What We Did On Vacation In Hawaii

If the entire planet is our home, well then right now, Hawaii’s my favorite living room.

At the start of February 2022, me, the sibling and our dear parentals embarked on something we haven’t done in 15 years– a properass family vacation. 

Yeah, baecations and girls trips have ate up all the travel publicity, which I get, but family vacations absolutely deserve some love as well. Especially because for plenty of us, our very first experiences of travel happened with the home team. 

Even with that point though, I can’t front… those family vacas as a young one got on my nerves at times hahaha because well, my budding autonomy was a non-factor! 

Gotta love the difference in energy when you start making memories that include four whole, grown adults versus simply just two lol. I guess there are benefits to getting older, ha!

Anywaysss, Hawaii was my mom’s idea that she hit us with about six months in advance. And for whatever reason I had not the slightest idea of how far those gorgeous islands are from my current home of NYC! Found out like 72 hours before leaving lmao. 

We talking 9 ½ hours non-stop, but 11 hours if you hitting a transfer like we did. I actually appreciated the stop for some much needed mobility and semi-fresh air. 

And whatever, Honolulu is simply worth the flight. Plus, upon landing you’re gifted with a generous time difference (-5hrs if traveling from NYC) which adds to the euphoria of it all. She’s stunning from dome to toe, front to back, side to side yet somehow feels… humble? Even Waikiki, which is pretty much the Times Square/5th Avenue of Honolulu, should come off as pretentious, but in my opinion, absolutely doesn’t. 

Now here’s the thing, it must also be noted that Hawaii is described by many as pricey. Me being a part of that many. BUT, just like New York, there’s still joy to be had at every budget. For instance, this lilikoi acai bowl we became obsessed with was $15, womp, yet the La Marca prosecco I bought at a local pharmacy was cheaper than anywhere else I’d seen in the US. So there’s that.

Okay this intro is long as fuck lol. Speeding things up…

We spent four full days in Honolulu and prioritized: eating, hiking and beach bumming.

If that’s your vibe, read on for the details of our trip as I hope it will assist in planning your own.

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where we stayed
Hilton Waikiki Beach

Okay, this is going to be a quick review because really this hotel was only used by us for sleeping, showering and the one workout I did before realizing how much hiking we’d be up to. 

All four of us stayed in the same room with two queen size beds which was a true 90s family vaca throwback haha, but hey, saved us some coin. The room wasn’t anything special, but it also wasn’t anything trash. Spacious bathroom. Decent view. Six min walk to the beach (!) and that’s all that mattered to us. 

Staff was welcoming. Easy breezy complimentary beach towel service. Things got a lil weird when it came to the beach chairs however. Initially we were told one complimentary chair per room, but everyday I went to grab em, they gave all four to us complimentary lolol. Maybe because it was later in the day or maybe because I happened to ask when Gen Zers were working the desk. Either way, we kept it quiet and kept it moving!

where we ate
Duke’s Waikiki, Eggs N Things, Island Vintage Coffee, Basalt, California Pizza Kitchen (lmao), Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Leonard’s Bakery, Scratch Kitchen, Oahu Mexican Grill

Duke’s Waikiki
This was the first spot we got a plate at. Packed and spirited with a live band, however it wasn’t my kind of aesthetic. It’s a huge restaurant, so from what I could see, better seating came with prior reservations. We all loved the food which isn’t a usual thing for us, but the pricing felt higher than necessary. To start, we shared the panko crusted calamari which were the freshest and hugest I’d personally ever enjoyed and they came with a unique guava cocktail sauce. As for our main, somehow we all got the same thing which was the baked “duke’s fish” with an addition of coconut shrimp. Again, super good, but also didn’t scream “come back, come back!” Heads up, the serving sizes are smedium.

Eggs N Things
Literally 20 steps away from the beach, this is a cute and yummy neighborhood breakfast spot that’s especially known for their pancakes. So let’s start there. My sister got the fresh pineapple pancakes and they were indeed BOMB. Hella fluffy, not too sweet— a pancake that tastes like it’s been perfected. Only caveat is I noticed in Hawaii that the maple syrup everywhere feels like a “lighter” version. You may be into that, but me? Not so much. 

