Hawaii: 1 week in Honolulu
This is a continuation of my travel recap to Hawaii back in October 2022. After my 10 day cruise to Hawaii with a 2 day stop in Maui, it was finally time for us to get off the ship we’ve called home for the last 10 days and enjoy our 1 week in Honolulu.
Watch my little montage video of Honolulu!
We had some friends that were also on the cruise with us and we had some friends who joined us in Honolulu by flight. For our 1 week in Honolulu, we mostly stayed and did activities together as a group of 8 adults. Here is everything we did and ate!
Oh and also I got engaged in Honolulu!
Related: Read about everything we did and ate during our cruise on Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas.
Note: all prices listed in the post are in USD.
Where to stay in Honolulu
Airbnb: Condo in Ilikai
We booked an airbnb for most of our 1 week in Honolulu. The airbnb we ended up booking was a renovated hotel/condo in the Ilikai Hotel, which is roughly a 20 minute walk to Waikiki beach. It had 2 bedrooms and can accommodate 8 people – 1 master suite, second bedroom with 2 beds, and a sofa bed in the living room. The condo came with 1 parking spot and since we had 2 cars rented, we just paid valet for the second vehicle.
We actually really liked our airbnb because it looked exactly like it did in the photos. Furniture was very modern and everything was clean. There were 2 bathrooms and a kitchen and a large balcony too and it came with some fun items like snorkel gear and mats you can bring to the beach. The toilets were even Japanese and came with washing butt options! My only complaint is that in the second bathroom, there must have been a lot of sand or something because the water wasn’t draining in the shower. You can check out the airbnb we chose here.
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
For our last few days, a lot of the couples split up to book their own accommodations so they have some time alone. We chose to stay at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, which is a boutique hotel in Waikiki (11 min walk to Waikiki beach).
We also really enjoyed our stay at Surfjack. It’s a really cool hipster place with lots of younger folks and it is a totally dog friendly hotel too. They have a pool and a restaurant inside and live music/happy hour at night. The rooms also come with 1 complimentary parking spot and the parkade is actually inside Nordstrom Rack, which is only a 5 min walk to Surfjack Hotel.
The front desk actually upgraded our one room bungalow for free since they said there were empty rooms. I was really surprised they did this because we didn’t even tell them we were engaged yet so they probably try to upgrade anyone if it’s possible without you asking. They upgraded us to a 1-bedroom suite, which comes with a living room that has a sofa bed. This is a lot more space and was a really nice surprise! After we told them we really appreciated it because we were newly engaged, they even sent us a bottle of white wine to our room! Amazing service.
Things to do in Honolulu
Ala Moana Beach
There are many beaches in Honolulu and all of them are beautiful, but Ala Moana Beach was the first beach we hit up after our cruise ship docked in Honolulu. This is mostly because it was the closest one from the cruise ship port pier.
The beach is a long strip with soft sand and the water is blue and warm! We came here with a few spam musubis and just hung out and relaxed in the water.
Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center is a really big mall that has luxury stores and a big food court. For those who are into luxury goods, the luxury tax in Honolulu is only 4% so you may be able to save some money when shopping for certain brands.
A really nice spacious mall with lots of shopping options and food options as well! We liked the musubi store here.
Duke/Hilton Kahanamoku lagoon
Our airbnb was really close to this lagoon that we could see from our windows and balcony. So one of the first things we did after we checked in was walk over to the lagoon to check it out.
It was like a pond in the middle of the sand. Water is shallow but you can still swim in it if you just walk deeper in. There are things you can rent like floaties and little tractor-looking things that you can play/ride in the lagoon.
I actually found the lagoon to be really cold – way colder than if you just went into the ocean. Also there were some little fishies or something in the water too. I think this is better suited for families and children, or people who do not know how to swim.
Kahanamoku beach
Because we found the water in the lagoon to be too cold, we packed up and walked a little further to Kahanamoku beach, which is right beside it. The water was way warmer lol but it had a lot of rocks on the shore so it hurt my feet. You have to walk further down the beach to where the hotels are to have less rocks, but also it’s way more crowded.
