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 1 AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps, travel information and top picks AAA Destination Guide: Honolulu includes trip-planning information covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive member discounts, maps and more.  Regardless of where in the world you go, the mention of Honolulu conjures similar tropical images: swaying palms, wide beaches and rolling waves breaking on the surface of sparkling azure waters. The paradisiacal ruminations are in no way hackneyed: You figuratively step into a picture postcard the minute you set foot on the island of O’ahu. Although the surf, sand and mild weather beckon with irresistible allure, Honolulu also thrives as a commercial center in which Asia and America interlock fingers. The “sheltered bay†throbs as the pulse of the Pacific—a great place to get thousands of miles away from it all without sacrificing metropolitan conveniences. Don’t pass up the chance to explore the thriving downtown area, marked by busy streets, towering skyscrapers and a bustling port that juggles ocean liners, fishing boats and freighters. Sites around Pearl Harbor reflect on the city’s tragic place in wartime history. Both the state’s capital and its largest city, Honolulu lays claim to being the only American city founded by royalty, but there’s nothing haughty about it. A laid-back feel floods the lush oasis, where everything moves at a slower pace and “mellow†best describes the enviable way of life. Essentials Hop on a body board and ride the gentle waves at Kailua Beach, where the azure waters also attract kayakers and windsurfers. Brave the crowds on narrow WaikÄ«kÄ« Beach and spread a towel on your little sliver of sand in preparation for catching some serious rays. Stand on the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial and reflect upon the events of Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese bombers sank the ship, killing 1,177 sailors and propelling the United States into World War II. Suit up with fins, a mask and a snorkel—all of which you can rent on the cheap from nearby vendors—and go for a swim with the colorful tropical fish in HÄnauma Bay. Lace up your sneakers (or hiking boots) and trek to the summit of Diamond Head State Monument, where you’ll be treated to spectacular 360-degree vistas of O‘ahu. Play a round at Ko Olina Golf Club, a scenic course distinguished by the 12th hole, which leaves a beautiful impression with a drive-through waterfall just below the elevated tee box. When the surf’s up at Waimea Bay, marvel at the audacity of the surfers who boldly take on the awe-inspiring waves, which can reach heights of up to 30 feet. Taste unusual foods, listen to the sounds of the barkers and browse the many peculiar goods at the Aloha Flea Market. Follow the MÄnoa Falls Trail, a 1.5-mile round-trip hike that traces Waihi Stream and winds through the vines, ferns and trees of a rain forest en route to the scenic falls. Haggle for bargains in Chinatown, where you can find beautiful calligraphy, pungent spices, gold jewelry and hand-made lei. Destination Guide: Honolulu 2 Essentials Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Honolulu in 3 Days Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination. But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your time in Honolulu. Day 1: Morning Bite into the seared poke served with farm-fresh eggs at Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch & Crab. Called “Hawai‘i soul food†by chef and restaurateur Sam Choy, the fish dish has many variations; often it consists of raw ahi tuna topped with soy sauce and sesame seeds, though some recipes match shellfish with seaweed, tofu or scallions. Or, try a Hawaiian breakfast specialty called loco moco. A hot, gooey heap consisting of rice, then meat (traditionally a hamburger patty, but Sam Choy’s also offers loco moco platters with fish or pork as well as a Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 1. USS Arizona Memorial 1 Arizona Memorial Place Honolulu, HI 96818 Phone: (808) 422-0561 2. Diamond Head State Monument Diamond Head Rd & 18th Ave Honolulu, HI 96816 Phone: (808) 587-0300 3. Waimea vegetarian option), a fried egg and finally, brown gravy. Although the origins of this favorite morning comfort food of Hawai‘i residents are somewhat muddy, it’s generally accepted that the meal was created as a mish-mash of American and Japanese cuisines and so named because the first person bold enough to sample it had the appropriate nickname Loco, or “Crazy.†Pay homage to the 3,581 Americans killed or wounded at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese launched a surprise assault on the U.S. naval base and its Pacific Fleet. After the early morning strike, a dozen U.S. ships were either sunken or beached and more than 300 U.S. aircraft had either suffered damages or been destroyed. Whether you choose to drive or take TheBus (direct routes are Nos. 20 or 42 from WaikÄ«kÄ« and Nos. 20, 42 or 52 from the Ala Moana Center or downtown) to Pearl Harbor, arrive early—some 5,000 somber tourists visit the area daily. Several sites present artifacts from the battle, while interpretive programs and dramatic multimedia displays and films document the “Day of Infamy.