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Waikiki is walkable. This is our dilemma. A car is not needed for our stay on Oahu. Parking in Waikiki is scarce, difficult, and expensive. We want, however, to experience some activities beyond Waikiki. Though taking a guided tour is a great option, we’d rather visit sites on our own timeline. Solution, rent a car for just one day, and take a North Shore Day-Trip.
Requiring sustenance for our North Shore Day-Trip, we make our first stop.
Leonard’s Bakery
When visiting Hawaii, one must try malasadas. Malasadas are a donut-like pastry. Who has the best malasadas is a passionate debate. Some will argue that Leonard’s is too “touristy” and their malasadas are “overrated,” but being our first visit to Hawaii, I want to get malasadas from this original, well-known malasada bakery.
Leonard’s Bakery is busy, but not overwhelming. They have their system down. First, enter the building. Read the menu and peruse the glass case of baked goods. Next, make your choices. You place your order, pay, and then step outside. When called, you approach the outside pick-up window and receive your order.
Leonard’s pink box is a Hawaiian icon.
Sometimes a place is the place for a reason. Leonard’s Bakery’s malasadas are light and fluffy. The amount of sugar is perfect, and the fillings are full of flavor. The flavors we choose are the original, the macadamia nut, and the guava.
As we travel throughout Hawaii, and try other malasadas, we find each bakery has its own, special recipe.
Leonard’s Bakery is still within the boundaries of Honolulu. As you start a North Shore Day-Trip, it’s the perfect breakfast to get you ready for your day of adventure .
Waimea Valley
Our North Shore Day-Trip plan, drive to the farthest place on our itinerary, then work our way back to Waikiki.
As it is a popular stop for tour buses, we arrive at Waimea Valley at opening.
Waimea Valley is known as one of the top places where tourists can swim in a waterfall.
Deciding not to swim, we view the falls, then spend our time walking the trails, enjoying the trees, plants and flowers.
Click here to read about our full Waimea Valley Visit
Waimea Bay
A North Shore Day-Trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting one of the top surfing beaches in the world. Our eyes are delighted by the sight of Waimea Bay. Lush vegetation, parts, revealing an abundance of clean, beige, sand. The umbre, blue sky, kisses the bright, green-blue water. Tourists visit this beach to gawk at the surf-competition-worthy waves.
North Shore waves average 30 feet and can reach heights of 50 feet or more. The large waves are the result of winter storms. If you want to see dozens of surfers, defying gravity, visiting during the winter months is key. Our visit is during the fall.
The water is quiet and calm. It’s exquisite. Wanting to minimize our sun exposure, we enjoy the bay from a bench enveloped in shade.
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Visiting a waterfall and beach is hungry work, so it’s time for a North Shore Day-Trip, lunch stop. One of the most obligatory places to eat on the North Shore is Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.
On the Hawaiian Islands, some of the best restaurants are food trucks.
The line is visible from the parking lot, at the Kamehameha Highway food truck court, “across from McDonald’s.” We are not the only visitors who want to visit this popular shrimp truck. The line is long, but moves quickly. Soon, we are chomping down on Giovanni’s signature Shrimp Scampi (garlic shrimp).
Click here to read about our visit (with some helpful tips) to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Dole Pineapple Plantation
Our North Shore Day-Trip was birthed from our desire to visit the Dole Pineapple Plantation. We couldn’t visit Oahu, Hawaii, without encountering one of the most obligatory tourist attractions. Dole Pineapple Plantation is not located on the North Shore. It is located within Honolulu’s boundaries, but it’s in a location that requires a vehicle.
Our main goals at the Dole Pineapple Plantation are ride the train
and eat an original Dole Whip.
Yes, Dole Pineapple Plantation is crowded and “touristy,” but it’s also fun. If it’s on your list, just manage your patience and expectations.
Click here to read about our entire visit to Dole Pineapple Plantation
Matsumoto Shave Ice
Dole Pineapple Plantation visit achieved, we re-enter the North Shore for one last stop. Shave Ice is plentiful in Hawaii. There is shave ice, and then there is famous, historic, shave ice. Matsumoto Shave Ice has been in business since the 1950s. They have stayed at the top of the shave ice roster by having a perfect ice texture, and fresh juice flavors. It’s the best place to end a North Shore Day-Trip.
Click here to read about our visit to Matsumoto Shave Ice
Trip completed, we drive back to the Honolulu airport and drop off the rental car. A Lyft takes us back to our Waikiki hotel. Although it’s nice to be back to exploring Waikiki, on foot, we are glad we rented a car, if just for a day, to take a Day-Trip to Oahu’s North Shore.
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