Waikiki's Kalakaua Avenue to Become Sunday Pedestrian Street in June – Food Guide Here
Honolulu City Government announced that on the upcoming four Sundays, June 14, 21, 28, and July 5, Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to noon, from Seaside Avenue to Kapahulu Avenue. The closed section of Kalakaua Avenue will be open to the public, allowing them to exercise freely or enjoy the fun of shopping.
Since Waikiki has always been a tourist hotspot, with parking difficulties, high costs, and crowds, local residents rarely visited. But after the Hawaii government announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors, tourist numbers plummeted. According to the latest tourism bureau data, visitor numbers are down 99% compared to the same period last year, with only an average of 400 tourists arriving in Hawaii each day. Waikiki, which has long relied on tourists, is now empty. Even though retail stores reopened last month, without tourist support, Waikiki's businesses have yet to improve.
Opening Kalakaua Avenue as a pedestrian street is a win-win measure under the pandemic. For local residents, it finally provides a safe and healthy opportunity to enjoy a less crowded Waikiki, including the world-famous Waikiki Beach, a great place for swimming and surfing, comfortable shopping at brand-name boutiques, and the chance to try Waikiki's renowned restaurants without waiting in line. Meanwhile, Waikiki's shops and restaurants, having lost their tourist clientele, can still serve local residents with high-quality food and shopping services, ensuring a relatively stable income.
Waikiki Food Guide
Since the government allowed dine-in service on June 5, some restaurants in Waikiki have begun offering dine-in meals while strictly complying with government requirements to ensure safe and healthy dining. Let's take a look at which restaurants you can comfortably sit down to eat at!
Bills Hawaii
280 Beachwalk Avenue, 2nd Floor
Temporary hours: Thursday to Monday 8am–2pm; Tuesday and Wednesday closed
Kama'āina Special: 25% off all food and drinks
2 hours free parking
Island Vintage Coffee
Royal Hawaiian Center, Building C, 2nd Floor
Hours: Daily 6am–10pm
Spend $50 or more and receive a handmade fabric mask by local artists (value $20), available in many beautiful patterns and colors
3 hours free validated parking
Il Lupino Trattoria & Wolfgang's Steakhouse
Royal Hawaiian Center, Building B, 1st Floor
Il Lupino Trattoria: Breakfast 8:00–11:30am, Lunch 11:30am–4:30pm, Happy Hour 4:00–5:30pm, Dinner 5:00–10:00pm
Wolfgang's Steakhouse: 10:00am–10:00pm
Wolfgang's Steakhouse is under renovation; Il Lupino will share space with Wolfgang's Steakhouse. The Royal Hawaiian Center allows them to use common area space for their locations.
3 hours free validated parking
Marukame Udon
2310 Kūhiō Ave. #124
Hours: Daily 11am–8pm
This small udon shop, famous in various travel guides, is known for its low prices and high quality in Waikiki. It usually has long lines, so take advantage of the current low tourist numbers and give it a try!
Seoul Tofu House
2299 Kūhiō Ave. Space C
Hours: Daily 12–8pm
A restaurant specializing in Korean tofu soup, offering delicious and affordable Korean set meals. A set includes a main dish (tofu soup or Korean BBQ short ribs), rice, and kimchi, for under $15. Truly a great value in Waikiki.