We also had the highly recommended Loco Moco, which is a popular Hawaiian comfort dish consisting of white rice, a ground beef pattie, fried egg and gravy. Yup, Chloe Bailey on a plate. Thick, memorable and doing the most lol. My parents went the safe route and so they got safe results. Satiating but not worthy of blog space lol. My fresh line-caught cajun Ahi and Eggs were a nice plate of macros. We went to this spot twice. OH! And this spot is also where we got turned on to our darling Lilikoi, a type of tangy passion fruit, and nothing was the same. 

Island Vintage Coffee
This spot saw me 4x in 4 days and it’s all because of their Lilikoi Moana Acai Bowl. Yeah, the $15 one. That bowl had us in a chokehold. The toppings are strawberries, banana, papaya, organic granola and fresh, housemade lilikoi honey. N*ggaaaaaaa. You know the purple Skittles bag and the aqua Starbursts stack? Yeah, they would give anything to reincarnate as this bowl. Long line and a bit of wait after ordering, but worth it every damn time. The Hawaiian honey latte was also delicious.

Basalt
Basalt, oh Basalt! Cassey and I found this spot through google maps recommendations and I’ve never been so grateful for the opinions of strangers cause this spot is incredible. Feels like a restaurant I’d find in Williamsburg in terms of a city sleek look and contemporary menu, but again, another welcoming aloha energy. Every time we came here it was for breakfast (reservations were easy to make, though I feel like if you stopped by between 9 and 10:30am you could get seating) and I’ll never forget it. Mainly because the french toast was the best I’ve ever had anywhere. If you love the french toast sticks of our youth, they taste like the grown version. 10/10. My parents were also very into their plates– egg white frittata + turkey benedict. Bites were also had of an IG-friendly situation called charcoal buttermilk pancakes. Very good and cool to look at it, but the french toast deserves your commitment. Also, if you go and they happen to have their cocktail special sake mio-mosa, order that bitch. Prices are fair… in my NYC opinion lol.

California Pizza Kitchen
Listen, man. CPK is my mom’s favorite regular degular restaurant. She saw, she salivated, we ate. As always, yum from tip to crust with great salads. Same prices as anywhere else. Five cheese and tomato me please. 

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
We were told not to leave Honolulu till we stopped by Giovanni’s and I get why. This was an hour away from our hotel but 5minutes from where we ziplined in a parking lot with other food trucks and local gift shops. That shrimp was slapping. Cass and I ordered what made Giovanni’s famous, the shrimp scampi. A garlicky delight that doesn’t taste like Italy. So fucking good. Served on a paper plate with two scoops of soft white rice. My only wish is that the shrimp weren’t shelled, but whatever, it was a pound of them thangs. Now… WATCH OUT for The “No Refunds” Hot + Spicy Shrimp! My dad, who lives for heat, ordered that and couldn’t get past two bites.

Leonard’s Bakery
This was another highly recommended spot that lived up to the hype. Leonard’s has been around since 1952 and immediately caught my attention with the cheery old school diner architecture and decor. They have a lot of delectable looking treats but we were there specifically for the malasadas— a light and fluffy hole-less donut we have the Portuguese to thank for who immigrated to Hawaii in the late 1800s. Very yum. The cinnamon sugar one was my fave, followed by the custard filled. My parents also had the butter mochi cake after experiencing one we bought from some locals on the beach. Very unique chewy texture, that you’re either going to love or hate. It’s the former for me.

Oahu Mexican Grill
Found this on google maps when hunger paid a visit on the beach. Chipotle style spot but more authentic tasting. Got some chicken tacos. Guac was on point. Margaritas were approved by all.

Scratch Kitchen
Our waitress at Basalt went out of her way to recommend us to do brunch at Scratch Kitchen. Hmm. If Basalt is an A, Scratch is teetering between a B and B-. Where they absolutely excel is the vibe. Our waitress was an entertaining presence and the 2000s playlist was popping. Decor was also dope. However, the food was… cute. I made a last minute switchup and ordered with my eyes after seeing someone else’s chicken and waffles. Let’s just say I’ve made better decisions lol. Waffles lacked sweetness and the chicken’s texture was there but the flavor was absent. Now what definitely gets my applause are the crispy smashed potatoes with garlic/rosemary and my sangria. My sister’s brulee’d french toast was cool. There are lots of creative options on the menu and it was recommended so maybe my belly’s GPS was just off that day lol.

where we beached
Waikiki Beach, Sunset Beach, Sandy Beach 

Waikiki Beach
This was the beach we most frequented, mainly because again, it was a 6 minute skip from the hotel. Gorgeous for all of the day, festive for most of the day, and to mix in even more New York references, Waikiki Beach is the Prospect Park of beaches. Translation: it’s a huge haven for many folks but not the assholes. Even come afternoon when it’s most crowded, no one is blasting uncomfortable playlists or making you wish you wore a one piece. It’s a vibe. For more serenity, early hours are best as well as sunset when the locals pull up to sell you that mochi I mentioned. Pro tip: bring cash and enjoy. 

