🌞 Day 2: South Shore Adventures – Hawaii with Kids 🌴👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

We’re still alive 😂🙌! Just a little jet-lagged 😴 and trying to recover from this wild time difference ⏰. Today we stuck around the south side of Oʻahu 🏝️, and wow—what a day!

Between malasadas 🍩, mountain views ⛰️, tide pools 🌊, and history 👑, my legs are tired 🥵 but my heart is so full 💖---- of food, fun, and hikes that reminded me I might still be out of shape (let’s just blame it on my healed broken foot 👣).

🍩 Breakfast at Leonard’s Bakery

First stop—Leonard’s Bakery! It's been a must stop since 1952---Famous for their ✨ malasadas ✨—Portuguese-style doughnuts that are fluffy pillows of joy 🤤. Sometimes they’re filled with custard 🍮 or haupia (coconut cream 🥥). The line is usually an hour ⏳ (worth it!), but we got lucky 🍀.

Even though some flavors were sold out 😢, we grabbed a box 📦 and sat on the step 👣 while Jaxson happily fed Brynlee 🍼. Sweetest breakfast moment 💕.

✨ Try it at home: Simple Malasadas (Portuguese Donuts)

2 ¼ tsp yeast, ¼ cup warm water, 1 cup sugar
6 eggs, ½ cup butter, 1 cup milk, 6 cups flour
Mix → rise → shape → fry in hot oil until golden → roll in sugar.
Best eaten warm 😋.

⛰️ Diamond Head Hike

Next up—Diamond Head Crater. 🌋 Honestly, pictures 📸 will never do it justice—it’s breathtaking—literally and figuratively 😂 😍. The hike isn’t super long (1.6 miles) but those stairs 🪜 at the end nearly finished me off 😂. The views from the summit were some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

Rob = Dad of the Year. 🦸—carrying Brynlee in the hiking carrier and even Jaxson half way, one kid in the front and one on his back! I tried switching with him but… let’s just say he quickly had them both again. Major was a champ, powering through step after step.🚶‍♂️💪—such a trooper!

📦 Fun Fact: Diamond Head

Hawaiian name: Lēʻahi (“brow of the tuna”) 🐟
Formed 300,000 years ago 🌋
Old military lookout 🪖

💡 Kid Hiking Tip: Bring a hydration backpack 💧, snacks 🍎, hats 🧢, and sunscreen ☀️. Extra socks & comfy shoes are lifesavers! Make a game out of it. ("I'm going to beat you up the steps") It seemed to keep the little one running and laughing along the way.

✨ Kid-hiking tips:

Hydration backpack 💧
Sunscreen 🧴
Hats 🧢👒
Snacks 🍎🥨
Little rewards 🍬

Totally worth it for the view 🌅.

🌊🐠 Makapuʻu Tide Pools & Snorkeling

After Diamond Head, we hit the Kaiwi Shoreline Trail to see the Makapuʻu Tide Pools. We hiked a bit before the boys tapped out on walking. 🚶‍♂️😂. Instead, we cooled off with swimming & snorkeling. The waves crashing 🌊, lava rocks 🪨, and little pools 🐚 were gorgeous.

Snorkeling = a MUST in Hawaii 🤿. The kids spotted tropical fish 🐟, hermit crabs 🦀, starfish ⭐, and even tiny urchins 🦔. Every shell 🐚 felt like buried treasure 💎.

📦 Fun Fact: Makapuʻu

“Makapuʻu” means “bulging eye” 👁️ (named for a goddess with 8 bright eyes)
Tide pools are home to crabs 🦀, starfish ⭐, sea cucumbers 🥒, and urchins 🦑
Nearby lighthouse is one of the most photographed spots on Oʻahu 📸

💡 Bring Along: Snorkels, reef-safe sunscreen (I can't STRESS this enough! Keep our reefs healthy and safe, please make sure if you are traveling to Hawaii to check the sunscreen) 🌱, and water shoes to protect little feet from sharp lava rocks.

🌬️ Halona Blowhole Lookout

On the way back, we stopped at the Halona Blowhole 🌊. This natural wonder was formed thousands of years ago when molten lava tubes 🌋cooled and hardened, leaving an underwater tunnel. Now, everytime the waves crash into it 🌊, the ocean sprays upward through the rock like a massive fountain-⛲ sometimes reaching 30 feet in athe air!! The kids squealed every time it sprayed 😂. It's mesmerizing to watch and such an easy pull-over stop for families. 🚗

📦 Fun Fact: Halona Blowhole

“Halona” = “lookout”
Seen in movies like From Here to Eternity 🎥 Down below the lookout is a hidden Gem known as Eternity Beach. Where this was filmed. We didn't make the hike down this time, the kiddos were starting to get hungry, but it's definitely worth checking out if you have the time (&energy.)
Hawaiian legend- Like many places in Hawaii, Halona has a story. Acording to ledgend, the blowhole is guarded by a moʻo (water spirit 🐉💧) Locals believed the Mo'o watched over the swimmers and could bring blessings---or mischief--depending on how they were treated. Standing there with the waves thundering below, you can almost imagine the spirit hiding in the tunnels, just breathing through the bursts of water. 🌊

💡 Safe & easy stop for kids—just watch from the lookout platform. The actual blowhole area is slippery & dangerous ⚠️.

