Oahu 2023 | Day 5, 6, 7, 8

This last post of the trip contains the final days of the trip, exploring the North Shore, more beaches, and food.

Day 5 Friday December 29th 2023

• Green World Coffee Farm

• North Shore - Haleiwa Town Beach Park

• Giovanni’s

• Matsumoto Shave Ice

• Ted’s Bakery

• Chinaman’s Hat

• Kualoa

• Waiahole Poi Factory

Day 6 Saturday December 30th 2023

• Yogurstory

• Ono Seafood

Day 7 Sunday December 31st 2023

• Makapuu Lighthouse

• Zippy’s

Day 8 Monday January 1st 2024

• Dole Plantation

• Turtle Beach

Green World Coffee Farm

The first stop of exploring the North Shore was Green World Coffee Farm. The maximalist interior of the coffee shop contains tons of signage and a gift shop. Outside, take a stroll along the coffee trees and chickens that follow you.

North Shore - Haleiwa Town Beach Park

North Shore beaches are notorious for their giant waves. We stumbled upon a surf competition. The surfers looked unworldly as they glided across the blue ocean.

Giovanni’s

A popular food truck known for their garlic shrimp. A great flavorful mid day lunch.

Matsumoto Shave Ice

Tourist flock to this colorful dessert place. Customize your shave ice with a plethora of syrup options, and be sure to add toppings.

Ted’s Bakery

Ted’s chocolate Haupia Cream Pie may be my favorite dessert from this trip. The chocolate, combined with the coconut cream and bready crust formed the best flavor combination.

Chinaman’s Hat

As the name suggests, the island looks like a hat. A popular illusion to note is that as you drive along North Shore towards the hat, the hat gets smaller.

Kualoa

Waiahole Poi Factory

The poi factory serves traditional Hawaiian food.

Yogurstory

Ono Seafood

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail

Beach

Zippy’s

A local favorite for casual comfort food.

Kokohead

Although we did not hike Kokohead trail, We stopped by at a vista point to take in the incredible view.

Dole Plantation

Turtle Beach

Turtle’s are said to be observable here. Unfortunately non were seen.

Oahu 2023 | Day 4

Day 4 continues with hikes, beaches, botanical gardens, and catching up with friends at Maui brewing and dinner at Duke’s.

Day 4 Thursday, December 28 2023

• Lanikai Pillboxes Hike

• Cinnamons Cafe

• Kailua Beach

• Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens

• Maui Brewing

• Duke’s

Lanikai Pillboxes Hike

Beautiful short, steep hike up on the Eastern side of the Island.

Cinnamon Cafe

Kailua Beach

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a free drive along lush tropical plants and mountain ridges.

Maui Brewery

The casual brewery sits atop the main strip of Waikiki.

Duke’s

Popular beach side restaurant

Oahu 2023 | Day 3

Continuing the trip with Day 3. The morning was spent exploring more of Oahu’s natural beauty with a hike up Diamond Head. The rest of the day was filled with delicious food and a memorable sunset at Waikiki Beach.

All photos taken with the Fujifilm XE-4, with XF 23mm f2.0 and XF 55-200mm lenses.

Day 3 Wednesday December 27th 2023

• Diamond Head Hike

• Bogart’s Cafe

• Random Beach Next to Diamond Head

• Foodlands

• Pipeline

• Tonkatsu Tamafuji

• Waikiki

Diamond Head Hike

The Diamond Head hike takes you up the ridges of a volcanic cone, giving you panoramic views of the island and the crater itself. The popular hike is paved all the way to the top, along with a few steep staircases.

Bogart’s Cafe

Bogart’s cafe is a tiny order at the counter restaurant that serves breakfast foods and acai bowls. The cafe was recommended for their acai bowls, a refreshing treat after the Diamond Head hike close by.

Beach Alongside Diamond Head

A walk along the base of Diamond Head exposes beaches with surfers and a variety of wildlife.

