Erik's Guidebook for Makiki & Alewa Heights Neighborhoods
Food scene
The original bakery located at 515 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817 is more of a take-out restaurant with limited seating. There are two other locations on Oahu that might be better suited for groups, one at Ala Moana Center and another on Nimitz Hwy.
Don't miss out on their famous coco puffs! The Chantilly topped, chocolate filled coco puffs are a local favorite. Pretty much everything is good here though. In my family's opinion, they have some of the best mochi donuts on Oahu as well.
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Liliha Bakery
515 N Kuakini StThe original bakery located at 515 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817 is more of a take-out restaurant with limited seating. There are two other locations on Oahu that might be better suited for groups, one at Ala Moana Center and another on Nimitz Hwy.
Don't miss out on their famous coco puffs! The Chantilly topped, chocolate filled coco puffs are a local favorite. Pretty much everything is good here though. In my family's opinion, they have some of the best mochi donuts on Oahu as well.
This is one of our favorite local bakeries, only about a 5-10 minute drive from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. They serve pastries, fresh breads, and breakfast & lunch.
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Fendu Boulangerie
2752 Woodlawn DrThis is one of our favorite local bakeries, only about a 5-10 minute drive from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. They serve pastries, fresh breads, and breakfast & lunch.
This is a locally owned coffee shop with outstanding coffee and caring staff/ownership. This is one of our favorite coffee shops on island in Kailua.
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ChadLou's Coffee • Cafe & Roastery
45 Hoolai StThis is a locally owned coffee shop with outstanding coffee and caring staff/ownership. This is one of our favorite coffee shops on island in Kailua.
Haleiwa Joe's has perhaps the best prime rib on island. It is humungous and a fair price! They do everything well here, from their steaks, to their seafood, to their desserts and mixed drinks. You can't really go wrong here.
Their Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch buffet at the Haiku location has prime rib as well, and is simply amazing.
The views from both the Haleiwa, and Haiku locations are breathtaking. This is one of our personal favorites.
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Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens
46-336 Haiku RdHaleiwa Joe's has perhaps the best prime rib on island. It is humungous and a fair price! They do everything well here, from their steaks, to their seafood, to their desserts and mixed drinks. You can't really go wrong here.
Their Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch buffet at the Haiku location has prime rib as well, and is simply amazing.
The views from both the Haleiwa, and Haiku locations are breathtaking. This is one of our personal favorites.
There are two locations, in Kakaako/Honolulu, and in Kailua. Both are awesome. This is one of our favorite restaurants for take-out. The best way to describe this place is it tastes like really good beach grilling combined with authentic Japanese style side dishes. The bentos work great for picnics.
Hibachi Honolulu
514 Keawe StreetThere are two locations, in Kakaako/Honolulu, and in Kailua. Both are awesome. This is one of our favorite restaurants for take-out. The best way to describe this place is it tastes like really good beach grilling combined with authentic Japanese style side dishes. The bentos work great for picnics.
There are a few locations, but this is the one we always go to. It is known as the restaurants the local chefs go to themselves. It is fancy local food. Our favorite dishes include the char siu fried rice, boneless kalbi, pork chops, and Korean fried chicken. There desserts are amazing too.
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Side Street Inn Kapahulu
614 Kapahulu AveThere are a few locations, but this is the one we always go to. It is known as the restaurants the local chefs go to themselves. It is fancy local food. Our favorite dishes include the char siu fried rice, boneless kalbi, pork chops, and Korean fried chicken. There desserts are amazing too.
Neighborhoods
This is where our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo is located. The neighborhood is known for its centrality and convenience in metro Honolulu. It consists mainly of condo buildings, but also has residential homes throughout the neighborhood.
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Makiki/Lower/ Punchbowl/Tantalus
This is where our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo is located. The neighborhood is known for its centrality and convenience in metro Honolulu. It consists mainly of condo buildings, but also has residential homes throughout the neighborhood.
This is where our Garden Unit is located. Alewa Heights is a desirable metro Honolulu neighborhood, known for its convenience, cooler weather and family-friendly atmosphere. There are several parks nearby, including Puunui, Nuuanu, and Na Pueo. Please see the rest of our guidebook for specifics.
