Located just 10 minutes from Waikiki, Manoa Falls feels like a world away! Hike along a jungle path that leads to a 150-foot waterfall. Along the way, look out for native plant species, listen to the birds chirp and breath in the fresh mountain air.

Note: Online reservations are strongly recommended. Book here.

This 200-acre botanical garden is part of the University of Hawaii. This public garden houses over 19,000 individual plants. Take a peaceful stroll through the gardens -- you’ll forget you’re a short drive from the city. 

Lyon Arboretum is open from 9 am - 3 pm on weekdays and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Just a short drive from Manoa Falls and Lyon Arboretum is a Chinese cemetery with a unique history. We don’t want to spoil the story, but the site of this cemetery is of particular importance in the practice of feng shui. No need to get out of the car, just pull over on the side of the road as we tell you a bit more about this spot.

Manoa Marketplace is the only spot to grab food on this tour. You can stop at the nearby Safeway or Starbucks, but if you’re looking for something more authentic head to Off the Hook for its poke. Note, there’s usually a line but it’s worth the wait!

After lunch, make your way up Mount Tantalus - a cinder cone crater in the middle of the city - to visit Tantalus Lookout. This scenic spot offers panoramic views of the entire city skyline.

Tantalus Lookout is open daily from 7am – 7:45pm.

Makiki Valley has over 100 different hikes with miles of trails to choose from. We’d love to take you to all of them, but we’ve chosen one of our favorites.

The Tantalus Arboretum Hike is a short, family-friendly hike through dense forest (bug spray is HIGHLY recommended). Once you’re on the trail, you’ll loop around a large fig tree to end up where you started.

Please note: this trail is currently undergoing some maintenance issues. As of right now, a large tree has fallen and you must turn right to access the fig tree. You can no longer loop, so you’ll have to return the way you came.

This military cemetery and memorial is dedicated to those that lost their lives in the wars in the Pacific and Asia, including World War II. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a place to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Although unassuming at first glance, you’d never guess this park in the middle of Downtown Honolulu is home to a picturesque waterfall. Have a quick stroll through the park and snap some pictures by the waterfall before visiting a 14-acre garden.

Whether this is the first or fifth shave ice of your vacation, Shimazu Shave Ice will not disappoint. With over 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google and Facebook this is one of our favorite spots for this refreshing treat.

An official National Historic District, Honolulu’s Chinatown was established in the mid 1800’s. As sugarcane production began to grow in the islands, Chinese laborers were hired to work at the plantations. Typically, they’d sign on for 5-year contracts and when these were up many moved to the neighborhood to work or start their own businesses. Today, you’ll find great restaurants, markets and art galleries.

Here, you’ll find a natural oasis within the city limits. This garden is the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens and has trees that date back to the mid 1800’s. Look out for the garden’s collection of tropical plants, conservatory and butterfly garden. Note: there is a nominal entrance fee to enter the garden.