HONOLULU, HAWAII

MORNING GLASS CAFE

This shack style cafe serves up some of the yummiest breakfast and lunch dishes in the area. From their coffee to the food, Morning Glass prides itself on using local ingredients sourced from the island.  It definitely has a local joint feel to it, and for some reason reminded me of the movie "50 First Dates". Try their insanely delicious mac ' n cheese pancake (yes, pancake) and the watermelon juice...so good!

BILLS HAWAII

Originating from Sydney, this stylish chain of casual Aussie fare brings surf and island vibes together in one chic setting. There's a cafe on the 1st floor and then the full restaurant on the 2nd floor, offering up an all-day menu comprised of fresh ingredients.  Even if you're not hungry, go for the interior design alone.  Colorful, bright, and airy, you'll definitely want to take some snaps for the Insta.

ted's bakery

Oh Ted, how I love thee. Located in the famous North Shore area, this small, seemingly inconspicuous storefront is where you'll find some of the best pies in the world (no joke) and delicious local lunch plates like the Loco Moco or the Chicken BBQ. Best known for his pies, try the chocolate haupia cream pie or any of the cream pies, this place is the perfect spot to pick up lunch on the North Shore before catching a wave.

ono seafood

Hawaii is the home of poke (pronounced 'poh-kay'), and Ono's is the place to have it, in all its glory. Poke can be seen as 'trending' in the food world right now with places popping up all over major cities like New York and L.A. but Hawaiians have been eating this as a staple for decades now.  Ono's does poke the right way: fresh, simple, and made to order. You won't find frivolous, Westernized options here like kale, quinoa, or random veggies to add in. No way. Ono's does it the authentic way: the freshest of fish, simple seasoning with fluffy warm rice served in a styrofoam container. Period. And the decor? As simple as the dishes, no frills here and pretty much a hole in the wall with a few benches outside if you're lucky to find a seat. 

MAHINA & SUN’S @ Surfjack

This surf-themed casual eatery is located inside the oh-so-cool Surfjack Hotel. Don't be fooled by the laid-back vintage vibes of this place: the chef is a four-time James Beard Award nominee. Oh, and the Obama's have also dined here back in 2016. So yeah, no big deal, except that the food and cocktails are amazing here. The restaurant is inside the hotel but there's also a great outdoor area by the pool which is the perfect open, well-designed space to enjoy the delicious menu items including my fav, the Naked Pig pizza. Pair that with any of the visually appealing craft cocktails like the Lavender Lady or the Mr. Pink, and you won't be disappointed. It's def a fav.

marukame udon

This isn't your average udon shop. Set up cafeteria-style, you'll find cooks preparing freshly made udon noodles and all the fixings right in front of you. Grab a tray, select your udon broth and noodles and make your way down the line where you'll find all different types of toppings and side dishes to grab like tempura and masubis (Hawaiian rice balls).  At any given time, you'll most likely be met with a line that goes down the block but it does move pretty fast so don't get intimidated and pass this up. It's worth the wait and very affordable! It's like gourmet udon at cafeteria prices! Oh and when you're done, stop by the Matcha ice cream stand, called Matcha Stand Maiko, that's right behind this place for some of the best matcha soft serve. 

WAIOLA SHAVE ICE

The oldest shave ice shop on the island, Waiola has also been serving up shaved ice for as long as the locals can remember (since 1940 to be exact). The ice here is finely shaved down to remind you of cotton candy where the ice literally just melts the moment it touches your mouth. In addition to the delicious fruity syrups to choose from, there are additional options to add like mochi balls, condensed milk, ice cream, and even custard. Grab a bowl, and take a seat around the colorful quirky patio that's just to the side of the store. If this doesn't take you back to your childhood memories,  I don't know what will.

island vintage coffee

This coffee shop chain has a few locations around Honolulu and Japan, but I like the one located at the Royal Hawaiian Center. Although a chain, the food is very fresh and yums here. They pretty much do it all from bagels to shaved ice to acai bowls, and of course coffee. The presentation of the foods is very pretty with almost every dish garnished with some type of fresh flower or petal. The acai bowls here are amazing so definitely leave room to try a bowl! It's a great place to stop by in the morning or for a pit stop during your shopping strolls on the main shopping district of Kalakaua Avenue.

MATSUMOTO SHAVE ICE

If there's one thing you HAVE to have in Hawaii, it's the shaved ice. If you haven't had Hawaiian shaved ice, then you haven't experienced true shaved ice. And the place to have it is at Matsumoto's. What started out as a local grocery store, this now famous island institution serves up one of, if not the best shaved ice on the island and draws in people all over the world to line up at this small old school spot. The draw is the finely shaved ice that is shaved down in front of you and the selection of all the different homemade syrups to create your own shaved ice masterpiece. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to contemplate which flavors you want while you wait in what usually is a long line of people, doing the same.

Kualoa Ranch: Jurassic Park

This place is insane.. insanely beautiful. It's 4000 acres of a private nature reserve that's open to the public to explore in various ways: ATV, horseback, or a guided walking movie tour. If this place looks familiar, it's because it's been the backdrop for several major movies like "50 First Dates", "Jurassic Park" (the original), "Pearl Harbor", and many more. This place is unreal and so beautiful; nature in all its glory.  The views are breathtaking and you can't help but be overwhelmed by the austere grandeur of the mountain scenery.  The tickets are a bit pricey but so worth it. Plan ahead as most likely they'll be booked days or weeks out. 

south shore market

A cute little marketplace that opened in late 2016, South Shore is made up of 18 or so shops and eateries where you could easily spend a few hours walking around. It's a great place to stop by for cute gifts and shop local beauty products and jewelry designers. Stop by Salvage Public, a brand started in Hawaii where the clothes are inspired by and reflect the Hawaiian surf and lifestyle. You'll find a well-curated mix of tees, sweatshirts, and accessories for the splurge.

waikiki beach

This famous stretch of beach has a lot of history.  Back in the 1800s, it was the place where royalty came to enjoy a bit of surf and sun but was also the backdrop of many of Elvis Presley's films including Blue Hawaii.  Many of the big hotels can be found along this beach including the historic Royal Hawaiian and the Westin Moana Surfrider.  Some of the best views of Hawaii's beautiful sunset can be seen from here and is a popular spot for both surfers and tourists alike. Grab a Mai Tai at one of the beach bars (Royal Hawaiian is a fav!), a beach towel and soak it all in.

the grove @ the Modern

Located inside the Modern Hotel, The Grove is a super cute, trendy restaurant that reminds me of a cross between the 1 Hotel and The Edition in Miami. Here you can nosh al fresco among hibiscus and other lush greenery that surrounds you while feeling the breeze come through from Waikiki beach. I love the chill, relaxed vibe here, the decor and large spacious layout.  Afterwards, stop by The Study, the hotel bar, for some interesting cocktail concoctions and lounge in their library-inspired setting.

lanikai beach

Umm, Lanikai literally means "heavenly sea". Need I say more? The minute you step onto this beach, it’s easy to see why it consistently lands on the world's best beaches lists year after year. The soft pale sand to the amazingly pristine calm, blue waters is what makes this a must-experience beach. It's open to the public but not a state land beach so there are no facilities like bathrooms or showers here. Parking in itself is an obstacle because the paths to the beach are nestled in an upscale residential neighborhood so it's hard to find a place to park among the houses. Regardless, nothing is more beautiful than walking onto this beach so bring your own towel, some water, and snacks, and enjoy a refreshing and visually stimulating swim and hang out like an Obama. That's right, the Obamas like to frequent this beach whenever they're in town, so there's that.

dole plantation

Pineapple.soft.serve. I still dream about the Dole soft serve that can be found around the island, but it felt special to have it at the actual Dole Plantation. This is like the Disneyland for pineapple lovers. There's a train ride (called the Pineapple Express lol) to take for a tour of the plantation, a huge plastic pineapple to take a picture in, a pineapple maze, and so much more. The best part though? The softserve, topped with fresh DOLE pineapples! There’s also a place to eat in the main shop area and the food looked good, although I didn't get to have any because I was too engulfed with the soft serve.  Oh and forget about all the different types of pineapple-themed gifts and foods you can find here. 

turtle bay

Turtle Bay is located on the North Shore, which is known for some of the best surfing in the world.  This bay isn't known for the swimming or for amazing sand, but more for... the turtles! A large number of green sea turtles are known to inhabit the area because they lay their eggs in the sand on the beach years ago, and people come to turtle spot/watch on this stretch of water. If you're lucky (and patient enough), hang out on the rocks near the water and try and spot a turtle swimming by.  Just find all the cars parked off to the side of the road for the best turtle-watching spot on the island.

pillbox trail

This hike is probably one of the more well-known trails, mostly because of the stunning views of Lanikai beach that rewards you at the top. It's a fairly easy hike about 20-30 mins to get to the 'pillbox'. It's called the Pillbox Trail because there's this huge, run down concrete box that you climb onto to see the views. These concrete boxes used to be military observation stations during WWII and referred to as 'pillboxes' which is where the name comes from.  Depending on what time of day you go, it can get quite crowded on the narrow trail and on the 'pillbox' as well which you have to climb onto to get the most breathtaking views of Lanikai.  

lewers lounge @ the halekulani

I know I say every place in Hawaii is my happy place, but this really is. First, it's a jazz lounge that is chicer than some of the New York jazz bars I've been to, AND it's inside one of my favorite hotels, the Halekulani (see ‘where to stay’ for more on Halekulani).  The hotel is very modern, with subtle touches of Japanese inspired zen vibes all throughout the hotel. The bar exudes a swanky, old-school cool that is so inviting, you’ll never want to leave.  It feels like a little bit of New York City in the land of paradise.

westin moana surfrider

Surfrider is the first hotel in Waikiki and therefore dubbed the "First Lady of Waikiki".  The history can be found in the design of the hotel with the preservation of the old colonial like beams and architecture. There's definitely a mix of old world charm with modern touches at this historic hotel which opened in 1901. The main draw here is the huge banyan tree in the hotel courtyard where the bar and pool area are. It's definitely a sight to see and at night, you can grab a drink at the bar, listen to the live band, and hang out under the lighted tree while catching the famous Waikiki sunsets. 

the surfjack

I love this place, like so.much. Everything about it is just so chill and cool.  This boutique hotel is modern with retro vintage vibes in a chic open, sun-filled space. The pool is where it's at, and at night they project movies onto the wall for a drive-in theater feel. Come for the happy hour for some of the best cocktails and pizza in the area at Mahina & Sun's. (see Eats section) There's also a super cute boutique and cafe called Olive and Olivier that stocks a great assortment of accessories, clothing, and stationery. The front of the boutique is the cafe, all decked out in pink where you can grab an espresso while you browse.

royal hawaiian

Immediately upon arrival, you can see why it's called the "Pink Palace of the Pacific".  At 6 stories with 400 rooms, the iconic Spanish-Moorish styled architecture with concrete stucco facade washed in pink inside and out is a beauty all itself.  The entrance is hidden among massively tall palms and other lush towering greenery and then you're met with this grand entrance of beautifully vintage tiled floors and architecture that feels of another time. I loved the Spanish decor here and could spent hours exploring all the different nooks and sections of the hotel. Experience the famous Mai Tai Bar by the water, where you'll find more pink umbrellas (and signature to the Royal Hawaiian) in one place than you could ever imagine. The whole place (palace) is magical.