†Just offshore is the striking USS Arizona Memorial; the white linear structure traverses the final resting place for most of the 1,177 crew members who perished after a devastating armor- piercing bomb hit the battleship. At the Battleship Missouri Memorial, you walk the decks of the “Mighty Mo,†where, in 1945, Japanese representatives signed an official surrender agreement ending the Destination Guide: Honolulu 3 Second World War. Visitors to the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park discover what life was like for the 80 men stationed on this underwater vessel, launched exactly a year after the Pearl Harbor attack. The park also encompasses a waterfront memorial to World War II’s fallen submariners. Honolulu in 3 Days – Day 1 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 1. Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab 580 N Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 545-7979 2. Pearl Harbor 3. USS Arizona Memorial 1 Arizona Memorial Place Honolulu, HI 96818 Phone: (808) 422-0561 4. Battleship Missouri Memorial 63 Cowpens St Honolulu, HI 96818 Phone: (877) 644-4896 5. USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park 11 Arizona Memorial Drive Honolulu, HI 96818 Phone: (808) 423-1341 6. Bishop Museum and Planetarium 1525 Bernice St Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 847-3511 7. Indigo Eurasian Cuisine 1121 Nuuanu Ave Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 521-2900 Afternoon Chow down at family-owned Helena’s Hawaiian Food (1240 N. School St.). Typically buzzing with hordes of famished locals who know exactly where to go for simple, authentic Hawaiian cuisine, the small, down-home restaurant also has garnered national foodie awards. Order a few regional specialties à la carte and create your own pu-pu platter of exotic morsels. Sample the fried butterfish collar, poi (mashed taro root), home- smoked, pipikaula-style short ribs, and creamy squid luau (squid and taro leaves stewed in coconut milk). Finish things up with a traditional Hawaiian dessert: haupia, a firm, coconut-flavored pudding. See what love looks like at the Bishop Museum and Planetarium, located just a few blocks away from Helena’s. In 1850 Bernice Pauahi Paki, betrothed to the future king of Hawai‘i, chose ardor over royalty when she defied convention and instead wed American businessman Charles Reed Destination Guide: Honolulu 4 Bishop. She passed away in 1884; five years later her spouse founded the museum—today the state’s largest—as a memorial to his beloved wife. Aside from housing Mrs. Bishop’s personal collection of Hawaiian artifacts, the state’s premier cultural institution also contains preserved specimens of ancient birds and a science center where visitors walk through a mock volcano. Evening Make new friends at Indigo Eurasian Cuisine surrounded by intricate Asian antiques, glowing paper lanterns and colorful draperies. Share some goat cheese wontons, steamed shiitake mushroom and chicken bao buns and lobster potstickers while dining next to a waterfall peppered by lush tropical plants. Afterward, pair a decadent chocolate torte with a lychee martini in the Green Room, one of Indigo’s hip lounge areas. Most nights you’ll find a crowd of young professionals grooving to live music— from jazz to hip-hop to reggae. Day 2: Morning Explore downtown Honolulu, where cultural and historic sites are clustered together amid gleaming skyscrapers and tall, bending palm trees. Walk through the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace to admire its vibrant stained-glass windows, or browse the metalwork, oil paintings and crafts displayed at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HiSAM). At the ‘Iolani Palace, docents lead you through the country’s only official royal residence; it was here that Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands, was imprisoned in 1893 after being deposed bythose in support of Hawai‘i’s annexation to the United States. An accomplished musician and songwriter, she composed about 165 songs while confined within an austere room on the second floor of this otherwise opulent palace. Today a bronze statue of the revered queen stands between the palace and another architectural gem, the Hawai‘i State Capitol. Head ma kai (toward the ocean) to Nico’s at Pier 38, a low-key, waterfront eatery where you can savor a hearty, skillfully prepared meal for less than $10 thanks to the restaurant’s proximity to a fish auction. (It’s right next door, so whether you come for breakfast or lunch, Nico’s is likely to be packed with ravenous auction workers and fishermen.) Hailing from