Tom Before we heading to Dole Plantation on Day 9 of our 13 days Hawaii Travels, we headed to 2 famous dining spots to have our brunch. First up was Ono Seafood where we tasted its poke…
The poke was actually quite good. The fish was fresh and the sauce was tasty (even came with bits of ginger). However, if you ask us which is the best poke so far, we’ve got to say that it’s definitely Sun Dried Specialties at Big Island. The version at Ono had a minus, which was the texture being a little “slimy” as the fish was drenched in the specialty sauce. Nonetheless, a hearty brunch to kick start our day!
Address: 747 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm (Except for Sundays 10am to 3pm – Closed on Tuesdays)
Next, we headed to Leonard’s Bakery to try out its famous Dobash-filled Malasadas! Coincidentally, they’re ranked No. 1 on TripAdvisor and for good reasons as well…
The malasadas (Portuguese Donuts) at Leonard’s Bakery has been a local fixture since the 1950s. Popular with both locals and visitors alike. On first bite, the outside of the malasadas had a firm but sweet taste while the inside was oozing with rich creamy dobash. Definitely a must-try if you’re in the vicinity.
Address: 933 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
Opening Hours: 5:30am to 10pm daily
Dole Plantation | Travel Hawaii
Dole Plantation was originally not on our itinerary. However, given that we had an option to do so, we decided to pop over since we’re already in Oahu.
There are 2 main attractions (besides the train ride in the pineapple fields during harvesting) at Dole Plantation. The Pineapple Garden Maze as well as Dole Whip – a creamy soft serve made from its very own pineapple juice and only served in Hawaii and Disneyland Anaheim.
At the Pineapple Garden Maze, you’ll be given a tiny map that includes all the check points within the maze. We tried as closely as possible not to take “short cuts” (where paths are narrow enough for you to squeeze through) but at some points during the maze, you’ll really get lost, even with the map! Nonetheless, we managed to reach all the check points which describes the various islands of Hawaii…
Next we headed to grab our Dole Whip – lined with fresh pineapples from Dole Plantation, before embarking on the Pineapple Express to tour Dole Plantation…
Address: 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786, USA
Opening Hours: 9:30am to 5:30pm daily
Fees: Pineapple Express – $10.50 , Plantation Garden Tour – $7, Pineapple Garden Maze – $8 (You can also get all two/three attractions at a discounted rate)
As it wasn’t the harvesting season, pineapples were really small. Though there were other fruit plantations around, the Pineapple Express did not live up to expectations. Nonetheless, for the kids, it was a blast! Hear the shouts (and excitement) of the kids in these clips…
Pineapple Express Dole Plantation Train Ride 1
Pineapple Express Dole Plantation Train Ride 2
If you missed taking photos with the beauty bark of the gum tree, you can find some of them at the end of the train ride…
Thereafter, we checked into our hotel and Hotel Ilima. Though a little dated, the hotel does have a swimming pool, a rooftop views of the mountains as well as a great location, minutes from “downtown”…
Video Tour of Studio Room of Hotel Ilima Honolulu Hawaii
Because of its great location, we were just minutes away from Marukame Udon. Similar to concepts in Singapore, Marukame serves up delicious authentic udon with lightly crisp tempura…
The curry udon was one of the best we’ve had in a while. The “bouncy” texture of the udon in rich curry sauce and sprinkled with tempura bits made this dish irresistible. Definitely a must-try while in the vicinity. However, the queue may be quite long. Be prepared for 30 minutes wait at peak hours…
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Stay tuned as we head to Kauai as we round up our 13 days of travels in Hawaii!
Other Posts from 13 Days Hawaii Travels
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island Hawaii Day 1!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island Hawaii Day 2!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island to Maui Day 3!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Road to Hana Maui Day 4!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Haleakala National Park Maui Day 5
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Arrival in Honolulu Oahu Day 6
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Diamond Head and Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii Day 7
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Hanauma Bay & Maui Brewing Day 8!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Dole Plantation Oahu Day 9!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Chilling at Kauai Shores Day 10
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Kauai Coffee & Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa Day 11
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Luau at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa Day 12
Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii ( A Pictorial Review)!
Top 4 Things to do in Big Island Hawaii!
Top 3 Things to do in Maui Hawaii!
