Roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Waikiki by car, along Kapahulu Avenue and Monsarrat Avenue, is Kaimuki and Kapahulu — a residential stretch where locals live, shop, and eat.
What Kaimuki and Kapahulu offer is a look at how people in Honolulu actually eat and shop on an ordinary day — a mix of decades-old diners, family-run bakeries, and small storefronts that have quietly stayed in business for years.
This guide covers where to eat and what the neighborhood itself looks and feels like on foot.
A Walk Through the Neighborhood
Kapahulu takes its name from the Hawaiian words for “worn-out soil.”
The land was once part of a grant to King Lunalilo, and it stayed largely undeveloped until the 1920s, when a streetcar line made it accessible to people commuting into town.
Kapahulu and Kaimuki together have long been known as O’ahu’s “oldest little business town,” a reputation built on more than a century of small, locally owned shops along the avenue.
Around the turn of the 20th century, some merchants relocated here from Chinatown after the Chinatown fires, which helped build up the area’s commercial streets.
The Kaimuki Christmas Parade, which started in 1946, is another sign of how long the neighborhood has had its own community life.
The buildings here have stayed mostly low-rise, aside from a handful of condos at the western end of Kapahulu Avenue — a contrast to the high-rises of Waikiki, just about a mile away.
Much of what you pass along the main streets is locally owned, from plate lunch kitchens and bakeries to coffee shops and small storefronts.
Alongside the restaurants, a few businesses have been around for decades, including Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts (open since 1980, with more than 15,000 vintage and used aloha shirts) and Inter-Island Surf Shop (in business since 1959, dealing in hand-shaped, collectible surfboards).
Waialae Avenue, the cross street where Asahi Grill sits, has its own local favorites, but it is more of a drive-in, drive-out destination than a street to stroll.
Kapahulu and Monsarrat Avenues are where the on-foot part of this guide happens.
Where to Eat in Kaimuki & Kapahulu
This is the main reason to come. The food here skews local — plate lunches, bakeries, and family-run kitchens that have been around for decades, spread across three streets: Waialae Avenue, Kapahulu Avenue, and Monsarrat Avenue.
Asahi Grill
A local comfort-food spot on Waialae Avenue, known for its oxtail soup — a clear, savory broth made by slow-cooking oxtail (a cut from the tail of the cow) until the meat turns tender and falls off the bone.
It’s the kind of dish locals turn to on a cool or rainy day, and Asahi Grill’s version has been singled out in local food roundups as one of the better bowls on the island.
The menu also covers loco moco, chopped steak, and a rotating set of plate lunch standards.
Uncle Bo’s
A pupu bar and grill on Kapahulu Avenue, opened in 2006 by two local men who wanted to create a place they would enjoy themselves.
Pupu means appetizers in Hawaii, and the menu is built for sharing.
The dish to start with is the dynamite shrimp, the restaurant’s signature, topped with the house aioli.
The Big Nachos, made with wonton chips, are another popular plate to share.
There are tables for groups and counter seats that suit couples, and the dining room fills up, so reservations are a good idea.
Happy hour runs from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with discounts on select pupu and draft beer.
Rainbow Drive-In
The original location of a Honolulu plate-lunch institution that has been serving the neighborhood since 1961.
A plate lunch is the everyday meal of Hawaii: a main like chicken, beef, or fish served with rice and macaroni salad. Rainbow’s mixed plate combines several of those mains on one plate, and the menu also includes loco moco and homemade chili.
It’s affordable, fast, and popular with locals and visitors alike.
Leonard’s Bakery
Open since 1952 and best known for its malasadas — a Portuguese-style doughnut with no hole, fried until crisp outside and soft inside, then rolled in sugar.
The classic sugar malasada is the one to order, and filled versions like haupia (coconut pudding), guava, and macadamia are also on the menu.
There’s usually a line, but it moves quickly.
Diamond Head Market & Grill
A longtime neighborhood eatery on Monsarrat Avenue that combines a market, a bakery, and a takeout grill.
The blueberry cream cheese scone is one of its long-running bestsellers, and the grill also serves plate lunches and sandwiches.
There is no indoor seating, so it works best as a takeout stop.
Pioneer Saloon
A plate lunch spot on Monsarrat Avenue with an Old West saloon look, opened in 2009 by owner and chef Nori Sakamoto.
The dish to order is the mochiko chicken: bite-size pieces of chicken fried in a batter made with mochiko (sweet rice flour), a staple of Hawaii plate lunches.
The menu also includes ahi dishes and chicken katsu curry, a mix of local plate lunch favorites and Japanese flavors.
da Cove Health Bar
A laid-back health food cafe on Monsarrat Avenue, known for its acai bowls.
The acai is blended thick and scooped like sorbet, then topped with granola, banana, strawberries, blueberries, and honey.
The Hawaiian Acai Bowl adds a local touch with paiai, steamed and mashed taro.
The menu also includes smoothies and ahi salads and wraps.
For more places to try, see our guide to the best acai bowls on Oahu.
Who Kaimuki & Kapahulu Is For
Kaimuki and Kapahulu suit travelers who want to see how Honolulu lives day to day.
If you’ve visited Hawaii before and are looking for something beyond the Waikiki beachfront, this is a good addition to the trip.
Instead of resorts and shopping centers, you get neighborhood restaurants, bakeries, and small shops that locals use on an ordinary day.
It also works well for food-focused travelers, since the plate lunches, malasadas, and acai bowls here are part of everyday life in Honolulu.
Getting There From Waikiki
Kapahulu Avenue is about a mile from Waikiki, and the walk from central Kalakaua Avenue takes roughly 20 minutes, slightly uphill. If you’d rather not walk, there are a few options:
- Rideshare or taxi: typically 10 to 15 minutes from most Waikiki hotels. Ask to be dropped off near Kapahulu Avenue and Winam Avenue.
- TheBus: Route 13 serves a stop at Kaimuki Avenue and Kapahulu Avenue. Check TheBus for current routes and fares before you go.
- Driving: street parking near the popular food stops can fill up, so arriving earlier in the day or later in the evening makes it easier.
To reach Asahi Grill on Waialae Avenue, continue up Kapahulu Avenue until it meets Waialae Avenue.
Where to Stay Nearby
There are no resort hotels in Kaimuki or Kapahulu — these are residential neighborhoods, not resort areas.
Waikiki is the closest option, roughly 10 to 15 minutes away by rideshare or car from most hotels. Waikiki Shore is a straightforward choice for couples or smaller groups (read our Waikiki Shore review).
For groups of three or more, a two-bedroom unit makes more sense — Waikiki Penthouse and Hawaiian Monarch both work well for that size.
Our reviews cover the Waikiki Penthouse and the Hawaiian Monarch in detail.
A rideshare or car is the easiest way to get here, though Kapahulu Avenue is also within walking distance of Waikiki if you don’t mind a slightly uphill 20 minutes.
Hours mentioned above are subject to change.
If you’re staying in Waikiki, our things to do in Waikiki guide covers more of what’s nearby.