Wish You Were Here!
Welcome to the Manoa Valley
Situated between two ridges of the Koʻolau Mountains lies the beautiful Manoa valley! Though the entrance to the valley is only a ten-minute drive from Waikiki, the vibe here is one of a friendly community, complete with family friendly parks, locally owned small businesses, and even a community heritage center! With the flagship University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa at the base of the valley and a number of other public and private primary and secondary schools, students abound in the Valley, as do residents out jogging and walking their dogs, and hikers heading up into the mountains.
The deeper one gets into the Valley, the more residential it becomes, which provides a look at how real Hawaiians live their lives: just like everyone else! On a walk in Manoa you’ll see people going to the grocery store, picking up their kids from soccer practice, attending church, and any other number of seemingly mundane activities that make you yourself feel at home in an otherwise exotic and far away land! The people of the Manoa Valley are more than happy to give you a wave or a “shaka”, and make you feel like part of their community, even if just passing by!
Pro tip: Looking for local information, free magazines, or just somewhere to hang out during the rain? Head over the Manoa Public Library! This recently refurbished library is popular with students and residents and offers numerous amenities (as well as books) that can assist and entertain both solo tourists and families! Afterwards head over to the nearby Serg's Mexican Kitchen for some of the best Mexican food in Honolulu (the chorizo tacos are to die for)!
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