Kakaako has seen many faces over the years. From ancient Hawaiian salt and fish ponds, to industrial canneries and warehouses, to the most happening street art community in Hawaii, the urban Honolulu neighborhood has evolved over and over again. Today Kakaako is centered around the arts, culture, and entrepreneurship. It is a booming neighborhood that hosts breweries, hipster bars, coffee shops, restaurants, boutique shopping, and world famous street art.

Discover the heartbeat of Hawaii's past as you wander through the vibrant streets of Downtown Honolulu. A tapestry of history, architecture, and culture comes alive in this central core of Oahu. Located along South King Street, these sites will teach you about the history of King Kamehameha’s conquest, the Hawaiian Monarchy, and the arrival of the New England missionaries to Honolulu, Hawaii in just a few short hours.

Dedicated on July 21, 1842 Kawaiahao Church was commissioned by Queen Ka’ahumanu and established as the Hawaiian Kingdom’s first Christian Church. Designed by the leader of Hawaii’s earliest christian missionaries, Hiram Bingham, the church was often frequented by chiefs, queens, and kings of the Hawaiian monarchy. Here Bingham baptized thousands of converts, translated the Bible into Hawaiian, composed books, and much more.

The Maunawili Falls trailhead is now only accessible off of the Pali Highway from the Maunawili Demonstration Trail. This small waterfall and swimming hole is a local favorite for both residents and visitors alike and is a great place to cool off on a hot Hawaii day. The trail is rated easy-moderate and only includes one steep hill where stairs have been put in place to help with the climb. Wear shoes or boots with grip as the trail is usually very muddy. You can expect your clothes to get muddy as well, but that is part of the fun.

Founded in 1952, Leonard’s Bakery is one of Honolulu’s oldest bakeries. While the display cases are filled with delicious cakes, cookies, and pastries, it is the freshly made Malasadas that what you will want to try. Malasadas are a Portuguese dessert that is deep fried dough balls. Light and fluffy on the inside, golden brown on the outside, coated in sugar. It is a treat not be missed when visiting Waikiki, Honolulu. Read on to discover tips and insights on how to make the most out of your trip to fried dough paradise! 

Our journey on Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, took us to the Red Hill and the Manoa Loa Cabin. Located at 13,250ft, the Moana Loa Cabin is an incredibly challenging hike with rough terrain, thin oxygen, and weather that can quickly turn. During our four day backpacking trip to the cabins we saw gigantic cinder cones, saw an uncountable amount of lava tubes, and walked across modern lava flows.