A day in Honolulu / O'ahu beaches
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Bellows Field Beach Park
© Phil Dyer Photography
Waikiki Beach
Lovely secret spot beneath the ironwood trees
Word to the wise: Portugese Man-of-War are known to frequent the waters here. Before you go, check www.808jellyfish.com to find out if Man-of-War are likely to be in the area.
Located on the sunnier side of windward Oahu, Bellows Fields Beach is a dreamy beach that is off the beaten path just enough to make it special, yet still easily accessible from Honolulu. It boasts a unique, bucolic setting and a crowdless, serene environment.So, what's the catch you ask. Bellows field is used by the military, and if you come on the weekdays you will need to be accompanied by someone with a military ID. However, civilians are welcome on the weekends, beginning on Fridays.
Bellows field is has an expansive shoreline and open space for gatherings, barbecues and camping. In order to camp you will need to obtain a permit by calling +1 808 768 3440. Also, if you choose to boogie board here, watch for jellyfish warning signs.
Address: 41-043 Kalanianaole Highway
Phone: +1 808 233 7300
Honolulu Parks and Recreation's webpage
See & Do
First Friday Art Walk
Downtown art scene on display after hours
Noteworthy for: The First Friday Art Walk is a gathering of Honolulu's hippest for late-night gallery hopping, live music, food and wine.
Taiko drummers pound out powerful beats on one corner, while a Salsa band gets the crowd going on another. Gallery owners welcome visitors with wine and cheese, and crowds of people line the Chinatown streets after dark. This is one night when the beaches aren't the main draw.The Art Walk is a popular local happening with only one catch - it's only arranged on the first Friday of the month, a standard in most major US cities. But even if you can't make the first Friday, you can visit the galleries on Bethel Street and Nuuanu Avenue any day.
If you happen to be in Honolulu on a first Friday, start at the Hawaii State Museum around 5pm, then gallery hop until 9pm. Make sure to visit The ARTS at Mark's Garage. After the galleries close, try Indigo for dinner, then Hank's Cafe for live jazz.
Open Hours: First Friday of month: 5pm - 9pm Address: Nuuanu Avenue and Bethel Street Phone: +1 808 739 9797 First Friday's webpage
See & Do
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Snorkel in Hawaii's beautiful collapsed crater
Noteworthy for: Hanauma Bay is known for its abundance of parrotfish and green sea turtles.
Word to the wise: Steer clear of the mouth of the bay where currents can be strong.
Arrive before mid-morning to beat the crowd. You will stand in line at the admission gate, pay the entrance fee, then go through a short orientation before being allowed into the park. The rules are simple: don’t wreck or remove anything, ever.
The park is located 10 miles east of Waikiki, off the Kalaniana'ole Highway. The number 22 bus goes directly from Waikiki to the bay, or you might consider taking a tour that provides round-trip transportation and snorkel gear. Ask your hotel concierge to recommend one of the many companies that offer this service.
Fee: Adult: USD 7.50, Child (0-12): Free
Open Hours: Summer, Wed-Mon: 6am - 7pm
Winter, Wed-Mon: 6am - 6pm
Address: 7455 Kalaniana`ole Highway
Phone: +1 808 396 4229
Honolulu Parks and Recreation's webpage
Shopping
Saturday Farmers' Market at Kapiolani Community College
The island's best gathering for fresh, local eats
Noteworthy for: The Kapiolani Farmers' Market hosts island farmers pedaling local foods, including exotic plants and fruits found nowhere else.
Word to the wise: Make sure you have cash, and plenty of it, since the vendors do not take credit cards.
Located on the slopes of Diamond Head, the market draws a large local crowd searching for organic produce or simply enjoying a sunny Hawaiian day. Vendors open at 7.30am and pack up at 11am, so the earlier you arrive the better as the crowds thicken later in the morning and the pavement gets hot.
Open Hours: Sat: 7.30am - 11am
Address: 4303 Diamond Head Road
Phone: +1 808 848 2074
Hawaii Farm Bureau's webpage
Shopping
Lanikai Bath & Body
Tropical-scented luxuries for the body
Noteworthy for: Lanikai is a specialty store that sells all-natural, handmade soaps and lotions made with locally harvested ingredients.
You can take photos to remember Oahu, but how do you capture the island's tropical scents? Just make a stop at Lanikai, located in Kailua on the windward side of Oahu, for handmade lotions and soaps crafted from the island's unique flowers and fruits.Lanikai's all-natural products made in Hawaii are cruelty free and environmentally friendly. Paraben-free lotions are made from kukui, macadamia nut, avocado oils and noni combined with scents such as kamuela rose or orange blossom.
Friends and family will appreciate these fragrant gifts, and even your dog will delight in some mango shampoo made just for pooches.
