Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - helicopter tour over Volcano National Park gives you the opportunity to see lava oozing on the ground and in calderas.
Spam musubi. Spam on rice wrapped in seaweed. So common they even sell it in 7/11. I don't eat it myself.
Hawaii eats more spam per capita than any state in the union.
Hawaii also has the highest average life expectancy by far.
Maybe the preservatives in the spam are preserving the people too.
The biggest block party in waikiki each year is the "spam jam".
The most popular dim sum in hawaii has to be "manapua", hawaiian word for the chinese "char siu bao". It's a steamed white bun with pork inside, very tasty. They also have baked version. There are other popular ones like pork hash, half moon (stuffed gelatinized rice), moon cake (gelatinized rice). When I was a kid we bought them from manapua trucks, like kids elsewhere buy from ice cream trucks. We used to make bad jokes about what was really in the manapua.
Other popular treat is Chinese "crack seed", probably entirely revolting for someone not used to it. Classic one is "li hing mui", which is dried/marinated plum, very very salty and somewhat sweet, will make your mouth shrivel and pucker from the intensity. Better lick it instead of putting it into your mouth... Another popular one is lemon peel. I think the only one a tourist could handle would be mango seed, that's tasty and inoffensive, kind of gooey though. Maybe the candied ginger would be ok.
Popular treats are also dried squid (cuttlefish)... rice crackers, they have a bit of soy on them and some wrapped in a bit of seaweed. Probably all lost on the tourist.
Lau Lau is the most popular Hawaiian food I think... taro leaf (like spinach) and a bit of fish and pork. Tourists might like it. Everyone loves kalua pig (like pulled pork). Haupia is a coconut pudding. pipikaula is yummy pork jerky. Lome lome salmon is a kind of fishy salsa. Poi is revolting straight, but almost tolerable if you eat it in between bites of other food (that's how you're supposed to eat it). There is a classic hawaiian food place up 726 Kapahulu avenue, a street going up the diamond head side of Waikiki. Look for the tiny "ono hawaiian food" sign.
Typical quickie blue collar lunch is a "plate lunch". Greasy meat scooped rice and macaroni salad. Favorite is probably chicken katsu, deep fried chicken slices with a kind of bbq sauce (tonkatsu sauce). Other favorites are shoyu chicken (soy sauce chicken, kind of sweet), chicken/pork adobo (filipino pepper/vinegar marinade, I LOVE this one), kalbi (korean short rib).
A good place to try plate lunch made palatable for tourists is in Ward Center, not very far from the pier: Kakaako kitchen.
Korean "plate lunch" variant is increasingly popular, you get plenty vegetable side dishes where regular plate lunch doesn't give you much vegetables if any. My favorite sides are the seaweed, spicy cucumber, marinated potato, watercress. The typical korean food stand is korean BBQ, heavy meat offerings (kalbi, bulgogi, chicken), but there are also sit down "homestyle" korean restaurants (my fave) and ones where you cook your own (grilled garlic and kalbi, mm). My favorite korean dish is kimchee jigae, a kind of super spicy and intensiely flavored beef stew. Probably only 1% of people would not find it totally offensive, but I love vegemite too, what can I say. "Yummy" korean bbq is a chain that is all over, but the mom and pop shops are good too.
Common takeaway food is the japanese "bento". In Hawaii these often have some combination of spam, butterfish, beef and chicken. You can try a zippack at the everpresent chain "Zippy's", or maybe not -- Zippy's just isn't very good, think cafeteria food. I like it when I'm starving and impatient, but you probably won't be impressed. Classic sushi to eat in Hawaii is the futomaki, unusually big veggie sushi roll very tasty (no fish don't worry). Musubi (rice wrapped in sweet dough), Tekkamaki (tuna with wasabe) and kappamaki (cucumber) also popular. Sashimi (raw fish) is served at special occasions ($$$), hamachi version is one of my favorite foods. Japanese noodles very very popular(saimin/ramen). Japanese population in hawaii is 40% so Japanese food is big. A place in Aina Haina (between waikiki/hanauma bay) has an unusual offering called Chanko Nabe, a kind of seafood stew for sumo wrestlers, yum. Restaurant on 1742 S. King st. is a real hole in the wall, Sukiyaki is a specialty but everything is great and cheap, has a local mom and pop feeling.
