I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is gearing up to celebrate the new year and end of this decade – here comes 2020! As I am reflecting on this past year, I am grateful that I had an opportunity to do all the travel (links to my index of travel posts) – from Singapore to Penang to Hawaii, New Orleans, and several visits to California. My trip to Hawaii was to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, and resulted in many happy memories as well as onolicious eats in Oahu. Here are a few highlights I would recommend if you are in Waikiki, all are family friendly.

Our stay at the multi-bedroom, equipped with kitchen Aston Waikiki Beach Tower was an incredible location as it was right across from Waikiki Beach, with great views. It was very family friendly with a king bed, two single beds, a pull out couch bed, and full size kitchen. They even have free beach toys for the kids! The location could not be beat, as it right on the very walkable and bustling Kalakaua Street. The location is right across the street literally from the especially children friendly Kuhio Beach section of Waikiki Beach. This part is protected by a sea wall for calmer waters, which is perfect for little ones like my 3 year old niece and my 4 month old nephew.

It also was only blocks away from Musubi Cafe Iyasume, where we procured multiple musubi on different days for breakfast, for a snack, to eat on the plane back… They make the musubi to order, so the combination of fresh rice and teriyaki Spam is still soft and warm when you receive it. There also are a few bento boxes available too, and lots of different flavors of Spam.

Don’t be intimidated by the line – it moves quickly. At the location on Prince Edward/Kuhio and Uluiniu Streets, you will find the most variety to select from – almost 2 dozen starring Spam, and more traditional onigiri rice balls too. My favorite that I kept returning to was a combo of Teriyaki Spam Musubi with Avocado and Egg and Bacon, although we also enjoyed a version with Unagi/Eel. Most people take theirs to go, although there is a small seating section in the back.

A visit to Oahu also isn’t complete unless you try out the fried to order malasadas. Malasadas are essentially a round Portuguese donut without the hole in the middle and dusted with sugar and possibly filled with a cream that can range in flavor from macadmia nut to haupia/coconut, guava, or more.

They look big but are light and fluffy, making it a little too easy to put down two even before you drive away. Leonard’s Bakery is the famous original malasada bakery in Oahu, frying them up since 1953. There is a small parking lot in front of the storefront, but you can also find some street parking, and call ahead orders of two dozen or more. We reheated some malasadas for breakfast the next day.

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