Oahu Local Foods: Loco Moco and BEST Acai Bowl

It’s our last day in Hawaii, and we’re ending it strong in Oahu with sunrise hikes and local foods like loco moco and the BEST acai bowl ever. Hawaii was my dad’s favorite place in the world, and in so many ways, it felt like he joined us on this trip. From seeing the sunrise at Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail, to visiting Byodo-in Temple, one of my family’s favorite Honolulu spots, our last day was full of memories of my dad. In honor of his love for food, we also tried a ton of local Honolulu foods, including my favorite acai bowl ever!

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Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail

We headed to our final sunrise hike at Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail at 5:30 am. Makapu’u is a 2 mile round trip hike that leads up to a quaint little historic lighthouse built in 1909. The little red roofed lighthouse has the largest lens of any lighthouse in the entire US. Although the lighthouse itself is not open to the public, it was worth the trek for the views alone.

Honestly, this trip felt like my dad was with us the whole time. Not everyone believes in signs but throughout the trip there were so many moments that felt almost magical, especially the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It was like he was leaving us little reminders and beautiful surprises throughout the trip to say “I’m here with you, I love you.”

Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is open 7am-6:45pm, with a paved path that’s easy to walk. It has beautiful panoramic ocean views that are an absolute must-see. The path is fairly open, so don’t forget your sunscreen, your hat, and plenty of water!

Diamond Head Market and Grill

We were starving after our hike, so, of course we have to head over to Diamond Head Market and Grill for a post-hike snack. This little market in lined with shelves of groceries, ready-to-eat meals, and baked goods. But, I heard this cute little grill actually makes the best scones. They had a ton of options, but I went with their iconic Blueberry Cream Cheese Scone($5.65). These were actually really worth the hype! The scone itself was light and fluffy, and filled with big, satisfying chunks of slightly-salty cream cheese that makes the scone feel extra moist.

Blueberry and Cream Cheese Scone Split in Half, displaying chunks of blueberry and cream cheese from Diamond Head Market and Grill in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

They had all kinds of food options on the grill side, but we decided to join the rest of the family for lunch. We decided to grab an extra spam and egg musubi($5.65), which was also really tasty.

Everything here is delicious, and reasonably priced, so definitely visit before or after your Diamond Head or Lighthouse Hike. They’re open every day at 11 am, and there’s a small parking lot nearby. There’s no seating, so you’ll have to find a spot to enjoy your food. Or, take it to go as a snack on your hike. Next time, I want to visit in the afternoon to try their take-out only grill!

Bogart’s Cafe

My mom and I walked by Bogart’s Cafe the other day on our walk back from Diamond Head and were just dying to try it. This little local brunch spot serves all the best breakfast foods with a little Hawaiian twist. Everything on the menu looked so good! I wanted to order and try a little bit of everything. Their açaí bowl($14.50) was hands down the best one I’ve ever had. It was thick, refreshing, and loaded with so much fresh fruit, crunchy granola, and the perfect drizzle of honey.

An acai bowl with blueberry, strawberry, and banana from Bogart’s Cafe, in Honolulu Hawaii,

But, the real star was their famous Ribeye Loco Moco($20.50). Tender, juicy sliced ribeye cooked in a rich and savory 30-hour braised gravy. Mixed together with hot rice and a perfectly runny sunny side up egg, this plate is absolute heaven. I’m already dreaming about coming back to try everything else on the menu, because this brunch was seriously next level. Bogart’s Cafe is open from 7 AM to 3 PM every day, and was the perfect lunch spot during our busy day.

Byodo-In Temple

Our next spot is Byodo-In Temple, a beautiful, peaceful temple located in the Valley of Temples Memorial Park on the east side of Oahu. This gorgeous and unique replica of an 11th century Japanese temple is one of my family’s favorite places to visit every time we are in Oahu. On our last trip here in 2022, we were with my dad, so this visit was particularly emotional for us.

Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, Hawaii front view of main temple

Built without any nails in the traditional Japanese method, this wooden structure is decorated with intricate brass artwork along the roof and ceilings. Just the surrounding gardens and ponds filled with koi fish are worth the trip on their own. I really recommend making the trip out to visit, because its truly so beautiful and serene. The temple grounds are open daily from 8:30AM to 4:30 PM. Tickets are available online or at the entrance at about $7 per person.

Marugame Udon

Did you really think that I was going to leave Honolulu without trying Marugame Udon? No way! Marugame Udon is a noodle chain in Califonia, Washington, and Hawaii known for their hand-pulled, freshly made udon. The noodles are perfectly chewy and bouncy, soaking up all that umami packed broth. They have so many flavors to choose from, but I personally love their beef udon and curry udon the most. It’s the most comforting bite. You also can’t skip their tempura! It’s super light, and crisp with the perfect amount of crunch.

They’re open 10 am daily, and there is always a line. Don’t worry, it moves really quickly – especially if you come in the afternoon. Is it worth waiting over an hour? Probably not. But if you see a line shorter than 15 people, it’s worth a short wait.

Rainbow Drive-In

For our last night in Hawaii, was super rainy, so we just decided grab some quick food at the Rainbow Drive-In. This local take-out spot has been open since 1961, serving hearty Hawaiian BBQ plates, sandwiches and other comfort foods. They had such an extensive menu, anyone would be able to find something to enjoy for breakfast. Their plates are piled high with 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad.

I ordered the Mixed Plate with Gravy($14.95), which came with large slices of BBQ beef, boneless chicken covered in homemade gravy, and fried Mahi Mahi. The food was simple, tasty, and affordable. They are open 7 AM to 9 PM everyday, but they only accept cash. If you’re in Waikiki looking for a quick, cheap bite, try Rainbow Drive-In and their yummy local Hawaiian plates!