Kapiolani Park, Diamond Head and Kapahulu

In its unique setting on Sans Souci Beach, the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel long has been celebrated for its superb ambience. Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about the site, "If anyone desires such old fashion things as lovely scenery, quiet, pure air, clear sea water, good food and heavenly sunsets hung out before his eyes over the Pacific and the distant hills of Waianae, I recommend him cordially to Sans Souci Beach."

Start your day here at the Hau Tree Lanai, home to what's considered by residents and visitors as Waikiki's most legendary Eggs benedict. Here, you can jump-start the morning watching paddlers, swimmers and beach lovers while you savor such Hau Tree Benedict favorites as salmon florentine, crab or half hashed--all served with breakfast potatoes, naturally.
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The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel
2863 Kalakaua Ave.
Phone: (808) 923-1555
Restaurant Phone: 808) 921 - 7066
Hours: Open Daily 7am - 9pm
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Hau Tree Lania

You can work off your breakfast by strolling the two-mile walking path circling Kapiolani Park or tackle the one-mile uphill trek (via car or foot) along Diamond Head Road to the lookout for watching the early morning surf action. The former is a flat track with shade, restrooms and water fountains, while the latter is an uphill climb past the famous Diamond Head Lighthouse along a stretch that's included in both the outbound and return route of the Honolulu Marathon (honolulumarathon.org) each December.

If you continue toward Koko Head from Diamond Head Lookout and take a left at Triangle Park, you'll find yourself on the backside of "Leahi" Crater on Diamond Head Road. On the left side is the parking lot for Diamond Head State Monument. The 0.8-mile hike from trail head to summit is steep and strenuous, gaining 560 feet as it ascends from the crater floor. A concrete walkway built to reduce erosion shifts to a natural tuff (rock) surface about .2 miles up the trail, with many switchbacks traversing the steep slope of the crater interior.

The ascent continues up steep stairs and through a lighted 225-foot tunnel to enter the fire control station completed in 1911. The last .1 mile is all stairs and especially steep. But the postcard view of the shoreline spanning from Koko Head to Waianae is absolutely stunning. And during winter, you may even spot humpback whales. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for your hike, and be sure to wear good walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Don't forget to bring water as well.

On Saturday mornings, Kapiolani Community College campus is all abuzz with what's considered one of Oahu's top farmers' markets. Located just across Diamond Head Road from the lookout's parking lot, this food fest lets you mix and mingle with farmers and food producers who will tell you about their products, how they grow them and how you should prepare them. You'll find everything from fruits, vegetables, flowers, beef, aqua-cultured seafood, fresh-baked breads and hand-made pastas to tropical jams, unique snack foods, honey and specialty seasonings.
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4303 Diamond Head Rd.
808-848-2074
kapiolani.hawaii.edu/object/farmersmarket.html
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Hours
Saturday 7:30-11am

Busting at the seams with the world's largest selection of aloha shirts (more than 15,000), Bailey's Antiques and Aloha Shirts also shines with a wide selection of Americana and Hawaiiana antiques and collectibles.

Founded in 1980, the novelty emporium is chockfull of lighters (Zippos and Hawaiian), Hawaiian LPs, figurines, jewelry, sheet music, military items, toys, postcards and ephemera. Aloha shirts are divided into used, new, vintage and specialty categories.
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517 Kapahulu Ave.
808-734-7628
alohashirts.com

Rainbow's "onolicious" heaping mixed plate covers it all with barbecue meat, mahi mahi and boneless chicken--all served with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad for that carbo boost. Daily specials that tend to draw in the locals include roast pork with gravy, shoyu chicken and chicken long rice.
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3308 Kanaina at Kapahulu Avenue
Phone:(808) 737-0177
Hours: Open Daily 7am - 9pm

Both ONO and Rainbow Drive-In are easy walks from Bailey's. So no need to move your car from street parking on Kapahulu Avenue. Continuing mauka (toward the mountains) on Kapahulu, you can dive into an enormous Hawaiian-style plate lunch at Ono Hawaiian Foods too.

Both cater mostly to residents since they're off the beaten Waikiki path. But those in the know who want to sample authentic local fare opt for these slices of dining in paradise.

Ono Hawaiian pulls foodies in for its famous lau lau, a traditional dish of pork, fish, beef or chicken that's wrapped in luau leaves that are folded and wrapped in ti leaf.
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726 Kapahulu Ave.
Phone: (808) 737-2275
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am - 8pm

Chances are you'll be too stuffed from lunch to cap it off with dessert. But if you are jonzing for sweets, you're within walking distance of Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice Kapahulu. Akin to snow cones, these edible island icons run from basic with a flurry of sweet syrup flavors to more advanced with mochi, red azuki beans or ice cream as a base.
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3113 Mokihana and Kapahulu Avenue
Phone:(808) 735-8886
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 11am - 6:30pm; Saturday 7:30am - 6:30pm, Sunday 10am- 6:30pm

You'll need to motor down Kapahulu to Leonard's. Here it's a ritual to order malasadas, a hole-free doughnut of sorts that's fried until the crust is golden brown with a light and fluffy inside.
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933 Kapahulu Ave.
Address: 933 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: 808-737-5591
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 5:30am - 9pm; Friday and Saturday 5:30am - 10pm