Mānoa, Oʻahu

Location: Mānoa Valley, Honolulu, Oʻahu. About a 20-minute drive mauka, or toward the mountains, from Waikīkī.

Weather: Expect intermittent rain, especially in the morning. Can be cooler than Waikīkī on overcast days.

Who it's best for: Hikers, food lovers, families, visitors interested in culture and history.

Signature draws: Mānoa Falls, Lyon Arboretum, Mānoa Farmers Market, Mānoa Heritage Center, restaurants.

How to get there: TheBus (routes 13, 2, 6), rideshare or rental car. Some hiking tours provide bikes to get to the falls.

Best time to visit: Weekdays, when all attractions, shops and restaurants are open. Come in the morning and afternoon for outdoor activities, or all day for dining. Mānoa is beautiful year-round; just keep in mind that winter can bring heavier rains.

Overnight vs. day trip: Day trip is sufficient, although you can stay overnight. There is one hotel (Manoa Valley Inn) and multiple Airbnb and vacation rentals.

If Waikīkī is like staying in the college dorms, Mānoa Valley is like a trip to grandma's house. Up in the valley, it's another world — a primarily residential world — of lush, verdant landscapes, shady parks and big houses — a mix of plantation cottages, Craftsman, colonial and mid-century styles built from 1902 to the 1950s — with covered lanai amongst the monkeypod trees. Unlike Waikīkī, it rains almost every day in Mānoa (off and on) — this is what keeps Mānoa forest green. If you are looking for something far less touristy, with a cooler climate, Mānoa has a lot to offer.

Mānoa Falls Trail: One of the most popular hikes on Oʻahu. Most of the way, you'll be trudging through (often muddy) rainforest trails until you arrive at a 150-foot waterfall. The trail is only 1.6 miles one-way and can be completed in about an hour. There is a mini museum that covers Mānoa Valley's history at the trailhead and a small grab-and-go snack shop where you can get a hot cup of coffee. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset and the parking lot is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. 3860 Mānoa Road, Honolulu. Family-friendly.

Puʻu Pia Trail: Just over 2 miles, this is an easy, family-friendly hike that takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. The trail splits off into other trails as you hike, so be mindful of staying on the right path. For most of the hike, you'll be under shady trees on a well-maintained trail. There is a gorgeous view at the top of Waikīkī and Mānoa Valley. Bring bug spray and wear hiking shoes with grip; conditions after it rains get muddy and slippery. The trailhead is located at 3680 Alani Drive, Honolulu (in the back of Mānoa Valley).

Lyon Arboretum: This is more of a stroll through a 200-acre arboretum and botanical garden. Located next door to Mānoa Falls Trail, visitors can take tours for $10 per person or grab a map from the gift shop and go on a self-guided tour of the property. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3860 Mānoa Road, Honolulu. There is a separate parking lot from Mānoa Falls Trail. Family-friendly.

If you are interested in architecture, you can take a self-guided tour of Mānoa Valley's historic homes. Find more information at malamamanoa.org/historic-homes-tours.

Mānoa Heritage Center: One of the most famous historic homes in Mānoa belonged to Sam and Mary Cooke, who founded Mānoa Heritage Center in 1996 to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and teach the community how to be thoughtful stewards of the land. Docent tours are led on weekday afternoons and select Saturday mornings. They last about two hours and take you through the 3.5-acre Native Hawaiian garden and ancient heiau, or temple, on property. You can find more information at manoaheritagecenter.org. Family-friendly.

Farmers Market

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find local produce and artisan foods. Located at Mānoa Marketplace amongst several great places to eat and drink. There is also a kids playground for the little ones. 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu.

Coffee/Bakery

Morning Glass Coffee is a beloved local coffee shop that has been serving Mānoa Valley since 2011. Come for specialty coffee and mac and cheese pancakes. I like their grab-and-go sandwiches and salads too. Be ready to stand in line — it's worth the wait. Open Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 2955 East Mānoa Road, Honolulu.

Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop is a super sweet cafe tucked into the valley. I like to come sit on the lanai for tea and baked goods. They also serve full breakfast and lunch. Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2950 Mānoa Road, Honolulu.

Fendu Boulangerie is a French bakery in Mānoa Marketplace offering artisan breads, sandwiches and classic pastries. I like their chocolate croissants and pear danishes. Order for takeout or grab one of the tables out front. Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2752 Woodlawn Drive, No. 5-119, Honolulu.

Poke

Off the Hook Poke is a popular takeout spot across the street from Mānoa Marketplace. There are a few tables out front if you want to eat here. I recommend the Hawaiian-style poke with rice (you can also opt to get your poke on salad). Save time and order online before you go — there is usually a line. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2908 East Mānoa Road, Honolulu.

