BY HYUNCHONG HWANG / Kalamalama Staff
My name is Hyunchong Hwang. I’m a Senior at HPU. I have lived in Hawaii for two years. I went to a lot of places while living in Hawaii. I would love to share some recommended places to visit. There are so many good places to go if you are looking for poke, cafes, Surf rental in Waikiki, sunset from the closest distance to Aloha tower, and if you need help with any subject, there is a really good place to get help.
Maguro Spot
I tried a lot of Poke places, but there was one place I really recommend. It’s the best poke I’ve tried so far. It’s called Maguro Spot in Waikiki. The location is on Kūhiō Ave. To get to the Maguro Spot, ride bus 20, bus 40, bus 2, or bus 13.
It takes about 28-38 minutes to get there by bus. The poke is very fresh and at a very good price. They sell sizes from small to extra large bowls. I love the house salad poke, and hawaiian. They also sell ice cream and Hawaiian drinks.
They have a small area to eat in front of Maguro Spot. If you like to eat poke at the beach, it’s very close to Waikiki beach. The distance from the Maguro spot is about a 4 minute walk. You walk straight and you will see the beach and the statue of the famous surfers.
Aloha Bakehouse and Cafe
There is a cafe that only a few people know about. I would love to share about this place. It’s called Aloha Bakehouse and Cafe. It’s located inside Topa Financial Center. It’s at 700 Bishop St.
My friend works there as a barista. My friend’s name is Eric; he is a pretty cool and funny guy. I tried the coffee and it was very good. It’s very close to Aloha tower.
I would recommend trying the Vanilla Macadamia Latte. It’s one of the best sellers.
Moku Hawaii
I surfed a few times at Waikiki beach. It’s a good spot for beginners. There’s few surfboard rentals near Waikiki and there is one place I go to. My friend recommended going there.
The owner and the workers are pretty nice. It is right near the Maguro Spot and the beach. It’s called Moku Hawaii.
The rental for 1-2 hr is $10 and 3-4 hr is $15. If you want to rent it the whole day is only $20. There’s another option for the rental, for a month. Other surfboard rentals are more expensive.
It’s usually $20 per hour, but this shop gives a really good price. I would recommend renting the surfboard at Moku Hawaii. They will ask for id so prepare to bring your ID. They take reservations which could be faster than walking in.
HPU Tutoring Center
In HPU, we have a tutoring center. I’m currently working there as a sign-in assistant at the front desk. I help the student to sign in and let the tutor know the appointment is here. I also get help from them with my essays and language class. They are very good tutors.
In the tutoring center, we have several subjects like math, biology, writing, japanese, spanish, accounting, chemistry ,computer science, economics, engineering finance, HTM, Management, Marketing, Nursing Phil, physics, and psychology that could help for your homework, essay, prepare for the exam.
HPU students are welcome to come to the Tutoring Center anytime. It is located at Waterfront Plaza building 6, 4th floor, Room 440.
Ala Moana Beach
The closest sunset beach you can see near Aloha Tower is Ala Moana Beach. It’s a pretty big beach connected with Magic Island Beach. It’s a really good location to see the sunset, or chill at the beach. A lot of people do bbq at the beach, swim, and workout there.
It’s a very calm beach, so it’s perfect for paddleboarding. There is a really nice walking path where you can take a stroll, or run. It’s also a great place to take pic for your family, weddings, and sunset. I saw a wedding photoshoot there and it looked amazing.
Marugame Udon
In Waikiki, there is a very famous Japanese udon restaurant called Marugame Udon. There is always a huge big line everyday. It’s good price and very good. It’s a very fast pace when people are done eating, so the waiting should take about 30-40 minutes. It’s not so bad.
If you don’t have to wait and you want to get your food, then there’s another franchise of Marugame Udon in downtown near Chinatown.
There is no line and you can get your food very quickly. There is a bigger space to eat and interior design is very cool. It has a unique vibe using contrast with lights and dark.