Foodlands

Foodlands reminds me of WholeFoods. A popular spot for quick poke.

Pipeline

Pipeline is another bakery popular for their Malasadas. It is tough to determine the winner between Pipeline and Leonards.

Tonkatsu Tamafuji

Delicious, high-quality Tonkatsu and other japanese fried meals. The dining experience was one of my favorites, with an array of side dishes, sauces, and sesame you can grind yourself. Reservations are highly recommended, and must be booked months in advanced. For walk-ins, you must come way before they are open, and put your name down on the list. Walk-ins are not guaranteed, and only open up when reservations do not show up.

Waikiki

Waikiki beach is the hub where most tourist will stay. The area is well maintained, filled with shops and beautiful beaches and hotels.

Oahu 2023 | Day 1 & 2

Monday December 25th, 2023 - Tuesday January 2nd, 2024

We visited Oahu for 8 days from Christmas through New Years. The trip was filled with hikes, beaches, and food. Documentation of the trip will be split among 4 blog posts. All pictures taken with the Fujifilm XE-4 with the XF 23mm F2.0 and XF 55-200mm lenses.

This post documents Day 1 and 2. The first two days were eventful, acclimating to the warmer December temperatures, humidity, and the relaxed atmosphere. Whether it was the 80 degree days, or the casual floral prints everybody was wearing, you couldn’t help but feel a change in mentality. A stark difference from a busy city like San Francisco.

Day 1 Monday, December 25th 2023:

• Flight to Oahu

• Punchbowl - National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

• 7-Eleven

• Happy Days Chinese Restaurant

Day 2 Tuesday, December 26th 2023:

• Manoa Falls Hike

• Off The Hook (Poke)

• Leonards (Malasadas)

• Ala Moana

• The Pig and The Lady

• Honolulu City Lights

7-Eleven

The 7-Eleven in Hawaii, much like the ones in Japan, have superior snack options when compared to the 7-Eleven on the mainland. The musubi and various asian/japanese snacks seem more edible than the plain sandwiches and other questionable prepared foods I encountered back when I frequented 7-Eleven in college.

Happy Days

A quick dinner was had in a crowded Chinese restaurant, Happy Days. Restaurant options are limited on Christmas Day as many are closed, but Happy Days happily fed us with classic Chinese food options. The restaurant was vibrant, with loud conversations of families enjoying the night together.

Manoa Falls Trail

Day two began early in Manoa with a hike towards Manoa Falls. The short hike transports you into a lush rainforest with tropical trees covered in opportunistic vines of familiar looking plants. You’ll recognize many of these plants in your local indoor plant shop. The out-and-back trail culminates at the base of the Manoa waterfall, which is now blocked off. The hike can be steep and muddy at parts. Go early to avoid crowds.

Off The Hook

The first poke of the trip was had at Off The Hook, recommended by a local as being one of his favorite spots to get Poke in Manoa. We were greeted with a short line leading up to the storefront door where a display of poke blocks the entrance to keep patrons outside. The patron in front of us was greeted by the cashier by first name, perpetuating a small-town feel. Toppings are included, which enhance the experience by adding texture to an otherwise monotonous mouthfeel. Not sure whether being first played a role, but this was one of my favorite poke spots.

Leonard’s Bakery

Since 1952, Leonard’s bakery has been a popular spot for their Malasadas, a sugary, doughy, Portuguese pastry. Large crowds wait outside the location during the lunch rush, waiting for their freshly fried to order, warm treat. The doughnuts could be enjoyed with different flavored powdered sugars, or filled with custard. The pillowy desserts were delicious, and I still think about them daily.

Ala Moana Center

Ala Moana center is the world’s largest open-air shopping center located in Honolulu.

The Pig and The Lady

Elevated Vietnamese fusion can be enjoyed at The Pig and The Lady. Their Pho broths are flavorful with an enhanced herbal taste. Bowls are filled with large portions of meat.

Honolulu City Lights

Downtown Honolulu was decorated with Christmas decor spanning several blocks.