Emma Wo: Honolulu is so unique
because it’s a cosmopolitan city; you have the beautiful buildings and city skyline. But you also
have some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, parks, hikes. It kind of has a combination of
everything. It’s green and lush. It’s just a bustling city with so much great energy.
If you only had a couple of days here, I would definitely say, “Head straight to
Waikiki.” Waikiki Beach is an iconic surfing spot. The waves are amazing, especially for
beginners. You can actually rent a surfboard, you can rent a paddleboard, or you can even
canoe-surf, which is a really cool experience. One of the most amazing places to visit is the
Iolani Palace. One of my favorite rooms to visit is the Throne Room, which has two thrones that
were made for King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. Foster Botanical Garden is located right near
downtown Honolulu, and it’s a really nice escape. The garden itself is 14 acres,
and you can see an amazing collection of mature trees and tropical plants.
Right next to Foster Botanical Garden is the Kuan Yin Temple,
which is actually Honolulu’s oldest temple. It’s a really ornate Chinese Buddhist temple.
I love to go and stroll down Nuuanu Avenue, see a lot of the different art galleries, eat lunch
and maybe shop some of the boutiques as well. I love Honolulu because it is a melting pot of so
many different cultures. The food is unreal, the art is incredible, and I just think you’re never
going to find another place quite like it. Andrew Hara:
My very favorite thing about Hilo is the accessibility to nature. You can step out
of your door, and in five minutes, you’re in the middle of a remote rainforest.
I love Rainbow Falls because it’s the icon of Hilo. During a certain time of the year,
a rainbow appears. When you’re at ‘Akaka Falls, you’re under this beautiful forest
and in front of you, these falls that pretty much fall almost forever, and at the end,
you just see this mixture of mist and water and air. It’s just a really timeless moment.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about 45 minutes away from Hilo. What you can
expect to see there is a very large caldera, which was formed thousands of years before us.
You have different areas of volcanic landscape that go down to the ocean. It’s just amazing.
Lili’uokalani Gardens is one of the largest Japanese gardens in the nation.
It’s got these beautiful archways. The front lawn is Hilo Bay and exquisite.
When you go into downtown Hilo, you’ll notice all these multi-colored buildings. A lot of these
buildings have been around for about 100 years or so. I think downtown Hilo feels untouched.
Café 100 is a cool spot. My grandfather founded it 73 years ago. One of the best things you
can get at Café 100 is the Loco Moco: a bed of rice, a hamburger patty, a little bit of gravy,
and you got an egg any way that you want it. Two Ladies Kitchen is a mochi confectionary shop.
It’s one of the most popular mochi places in the nation. People come here from all
around the world to try this delicious, chewy, beautiful, handmade mochi. It’s just so good.
There is a feeling of authenticity that Hilo is not trying to be anything it’s
not supposed to be. It is just Hilo, and there’s a pride in that. It’s beautiful.