‘Ālewa Heights
This is where our Garden Unit is located. Alewa Heights is a desirable metro Honolulu neighborhood, known for its convenience, cooler weather and family-friendly atmosphere. There are several parks nearby, including Puunui, Nuuanu, and Na Pueo. Please see the rest of our guidebook for specifics.
In addition to the beautiful hiking trail in the back of the valley, we recommend visiting the entire Manoa neighborhood.
Manoa Valley is one of the most desirable neighborhoods on Oahu. They have Manoa Valley Park, a local theater, plenty of restaurants, and a public library. It is a beautiful valley, known for its abundance of rainbows, and it is a nice place to walk or take a jog as well.
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Na Ala Hele: Manoa Falls Trail
Na Ala Hele: Manoa Falls TrailIn addition to the beautiful hiking trail in the back of the valley, we recommend visiting the entire Manoa neighborhood.
Manoa Valley is one of the most desirable neighborhoods on Oahu. They have Manoa Valley Park, a local theater, plenty of restaurants, and a public library. It is a beautiful valley, known for its abundance of rainbows, and it is a nice place to walk or take a jog as well.
Nearby Park
This park is within walking distance to our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo, although there is sufficient parking if you want to bring your car. There are plenty of tennis courts here, as well as basketball and volleyball courts. There is a community swimming pool, a playground set, community garden, and ample grass areas for BBQ's, soccer, frisbee and other sports.
Makiki District Park
1527 Ke’eaumoku StThis park is within walking distance to our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo, although there is sufficient parking if you want to bring your car. There are plenty of tennis courts here, as well as basketball and volleyball courts. There is a community swimming pool, a playground set, community garden, and ample grass areas for BBQ's, soccer, frisbee and other sports.
This is a small park, but makes for a nice walk from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. There are no facilities. It consists of grass and beautiful trees. The locals use it for neighborhood strolls, lounging, picnicking and walking their dogs.
Archie Baker Park
1959 Makiki Heights DriveThis is a small park, but makes for a nice walk from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. There are no facilities. It consists of grass and beautiful trees. The locals use it for neighborhood strolls, lounging, picnicking and walking their dogs.
This is an extensive trail system with one of the trailheads about a 5 minute drive, or 15-20 minute walk, from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. You can park your car at the gate, and then walk past the Hawaii Nature Center to the trailhead.
Kanealole Trail
Kanealole TrailThis is an extensive trail system with one of the trailheads about a 5 minute drive, or 15-20 minute walk, from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. You can park your car at the gate, and then walk past the Hawaii Nature Center to the trailhead.
This is a beautiful park about a 5 minute drive from our Garden Unit. It is lush with enormous trees, as well as a nice playground set, plenty of picnic tables nice for BBQ'ing, and basketball court. It is located just behind Queen Emma's Summer Palace.
Nuuanu Valley Park
This is a beautiful park about a 5 minute drive from our Garden Unit. It is lush with enormous trees, as well as a nice playground set, plenty of picnic tables nice for BBQ'ing, and basketball court. It is located just behind Queen Emma's Summer Palace.
This park is at the top of Alewa Heights Neighborhood, about a 5 minute drive from our Garden Unit. It is a small park but has beautiful views of Punchbowl and Diamondhead. There is also a small community garden you can visit, and a nice grass lawn for frisbee and soccer. It also has an outdoor fitness stations set where you can get a whole body workout in.
There is a second section of the park less than a block up the hill that contains a basketball half-court and picnic table.
Na Pueo Park
Alewa DriveThis park is at the top of Alewa Heights Neighborhood, about a 5 minute drive from our Garden Unit. It is a small park but has beautiful views of Punchbowl and Diamondhead. There is also a small community garden you can visit, and a nice grass lawn for frisbee and soccer. It also has an outdoor fitness stations set where you can get a whole body workout in.
There is a second section of the park less than a block up the hill that contains a basketball half-court and picnic table.
Sightseeing
This is about a 5-10 minute drive from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. It is one of the best lookouts on Oahu. You can see all the entire metro Honolulu area, as well as into Manoa Valley, and westward to the airport and beyond. There are also some nice grass areas to picnic, as well as a trailhead for hiking.