We saw turtles here! We actually saw them while swimming in the water. They were pretty close to us but we made sure to swim away if they were coming closer to us. Apparently, you can go to jail if you touch or bother a turtle (they take it very seriously). It was so cool and cute to see them up close!
Terrace house aloha state
Terrace House was a Japanese reality show where 3 guys and 3 girls would live together in a shared house. My friends and I are big fans so we drove up to the house where they actually stayed and took photos outside lol. You cannot go in and we made sure to be quiet and not bother anyone.
Luau at Paradise Cove
We kinda knew paying over $100 for a luau would be for tourists but we decided to go anyways because it was our first time in Hawaii. We ended up going to the luau at Paradise Cove, which is like a 45 minute drive from Waikiki.
Inside, they have different activities you can do but half of them cost money, like taking photos with exotic birds or water activities. They have some free shows as well, like some hula dancing, a guy climbing a tree to get a coconut and sprinkling flowers, and the reveal when they take the pig out of the pit they’ve been cooking it in.
We chose the most basic ticket option, which still costed us almost $140 per person. This ticket came with a free necklace upon arrival, a complimentary mai tai punch (alcoholic and non alcoholic option), wing seating for the performance, and dinner, which would be a buffet Luau style.
The buffet was actually pretty good and the Kuala pork was very tender. The performance kind of dragged on though, and the only highlight of it was when they performed with fire – that was very exciting. But aside from that, we spent almost 4 hours at the luau and were getting tired/bored near the end. And of course to no surprise, it was all tourists. In fact, it felt like we were back with the people from our cruise lol.
Hanauma Bay
One of the top things on our list to do was visit Hanauma Bay. It is a state park and because of over tourism, it is now a protected area.
They limit how many people can visit Hanauma every day so you need to reserve and pay for your ticket in advance (you cannot just show up). Tickets to entry are $25 per person and parking is $3. You can buy tickets up to 10 people but within that, only 5 can be adults. So we had to do 2 separate group tickets of 4 adults each. The ticket system can only let you reserve your spots up to 2 days in advance so you cannot even plan or book your spot too early. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.
We were able to get tickets pretty easily, but we did set our alarms 2 days before we planned to go because we were worried the tickets would sell out fast (and they did).
But despite the hassle of reserving our spot, Hanauma Bay was so beautiful! You can snorkel there and you will see a lot of different fish and coral reefs (although many near the shores are damaged/dead).
We spent quite some time here and they have washroom and food options, but they are more expensive and there are no other options. I recommend you come here in the morning and day, and leave when you are hungry.
Waikiki beach
Iconic beach. Super busy all the time and really difficult to find parking. There’s a lot of food and shopping options along the strip of waikiki beach as well as hotels and resorts. I found Waikiki beach to be a very beginner-friendly surf spot and there are a lot of cheap rentals if you are looking to borrow some surfing equipment.
Koko crater railway trailhead
We went on 2 hikes/trails in Honolulu. The first one we did was the Koko crater railway, which is quite a steep hike up an abandoned railroad track. It roughly took 3 hours up and down and I was the slowest in my group. It gets difficult halfway through as the incline steepens dramatically so be careful going down if you have bad knees like me!
The view? Amazing. There was some wind at the top too which is good because I was sweating. But note that there are no washrooms and no privacy so if you really need to go, there aren’t many options. Make sure you go to the washroom before or after starting the trail.
Diamond head
Our second “hike” was Diamond head. We actually did both Koko and Diamond head in the same day almost right after each other (lunch break in between). I wouldn’t really consider Diamond head a hike at all, just some stairs and you get this beautiful view. Diamond head is a pretty popular tourist/viewpoint and I do think it’s worth a visit.
It is also a state park so for non-residents, you do have to reserve and pay for parking in order to enter. The entry is $10 per vehicle and the park closes at 4pm.
