5 New Spots on O'ahu (Hawai'i, 2025) Worthy of Checking Out
& a long list (with notes) of the ones that I haven't had time to get to yet...
I may sound like a broken record to some, but there are new readers regularly, so I do feel the need to preface any of my Hawai’i-related content, with some background information.
At 17 years old, in 2008, I moved to O’ahu. The islands were my home through many important seasons of life: becoming an adult, graduating college, establishing my first career, getting married, and becoming a mother.
At the end of 2019, I permanently moved away, right before the world shut down because of the pandemic.
Then, for the last 4 years, I went back nearly annually, for: part-business/part-vacation trips… and each time, I have tried to check out new spots, whether that be restaurants, stores, or shops—that weren’t there (or I wasn’t aware of) while living on island.
I do have an extensive “Hawai’i Guide” article that I wrote back in 2019 while I was leaving… I’ll link that, here. However, some of the restaurants unfortunately did not make it out of 2020.
Much has changed, and I will also be publishing an article answering many people’s burning question for me, “Would I Ever Move Back to Hawai’i”…but I figured that I would start by writing a short piece to highlight some of the newer businesses on O’ahu, to be excited about!
1. Island Boy
Although the owner wasn't very friendly when I had gone in to pick up the lei that I bought (and shop around), even making an annoyed comment about people congregating around the front of the shop (mind you they had just opened), I’m still very much happy to share about this spot.
It is listed as a “gift shop stocking furniture accessories, jewelry, clothes, and other unique items, many by local artisans.” But they also create custom leis for special occasions (which are beyond stunning pieces of art)— and will list extras on their Instagram stories, in which you can text in to pay and reserve for pick up!
Here are some examples:
I cannot express how special it felt to wear this lei…
2. Kokohead Cafe
Celeb chef Lee Anne Wong runs this Pan-Asian eats spot, with the following mission statement:
“Koko Head Cafe is committed to supporting our partners, farmers, and producers through our locally sourced, sustainable menu. We make everything from scratch daily, in order to showcase the best our ‘aina has to offer.”
The food was INCREDIBLE, and I also really loved that they include tips for their cooking staff!!
3. Poke Bar (Waikiki Beach Walk)
I loooooove a (good) customize-your-own-poke-bowl spot. ESPECIALLY when the ingredient options are FRESH!
While staying at Halekulani, on a few occasions, we would walk right over to their Beach Walk location at 226 Lewers Street.
It may be a newer chain spot, but it was up there with some of our favorite poke bowls of the most recent trip (that holds a lot of weight)!
They had A LOT of great mix-in options and toppings, plus their sauces were DELICIOUS. I always get half sushi rice, half lettuce as my poke bowl base —read more info on this, in this article.
We would bring ours back to our hotel room and eat on the balcony — yummy memories.
4. Morning Catch O’ahu
I first visited this newer spot two years ago, and ever since, have dreamed about their EXTREMELY BUTTERY, MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH FRESH AHI…
The spot may seem a bit sketch at first, because of the random, quite hidden, location deep inside Honolulu’s Chinatown streets—but the quality is absolutely out of this world good.
5. Bocconcino Hawai’i
Bocconcino started out at farmers markets, then opened on Kawaiaha‘o Street. It is a grocery featuring Italian products and a deli serving panini, pizza, and other sandwiches.
The market and café produces Hawai‘i’s first locally made mozzarella.
We ordered two sandwiches—including a best seller, the open-faced Bolognese sandwich.
Thinly sliced (right in front of you) mortadella, draped over schiachiatta (stuffed Sicilian flatbread), then smeared with pistachio crema and topped with hand-pulled shreds of mozzarella soaked in heavy cream and chopped pistachios.
Absolutely INSANELY GOOD crispy exterior, pockets of fluffy inner fresh bread with traces of olive oil and the creamy cheese mixed with the light meat and crunches of pistachios…my mouth waters thinking about it now.
THE LIST
Here is the comprehensive list (like, you’re reading straight from the notes on my phone!) of the other spots that I have loved and also some that I have wanted to check out, but haven’t made it to yet during my most recent visits: