Hidden Gems on Oahu: How To Get off the Beaten Path

Located in Honolulu’s South Shore Market, House of Mana Up is, without a doubt, one of the best hidden gems on Oahu. This locally owned store stocks products exclusively from Hawaii’s local entrepreneurs. Even better, the overarching Mana Up brand serves as a business accelerator, helping these companies grow at speeds they likely wouldn’t have been able to do on their own. Find everything from lei-printed packing cubes to pakalana (Chinese violet) perfume rollers to Kona coffee at this can’t-miss shop.

Nestled away from the hustle and bustle in a quiet part of Kaneohe, Waiahole Poi Factory is a cultural gem. It’s where you can find traditional food from Hawaii, such as kalua pig, a slow-cooked, shredded pork; squid luau (an octopus, coconut milk, and taro leaf stew); and hō'i'o fern salad.

But Waiahole Poi Factory is perhaps best known for taro-based bites, including poi (a sticky purple paste) and kulolo (a taro-coconut pudding). If you’re lucky, you may get to watch some of the workers pounding taro into the sticky poi paste.

There are countless incredible dessert spots on Oahu, but Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery seems to fly under the radar. This Kaimuki shop is known for its freshly made malasadas (Portuguese-style doughnuts). You can even take the dessert to the next level by turning it into a “malamode”—a made-to-order malasada filled with a homemade ice cream flavor of your choice.

In addition to malasadas, Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery crafts many other desserts, including their in-demand cake bombs (mini bundt cakes), ube haupia (coconut pudding), mac nut bars, and pumpkin crunch bars.

You’ll never just stumble upon Ko Hana Distillers: It’s tucked along a back road, making this hidden distillery one of the most underrated spots on Oahu. For the best experience, you’ll want to book either a sugarcane farm tour or a distillery tour in advance. Alternatively, you can pop in for a rum tasting to sample the best of this locally made rum. Before you know it, you’ll be leaving with a couple of bottles to pack away in your checked bag.

To find secret beaches on Oahu, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for cars parked on the side of the road for seemingly no reason: That’s how you’ll stumble on gems like Kawela Bay Beach. There are a couple of ways to get to Kawela Bay, both of which require hiking.

The logistically easier of the two options is to park at Turtle Bay Resort (for free!) and take the around 1-mile (1.6 kilometers) hiking trail to the beach. On the walk back, pop by one of the casual Turtle Bay Resort restaurants for a bite to eat.

While you're driving along the North Shore, you may pass Ken’s Fresh Fish and not even realize that you’ve missed a local experience on Oahu. Tucked in a weathered little green building in Laie, Ken’s is known for its ahi katsu (breaded, fried tuna steak). The impeccably panko-crusted fish is topped off with a couple of flavorful sauces that tie the whole plate together—even the mini version is big enough to feed two. If you happen to be craving poke instead, Ken’s has a fridge filled with half a dozen varieties to choose from.

More commonly known as Chinaman’s Hat, Mokoliʻi is a small island off the coast of the east side of Oahu; you may have seen it in the background of loads of Instagram posts and as a featured landmark on countless postcards. What most people don’t know is that you can easily make your own way to Mokoliʻi. The best way to do so is via kayak excursion or paddleboard: Be aware that there are no rental places nearby, so you’ll have to bring your own or have them delivered to you. Once you’ve pushed off, it’s just a 20-minute paddle to the island.

With two mountain ranges framing the island, there are quite a few hidden hiking trails on Oahu, one of which is the Ehukai Pillbox Trail on the North Shore. Tucked right across the street from Ehukai Beach Park—the proper name for the Banzai Pipeline—this 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) hiking trail takes you through lush greenery and up to a pillbox (an old military lookout point), which offers stunning views of the famous surfing beach below.

If you’re looking for things to do on Oahu that are less touristy than the headline landmarks, give Koko Crater Botanical Garden a try. Less than 30 minutes from the tourist hub of Waikiki, this quiet, nature-filled spot feels a world away. The highlight is the plumeria grove right at the entrance of the garden, and you can wander through blooms in all shades of pink, orange, yellow, and white. You can even settle down for a picnic at one of the few tables amid the trees. Best of all, there are never crowds at this off-the-beaten-path Oahu spot.