Local-style lunch and dinner

Little Plum offers a taste of Hawaiʻi's local style in a modern setting. When I go with friends, I like to offer a variety of small plates to share. When I go alone, I order one of the rice bowls — I love the catch of the day over choy sum and rice topped with ginger-scallion sauce and fried shallots. On Fridays they serve Hawaiian plate lunch. Cocktails are based on the owners' favorite candies and snacks from childhood growing up on Oʻahu. They also pour good coffee (with free refills). Everything down to the chopstick wrappers was designed in-house to trigger nostalgia for locals. Takeout is also available. Grab lunch to go on the way to Mānoa Falls. Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. 2752 Woodlawn Drive, No. 5-101, Honolulu.

Mediterranean lunch and dinner

Lady Elaine is the lively neighborhood gathering place in the evenings, serving Mediterranean comfort food, craft cocktails and a thoughtfully curated wine list. Order a bunch of dishes to share. My favorites are the roasted eggplant risotto, herb lamb and sumac-roasted cauliflower. The beverage program is the most exciting part of the menu, combining in-house expert mixology by Honolulu top bartender, Kuʻulei Akuna, with favorite cocktails from around the island, such as Dave Newman's cold-brew coffee "Talventi." Also open for lunch. Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. 2756 Woodlawn Drive, No. 6-102, Honolulu.

Edible gifts and wine by the bottle

Uncle Paul's Corner Store carries a curated selection of ingredients, cookbooks, independent food magazines, wine and gifts for the home or professional cook. For locals, it offers a monthly wine club providing access to obscure varietals and hard-to-find wines from around the world (three wines per month). Visit every Friday at 5 p.m. for free wine tastings.

Choco Leʻa for chocolate confections, drinks and ice cream. Tasting tours available. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2909 Lowrey Ave., Honolulu.

8 to 9 a.m. — Mānoa Falls Hike. Take rideshare, rental car or a bike tour to get here from Waikīkī. The trail opens at sunrise, but if you want to park, the lot doesn't open until 8 a.m. Parking costs $7 for visitors.

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. — Coffee at Morning Glass. 10-minute drive from Mānoa Falls. Order a pour-over or latte and sit outside on the lanai with the locals.

11 a.m. to noon — Lunch at Little Plum. Order the ume tomato and daikon and pohole (Hawaiian ferns) appetizers and catch of the day and menchi katsu for entrees.

12:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Tour of Mānoa Heritage Center. Learn about Hawaiian culture and the history of Mānoa Valley while walking through the Native Hawaiian garden and seeing an ancient heiau. Reservations can be made ahead of time by visiting the website (see below).

3 to 3:30 p.m. — Take a drive. Mānoa Valley is home to some of Oʻahu's most historic homes, many over 50 years old. Head uphill on Oʻahu Avenue, turn left on Armstrong Street, then left on Liloa Rise to College Hill, a 16-room estate built in 1902 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, located at 2234 Kamehameha Avenue. Be conscientious while exploring these neighborhoods and don't invade anyone's privacy. People live in these homes.

4 to 5 p.m. — Shop local. Visit Choco Leʻa for artisan chocolate truffles, then visit Uncle Paul's Corner Store, where you can get lost amongst all the fun ingredients, kitchen tools, cookbooks and ceramics you can purchase for your home or as gifts.

5 to 6 p.m. — Dinner at Lady Elaine. Finish the evening with a Mediterranean-inspired dinner, craft cocktails and unique wines from around the world. The staff is so welcoming that you may want to consider moving to Mānoa before the day is over.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (base of Mānoa Valley): Visitors can take self-guided tours of the campus to see the Japanese Garden, loʻi (wetland taro field) and UH Mānoa Bookstore. You can also attend public sporting events — Hawaiʻi is known for its volleyball teams. 2500 Campus Road, Honolulu.

Pūowaina / Punchbowl Crater (10 min): The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is the 112-acre resting place for more than 25,000 veterans who lost their lives fighting for our country. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2177 Pūowaina Drive, Honolulu.

Tantalus and Liljestrand House (15 min): Visitors and locals come here for hiking and to visit the Vladimir Ossipoff-designed Liljestrand House, which offers 90-minute tours of the property. Reservations must be made ahead of time. From $75 per person. 3300 Tantalus Drive, Honolulu. Learn more at liljestrandhouse.org/tours.

MuRyangSa Temple (20 min): The largest Korean Buddhist Temple outside of Korea. Vipassana meditation is hosted every Saturday at 4 p.m. Free and welcome to all. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2420 Halelaau Place, Honolulu. $3 suggested donation.