🌮 Lunch at South Shore Grill

By lunch, everyone was starving, so we hit South Shore Grill on Monsarrat. South Shore Grill-- Fresh fish 🐠, garlic shrimp 🧄🍤, slaw 🥗, mac salad 🍝, and rice 🍚 = perfection 👌. I could eat here every. single. day. 🌮🐟🤤

📦 Fun Fact: South Shore Grill

Family-owned since 2004 🌺
Famous for fish tacos & Mix Plate 🍤🍗
Surfer vibe, friendly staff 🏄‍♀️
Taco Tuesday = great deals 🌮

✨ Try it at Home: Hawaiian-Style Fish Tacos

1 lb white fish (mahi mahi, cod, or tilapia)
Season: lime juice, garlic, 🧄 paprika, salt → pan fry until flaky
Serve in corn tortillas 🌽
Top with shredded cabbage, pineapple salsa (pineapple + red onion + cilantro + lime), drizzle of sriracha mayo.

Kid hack: Keep one taco “plain” with cheese & mild sauce 🧀😊.

👑 ʻIolani Palace--Hawaiian Royalty & the Banyan Tree of Kings 🌳🏰

After our hearty lunch 🍤🍚, we headed to ʻIolani Palace, the only royal palace on U.S. soil 🇺🇸👑. Inside it felt surreal—walking the same halls where King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani once held court 🏛️💫. We marveled at the grand chandeliers ✨, sparkling jewelry 💎, royal thrones 👑, elegant clothing 👗, the throne room 👑, and suites where royal ceremonies 🎉 and historical moments 📜 unfolded- rich Hawaiian history 📖 The palace whispers stories of power, celebration, and royalty 👸🤴. Outside = big lawns where the kids ran wild 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ while I soaked in the beauty 🌸.

Just across the street where we parked 🚗, a majestic banyan tree 🌳 stretched its limbs wide, shading the sidewalk 🌿🌞. This isn’t any ordinary tree, its a living testament to royal heritage and Hawaii’s global ties 🌎💖.

Standing beneath its leafy canopy 🍃, we felt connected—to the palace, the past, and the stories that shaped it 🌸🕊️. A quiet reminder that every palace deserves a guardian tree 🌳💛 to whisper its history.

📦 Fun Fact: The Royal Banyan Tree 🌿👑

Planted in the late 1800s 🕰️by Queen Kapiʻolani as a royal gift 🎁
A banyan tree 🌳—one plant with sprawling roots, symbolizing legacy, endurance, and growth 🌱✨

💡 Tip for visitors: Pause under the tree 🌳, snap a photo 📸, and take a moment to imagine the centuries of stories it has witnessed ⏳💫.

🌈 Rainbow Drive-In: A Taste of Local Tradition 🍔🍟🌴

After our visit to ʻIolani Palace 👑🏛️, we headed to Rainbow Drive-In, a beloved Honolulu institution serving hearty, affordable plate lunches since 1961 🎉. Located on Kapahulu Avenue, just outside Waikīkī 🏖️, this spot is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Hawaiian comfort food 🌺

A Legacy of Flavor -🥢Founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku, Rainbow Drive-In was created to provide delicious home-style meals to Hawaiʻi’s working-class community 💛. Seiju perfected his cooking while serving as a cook in WWII 🍳🎖️, then brought those skills to this iconic drive-in 🚗✨. The friendly service and satisfying meals quickly made it a local favorite 🏄‍♂️🌺.

Rainbow Drive-In is famous for its plate lunches 🍛—two scoops of rice 🍚, macaroni salad 🥗, and a generous portion of your choice of meat 🍖. Some standouts:

Mix Plate: BBQ beef 🥩, boneless chicken 🍗, mahi mahi 🐟, served with rice 🍚 and mac salad 🥗
Loco Moco: Hamburger patties 🍔 on rice 🍚, topped with a fried egg 🍳 and savory gravy 🌿
BBQ Beef or Pork Plate: Tender, flavorful, grilled to perfection 🔥🥩
Chili Dog Plate: Hot dogs 🌭 smothered in homemade chili 🌶️
Mahi Mahi Plate: Golden-brown fish fillet 🐟, grilled and seasoned to perfection 🌊

✨ Try it at Home- Classic Hawaiian Plate Lunch (BBQ Beef)

Marinate thin beef slices in: soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, sesame oil
Grill or pan-fry until caramelized
Serve with:

Steamed white rice 🍚
Hawaiian mac salad (elbow macaroni + mayo + shredded carrot + vinegar + salt)

🌺 Ending the Day: Full Hearts, Full Bellies 🍴

As the sun set 🌅 and the sky turned shades of pink and gold 🌸✨, we finally made our way back to our friend’s home 🏡. The kids were tired but happy 😴😄, full of stories about fish 🐠, and the giant spray of Halona Blowhole 🌊💦.

We shared some of the tator tots, visited with our amazing friend who made everything so easy ❤️, and then headed to the dog park 🐕🎾. Watching the kids run, laugh, and throw balls while the dogs chased them was the perfect end to a perfect day 🐶💫.

Today reminded me how magical Hawaiʻi is 🌴—from fluffy malasadas 🍩 to breathtaking Diamond Head views ⛰️, to historical ʻIolani Palace 👑 and the guardian banyan tree 🌳 across the street, to fresh fish tacos 🌮 and hearty plate lunches 🍔—every moment is an adventure for the senses 🌈✨.

💡 Pro Tip for Families Traveling to Hawaii:
Pack wisely 🎒: snorkels 🤿, swim gear 🏊‍♂️, sunscreen ☀️, hats 🧢, snacks 🍎, extra socks 🧦, and comfy shoes 👟. Even better—have a local friend ready to share their island essentials 🌺💛.

We went to bed tonight with full hearts ❤️, tired legs 🦵, and the sweetest memories 🌴✨. Hawaii, you’ve captured us—we can’t wait for tomorrow 🌞!