A classic food item to get in Hawaii is portugese bean soup. Has delicious portugese sausage in it. Very popular at school carnivals. I once bet my high school friend he couldn't finish a large soup and then go on the amusement rides three times in a row. Guess who won! Nasty.
If you rent a car from Thrifty, they give you great Drive Guides that have a lot of very useful and relevant information, as well as some local coupons that are for places easy to find and simple to redeem.
Save your ABC store receipts, they were doing a "free gift" for every hundred dollars you spent. We got a couple of nice coffee mugs for "free"! But, the ABC stores are great places to pick up almost anything you can think of, and a hundred dollars just doesn't look like it used to!
This Week magazines are found on the major Islands in airports, hotels and along the streets of Waikiki. Here's their web site http://www.thisweek.com/ They have maps, coupons etc.
Another coupon book for the Islands is the Spotlight series
The drive guides given out at the car rental agencies are also available on line, price I think is $4 each, but at the rental agencies they are free. http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/
I'd also suggest if you want to learn about things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii Magazine has great info and articles on the Islands. Only published 6 times a year. http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/
There are not places to rent chairs on most beaches in Hawaii. Our first purchase is usually a beach mat! Any ABC store will have them. They are cheap and come in the roll-up or fold-up variety. Take your towel from the ship, get a mat, and voila! you're ready for any beach stop.
We've been visiting Hawaii, our favorite place, for many years. Best reference books I've seen are the Revealed series - one paperback for each island. There is a website that keeps information updated. They are wonderful detailed guides. Check this website: www.wizardpub.com
Hawaii Cheat Sheet - compiled from many contributors on the forum
in Hawaii
Posted
You've all posted some great suggestions, and since I haven't seen the moderator post this as a sticky . . . I thought I'd put it up here again.
Oahu:
Climb Diamond Head
Snorkel Hanauma Bay
Surf lessons – perhaps with Hawaiian Fire
Polynesian Cultural Center (mixed opinions)
Watch the pros surf at Sunset Beach
Pearl Harbor Memorial Tour -Arizona Memorial, Bowfin; Missouri; Pacific Aviation Museum.
Call home in real time with a computer at the statue of Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki Beach!
Circle tour including north shore of Oahu
Swim under the waterfall and gardens at Waimea Audubon Park
Dole Plantation - fun for kids and has great frozen pineapple whip
Walking around Waikiki and Chinatown
Bishop Museum
The North Shore
The scenery and snorkeling at Shark's Cove during non-winter seasons.
Kailua Beach Park for swimming, sunning, and also windsurfing.
Lanikai beach
The blow hole is fun to watch when the seas are up.
Ko'olina up the west coast is lovely and can be nice in winter when other areas are too rough.
Sea Life Park has been completely renovated and is a good place for families with kids.
Driving the east coast is beautiful with jagged cliffs and long waterfalls
Waikiki Beach
HHV has a fireworks display on Friday early evening, and there's plenty of nightlife.
Iolani Palace tour is well worth the time and money
Punchbowl Crater
International Marketplace in Waikiki
Eating:
Cheeseburgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise
Giovanni Shrimp Truck - between the PCC and Turtle Bay.
Dole Plantation - fun for kids and has great frozen pineapple whip
Shave Ice on North Shore at Matsamoto's or Aoki's!
Waikiki Beach - there are numerous places to eat and drink (Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar, Duke's, and House Without a Key are three faves)
malasada -leonard's bakery on 933 Kapahulu ave
Jamba Juice
Kua'Aina (sandwiches and burgers are great)
Shopping:
Shop at ABC stores
Aloha Bowl Swap Meet
Aloha Tower Marketplace
Ala Moana Center
Dole Cannery
Hilo Hattie
Kahala Mall
Waikiki Beach
Kauai:
Helicopter over the Island with Blue Hawaiian
see the Blowhole
snorkel at Kaloa Beach
Ke'e Beach
Wailua Falls
The North Shore - the views and snorkeling (We loved Anini Beach - quiet, safe (offshore barrier reef) and decent snorkeling.)
