hawaiian shirts, known here as aloha shirts, are much less colourful than the tourist copies. For men, they're the closest thing to elegant wear. |
| 09 |
Do as the locals. Take your shoes off whenever you visit someone's residence. |
| 10 |
Don't do as the locals. Skip Hawaii's standard repast: the Plate Lunch. Two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad (extra mayo) and grilled Spam, all drenched in soy sauce. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Aqua Renew Hotel
on Waikiki Beach
129 Paoakalani Avenue
+ 1 866 406 2782
aquaresorts.com
Dependable chain
W Hotel at Diamond Head
2885 Kalakaua Avenue
+ 1 808 922 1700
starwoodhotels/whotels
Premium
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
5000 Kahala Avenue
+ 1 808 739 8888
kahalaresort.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Andy's Sandwiches & Smoothies
2904 East Manoa Road
+ 1 808 988 6161
andyssandwiches.com
Leisurely breakfast
Hoku's
At the Kahala Hotel and Resort
5000 Kahala Ave
+ 1 808 739 8780
Mid-morning coffee
Honolulu Coffee Co.
1001 Bishop Street
+ 1 808 521 4400
honolulucoffee.com
Lunch with friends
Ono Hawaiian Foods
726 Kapahulu Avenue
+ 1 808 737 2275
geocities.com/napavalley/
9874/
Best picnic
Pick up some food at the Saturday Farmer's Market at Kapiolani Community College (4303 Diamond Head Road) and walk up Diamond Head for a picnic with a view.
Power Lunch
Mariposa
1450 Ala Moana Blvd 2101
+1 808 951 3420
neimanmarcus.com
After-work drink
Brasserie Du Vin
1115 Bethel St
+ 1 808 545 1115
brasserieduvin.com
Sunset cocktail
Hanohano Room
Sheraton Waikiki,
2255 Kalakaua Avenue
+ 1 808 922 4422
sheratonwaikiki.com
Dinner for two
Town
3435 Waialae Avenue, Ste 103
townkaimuki.com
Big dinner with colleagues
Sushi Sasabune
1419 S King Street
+ 1 808 947 3800
Drink after dinner
The Lounge at Nobu
2233 Helumoa Rd (Inside the Waikiki Parc Hotel)
+ 1 808 237 6999
waikikiparc.com
Late drinks
Indigo
1121 Nuuanu Avenue, Suite 105
+ 1 808 521 2900
indigo-hawaii.com
Late bite
Side Street Inn
1225 Hopaka Street
+ 1 808 591 0253
On the tiles
The Dragon Upstairs
1038 Nuuanu Avenue
+ 1 808 526 1411
thedragonupstairs.com
04
Reading
Bookends
600 Kailua Road
+ 1 808 261 1996
05
Essentials
Long's Drugs
Numerous locations
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Country Feeling surfboards
Look out for these environmentally friendly, highly sought-after boards in surf shops
countryfeelingsurfboards.com
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
alamoanacenter.com
Something for the kids
Educational toys from Thinker Toys
Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Avenue
Something for someone you love
Katrina Cordova gold-leaf necklace from Koko Cabana
Koko Marina Center, 7192
Kalanianaole Highway
+ 1 808 394 9090
Something for yourself
Vintage Hawaiiana at Bailey's
Antiques and Aloha Shirts
517 Kapahulu Avenue
+ 1 808 394 9090
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Highway fatigue? Visit the Foster Botanical Garden.
50 North Vineyard Boulevard |
02 |
Take the walking tour of the city's historical district . Docent-led tours are every 30 minutes, Tues to Sat, from 9.00 to 11.15. Tours begin at 'Iolani Palace, 364 South King Street. |
03 |
The view from the Contemporary Museum
2411 Makiki Heights Drive
+ 1 808 526 0232
tcmhi.org |
08
Limousine/car
Elite Limousine
+ 1 808 735 2431
elitelimohawaii.com
09
Transport
Car rental
Rent a car at the airport. For bus information, see thebus.org.
Rent a bike
Big Kahuna Rentals
407 Seaside Avenue
+ 1 808 924 2736
bigkahunarentals.com
10
Fitness
Good gym24 Hour Fitness
1680 Kapiolani Boulevard
+ 1 808 951 7677
Good running route
Kapiolani park
Alternative diversion
Hawaiian Fire Surf School
3318 Campbell Ave
+ 1 808 737 3473
hawaiianfire.com