We spent a month in Hawaii! We had an incredible month exploring each island and finding our favorite spots. We reflected on all our experiences and compiled a list of our favorites. Enjoy!

Favorite stay: Kapa’a Garden Apartments Airbnb on Kauai

This place sat right next to Sleeping Giant, a mountain with many hiking trails. The Airbnb had chairs and tables for us to overlook the mountain. The best part? All the kitties that hung out with us.

It was a cozy apartment with great amenities like bikes, beach chairs, free electric charging, laundry, and a peaceful lanai.

Favorite hike: Waihe’e Ridge Trail on Maui

This was a 5-mile hike on the north side of Maui. We loved the diversity of the trail. We went through clouds, lush rainforests, and mountain ridges. There were many spots to stop and take in the stunning ocean views! As we drove in, we noticed a farm with a few tractors and loved thinking about how sweet of a view those farmers had.

Favorite beach: Lanikai Beach on O’ahu

This was our first sunrise experience in Hawaii and it lived up to the hype! Once we stepped onto the beach, we were immediately welcomed with soft white sand and a colorful sunrise. It wasn’t super crowded which made it quiet and peaceful. We also loved overlooking the two small islands (The Mokulua Islands).

Favorite restaurant: Beach House Restaurant on Kaua’i

This was by far our favorite restaurant experience! Not only did it have the perfect ocean view, but we also had a wonderful waiter who shared knowledge and local recommendations. We got the tostada and venison, which were delicious.

Favorite food truck: Holy Grail Donuts on Kaua’i

We’re still thinking about these donuts… they were that good. Cody doesn’t eat dairy which usually means he can’t do donuts. This place has dairy-free donuts and has unique flavors. We tried the chocolate crunch, miso honey, and vanilla bean maple.

Favorite beer: Mahalo Aleworks on Maui

This brewery’s atmosphere was so relaxed and welcoming! The decor was beautiful and we loved the patio view which overlooked the island. We started with a flight and there weren’t any we didn’t like! We also liked that they had a permanent food truck serving sausages.

Favorite coffee: White Nene Coffee Roasters on Big Island

This was such a cute and relaxing atmosphere! We learned that not all places sell 100% Kona Coffee, but this one does. They have unique latte flavors, like brown butter miso and orange. We also met a friend here who we had been following on Instagram for awhile, which made the spot even more memorable!

Favorite experience: Na Pali Coast Helicopter Tour on Kaua’i

This was hands down our favorite experience. We were rained out but rescheduled to the next day and it couldn’t have been a more perfect morning. The rugged peaks of the Na Pali Coast and the many waterfalls throughout the island are moments we’ll remember forever.

Favorite island: Kaua’i

While we loved all the islands in different ways, what we loved most about Kaua’i was the untouched and less commercialized feeling. It was the most lush and only had one main road that went around the island. We also met a local at our coworking space who was friendly and gave us many great recommendations. Meeting people while traveling is something that we’ll always cherish.

As we reflect on our month, we’re so thankful for this opportunity and know that we’ll be back one day. We loved learning about the culture and appreciated the slower pace of life.

Hawaii Favorites