"Must-do Oahu" Guide

*This is a must-do, Chi certified list of favorite eateries and selected fun on Oahu
**Use this check list even if you have 1-3 days on Oahu.

Hungry & Thirsty?

• Yama's Fish Market: 2332 Young Street, Honolulu, HI 96826; (808) 941-9994; http://www.yamasfishmarket.com/. The VERY VERY VERY BEST Hawaiian mixed plate including lau lau, haupia, poi, & poke (go for the spicy ahi limu ["seaweed"] poke). With HUGE portions & at $8.75, it's pretty much the best god-dang deal in Hawaii.

• Kona Brewing Company in Koko Marina (East Honolulu): 7192 Kalaniana'ole Highway Honolulu, HI 9682; (808) 394-5662; http://www.konabrewingco.com/ourpubs. My favorite place for a sunset dinner on the marina. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

• Indigo's Eurasian Cuisine: 1121 Nuuanu Avenue Suite 105, Honolulu, HI 96817 (In Chinatown); (808) 521-2900; http://www.indigo-hawaii.com/. Go between 4-7 pm (Tues-Fri) for $2.75-3 happy hour martinis and free buffet! Try their lychee martini & then stay for dinner.

• Mai Tai's in Ala Moana Shopping Center is another excellent cheap drinks bar (about $2.75-3 until 10 pm) Try their Mai Tais! It's upstairs by CPK.

• Gordon Bierch at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. My friends and I love Gordon's during sunset. You can sip drinks and eat garlic fries while listening to live music by the Pier. SOOO FUN! Try Wednesday afternoons when they play contemporary Hawaiian music.

• Make sure you hit the North Shore Shrimp Trucks between Discovery Bay and Sunset Beach

• On your way to the North Shore, stop by the Dole Plantation for pineapple ice cream! http://www.dole-plantation.com/

• Sam Choy's is best for lunch, since it's less fancy. There's one on Nimitz Highway near the airport at 580 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817; (808) 545-7979; http://www.samchoy.com/about_brewmaster.html.

• Alan Wong's Pineapple Room on the 3rd flr. at the Ala Moana Macy's store.

• Roy's: 6600 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825; (808) 396-7697; http://www.roysrestaurant.com/roy.asp. This is Roy’s first original location. Splurge on the wine-paired sampling menu! Make reservations & go around 6:00-6:30 to catch the sunset.

Attractions, Beaches, & Drives

• Drive & Eat: On your drive to Lanikai (voted the best beach in America), stop by Keneke's Plate Lunch in Waimanalo. 41-857 Kalanianaole, Waimanalo, HI 96795; (808) 259-9800. You can't miss it if you drive east from Waikiki towards Hanauma Bay on Kalanianaole Hwy. This is the coastal drive featured in Drew Barrymore's Fifty-First Dates--shockingly beautiful!

• Pit stop: Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike, located right after the Hawaii Kai Golf Course. Go early in the morning and you might catch a glimpse of Humpback Whales (whale season runs b/w Nov-May). Hike down to the secret tide pools right after the Whale Sign on the top of the hike. You won't be able to spot a trail down on first glance--it's all rocks & huge fall down! But just go along the path and you'll be safe (white arrows direct you back up). The tide pools below are at least 15 feet deep and filled with fish (bring snorkel gear), but be weary of crashing waves and a huge blowhole to the left of the tide pools. A college friend and I saw several pods of whales and calves doing back flips and pec slaps about 100 yards away from us!

• Drive through Diamond Head on Kahala Avenue (drive straight from Waikiki) to experience one of the most expensive and beautiful neighborhoods in Hawaii! It's a fun drive with huge boulevards and amazing views! You can also stop by Cromwell's (my favorite beach in town) across from Diamond Head Triangle Park.

• Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC): http://www.polynesia.com/. Nestled in Laie, Oahu's Mormon town, this one-stop Polynesian "Disney World" features the life styles of several Polynesian cultures (e.g., Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Fijian, etc...). Plan to stay the afternoon and catch the luau dinner and night show! If you have only 2 hours, then you MUST see the night time fire show!!

• Hike Stairway to Heaven and Maunawili Falls (hike up the falls for more tide pools and even a mossy water slide)!

• Drive on H3 for amazing mountain views!

North Shore:

• On your way to PCC, stop by the old surfing/plantation town of Haleiwa & go for shave ice at Matsumotos (also try Koko Nuts Shave Ice in Koko Marina in East Honolulu, or Waiolas on at either their Kapahulu or Waiola Street locations!

• You should also have a burger from the original Kua Aina's in Haleiwa. SOO GOOD and it’s world famous!

• Continue driving towards Waimea and Pipeline at Sunset Beach. Winter visitors will see HUGE 40-50 foot waves. Summer visitors, however, must spend at least an afternoon snorkeling, swimming, and rock diving at Waimea beach (my favorite beach in the world...no kidding!). Skip the crowded Waimea beach parking lot and park in the church parking lot located on the Northern end of the beach (which is also the less crowded end). You can jump off Alii Rock (and swim in the underwater tunnels--I enjoyed it but it's quite dangerous), spot sea turtles, and swim with a variety of tropical fish!

• Pearl Harbor is a must see. Go early in the morning when it's cooler and less crowded.

Other Considerations

• In general, stay away from Waikiki beaches . . . don't waste your time there unless you guys want to learn how to surf from the beach boys.

• If you crave the beaches and must go somewhere, hit up Ala Moana Beach Park or Kaimana by Diamond Head. Both are less crowded and less touristy. I'd suggest tanning yourself at Lanikai in Kailua or Cromwell's at Diamond Head if possible.