Price sample: Soap: USD 6
Lotion: USD 18
Open Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am - 6pm
Sat: 10am - 5pm
Sun: 10am - 4pm
Address: 600 Kailua Road
Phone: +1 808 262 3260
Lanikai Bath and Body's webpage
Restaurants
Shiro's Saimin Haven
Local delicacies and cheap eats
Noteworthy for: Shiro's is an island institution serving 60 varieties of Saimin, a noodle dish unique to Hawaii.
Popular plate: You can have just about anything in your Saimin, but the Mochiko chicken is a favorite.
Shiro's is a family-owned Saimin restaurant buried deep in the heart of the old fishing village of Ewa Beach. It attracts area residents and enlightened island visitors seeking a bowl of delicious noodles topped off with everything from sweet pork to kim chee.
Its strip mall location is anything but glamorous. But the food is the main attraction, so order to go and find a sweet spot for watching a sunset.
Price sample: Main course: From USD 5
Open Hours: Sun-Thu: 7am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 7am - 11pm
Address: 91-919 Fort Weaver Road
Phone: +1 808 689 0999
Shiro's Saimin's webpage
Restaurants
Haleiwa Joe's
Surf and turf in Haleiwa town
Noteworthy for: Haleiwa Joe's is the gathering spot for North Shore wahine and wave warriors.
Popular plates: Haleiwa Joe's is known for its Black and Blue Ahi. The fresh Ahi is blackened, seared and served with a wasabi ranch sauce.
Haleiwa Joe's offers a lively atmosphere and a great happy hour. On summer weekends, the place is filled with area locals who come for the cold beer and conversation and stay for the fresh fish and friendly service. During the winter it swells with surfers from near and far trading North Shore surf stories.
Price sample: Small plates: USD 3.95-13.50
Big plates: USD 15.95-28.50
Open Hours: Mon-Thu: 11.30am - 9.30pm
Fri-Sat: 11.30am - 10.30pm
Address: 66-011 Kamehameha Highway
Phone: +1 808 637 8005
Haleiwa Joe's webpage
Restaurants
21 Degrees North
Pacific Rim flavors at Turtle Bay Resort
Noteworthy for: 21 Degrees North serves Asian-Cali-Pacific cuisine made with all organic produce.
Popular plate: Try the Opakapaka served with Pipikaula risotto, paired with the Chalk Hill Sauvignon blanc from Napa Valley.
This elegant establishment is the only fine-dining restaurant along Oahu's North Shore. Located about an hour away from Waikiki, Turtle Bay resort offers a romantic and refined setting; a perfect location for a special occasion or simply a memorable meal.
Price sample: Main course: USD 30
Open Hours: Tue-Sat: 6pm - 10pm
Address: 57-091 Kamehameha Highway
Phone: +1 808 293 6000
Turtle Bay Resort's webpage
Bars & Nightlife
Rum Fire
Vibey patio for sunsets and cocktails in Waikiki Beach
Tipple of choice: Rum Fire's signature mai tai is made with Bacardi light rum and the bar's own "killer" mai tai mix, topped with Whaler's dark rum.
One of the more sophisticated lounges along Waikiki Beach, Rum Fire's seaside patio is a sweet spot for cherishing a sunset with a mai tai in hand. When evening sets in and the patio is lit up by tiki torches, the crowd changes from casual beach goers to a mainly 30-something crowd dressed up for a night on the town.The eclectic small plate menu is interesting and pairs well with signature cocktails. But don't come here if you are in immediate need for food or drink - Rum Fire's service can be sluggish.
Price sample: Small plates: USD 6-28
Cocktails: USD 8.50-13.50
Open Hours: Daily: 11am - 12midnight
Address: 2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Phone: +1 808 922 4422
Rum Fire's webpage
Bars & Nightlife
Bar 35
Popular haunt in Chinatown with huge beer selection
Tipple of choice: Indulge in glass of Lindemans framboise lambic, a Belgian fruit beer made with raspberries.
Located along North Hotel Street at the heart of the rejuvenated bar scene in downtown Honolulu, Bar 35 is always packed with a good mix of people. Weekend nights tend to draw a more trendy crowd looking to dance, while weekday evenings exude a relaxed vibe.The dimly lit interior is like an artist's loft, with exposed brick and deep red walls; a perfect environment for enjoying a live band or DJ, or sampling domestic and international beers from the list of over 150 labels. On Wednesdays, guests can taste a selection of eight brews at the weekly beer tasting.
Price sample: Beer: From USD 5.50
Open Hours: Mon-Fri: 4pm - 2am
Sat: 6pm - 2am
Address: 35 North Hotel Street
Phone: +1 808 537 3535
Bar 35's webpage
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