Sunset Beach
Now this beach… this beach?! Breath. Taketh. Away. The name says it all and because it’s tucked away in the North Shore of Oahu, your ass is blessed with the best seats in the sand for a hell of a performance from the one and only Mother Nature. 10/10 sunset from scene one to grand finale.

Sandy Beach 
Over at another corner of Oahu, the sun is just as sexy getting dressed as she is stripping down. We had complete privacy over at Sandy Beach  (I wouldn’t suggest swimming in the choppy water btw) which made for the most soul-blowing meditation session. 10/10 sunrise from floor to ceiling.

where we adventured
Diamond Head Trail, Manoa Falls, CLIMB Works zip lining, Paradise Cove Luau

Diamond Head Trail
1.6miles of stairs, tunnels, zigs, zags all leading to a sight well worth the climb. Don’t be fooled by the chill start of this trail, it’s a cardio class for sure, but manageable. There are a few cute peaks along the way, but do understand that’s foreplay compared to what awaits at the tippety top. When you’re back on flat land, cool your ass down with some pineapple whip. Also, we went on a Tuesday, late morning and it wasn’t crowded, but it wasn’t empty either. Oh! And this hike was $20 I believe.

Manoa Falls Trail 
Now this is absolutely a Jurassic Park meets Garden of Eden environment. Aka a lush af rainforest that really had me feeling like a wide-eyed homosapien exploring the unknown. The trees are so commanding they will silence the loudest ego. Like Diamond Head, this is another mile and a half-er, but easier on the thighs… I think. Unlike Diamond Head, the reward of this hike is a pretty waterfall that turns into a gorgeous waterfall when you ignore the “don’t trespass” signs, slip off your shirt and dare to get wet. Don’t worry, if for some reason you get in trouble there will absolutely be other well-meaning offenders with you! The water is pretty shallow, but has some sneaky pockets between the rocks that will suddenly take you waist deep. Arch your back, get that photo and dip. No pun. Cost: Free

Zipline: CLIMB Works, Keana Farms
My sister and I loveeeeee ziplining and we both agreed that this was our favorite experience with it yet. Our three guides were hilarious, personable and full of history. CLIMB stands for Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe. And all of that weaves into those 3 hours spent up above. It’s way more than just flying. Plus it’s right by Giovanni’s AND Sandy Beach. 

Paradise Cove Luau
Our presence here was personally requested by the mother so the answer was yes.In general I appreciated this luau, however it was definitely the most tourist-y part of our trip. For a family trip it feels like the right thing to do lol and I did appreciate learning more about Hawaiian traditions, but the millennial in me says this isn’t a must visit attraction. However, the fire dancing was spectacular! Fire as both an adjective and noun.

miscellaneous notes
random shit I think you should know 

When Not To Travel
I heard June 1st - Nov. 30th is hurricane season and that December is absolutely their busiest month. 

Weather in February

Everyday was pretty much clear and sunny between 75 and 80 degrees. Low humidity. A light drizzle stopped by oncce early in the morning which made for gorgeous rainbows.

Transportation
Renting a car proved to be a hell of a convenience, as it often is. However, I was told the bus service is dependable.

Floaties
Lounge in the ocean like it’s a waterbed, sis. Make sure you go to any ABC store in Waikiki and cop a cheap float. They’ll inflate and deflate for you.

Moooooooooood

Cheap Drinks
Head to the Hawaii CVS called Long Drugs (yup) and gather some bottles of bubbly there.

Things I Wish I Packed With Me
Portable cup for sipping in the water. iPhone remote control + tripod for group photos at empty beaches. 

Setting Expectations 
I think it’s really beneficial to let whoever you’re traveling with, family, friends, bae, even if it’s just yourself, know in advance the vacation mood you want to indulge in. Exploration? Pampering? Beach bumming? That way your vacation can match your intention and you’re free to do you. 

Whewwwww. Big love to my girl Mattie James— I used her Charleston vaca blog post as a reference for organizing all this info. I hope this breakdown was of service! You and Honolulu will get along so damn well. Enjoy! xx TG