If you find yourself walking down the street in an area populated by young adults carrying school books and wearing swimwear, you've probably hit the University District. A scant three miles north of Diamond Head and Waikiki, this district is made up of two neighborhoods—Kaimuki and Manoa—and takes its name from the two universities that reside there, Chaminade University and University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Unique for having a strange mix of long-time Hawaiian residents and sunny blonde co-eds from the Mainland, the University District makes for great exploring, while not straying too far from the city's downtown hub.
With almost daily rain, Manoa became a farming area early on, boasting the first sugarcane and coffee plantations in Hawai'i. Although a residential area now, Manoa locals keep to their farming roots by offering a farmer's market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in the Manoa Marketplace on Kaaipu Avenue. The rich vegetation gave locals the idea for the name Manoa, which means thick, solid, vast, depth or thickness. Also, the rain allows for frequent views of bright, jewel-colored rainbows that lend their name to UH's sports teams—the Rainbow Warriors (men) and the Rainbow Wahine (women).
Just east of Manoa lies Kaimuki. Once King Kalakaua's ostrich farm, then the state carnation farm for funeral flowers, this staid neighborhood now exists mainly as a residential area, with a small urban strip along Waialae Avenue where Chaminade University sits. The presence of this small, Catholic school lends an air of cheerful helpfulness to an area that otherwise might go to seed.
However, the slight shabbiness of the area, along with the varied mix of cultures that live there, allows for some of the best food in Hawai'i. Full of mom and pop shops frequented by hungry college students, this little food district is always busy. Start off your day at Champion Malasadas, home to the best malasadas in Honolulu, at the corner of McCully and South Beretania. This Portuguese pastry is a hole-less donut with a crunchy outside and a light and fluffy inside with a hint of chewiness. Best eaten rolled in sugar and piping hot, Champion only serves these tasty delights fresh out of the fryer.
Check out UH Manoa's campus before choosing one of several Asian choices for lunch. Alan Wongs on University Avenue serves up regional Hawaiian fusion. That is to say, a mix of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and many others, made with locally-farmed vegetables for foods bursting with regional flavor. If Japanese is more your choice, check out Curry House Coco Ichibanya on Kapiolani Boulevard, a chain restaurant popular in Japan. Or stop by Sushi Sasabune for an adventure in omakase dining, where the chef picks your meal.
Your afternoon snack should include a visit to Bubbie's Homemade Ice Cream, famous for its chewy, sweet mochi ice cream. This popular Japanese snack consists of glutinous rice pounded into a soft paste that surrounds a dollop of ice cream the size of a golf ball. If you're not brave enough to try this dish, which is tastier than it sounds, Bubbie's, located on University Avenue, also offers a variety of traditional and gourmet desserts.
Find an hour to visit Chaminade University, home to a beautiful glass-walled chapel that showcases Diamond Head to the south. Then, finish off the food tour with some of the best pizza you'll find outside the eastern seaboard. Boston's North End Pizza Bakery near Chaminade on Waialae Avenue continually gets rave reviews from locals, college students, and tourists alike. And the friendly staff makes everything taste even better.
A day of tasty food interspersed with tours of two gorgeous Hawaiian campuses (both well-worth a peek) makes for a great visit away from the beach and the hustle of downtown Honolulu, so be sure to spend some time in this little valley area during your Oahu stay. Your stomach will thank you.