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Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
Nutridge StreetThis is about a 5-10 minute drive from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo. It is one of the best lookouts on Oahu. You can see all the entire metro Honolulu area, as well as into Manoa Valley, and westward to the airport and beyond. There are also some nice grass areas to picnic, as well as a trailhead for hiking.
This is a lookout in the middle of Nuuanu Valley, about a 10 minute drive from our Garden Unit. You can see the Windward side of the island, including the famous Kailua Town.
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Nu'uanu Pali Lookout
Nuuanu Pali DriveThis is a lookout in the middle of Nuuanu Valley, about a 10 minute drive from our Garden Unit. You can see the Windward side of the island, including the famous Kailua Town.
City/town information
We love Kailua town and come here often with our own family. It is only about a 15 minute drive from our Garden Unit. They have world-famous beaches, including an enormous stretch of beach containing Kailua Beach Park, Kalama Beach Park, and Kalaheo. There is also the pristine Lanikai Beach in the affluent Lanikai neighborhood.
There is plenty of shopping in Kailua as well as several local favorite restaurants. We recommend Hibachi Grill, Cinnamons, Kalapawai Cafe & Grill, Chad Lous Coffee Roasters, and Lanikai Juice, just to name a few.
You can rent kayaks at Kailua Beach Adventures. Paddle out to the beautiful "Mokes"/Moku islands just off of Kailua/Lanikai Beaches. Or cruise the neighborhoods on beach bikes.
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Kailua
We love Kailua town and come here often with our own family. It is only about a 15 minute drive from our Garden Unit. They have world-famous beaches, including an enormous stretch of beach containing Kailua Beach Park, Kalama Beach Park, and Kalaheo. There is also the pristine Lanikai Beach in the affluent Lanikai neighborhood.
There is plenty of shopping in Kailua as well as several local favorite restaurants. We recommend Hibachi Grill, Cinnamons, Kalapawai Cafe & Grill, Chad Lous Coffee Roasters, and Lanikai Juice, just to name a few.
You can rent kayaks at Kailua Beach Adventures. Paddle out to the beautiful "Mokes"/Moku islands just off of Kailua/Lanikai Beaches. Or cruise the neighborhoods on beach bikes.
This is a historic town on the North Shore of Oahu. It is now known for its boutique shops and tourism, and can get very busy. Some of our personal favorites here include the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice, Scoop of Paradise ice cream shop, and Kua Aina Sandwich Shop (more of a burger place than sandwiches).
If you're into yoga, Open Space Yoga is the best studio on island in my opinion. The teachers here have a deep knowledge of not only the physical practice of yoga, but also the holistic, meditative aspect of yoga.
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Haleiwa
This is a historic town on the North Shore of Oahu. It is now known for its boutique shops and tourism, and can get very busy. Some of our personal favorites here include the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice, Scoop of Paradise ice cream shop, and Kua Aina Sandwich Shop (more of a burger place than sandwiches).
If you're into yoga, Open Space Yoga is the best studio on island in my opinion. The teachers here have a deep knowledge of not only the physical practice of yoga, but also the holistic, meditative aspect of yoga.
Family fun
This is a great place to take your kids. They have a daily dolphin show and sea lion show that are both entertaining and educational.
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Sea Life Park Hawaii
41-202 Kalanianaʻole HwyThis is a great place to take your kids. They have a daily dolphin show and sea lion show that are both entertaining and educational.
This is a fun water park for the whole family. There are plenty of water slides and sections that accommodate all ages. They serve alcohol and food here as well.
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Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii
400 Farrington HwyThis is a fun water park for the whole family. There are plenty of water slides and sections that accommodate all ages. They serve alcohol and food here as well.
Borgartillaga
Samgöngur
The Bus is a great transit system on Oahu.
Here's a link to their fares & passes:
http://m.thebus.org/fare/FarePasses.asp
Sparnaðarleiðir
The Biki or The Bus may be viable transportation options.
Especially from our Comfy Central Honolulu Condo, bike and bus are good ways to get around if you don't want to rent a car.