Lyon, France, chef Nicholas Chaize serves up such Hawaiian staples as the plate lunch, infusing dishes typical to the locale with a dash of French gusto. Early risers might try a three-egg fish omelet or the French toast made with sweet bread from a Honolulu bakery. For an afternoon visit, there’s no better choice than the furikake pan-seared ahi, though chef Chaize’s juicy, hand-packed double cheeseburger is hard to pass up, even at a place known for its floppingly fresh seafood. Afternoon Emulate one of O‘ahu’s most distinctively dressed personalities: Magnum P.I. Vibrant Hawaiian shirts—an essential part of the ’80s TV sleuth’s wardrobe—hang throughout Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts (517 Kapahulu Ave.), their elaborate designs showcasing the plants, birds and culture of Hawai‘i. While Bailey’s boasts a selection of more than 15,000 shirts (you can buy a tacky-tourist polyester top for about $10 or spend a few hundred bucks splurging on a more sought-after vintage piece), the crammed store also sells everything from early 20th-century Hawaiian postcards to Elvis Presley collectibles. Now that you’re decked in more suitable island attire, the only logical destination is WaikÄ«kÄ« Beach, a 2-mile stretch where sun-burnt vacationers lounge along sandy white shores and surfers ply the waters waiting for a wicked swell. While you might choose to spend the day swimming, building sand castles, or boogie boarding near the Kapahulu Groin (a pedestrian walkway extending into the ocean), if there’s not enough time to get down and dirty by the seashore, do a little sightseeing. In Kuhio Beach Park off KalÄkaua Avenue, gaze at the “wizard stones†of Kapaemahu and try to unlock ancient secrets said to be hidden away inside the four boulders. Just east, across from the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, place a lei on a monument steeped in controversy since its dedication in 1990. Honoring Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic medal-winning swimmer who helped popularize the sport of surfing in the early 1900s, the statue depicts the Destination Guide: Honolulu 5 legendary athlete standing with his back to the crashing ocean waves— something a “real†surfer simply would never do. Evening Sway in your seat (if you can find one) as strolling musicians pluck ukuleles and sing old-school Hawaiian songs at Duke’s at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. As the sun sets, sip mai tais with your new ohana (family) while surveying the colorful, ever-changing twilight mosaic dancing above the sea. In the distance the Diamond Head State Monument volcanic crater looms over twinkling azure waters where the eatery’s namesake—WaikÄ«kī’s favorite son Duke Kahanamoku— purportedly rode a monstrous 30-foot wave. With its spectacular coastal views and an open-air bar classically complemented by tiki torches and rustling palm trees, this oasis of a restaurant caters to both tourists and locals alike. But no matter where you reside, you’re sure to return to Duke’s for more of its sinfully delicious fare, whether it takes 15 minutes or 15 hours to come back for seconds. Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members Honolulu in 3 Days – Day 2 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Day 3: Morning Get wrapped up in a quilt of sights, smells, sounds and flavors in Honolulu’s Chinatown, a community that is resilient (it survived two fires and an outbreak of the bubonic plague) and diverse (you’ll notice splashes of other Asian cultures, including Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese). Fringed by N. Beratania, Bethel and River streets and the N. Nimitz Highway, the district encompasses ornate temples shrouded in musky incense and restaurants bustling with steaming dim sum carts. Stroll the area in the early morning, when its many noodle factories are abuzz manufacturing udon and ramen pastas. You’ll also see (and smell) Oahu Market—offering up fresh produce, fish and meats much as it has since 1904—as it springs to life at the corner of N. King 1. Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace 1184 Bishop St Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 536-7036 2. Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HiSAM) 250 S Hotel St Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 586-0300 3. ‘Iolani Palace 364 S King St. Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 522-0832 4. Hawai‘i State Capitol 415 Beretania St Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 586-0178 5. Nico's at Pier 38 1133 N Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 540-1377 Destination Guide: Honolulu 6 and Kekaulike streets. Another marketplace, its maze of stalls overflowing with colorful trinkets, is on Maunakea Street, a thoroughfare besieged by stores proffering fragrant, handmade lei. On a busy day, a lei shop can easily go through several gallons of pikake (a type of jasmine) and tens of thousands of tuberoses, orchids and carnations. Learn insider tidbits about Chinatown’s history and architecture by booking a walking tour through the Hawai‘i Heritage Center, (808) 521-2749, or the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, (808) 533-3181. Honolulu in 3 Days – Day 2 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Afternoon “Watch out for falling cannonballs,†directs a sign at the Foster Botanical Garden, located about 2 blocks northeast of Chinatown. Similar in size and appearance to a coconut, the fruit of the cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) hang from vinelike stalks covering the tree trunk. Unlike the brown, lackluster “cannonballs†that emit an unpleasant smell once their casing is cracked, the species’ intricate, intoxicatingly fragrant flowers are prized and are said to resemble a sacred Hindu symbol. German botanist and physician William Hillebrand planted many of the rare and imposing trees found on the botanical garden grounds in the mid-1800s. Covering about 14 acres, it also is home to dazzling orchids and primitive plants from around the world. Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 6. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa 2424 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, HI Phone: (808) 923-1234 7. Duke's 2335 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 922-2268 8. Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach 2335 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, HI Phone: (808) 923-0711 9. Diamond Head State Monument Diamond Head Rd & 18th Ave Honolulu, HI 96816 Phone: (808) 587-0300 Evening Leave the flip-flops behind and indulge yourself in paradise. The top- notch chefs at Bali Steak & Seafood, La Mer and Orchids will ensure you’re well-fed on your vacation, preparing such dishes as hot and sour eggplant ravioli, steamed Manila clams and Kobe-style beef with bordelaise sauce. No matter where you choose to dine, book early, and, of course, request a table with a view. Refined elegance and heavenly WaikÄ«kÄ« scenery await you at Bali, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant inside the oceanfront Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa. La Mer, a AAA Five Diamond restaurant, and the Four Diamond Orchids present arresting seascapes at the Halekulani hotel. Enjoy a cup of pressed Kona coffee with dessert in one of the chic lodging’s distinctive dining rooms, then move to the Lewers Lounge for cocktails and classic tunes. It’s 2 a.m. You’ve closed down the last bar, when suddenly, you develop an inexplicable craving for pancakes. Fortunately for you, the red neon sign outside nearby Wailana Coffee House is aglow, beckoning weary night owls. Though the menu at the nondescript, 24-hour eatery features Destination Guide: Honolulu 7 typical diner fare, while in Honolulu, do as the natives do—order (what else?) a side of Spam to accompany Wailana’s fluffy all-you-can-eat flapjacks. Honolulu in 3 Days – Day 3 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Day 3 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 1. Foster Botanical Garden 50 N Vineyard Blvd Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 522-7066 2. Bali Steak & Seafood 2005 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 941-2254 3. La Mer 2199 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 923-2311 4. Orchids 2199 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 923-2311 5. Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa 2005 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI Phone: (808) 949-4321 6. Halekulani 2199 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI Phone: (808) 923-2311 7. Wailana Coffee House 1860 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 955-1764 Restaurants If you can visit only one memorable restaurant in Honolulu, then make La Mer the one. In the beautiful Halekulani Hotel, the second-floor spot offers stunning ocean views, including glorious Hawaiian sunsets when the place opens. Men must wear a jacket; loaners are provided for those underdressed. Island flavor infuses fabulous French dishes, such as basil-stuffed ruby snapper with crispy skin in exotic, rich sauces. For something more traditional, choose the flavorful filet of beef. Finish your meal with an outstanding dessert presented on an elegant cart. Chef Mavro—the only independently owned restaurant not associated with a hotel to hold AAA’s Four Diamond Award since 2001—flourishes under the hand of Frenchman George Mavrothalassitis, who worked in many top spots in France and Hawai‘i before opening his own easily accessible restaurant just outside of the WaikÄ«kÄ« area. For a memorable experience, try the three-, four- or six-course dinners with optional wine Destination Guide: Honolulu 8 pairings. Succumb to the temptation of a signature dish: award-winning onaga (red snapper) baked in Hawaiian-sea salt crust, Hudson Valley foie gras and Hawaiian