Forget about surfing and suntanning. Waikiki Beach and its immediate Honolulu surrounds are becoming a destination for foodies and artists.
Award-winning chefs are opening restaurants there, highlighting the quality and tradition of Hawaiian cuisine but, of course, with a modern twist. Artists from all over the world are landing there to showcase their talents at the POW!WOW! Festival, one of the biggest events dedicated to street murals. The result of this creative initiative is visible in Kaka'ako, an urban arts and cultural district just a couple miles from Waikiki. If you are planning a trip to Honolulu, take our guide to the best eats and art in town.
ART
Kaka'ako District
All the murals painted on the warehouses in this emerging arts and culture district are the works of a movement called the Pow!Wow! Festival. Founded by notable muralists Kamea Hadar and Jasper Wong, Pow!Wow! serves as a global network where street artists from all over the world meet once a year in March Honolulu for the weeklong event. The festival gathers graffiti artists from Europe, Middle East, Asia and the U.S., giving each the opportunity to paint a mural and take part in art shows and lectures. To see all the past works, start your walk from Lana Lane Studio, an artist collective and also a creative coworking space located in a repurposed warehouse. // Lana Lane Studio, 327 Lana Lane, (Kaka'ako), lanalanestudios.com, powwowhawaii.com
EAT+DRINK
Salmon and avocado toast.(Courtesy of Arvo Cafe)
Arvo Cafe
Owned by Australian couple Mason and Dixie Rose, this healthy cafe, located inside the beloved botanical boutique Paiko, is a good place to have lunch (their avocado toast is bomb, made with avocado, Vegemite, tomatoes, feta, arugula, edible flowers and a squeeze of lemon) or just sip a flat white. // 675 Auahi St. (Kaka'ako), arvocafe.com
The Pig & The Lady
This family-run restaurant, owned by James Beard nominee chef Andrew Le, serves traditional Vietnamese food incorporating Hawaiian ingredients. Seated on rustic communal tables in a casual and funky environment, you can enjoy their famous, LFC—twice fried chicken wings with peanuts, kaffir lime and cabbage salad. For something lighter, you can opt for the green papaya salad made with Makaha mango ngoc cham, preserved lemon, roasted peanuts and fried herbs. Don't miss the signature pho, which easily serves two. A second location, the charmingly named Piggy Smalls, recently opened in Ward Village. // 83 N. King St. (Chinatown), thepigandthelady.com
The Lanai Restaurant(Courtesy of The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach)
The Lanai
A the Hyatt Centric hotel in Waikiki Beach, The Lanai restaurant serves chef Yoshi Ohata's tapas-style plates, highlighting authentic Hawaiian ingredients in Japanese cuisine. Try the kona kanapachi sashimi, with jalapeño, micro shiso and amaranth, or the spicy scallop with ponzu and truffle oil, both of which are easily pairable with the colorful, kitschy cocktails. You can find a Strawberry Mule, a Blue Hawaii (white rum, blue caraçao and pineapple), and a traditional Lava Flow. The best tables are those closest to the pool. // Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, 349 Seaside Ave. (Waikiki Beach), hyattcentricwaikikibeach.com
Mud Hen Water
Born and raised in Honolulu, chef Ed Kenney brings to the table a modern interpretation of the food he grew up eating. Grab a table on the outdoor patio, a convivial space with a mural of intertwined hands by German artist Case Maclaim, and make a family-style feast with the yaki o Pa'i'ai (a poi cake roasted in nori); roasted beet "poke" with seaweed, avocado and smoked macadamia nuts; grilled he'e, or octopus in stewed taro leaves. The cocktails are killer—we love the exotic Vishnu's Vice, which uses local olena (turmeric) as an ingredient. // 3452 Waialae Ave. (Honolulu), mudhenwater.com
The South Shore he'e roll.(Courtesy of Kaimuki Superette)
Kaimuki Superette
Another Ed Kenney outpost, this stylish delicatessen is the place to pick up breakfast or a casual lunch. Find hearty warm dishes such as quinoa with Chinese long beans and kabocha pumpkin; roasted roots cooked with cumin and served with sumac and smoked yogurt; or one of their signature sandwiches. We like the South Shore he'e roll with poached octopus, celery seed, tarragon aioli on buttered bun. // 3458 Waialae Ave. (Honolulu), kaimukisuprette.com
Leonard's bakery
Famous for its malasadas, a pillowy Portuguese doughnut without the hole, Leonard's started in 1953 and the drive-in design shows it proudly. Among the varieties of malasadas available (chocolate filled or coconut-custard filled), the original is always the most popular. // 933 Kapahulu Ave. (Honolulu), leonaridshawaii.com
KoHana's tasting room.(Courtesy of Ko Hana Rum)
KōHana Rum Farm at Manulele Distillers
What a surprise to find a high-quality rum distillery in Honolulu. KōHana Rum Farm is surrounded by acres of sugarcane fields. From the deck you can see Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and the Waianae Mountains. Usually, before starting the tour, a small glass of pressed sugarcane juice is offered. Then after a quick visit to the field and the lab, you can sip all the varieties of rum they produce—white agricole rum, Koho (barrel-aged agricole rum), and Kokoleka (cacao and honey rum). // Manulele Distillers, 97-1770 Kunia Rd. (Honolulu), kohanarum.com