The South Shore -Salt Pond Beach - quiet, mostly locals, watching the amazing wind surfers
(and we saw a Monk Seal there!);
Waimea Canyon - fantastic photo ops
East Coast - Lydegate Park - best beach for small children (and they get to see fish!)
Kilauea Lighthouse for sightseeing.
Eating:
on the way to North Shore - Duane's Ono Burger - the burgers are good and the internet is nearly free
on the way to the South Shore, malasadas at a Portuguese/Hawaiian Bakery
shave ice - Jo Jo and Halo Halo
Shopping:
nothing yet
Maui:
Snorkel Molokini
explore Lahaina
whale watch
golf at Kaanapali
Iao Valley and Iao Needle
Road to Hana
Haleakala National Park and journey to the summit of Haleakala
Big Beach
Pa'ia
Eating:
luau at Royal Lahaina Resort or Old Lahaina Luau
Maui Tacos
BJ's Chicago Pizzeria
Fred's Mexican Cafe
Jamba Juice
Shopping:
a clothing store with very classy, unique women's clothing in Lahaina called Serendipity
Kahului Swap Meet
Lahaina Cannery Mall
Lahaina Front Street
Queen Kaahumanu Center
Shops at Wailea
Whalers Village Mall
ABC Stores
Kona:
Snorkel at the Captain Cook Monument – currently the only approach is from the sea.
night dive with the Manta Rays
Drink coffee.
Place of Refuge (Puo'honaunau?)
Eating:
Island Lava Java. http://islandlavajavakona.com/
If you're hungry for a treat, too, the cinnamon rolls can't be beat!
When you exit the cruise ship dock, turn right and walk a couple of blocks. It's across the street.
We always love to go to Bad Ass Coffee. Its fun and their chocolate is great too. http://www.badasscoffee.com/legend.php
Shopping:
nothing yet
Hilo:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - helicopter tour over Volcano National Park gives you the opportunity to see lava oozing on the ground and in calderas.
Rainbow Falls
Akaka Falls
Peepee Falls
Boiling Pots
Banyan Drive
Eating:
nothing yet
Shopping:
ABC Stores
Big Island Candies - 585 Hinano Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 http://www.bigislandcandies.com/
Food Overview (thanks to Mikekaye from Honolulu)
Spam musubi. Spam on rice wrapped in seaweed. So common they even sell it in 7/11. I don't eat it myself.
Hawaii eats more spam per capita than any state in the union.
Hawaii also has the highest average life expectancy by far.
Maybe the preservatives in the spam are preserving the people too.
The biggest block party in waikiki each year is the "spam jam".
The most popular dim sum in hawaii has to be "manapua", hawaiian word for the chinese "char siu bao". It's a steamed white bun with pork inside, very tasty. They also have baked version. There are other popular ones like pork hash, half moon (stuffed gelatinized rice), moon cake (gelatinized rice). When I was a kid we bought them from manapua trucks, like kids elsewhere buy from ice cream trucks. We used to make bad jokes about what was really in the manapua.
Other popular treat is Chinese "crack seed", probably entirely revolting for someone not used to it. Classic one is "li hing mui", which is dried/marinated plum, very very salty and somewhat sweet, will make your mouth shrivel and pucker from the intensity. Better lick it instead of putting it into your mouth... Another popular one is lemon peel. I think the only one a tourist could handle would be mango seed, that's tasty and inoffensive, kind of gooey though. Maybe the candied ginger would be ok.
Popular treats are also dried squid (cuttlefish)... rice crackers, they have a bit of soy on them and some wrapped in a bit of seaweed. Probably all lost on the tourist.
Lau Lau is the most popular Hawaiian food I think... taro leaf (like spinach) and a bit of fish and pork. Tourists might like it. Everyone loves kalua pig (like pulled pork). Haupia is a coconut pudding. pipikaula is yummy pork jerky. Lome lome salmon is a kind of fishy salsa. Poi is revolting straight, but almost tolerable if you eat it in between bites of other food (that's how you're supposed to eat it). There is a classic hawaiian food place up 726 Kapahulu avenue, a street going up the diamond head side of Waikiki. Look for the tiny "ono hawaiian food" sign.
