Post #467007 by JOHN-O on Sun, Jul 5, 2009 6:31 PM

JOHN-O's Guide to Honolulu (short version).

• What I like to call the Kapahulu Ave "triple" (all within walking distance of each other). To me the quintessential Honolulu afternoon:

1. Plate lunch at Rainbow Drive-in -
   http://www.rainbowdrivein.com/
   http://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-drive-in-honolulu

2. Shop for vintage Aloha shirts and Hawaiiana at Bailey's Antiques -
   http://alohashirts.com/
   http://www.yelp.com/biz/baileys-antiques-and-aloha-shirts-honolulu
   This place blew my mind !!

3. Shave ice at Wailoa Shave Ice - (Update - this location has moved)
   http://www.yelp.com/biz/waiola-bakery-and-shave-ice-ii-honolulu
   Arguably better than Matsumoto's in the North Shore.

• Here's a couple of restaurants that my local friends took me to. Highly recommended and definitely not "tourist" Hawaii.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tokkuri-tei-honolulu

http://www.yelp.com/biz/side-street-inn-honolulu

• I think by far the best Mai Tai I've had in Honolulu was at the House Without a Key outdoor lounge at the Halekulani Hotel. I had a Zombie there (which wasn't on the drink menu) that was also very tasty. The tropical drinks at the Royal Hawaiian used to be really good 10 years ago but in my opinion have really gone downhill. I thought the drinks at La Mariana were very disappointing give their reputation. The atmosphere is pretty cool though. It's funny, I tell my local friends I want to visit La Mariana and they always say "WHY ??".

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-01-22 21:23 ]

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-10-31 11:11 ]