*This is a copy of the Waikiki Beach Stays Monthly Mailer (sent out 11 Jan 2023). Click here to subscribe for future editions.

Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year), we hope your 2023 is off to a flying start.

Today is an exciting day in Waikiki, we’ve finally got ourselves a grocery store!

Waikiki Market

Waikiki Market has opened on the 2nd floor of Lilia Waikiki building on the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Kanekapolei Street (it replaces the old Food Pantry).

We had a look this afternoon and must say, it’s sensational. There are aisles upon aisles of supermarket items, everything a vacationer could ever need or want.

The entrance is lined with fresh-prepared foods, pick-up malasadas, pizza, poke, rice bowls and more. There’s also an open-air eatery on street-level, Piko Kitchen + Bar.

We definitely recommend checking it out on your next visit, but in the meantime take a peek inside the photo album we posted on our Facebook page.

Read on for more updates on what’s new on Oahu, and don’t miss the Special Offers for tours and activities listed at the end.

Warmest Aloha,
Ash & Keli‘i
[email protected]

NEW ON THE BLOG
Oahu Events in January
Oahu Events in February
Valentine’s Day Events on Oahu
Oahu Markets Schedule
Free Hula & Music Shows

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Discount Hawaii Car Rental
Do-It-Yourself GPS Audio Tours
Baby Gear Rentals
Buy a US Sim Card
Free Waikiki Map

TRAVEL NEWS

  • As at 4 Jan 2023: 373,514 cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii to-date. Daily average cases 177 island-wide (115 Oahu, 28 Maui County, 12 Kauai, 22 Hawaii Island).
  • Beginning 5 Jan 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require air passengers boarding flights to the United States originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau to have a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery. Administering this new federal process will be managed by the airlines prior to departure. For more information, please visit the CDC Site.

DESTINATION

ACCOMMODATION

  • Wayfinder Waikiki (formerly Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel) has soft-opened with updated guest rooms, suites and public spaces. It will have three new dining venues on-site, Lost & Found (tropical speakeasy), Redfish (restaurant) and B-Side Coffee Bar.
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: Royal Hawaiian Resort
Each month we’ll highlight one of Waikiki’s best hotels.



Royal Hawaiian Resort, known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, was one of the first hotels to be built on Waikiki Beach. The property is fashioned in a Spanish-Moorish style, adorned in beautiful art and surrounded by tropical gardens. Guests can learn about this iconic venue on a free historical tour every Tue/Thu at 1pm. There are a variety of Rooms and Suites available (for 2-4 people) in the Historic Wing (original building) or Mailani Tower (a new building where all rooms have an ocean view). They also have four Prestige Suites. Enjoy two pools, the on-site Malulani Pool and the off-site Helumoa Playground (shared with Sheraton Waikiki). Eat pink pancakes for breakfast at Surf Lanai, snack on signature banana bread or a famed pink snowball at the Royal Hawaiian Bakery, fine-dine at Azure Restaurant or sip on a cocktail at the Mai Tai Bar. Don’t forget to shop at TRH Inspired, the pink-obsessed store and indulge in some R&R at Abhasa Spa. Please note, there is a US$42+tax resort fee and parking is additional. Check reviews on tripadvisor.com and prices on hotels.com.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Scoot Coupes offer a unique form of transport on Oahu. They’re two-person three-wheel mopeds, they remind me of the mini-vehicles in the Super Mario Kart video game! You must have a driver’s license to drive a coupe, and passengers at least 7 years old. Choose from red, blue, yellow, green, or white vehicles.

ACTIVITIES

  • Hawaii’s whale watching season is here! The warm, shallow waters in Hawaii attract humpback whales from Alaska, they come from Dec through Apr to birth and nurse their young. Try and spot them on one of Oahu’s many whale watching cruises. We have personally enjoyed this Atlantis Whale Watch Cruise in the past.
  • For a unique underwater tour, no diving experience necessary, book an eco-friendly submersible electric scooter. Departing from Hawaii Kai (25-mins drive east of Waikiki), the Oahu Submarine Scooter Adventure escorts you via catamaran to the clear waters of Maunalua Bay where you can explore Hawai’i’s tropical reefs.
  • Visitors can cool off once again at Hawaii’s only ice skating arena, Ice Palace Hawaii. It has re-opened with a refreshed interior, snack bar and party area. Entry and skate rental from US$16 pp, and there’s no-charge for parents chaperoning kids. This indoor attraction is located in Halawa (20-mins drive from Waikiki).

RESTAURANTS & BARS

  • The lower level of Waikiki Shopping Plaza is becoming an Asian food hall once more! Stix Asia (open 5pm-10pm) will house 17 restaurants and eateries featuring Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese cuisine. Currently open: Nana Musubi, Honolulu Noodle & Co., Nabe Aina, Shingen, Cafe Nala and Shanghai Bar. Coming soon: Ramen Akatsuki, Gashoken, K Street Food, Kiki Authentic Tempura, Tangmi, Udon Yama, Sushi Matsuri, AO Gelato and Nana’s Green Tea.
  • Paradise Ciders, Hawaii’s first cider company, opened a Taproom & Bar at Mililani Shopping Center (40-mins drive from Waikiki). Sample craft ciders and seltzers made with local flavors inspired by paradise, open daily from 10am-Midnight.
  • Halekulani Bakery, in the lobby of Halepuna Waikiki hotel, has finally re-opened (YAY). Drop in Thu-Sun only from 6:30am-11:30am for a Salted Caramel Croissant or a slice of Halekulani Coconut Cake, among other artisan bakery delights.

SHOPPING

  • Koho, a luxury chocolate brand by Hawaiian Host, has opened a shop at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. Koho features bon bons with Hawaii-inspired flavors.
  • House of Mana Up sells a collection of local products and gifts made by Hawaii entrepreneurs. They just added a second store in Waikiki, in the lobby of the Prince Waikiki hotel (their first store is located in the Royal Hawaiian Center).
  • Odyssey VR is available at the International Market Place. Bond with friends and family in virtual and augmented reality, play games, compete in races or enjoy rides.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • The original Diamond Head Theatre was old and had to be demolished, it has just been replaced with a brand new US$23 million dollar performance facility. The first show to play in the new house is Cinderella, opening on 20 Jan 2023.
  • Box jellyfish (stinging invertebrates) tend to appear in Oahu’s ocean 8-10 days after the full moon. According to Waikiki Aquarium Box Jellyfish Calendar 14-16 Jan, 13-15 Feb & 15-17 Mar 2023 have high probability of a box jellyfish event.
  • For a comprehensive list of Oahu Events by Month, click here.

SPECIAL OFFERS*

*Subject to change/terms and conditions apply – please refer to Viator for full details.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Waikiki Beach Stays readers get a 10% discount off The Real Hawaii custom and private tours. Simply add ‘waikikibeach’ to the ‘Enter your Discount code here’ promo box when booking on the website – therealhawaiitours.com. A minimum of two passengers are required. LEARN MORE

SHOP HAWAII STYLE

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Image Credit: Waikiki Beach Stays

Ashlee Galea What's New