Typical quickie blue collar lunch is a "plate lunch". Greasy meat scooped rice and macaroni salad. Favorite is probably chicken katsu, deep fried chicken slices with a kind of bbq sauce (tonkatsu sauce). Other favorites are shoyu chicken (soy sauce chicken, kind of sweet), chicken/pork adobo (filipino pepper/vinegar marinade, I LOVE this one), kalbi (korean short rib).
A good place to try plate lunch made palatable for tourists is in Ward Center, not very far from the pier: Kakaako kitchen.
Korean "plate lunch" variant is increasingly popular, you get plenty vegetable side dishes where regular plate lunch doesn't give you much vegetables if any. My favorite sides are the seaweed, spicy cucumber, marinated potato, watercress. The typical korean food stand is korean BBQ, heavy meat offerings (kalbi, bulgogi, chicken), but there are also sit down "homestyle" korean restaurants (my fave) and ones where you cook your own (grilled garlic and kalbi, mm). My favorite korean dish is kimchee jigae, a kind of super spicy and intensiely flavored beef stew. Probably only 1% of people would not find it totally offensive, but I love vegemite too, what can I say. "Yummy" korean bbq is a chain that is all over, but the mom and pop shops are good too.
Common takeaway food is the japanese "bento". In Hawaii these often have some combination of spam, butterfish, beef and chicken. You can try a zippack at the everpresent chain "Zippy's", or maybe not -- Zippy's just isn't very good, think cafeteria food. I like it when I'm starving and impatient, but you probably won't be impressed. Classic sushi to eat in Hawaii is the futomaki, unusually big veggie sushi roll very tasty (no fish don't worry). Musubi (rice wrapped in sweet dough), Tekkamaki (tuna with wasabe) and kappamaki (cucumber) also popular. Sashimi (raw fish) is served at special occasions ($$$), hamachi version is one of my favorite foods. Japanese noodles very very popular(saimin/ramen). Japanese population in hawaii is 40% so Japanese food is big. A place in Aina Haina (between waikiki/hanauma bay) has an unusual offering called Chanko Nabe, a kind of seafood stew for sumo wrestlers, yum. Restaurant on 1742 S. King st. is a real hole in the wall, Sukiyaki is a specialty but everything is great and cheap, has a local mom and pop feeling.
A classic food item to get in Hawaii is portugese bean soup. Has delicious portugese sausage in it. Very popular at school carnivals. I once bet my high school friend he couldn't finish a large soup and then go on the amusement rides three times in a row. Guess who won! Nasty.
TIPS
Discount Hawaii Car Rental: http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/cruiseshipreservation.htm
If you rent a car from Thrifty, they give you great Drive Guides that have a lot of very useful and relevant information, as well as some local coupons that are for places easy to find and simple to redeem.
Save your ABC store receipts, they were doing a "free gift" for every hundred dollars you spent. We got a couple of nice coffee mugs for "free"! But, the ABC stores are great places to pick up almost anything you can think of, and a hundred dollars just doesn't look like it used to!
This Week magazines are found on the major Islands in airports, hotels and along the streets of Waikiki. Here's their web site http://www.thisweek.com/ They have maps, coupons etc.
Another coupon book for the Islands is the Spotlight series
http://www.spotlighthawaii.com/
The drive guides given out at the car rental agencies are also available on line, price I think is $4 each, but at the rental agencies they are free. http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/
I'd also suggest if you want to learn about things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii Magazine has great info and articles on the Islands. Only published 6 times a year. http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/
There are not places to rent chairs on most beaches in Hawaii. Our first purchase is usually a beach mat! Any ABC store will have them. They are cheap and come in the roll-up or fold-up variety. Take your towel from the ship, get a mat, and voila! you're ready for any beach stop.
We've been visiting Hawaii, our favorite place, for many years. Best reference books I've seen are the Revealed series - one paperback for each island. There is a website that keeps information updated. They are wonderful detailed guides. Check this website: www.wizardpub.com
Another good travel research link is www.Tripadvisor.com