Here’s Hawaii’s Most Underrated Town… And You’ll Want To Visit
The Hawaiian Islands are full of miles of striking coastline, picturesque towns, and luxury resort areas, so it makes sense that a small inland town on the island of Oahu doesn’t generally receive much praise. And while we love our beautiful beaches as much as the next person, sometimes you want to escape the hoards of tourists, as well as the hustle and bustle of Hawaii’s capital city and head to the most underrated town in Hawaii. That’s when you retreat inland for the day and treat yourself to mouthwatering food, stellar coffee, and some fascinating attractions in the often-overlooked Wahiawa: the literal heart of Oahu.
Home to more than 16,000 residents, Wahiawa is located between the island’s two volcanic mountain ranges on Route 99, the road most commonly taken by those traveling to the North Shore from Honolulu. But if you were to stop in town and take a look around, you would see that there is more than meets the eye in this small inland city — in fact, here are 13 places to check out the next time you’re passing through. We think it might even be worthy of its own day trip.
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This Wahiawa collective coffee shop is volunteer-run, giving back to the community. The laid-back vibe, delicious coffee, and scrumptious acai bowls make this one of my personal favorite hangouts.
Located next door to Surfers Coffee Bar and run by the same non-profit, Surfing The Nations, The Vintage is a positively charming vintage boutique full of antiques, Hawaiian classics, retro art, and clothing.
This historic plantation now serves as a major tourist destination. The plantation offers activities for the whole family – take a ride on the Pineapple express for young children, make your way through the world’s largest (pineapple) maze, go on a tour of the garden, and indulge in an amazing, world-famous Dole Whip.
Tucked between two Hawaii state highways just outside Wahiawa is Green World Coffee Farm, a quirky coffee shop with killer coffee and tea drinks and walls full of hilarious coffee signs, prints, and memorabilia. Green World more than just a coffee shop, though – customers can tour the coffee garden out back and see the coffee beans as they are grown.
The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, found nearly 100 yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80, have marked the site of royal births and powerful struggles for centuries. Recent research has discovered that the stones may have served an astrological purpose as well – perhaps as a sort of a Pacific Islands henge?
For Hawaiian-themed and inspired clothing, be sure to check out this quirky shop, full of t-shirts, colorful, embroidered trucker hats, and knick-knacks.
This casual counter-serve eatery uses only quality ingredients, and is known for their delicious chicken, Cajun fries, and a plethora of dipping sauces.
Located on the Schofield Barracks Army Base, the Tropic Lightning Museum preserves the accomplishments of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry division, and showcases memorabilia from more than 100 years of Schofield history.
Made from locally sourced ingredients like Hawaii Island lemons and Maui lavender, there's nothing better after a long day of exploring than a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade.
There are a ton of cool small towns in Hawaii, and in reality, most towns in Hawaii could be classified as small: after all, the third-largest town in Hawaii (after Honolulu and East Honolulu is Hilo, a town on the eastern shore of Hawaii Island that is home to approximately 46,000 residents. The most popular towns include Paia and Lahaina on Maui, Hanapepe and Hanalei on Kauai, Haleiwa and Kailua on Oahu, and Hawi and Volcano on Hawaii Island. If a weekend getaway is what you’re looking for, click here to discover some of our favorite destinations. If you want to exclusively check out the best waterfront towns in Hawaii for a day trip, you’ll want to read this list.
Which of Hawaii’s small towns are the prettiest?
Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Hawaii town that isn’t home to at least some jaw-dropping scenery, but these 18 towns are surrounded by some gorgeous vistas — from Kihei, an oceanfront oasis on Maui to Wailua, a hidden gem on Kauai home to one of the most stunning rivers in the Aloha State.
Are there any historic small towns in Hawaii?
Of course! From Hawaii’s first residents and the first Europeans visiting the islands in 1778 to the establishment of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795 and Hawaii’s admittance to the United States of America in 1959, the Hawaiian Islands are steeped in history, heritage, and culture. And nowhere will you find more history than in the Aloha State’s oldest towns. History buffs will love visiting these nine old-fashioned towns found across the Hawaiian Islands.
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
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