Recommendations
Welcome to Oahu! I am looking forward to meeting you and your loved ones. Many of you are interested in getting your hair/makeup done, where to get florals for your session or even an officiant for your elopement or vow renewal! I got you….
I also have listed below the best restaurants, beaches, coffee shops, good hikes and other things to do around the Island. Plan and book your excursions and services early, it’s crowded here all year long.
Hair & Makeup Artists
Average Price (Hair and Makeup)
Adults/Keiki: $280 (will come to your resort for no extra charge)
Discounted if there is more than one person
Joey Asciutto – Hair and Makeup
Phone: 720-323-6439
Flower Crowns
Hakus
Lei po’o
Hair Clips
Flower Crowns/Hakus/Lei po’o
- Average Price: Adults: $60+ / Keiki/Kids: $50+
Flower Hair Clips
- Average Price: $30+
Ti leafs Leis (Adults/Keiki):
- Average Price: $40+
Must place orders:
- INSTAGRAM – delivers to Aulani (no charge) – delivers islandwide for a fee
- INSTAGRAM – delivers islandwide for a fee
- INSTAGRAM – does not deliver (you must pickup in Kailua)
- Kahihae Floral – WEBSITE – does not deliver (you must pickup in Kapolei)
Walk-in (Florists)
- Cindys Lei & Flower Shoppe – Located in Honolulu
- Waipahu Florist – Located in Waipahu
Officiants
- Average Price $300+
- Vow Renewals/Elopements/Weddings
- Libbi Roed – info@oahuweddingofficiants.com
- WEBSITE
BEST BEACHES
Waimanalo Beach Park (good to swim) – 35 minutes from Waikiki and 60 minutes from Koolina
Mokuleia (good to swim) – 70 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina
Lanikai Beach (good to swim, parking is hard to come by) – 40 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina.,
Sandys Beach (bodyboarding/surfing beach, and not good for just swimming) – 30 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina
Hanauma Bay (need reservations) and you have to pay to enter, but it is beautiful. 25 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina
SNORKELING
Electric Beach (70 minutes from Waikiki, 10 minutes from Koolina) – the current is strong and you need to be a good swimmer. It is deep water snorkeling, but the water is crystal clear and there’s a good chance that if you go at sunrise or sunset you will see spinner dolphins.
Sharks Cove (75 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – good snorkeling for all levels of swimmers.
Sea Turtle Beach – (75 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – Located on the Northshore and it’s called Laniakea Beach. Parking is easy, and the best chances to see sea turtles are midday because they come up and sleep on the sand and chill under the sun. Don’t go near or touch them, and stay at least 10 feet away, they enforce sea turtle federal laws here very heavily, but the snorkeling around them is really fantastic, just don’t approach the turtles.
WATERFALLS
Waimea Falls – (70 minutes from Waikiki and 70 minutes from Koolina) – beautiful area, easy hike. They charge a fee to enter and you must wear a lifejacket in the waterfall if you decide to take a dip.
Manoa Falls (30 minutes from Waikiki and 70 minutes from Koolina) – beautiful hike, heavily trafficked, but it’s rated as an easy hike. It’s always crowded and I don’t recommend swimming in the waterfall, it has very high levels of bacteria.
Lulumahu Falls (30 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – This is a moderate rated trail and very muddy. It’s a nice waterfall, where you can go in and swim. It’s not large by any means, but it’s nice. There will be many people hiking on the trail and its moderately trafficked all day.
HIKES
Crouching Lion – (60 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – moderate to hard-, will take about 30-35 minutes to get up to the top. The views are unreal. Best to go a few hours before sunset or right at sunrise.
Makaapuu Lighthouse (30 minutes from Waikiki, 70 minutes from Koolina) – easy and best to go at sunrise. The trail is paved all the way to the top and there are 360 degree views of the Island. Should take you 25-35 minutes to get to the top.
Diamond Head (20 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – easy to moderate and the best time to go is the early morning. You need reservations to hike Diamond Head. There is no shade, and is usually heavily trafficked.
Makua Caves – (90 minutes from Waikiki, 45 minutes from Koolina) – moderate to hard and it’s hard to find it, but once you do it’s a nice view out the cave overlooking the ocean.
Lanikai Pillbox – (40 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – moderate hike on a ridge that has no shade. Go before the sun rises, and wear sunscreen, and bring water.
Koko Head (20 minutes from Waikiki, 70 minutes from Koolina) – moderate to hard, steep uphill hike to the top of the crater. You are hiking up a mountain that is covered with railroad ties to the top. It’s dangerous, but is heavily trafficked and there are lots of people that hike this for a workout.
Kaena Point Trail (80 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – This is located on the northshore near Dillingham Airfield. It’s easy, with beautiful views and at the end of the hike there is a bird sanctuary there. There is no shade, the hike is on the ocean, so bring water and sunscreen. It is about a 30 minute hike to the Bird Sanctuary at the end of the trail.
BOTANICAL GARDENS
Hoomaluhia – (30 minutes from Waikiki, 50 minutes from Koolina) – its the most visited and popular on Island. Its free to get into the gardens, and they are open from 9-4pm. The road leading in, is famous and used to once be an awesome location for photos. They do not allow it anymore, but there are other great photo opportunities elsewhere in the gardens.
Koko Botanical Gardens (30 minutes from Waikiki, 60 minutes from Koolina) – it has cactus, and a lot of different types of plants and trees and it’s nice to walk around. Parking is limited and the parking lot is small. It is free of charge.
Wahiawa Botanical Gardens (40 minutes from Waikiki, 50 minutes from Koolina) – it is a lush small botanical garden, but it’s very beautiful. It’s nice to walk around, and check out the different trees and plants. It is free of charge to enter.
COFFEE SPOTS
Island Brew Coffeehouse (they have a few locations on Island), and Lions General Coffee Store.
BEST MAI TAIS
Merrimans, Monkey Pod, and Moku Kitchen (all owned by the same company).
BREWERIES
Kona Brewing (great food), Hana Koa (best beer, and their food is amazing), Honolulu Beer Works, Aloha Beer Company, Waikiki Brewing Company
BEST RESTAURANTS
Ramen- Tanaka of Tokyo, Tanaka Saimin, and Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya
Mexican – Mexico, Mexico Lindo, De Taqueria El Ranchero, Surf N Salsa, and Straight Outta Husk
Pizza – Bostons or Pieology (the pizza really lacks here in the Islands)
Tai Food – The Elephant Shack (2 locations on Island)
Other Restaurants: Merrimans, Moku Kitchen, Shrimp Trucks (Northshore), Matsumotos Shaved Ice (Northshore), Haleiwa Joes in Kaneohe, The Beachhouse, Buzzs Steakhouse, House without a Key, Istanbul, and Teddys Burgers.
BEST LUAUS
Polynesian Cultural Center (make reservations, they sell out 3-6 months in advance), Paradise Cove, Toa, and Nutridge.