Cafe Haleiwa
Oahu

"The decor is very casual, the plates don’t match, the chairs are all different, and it’s pretty much 70’s décor," but this is one of the "best little breakfast-and-lunch spots" on the island. Its eclectic vibe extends to the outdoor bathrooms with walls painted from top to bottom. Opened by two brothers whose specialties include banana pancakes, home-fries, breakfast burritos, and bottomless coffee, Café Haleiwa is "a great place to go before hitting the beach or touring the island." Surfers, artists, and weekenders come for the breakfasts, plate lunches, overstuffed sandwiches, Mexican-style items, and friendly service. Read more.

Waimea Music Exchange
The Big Island

If you’re looking for a memento of your trip to paradise, the ukulele is sure to please. A smaller, four-stringed version of the guitar, it’s a prized souvenir with a name that translates to "jumping flea" in Hawaiian. While many of these traditional instruments can be found throughout the islands, this shop stands out for friendly service and a diverse collection. It’s a "shoe-box sized store with a large variety of ukuleles and instructional books." True musicians and concert-goers can also find new and used guitars as well as concert tickets to the Big Island’s major acts.

Waiola Shave Ice
Oahu

The perfect treat after a long flight or a sunny day at the beach, Wailoa’s shave ice is so smooth and fine that it melts in your mouth. With 35 different syrups and a seemingly endless array of toppings, "there’s something for everyone." A cone with "lilikoi (passion fruit) cream, adzuki beans on the bottom, and sweetened condensed milk on top" is a recommended combo. "It’s the best shave ice on the island." Order one on a hot day, then sit with a "bunch of locals on a bench outside" to cool off. It’s a "great local snack."

Maku’u Farmers Market
The Big Island

Even though they’re open Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, it pays to go bright-and-early on a Sunday--"it rocks on Sundays." This farmers market is a "glorious mix of tropical colors, farm-fresh goodness, and an island originality that can only be found in Pahoa, Hawaii." More festival than market, vendors run the gamut from farmers with locally-grown, organic flowers and produce "at prices way cheaper than at the store" and gardeners with "spectacular house plants" to craftspeople offering handmade dishes and collectors showcasing prized antiques. Adding to the festive mood, "there are live musicians performing on site as well."

Puka Dog Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs
Kauai

Revolutionizing the standby Mainlander hot dog and adding an Aloha twist, a puka dog is "something out of the ordinary." Owners Rick and Dominique started out with a "small hut in Kekaha at the base of Waimea Canyon in Kauai." They put a hole ("puka" in Hawaiian) through a bun-sized loaf of bread, pour in "secret-recipe relishes," sauces, or standard condiments, then insert your choice of a Polish sausage or a veggie dog. The couple makes their own sauces, which include four different garlic lemon flavors, ranging from mild to "hot, hot habanero." The seven different tropical relishes are also homemade and run the gamut from coconut to mango, and even starfruit. Read more.