Magic island lagoon
The magic island lagoon is a manmade peninsula at the east end of Ala Moana Beach Park. It’s a really pretty area and actually Kelvin and I got engaged here! So we spent some time taking photos with our friends and photographer and it was a very special moment for me.
North Shore Ohau
On the other side of the island, we have the north shore, a stretch of coast known for big waves and professional surfing contests. It’s roughly a 45 min drive from Waikiki beach to this area but it has a different vibe – a lot more nature! I recommend saving a half or full day just exploring the north shore and visiting all their beaches, hikes/trails and restaurants.
Lanikai beach
During our day in the north shore, we spent some time at Lanikai beach. Lanikai beach is known for really soft sand and it might have been one of my favourite beaches that we visited during our time in Hawaii. The sand was indeed very soft and light coloured, and I liked how there were less city buildings around the beach area.
Waimea Bay
We ended up at Waimea Bay near sunset time and it was so gorgeous. It was actually time for the lifeguards to be off duty, so they were making announcements that lifeguards will be leaving and anyone who chooses to stay on the beach will have to basically take care of themselves.
The waves were HUGE and it was both a little scary and fun. You can definitely get swept up if you go too deep, but there was a lot of simple fun in just playing in the waves until sun down. Everybody’s swimsuits were full of sand after though lol!
Where to eat in Honolulu
Blue Ocean Seafood & Steak
One of our first meals in Honolulu was a simple stop at a food truck called Blue Ocean Seafood and Steak. I ordered the classic loco moco, which is like a beef patty on rice with gravy, egg and a macaroni salad. It was not bad – simple and yummy but nothing extraordinary. The prices itself at the food truck were not that cheap either – around $15-20+.
Cinnamon’s at the Ilikai
This was actually located right under our airbnb. It had really positive ratings and stars on Google as a brunch restaurant, but ultimately we weren’t big fans due to the super long wait for food.
Recommended: Read my full review of Cinnamon’s at the Ilikai.
Onoya ramen
We came here for happy hour and even though it is hot in Hawaii, we were craving something soupy because we came off of a 10 day cruise where most of the cuisine was not Asian. Onoya Ramen had a pretty decent happy hour deal with discounts on drinks and appies, and the ramens satisfied our cravings.
Recommended: Read my full review of Onoya Ramen.
Marugame udon
Okay guys if you disregard everything I’ve written so far, please at least regard this. PLEASE COME EAT HERE. We came here twice because we liked it so much. Marugame udon is a casual and cheap (cheap for Hawaii) Japanese noodle restaurant where you can eat high quality and freshly made udon noodles and customize your toppings and sides. Super efficient restaurant and delicious! Even though there are often lineups outside, it moves quickly.
Recommended: Read my full review of Marugame udon.
Koko head cafe
We came here for lunch after spending our morning at Hanauma Bay. It is actually really close to the Koko crater trail so I think it actually makes more sense to eat here before/after the hike. Koko head cafe is a brunch restaurant run by celebrity chef Lee Anne Wong.
Recommended: Read my full review of Koko head cafe.
Fresh Catch Kapahulu
Fresh Catch was probably where we had the best poke in my opinion (with Foodieland a close second). We really liked their shoyu ahi! It is a bit more pricey compared to places like Foodieland, but still worth it for how fresh the seafood is. We are looking at $20 for a bowl with 2 different servings of poke, but it’s enough to share with 2 people.
Duke’s Waikiki
Duke’s Waikiki is on the Waikiki strip and has a really beautiful beachfront patio with access to the beach. We came here to celebrate my engagement after! The food is more expensive and they offer lots of fish and seafood entrees, priced at $40-50.
Recommended: Read my full review of Duke’s Waikiki.
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
There are a few locations for Giovanni’s shrimp truck, but we visited the one on the North Shore before heading over to Waimea Bay. We got the original scampi flavour, which is about $16 and is a portion for one person. The shrimp was indeed very garlicky but a little difficult to eat since the shell is still on. Aside from that, it’s a pretty simple dish. I think worth trying once, but I wouldn’t get it again.
