Do Hawaii Like a Local
- kaylastanley9
- Jan 24, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 10, 2021
Aloha! If you didn't know by now, I was born & raised in Hawaii. It's a crazy huge blessing & I thank God for the life He gave me in Hawaii every day. I'm currently back in Ohio, but I got to visit home for 3 weeks during Winter break which was a much needed vacay. I did a little poll on Instagram & many people asked for a post on my Hawaii (Oahu specifically) faves. Here is a little snippet of what my time back at home looked like.
There are many places to go, things to do, sights to see, & grinds (means food in pidgin {unofficial language of Hawaii}) to eat. But the best way to experience Hawaii is with the help of a local. I always offer to be people's personal tour guide. Since it's impossible for me to be that for everyone, consider this your own personal tour from yours truly! Side note: even though I have lived there my entire life, I still have many things on my bucket list since there are just so many different parts of the island. This list of faves is incomplete!
Hikes
Sunrise at Lani Kai Pillboxes
Sunrise at Makapu'u Pillboxes
Lulumahu Falls
Jackass Gingers
Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls
Beaches
Sunset Beach (all time fave)
Waimea Bay
Basically any beach on North Shore
Lani Kai Beach
Kaimana Beach
Yoks!
Places to Eat
Downbeat Diner (get the vegan loco moco - regular loco moco is my fav local dish, can get it basically anywhere that serves local dishes)
Tenkaippin (best ramen in the world - not vegan)
Rajanee
The Elephant Truck (Ganesha Pad Thai will be the best thing to ever touch your taste buds)
Da Cove Health Bar (get the Hawaiian Açaà bowl - actual abrosia)
Foodland (best poke bowls)
The Elephant Truck
Coffee Shops (yes this is separate)
Kai Coffee Hawaii (I worked at the Downtown location - seriously best coffee ever)
ARVO (bad coffee, cutest shop)
Surfers Coffee Bar (best chai - my 2nd home)
Greenworld Coffee Farm (actual coffee farm)
Morning Brew (any location - great food)
Chad Lou's
Coffee Gallery (everything about this place is A+)
Sunrise Shack (happiest little shack on the island - get the papaya boat)
Anuenue (tea)
Surfers Coffee Bar
Sights to See
Road trip from Haleiwa to Kailua along the shoreline
Pali Lookout
Diamond Head looks pretty around Kapahulu/Monserrat
Iolani Palace (right across Kai Coffee Downtown)
Waianae
Things to Do
Honolulu Museum of Art (famous art - I used to work here!)
Watch the Sun rise & set (both at a beach)
Walk around Kaka'ako (lotsa street art)