lobster in vanilla-coconut sauce. Such exotic flavors as lemon grass, rosemary and Madras curries enhance each dish, and extraordinary desserts are made fresh daily. Travel past the airport to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina, where you’ll find award-winning Azul, a wonderful formal dining room. Appetizers include foie gras, grilled scallops and crab cakes, in addition to outstanding antipasti selections. After your palate is primed, savor grilled beef tenderloin, jumbo tiger prawns or roasted rack of lamb. Two chef’s prix fixe menus pair with an impressive wine selection noteworthy for its interesting Italian and Spanish choices. Locals with big appetites for good food and huge portions love laid-back Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch & Crab. In an industrial district outside of the WaikÄ«kÄ« area and near the famed Hilo Hattie store, the warehouse- style restaurant showcases varied local favorites: freshly caught crab, lobster and shellfish, hearty steaks, pork and beef ribs, chicken and even Spam (a Hawaiian staple). Expect a fun, busy spot that’s great for families. Try Sam’s Big Aloha Beer, which is brewed on the premises. Award-winning restaurateur Sam Choy produces best-selling cookbooks and has his own TV cooking show. Only one restaurant in Honolulu truly serves some of the best “Hawaiian foodâ€: Ono Hawaiian Foods. The tiny restaurant occupies a nondescript strip mall just outside the WaikÄ«kÄ« area. Locals eagerly line up outside, some with their own wine in hand, as this place has no liquor license. Most Ono (“deliciousâ€) dishes—such as Kalua pig, chicken and long rice and laulau (pork and taro tops steamed inside ti leaves)—come as combination plates for less than 10 bucks. Poi takes some getting used to, so you might want to instead consider rice. Check out the take-out menu if you don’t have time to wait for a table. The name Don Ho evokes wonderful Hawaiian images, and that’s why his name is on Don Ho’s Island Grill. Photographs of the legend with celebrities evoke memories, and he shows up unpredictably for special concerts. The tropics come alive in a fun setting bedecked with bamboo ceilings, a thatched roof and fake palms. Make a meal from pupu platters loaded with such appetizers as ribs, crab cakes, calamari and Chinese pot stickers. To try nearly all of it, spring for the Don Ho sampler. Also worth consideration: pizza, veggie taro burgers, a wonderful assortment of sandwiches and a combination plate with tasty poke (salad with nuts, seaweed and ahi tuna), lomi salmon, pork and, of course, poi. Just outside the WaikÄ«kÄ« area is one of Hawai‘i’s longtime favorites, Alan Wong’s Restaurant. Long showered with raves and awards from locals and media alike, this place gives you a great taste of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine from a daily changing menu. Innovative dishes employ the freshest locally grown produce and Pacific Ocean ingredients. Menu listings marked with a pineapple designation are signature dishes. Diners can order a la carte, but for the most memorable experience, opt for a menu tasting with or without wine pairings. The dining room can get loud in the popular spot; call ahead to request a quieter table. When the flagship Roy’s opened in 1988, chef Roy Yamaguchi was hailed as the first chef to mix European cooking practices with fresh Asian and Pacific Rim ingredients. Some called it “Eurasian,†but Yamaguchi preferred “Hawaiian fusion.†The chef’s restaurant conglomerate now includes 22 eateries in the continental United States, six in Hawai‘i, three in Japan and one in Guam, but everything started here. The specialty is seafood, but excellent choices also entice die-hard meat lovers. You can’t go wrong with a signature dish or the big-time value in the three-course prix fixe menu. The casually upscale dining room features a glassed-enclosed exhibition kitchen as well as exquisite views of Diamond Head and Maunalua Bay. Since 1944, The Willows has soothed guests in a magnificent one-acre oasis of verdant gardens with native flowers and waterfalls. After being closed for seven years, it’s back serving locals and tourists a scrumptious Destination Guide: Honolulu 9 Restaurants Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com buffet lunch and dinner. Load your plate with fresh salad or try prime rib from the carving station. If neither tempts you, try unlimited seafood from the seafood station or items from the sushi bar. Dinner buffets include one whole crispy-skinned suckling pig and dessert, which might include a create-your-own treat from the sundae station or any of an assortment of fresh island fruits, pies and cakes. Those who take the time to try this well-kept secret won’t be disappointed. Top food magazines have sung the praises of Keo’s in Waikiki, perhaps the best known Thai restaurant in Hawai‘i. Devoted followers crave such tempting and unusual choices as the signature “Evil Jungle Prince,†which brings together fresh basil, red chilis, coconut milk and a choice of shrimp or chicken on a bed of cabbage. Salads—such as roast duck, crispy calamari and green papaya—can make a complete dinner by themselves. Right in the heart of the WaikÄ«kÄ« area, Keo’s is easy to find and also serves daily American breakfasts. Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 1. La Mer 2199 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 923-2311 2. Chef Mavro 1969 S King St Honolulu, HI 96826 Phone: (808) 944-4714 3. Ono Hawaiian Foods (FYI) 726 Kapahulu Ave Honolulu, HI 96816 Phone: (808) 737-2275 4. Alan Wong's Restaurant 1857 S King St, 3rd Floor Honolulu, HI 96826 Phone: (808) 949-2526 5. Roy's 6600 Kalanianole Hwy Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 396-7697 6. The Willows 901 Hausten St Honolulu, HI 96826 Phone: (808) 952-9200 7. Keo's in Waikiki 2028 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 951-9355 8. Duke's 2335 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 922-2268 9. Chart House Waikiki 1765 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 941-6660 10. 3660 On the Rise 3660 Waialae Ave Honolulu, HI 96816 Phone: (808) 737-1177 Inside the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, Duke’s arguably ranks as the state’s busiest restaurant and bar, drawing capacity crowds no matter the time of day (breakfast, lunch or dinner) or the occasion. Named in honor of surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, this popular watering hole on WaikÄ«kÄ« Beach overlooks the spot where Duke caught his biggest wave. Highly recommended seafood preparations, including flavorful fresh fish, set you up for hula pie, billed as “the dessert that the sailors swam ashore for.†The shareable treat piles macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate fudge, whipped cream and more nuts on a chocolate cookie crust. For more than 30 years, knowledgeable diners have supported the Chart House Waikiki, where fresh island fish and seafood serve as the basis for such dishes as bouillabaisse, pan-seared herb-crusted ahi, prawns Destination Guide: Honolulu 10 Restaurants Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com sautéed in Szechuan chili oil and spiny lobster tail. Carnivores salivate over juicy roasted prime rib of beef and filet mignon. Oenophiles will find Italian Pinot Grigio to Californian Cabernets among the more than 100 selections. End your meal on a sweet note with bananas Foster, New York-style cheesecake or the signature mud pie: three layers of chocolate, coffee and vanilla ice cream with decadent fudge in an Oreo crust. Talented chef Russell Siu, who also owns the wonderful 3660 On the Rise, pleases the on-the-go crowd with healthy, budget-priced breakfasts, lunches and dinners at Kaka’ako Kitchen. Don’t expect anything fancy at warehouse-like Kaka’ako, which serves good home-style cooking on polystyrene plates. For less than $10, you can nosh on fried rice with egg or a seared ahi tuna sandwich with soy-wasabi butter. Other good choices are meatloaf and five-spice shoyu chicken. Tasters shower raves on the amazing bread pudding, but you can’t go wrong with a brownie or guava bar either. Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 11. Azul 92-1001 Olani St Kapolei, HI 96707 Phone: (808) 679-0079 12. Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab 580 N Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: (808) 545-7979 13. Don Ho's Island Grill 1 Aloha Tower Dr, #193 Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 528-0807 14. Kaka'ako Kitchen 1200 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone: (808) 596-7488 Attractions In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where to spend your time. Here are the highlights for this destination, as chosen by AAA editors. GEMs are “Great Experiences for Members.†Island ali‘i (chiefs) loved its beautiful beaches, coconut palm groves, exotic foliage and spectacular vistas, all things celebrated in the Honolulu area’s many natural attractions. Hike three quarters of a mile to the 760- foot-high summit rim of the Diamond Head State Monument volcanic crater, where you’re treated to a bird’s-eye view of nature’s splendor. For other dramatic panoramas, venture to the Nu‘uanu Pali State Wayside and Pu‘u Ualaka‘a State Wayside. Kamehameha the Great scored a decisive victory in the conquest of O‘ahu at Nu‘uanu Pali, a 1,200-foot-high gap between 2,000- to 3,000-foot cliffs. Winds on the perch can approach gale-force strength, so hold on tight to anything you’re not willing to lose. A popular picnicking destination, Pu‘u Ualaka‘a (which translates as “rolling sweet potato hillâ€) affords views from Diamond Head clear across to the Waianae Range. For more up-close-and-personal encounters with nature, wander through the 14-acre Foster Botanical Garden, which began in 1853 and now comprises 4,000 species of tropical trees and plants from all over the