Aloha melt Waikiki
Aloha melt is a cute little grilled cheese spot in Waikiki. They only have 6 items on their menu. We ordered the classic melt, patty melt, and a tomato soup. It is so cheesy and delicious but also very savoury. I think it’s best to share one with 2 people because we both couldn’t finish our melts as it can get a little greasy.
Island vintage shave ice
We were told it’s “shave ice” and not “shaved ice”. Apparently there is a big difference?
Anyways, Island vintage shave ice was recommended to us by a friend who said it is the best shave ice he has ever had. We ordered the tropical island shave ice, which comes with mango, pineapple, soft ice cream, and popping boba for $10. The shave ice is more like shave milk? It is very finely shave – delicate and delicious! Probably so the best shave ice I’ve ever had in my life as well.
Don quijote
Don Quijote is a giant Japanese store that sells almost everything – toys, shoes, laundry detergent, groceries, cakes, etc. We came here to check out their fresh seafood section and got some fresh sashimi. A lot of options but they were already out of some of the good stuff like the fatter tuna.
Gen Korean BBQ house
We came here for our last dinner together as a group of 8 and also to celebrate a birthday. We were able to secure a reservation for 8 in the same week of, but we did go to a farther location. Gen Korean BBQ house offers AYCE BBQ for around $30 per person, which is a really good deal! The inside is kind of like a club and they also serve alcohol.
Final thoughts
I had an amazing trip to Hawaii with my friends and new fiancé. It was my first time in Hawaii and I think we were able to do most of the things we wanted to see/do.
The weather in Hawaii was super nice almost every day. If you check the forecast, they may say it will be a rainy day but it literally rains for like 20 seconds and then it’s beautiful again. It was hot and actually my psoriasis improved greatly after this trip!
Almost every beach is beautiful and there are so many you can visit. Again, my favourite beach was Lanikai in the North Shore and I liked how it was less “city” and bustling as Waikiki. My second favourite beach would probably be Hanauma Bay because it is so beautiful and there are so many fishes there for you to see/snorkel. Only downside is you have to do a little bit of planning to access Hanauma Bay and once you get there, there aren’t really any food options. My third favourite is probably Waimea Bay because the sunset there was just spectacular and the ginormous waves also quite a spectacle. They hold surfing competitions here.
I found that everything in Honolulu was pretty close – even Hanauma Bay is only a 20 minute drive or so from Waikiki center. The luau was probably the farthest (45 minute drive) and like I mentioned above, I would only do it once or not at all since it is very touristy and it took a big chunk of our day. If you plan to explore the island, definitely prepare a car rental. We reserved a jeep but actually didn’t find it very comfortable to actually sit and drive in (very loud), but it felt very Hawaii to drive a jeep in Honolulu.
For hiking, I would recommend Koko Crater trail over Diamond Head, although the latter is much easier to access. The Koko Crater trail is just a super cool trail itself because of the railway track but it is steep so be careful.
Food-wise, there is a lot of Japanese influence on the cuisine so it’s a good thing I love Japanese food! Food was generally expensive but we expected this. Shout out to the marugame udon spot again as well as foodieland’s poke and the shave ice!
Overall, the trip was amazing and much needed as this was probably our first international trip since covid. We had planned all this and the cruise a year plus in advance so it was great to finally just go on it.
What made the trip so wonderful was mostly the people I went with. I always thought of Hawaii as more of a honeymoon/romantic destination, but it was just as fun to go with friends! We shared surf rentals together, explored, played in the waves, and didn’t have too much trouble finding places to eat as a larger group. Our friends tried their best to surprise me with the proposal and we celebrated together so I cannot thank them enough for making the trip a little extra special for me and Kelvin.
Mahalo!
Sincerely, Loewe
Recommended: Read about our 2 days in Maui.
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