Luxury Escapes Guide to Oahu

For a taste of traditional Hawaiian food, it’s hard to look past Highway Inn, a family-owned restaurant dishing up culinary classics inspired by three generations of history. Established in 1947 by Seiichi and Nancy Toguchi, the Highway Inn was originally located on Farrington Highway – hence the name. Now with three locations across the island, including this one in Kaka‘ako, it continues to be run by the Toguchi family, who aim to offer a taste of Old Hawaii with every plate. Come hungry to try the signature Hawaiian combo plate, served with poi (pounded taro root) or rice, sweet potato and haupia, or pick from the Kamaaina favourites, including Hawaiian moco and Pūlehu short ribs.

After a long day of riding waves, or watching the pros wipe out on Oahu’s North Shore, there’s only one place to refuel: Poke for the People. This humble poke shack in Haleiwa is home to some of the state’s best Hawaiian-style poke, each made with the freshest seafood for the perfect flavour profile in every bite. Build your own bowl with your choice of protein, sides and topping sitting on a bed of sushi rice and surimi crab salad with ungai sauce drizzle – will you choose limu ahi, furikake salmon or spicy tuna? For something a little less heavy, swap out your rice for salad greens, or try one of the classic Poke for the People combinations, like the shrimp tempura salad bowl.

Beat the Hawaii heat with a traditional shave ice at this historic store in Oahu’s North Shore. It was established in 1951 by Mamoru and Helen Matsumoto, a Hawaiian-Japanese couple who saw an opportunity to expand their humble grocery store with homemade syrups and freshly shaved ice. These days, it’s run by their son Stanley and his wife Noriko and on a warm day, produces over 1000 shave ice portions a day. Pop by to choose up to three flavours, including watermelon, mango, lychee, root beer and yuzu. For the true Matsumoto experience, opt for one of their special combinations, like the Hawaiian – pineapple, coconut and banana.

Sample Oahu’s finest ingredients with a trip to one of the many farmers’ markets dotted around the island. Spread out across the week – Wednesdays in Honolulu, Saturdays on the North Shore – the markets offer a chance to try the unique produce that’s grown in Hawaii and speak to the farmers that make it all happen. Depending on the day, you might find locally caught seafood, North Shore beef, Manoa honey, Waialua chocolate or Waimanalo greens, as well as ready-to-eat snacks like sweetbread French toast and passionfruit mocha. Just make sure you go early – locals know there’s a culinary goldmine waiting to be found, so produce moves quickly.

When it comes to beachfront dining in Honolulu, there’s iconic, and there’s Duke’s. The restaurant and barefoot bar is known across the island for its sweeping views, live music and of course, ingredient-led coastal cooking. The all-day venue is named after local legend Duke Kahanamoku, who is best known for riding a monster wave for nearly two kilometres at Waikiki way back in 1929. These days, visitors experience a wave of flavour from dawn to well past dusk, starting with the huge breakfast buffet – think made-to-order omelettes, banana pancakes, fresh fruit and of course, coffee and tea. Come lunch and dinner, dishes include poke tacos, coconut shrimp and Waikiki hot wings.

Start the day with some of Honolulu’s best brunch at Koko Head Cafe, run by Top Chef finalist Lee Anne Wong. Eggs on toast this is not: the Pan-Asian menu stretches from cornflake French toast to breakfast congee and ‘Luau & Eggs’, a decadent combination of coconut luau, sunny egg, Lomi Tomato, garlic rice and tempura onions. Freshly baked pastries are equally as delicious – think red velvet cinnamon rolls and lemon, ginger and ricotta scones, best paired with a coffee from local roasters, Big Island Coffee Roasters.

Watch the surf roll in as you sip on a refreshing cocktail at Mai Tai Bar, the casual beachfront restaurant at the luxe Royal Hawaiian Resort. Find a spot just metres from Waikiki Beach to enjoy dishes including poke bowls, pan-roasted mahi and braised short ribs. For something sweet, it’s hard to look past the signature ‘Pink Palace Pancakes’ served with mixed berry compôte, haupia sauce, toasted coconut and mint, or the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai, a signature concoction. Should you visit for dinner, expect a soundtrack of waves crashing and live music, appearing every day from 6pm to 10pm.

Moku Kitchen brings Hawaii’s farming and ranching heritage to downtown Honolulu, with a menu inspired by locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Chef Peter Merriman, referred to as the ‘The Pied Piper of Hawaii Regional Cuisine’ by the LA Times, is dedicated to showcasing the very best of local cuisine with global influences, with dishes like taro ravioli, coconut corn chowder and fresh-caught fish tacos. Nightly live music and a daily happy hour keep the good times rolling, with cocktails like the Mule-It-Over and Keep Your Gin Up on offer.

For a taste of traditional Hawaiian food, it’s hard to look past Highway Inn, a family-owned restaurant dishing up culinary classics inspired by three generations of history. Established in 1947 by Seiichi and Nancy Toguchi, the Highway Inn was originally located on Farrington Highway – hence the name. Now with three locations across the island, including this one in Kaka‘ako, it continues to be run by the Toguchi family, who aim to offer a taste of Old Hawaii with every plate. Come hungry to try the signature Hawaiian combo plate, served with poi (pounded taro root) or rice, sweet potato and haupia, or pick from the Kamaaina favourites, including Hawaiian moco and Pūlehu short ribs.

Soak up the sunset with a mai tai in hand at House Without A Key, one of Waikiki’s most iconic outdoor gathering spots. Find a table under the 130-year-old Kiawe tree to enjoy a signature cocktail or three, while admiring the sun as it drops below the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

If that’s not enough, nightly live music and graceful dancing from former Miss Hawaii and Miss Hawaii-USA will provide the entertainment, preserving the honoured tradition of drinks and dancing under the stars and by the sea.

Glide over verdant rainforests, admire the rainbows of Waikiki’s coral reefs and gaze into the extinct volcano of Diamond Head with a spectacular scenic helicopter ride with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. You’ll soar over the island’s awe-inspiring beaches, including the crescent-shaped Hanauma Bay and white-sand Waimanalo Beach, take in a panoramic view of Dole Plantation and develop a new understanding of Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri as you see it from the sky. Just don’t forget your camera.

Unwind and reset at ESPACIO Spa, a luxury wellness centre found inside the five-star ESPACIO hotel. Despite sitting in the heart of Waikiki, this relaxing retreat allows an escape from the everyday with its range of world-class treatments, inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions. Book in for a Kalani clay massage ritual or Keonaona exfoliating body ritual) for a whole-body experience, or focus on those tired muscles with a Kaiholo massage, designed to mimic the rhythms of Polynesian dance and ocean waves.

Make new memories with a loved one at Miro Kaimuki, a French-inspired fine dining restaurant from renowned chef Chris Kajioka. The offering is simple: a five-course Prix Fixe menu that changes monthly, offering European dishes punctuated with Japanese flavours and techniques. Dishes could include chawanmushi with trout roe, peas and dashi, or Washugyu beef flank with sunchoke and daikon, all expertly paired with wines from around the world. If you’re lucky, there may be the option to add additional snacks to your menu, including the ahi brioche – a long-time special of the chef.