DAY 1
Travel: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
We flew Delta airlines from Detroit to Honolulu. The airport is clean and has a variety of food options. We didn’t buy anything from the airport since we packed food from home. On board the flight there were some gluten free snack options but I always like to bring some of my own snacks. Sometimes the snacks on board are gluten free but made in a facility with wheat.
Hotel: The Royal Hawaiian
The Royal Hawaiian was a beautiful hotel along Waikiki Beach. The hotel has a restaurant and a mai tai bar. There is also a pool and beach access. The hotel offered nice classes such as morning yoga, hula, and lei making. Also known as the pink palace!
Coffee: Honolulu Coffee Company
When we first arrived in Oahu we walked over to Honolulu Coffee Company. We got there after they closed but still checked out an awesome Aloha mural on the side of the shop.
Dinner: Island Vintage Coffee Waikiki
On a trip to Hawaii now and staying in Waikiki! For my first meal, I enjoyed fresh poke with salmon and ahi. The restaurant provides a gluten free shoyu sauce substitution.
DAY 2
Lunch: Kalapawai Market
After a day at the beach, I stumbled upon this restaurant. What an amazing surprise to find gluten free bread and pizza options! They use Boars Head meats as well on their gluten free sandwiches. I went back a few times and tried a pulled pork sandwich and breakfast slider.
Venue: Makapuu Beach Park
Makapuu beach park was one of my favorite beaches in Oahu. It was a small local beach with clear blue water. We were easily able to access the beach by bus. There are public restrooms nearby, but bring snacks!
Venue: Waimanalo Beach
Another one of my favorite beaches, Waimanalo had calm and clear blue water, perfect for swimming. We took the bus up to this beach as well. There were a couple of restaurants near the beach. My favorite was Kalapawai Market which offered gluten free bread options.
Venue: Diamond Head Hike
Diamond Head is a great hike with beautiful views. The hike is paved which is nice, but be prepared for a series of steps to reach the top! At the end of the hike, Honolulu Pineapple had a food truck set up and we were able to try dole whip. So refreshing after the hike to have fresh pineapple chunks and dole whip. It was even served in a pineapple!
Dinner: Moku Kitchen
Moku Kitchen was in a fun area of Honolulu. There were not many items that were gluten-free, but the staff were able to prepare me poke without soy sauce and gave me a side of taro chips.
DAY 3
Breakfast: Pu’uwai Aloha Bakery
100% gluten free bakery on Honolulu! If you are visiting Honolulu, this should definitely be your first stop! The food was delicious, so fresh, and moist. When I arrived, fresh cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls were coming straight out of the oven. Definitely helps to travel and feel safe to eat!
Venue: Pillbox Hike
If you are up for an adventure, pillbox hike is for you! Definitely pack sunscreen, water, snacks, and good hiking shoes. This hike had some challenging moments, but the view as the top was totally worth it.
Venue: Lanikai Beach
Lanikai beach is easily accessible from the pillbox hike. We jumped right into the water after completing the hike. This beach is in more of a residential area, so bring some snacks if you plan on staying at the beach for the day. The beach is cozy with beautiful views and calm, clear blue water.
Lunch: The Beet Box Cafe
The Beet Box cafe is a vegetarian restaurant in Kailua, Oahu. There were gluten free bread options to substitute their sandwiches. Also a nice selection of bowls and salads! An extra plus, there were gluten free donuts! Along with gluten free options, most items were vegan as well.
DAY 4
Venue: Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach is close to Lanikai Beach and is in a more active area of town. The beach is in walking distance to lots of shops and food options. There is also a nice farmer’s market in the area with great gluten-free options on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Snack: Kailua Farmers’ Market
Kailua Farmers Market is a must visit! In particular for Li’ili’i Donuts. The donuts are 100% gluten-free and vegan. They are prepared fresh in front of you and come out warm, so you can eat them right away! The donuts are mini, so you don’t feel bad if you eat your whole order at once! There were some other nice booths to check out at the market. There was even a Brazilian bread booth which is gluten-free.
Dinner: Nalu Health Bar & Cafe
Nalu Health Bar is a nice option for gluten-free bread options, salads, açaí bowls, or smoothies. Right in the heart of Kailua town, this shop was a nice find!
DAY 5
Breakfast: Banan Beach Shack
Banan is a dairy-free and gluten-free ice cream shop. There are a few locations, I went to the one in Waikiki when staying in Oahu. The treat is plant based, without added sugar, and uses locally grown fruit. There are smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and more!
Venue: Waikiki Beach
On our final day in Oahu, we spent the day at Waikiki Beach. This beach was definitely the most crowded and touristy. It was nice seeing the surfers out on the water, a beautiful spot, but just lots of people!
Dinner: Tane Vegan Izakaya
Tane Vegan is a plant-based Japanese restaurant in Honolulu. The menu was clearly labeled with the items that were gluten-free.
DAY 6
Dinner: Piska Food Truck
Piska Food Truck is a 100% gluten free food truck in Maui! Food trucks are a big part of Hawaii’s food culture so it was nice to be able to have the experience. The cuisine was Ecuadorian and I had mango and shrimp ceviche. There were so many delicious options! My meal came with rice, popcorn, and patacones. They were so good I went back for extra patacones!
Venue: Hana Highway
For one of our days in Maui, we explored the road to Hana. We signed up with a tour group since we did not have a car. If I was to go back, I definitely would choose to do this day with a car to have more freedom to stop along. Road to Hana had gorgeous views, beautiful waterfalls, black sand beaches, and more. In terms of food along the way, there isn’t many options, so pack snacks. We did however stop at a vegan and gluten-free ice cream food truck!
Treat: Coconut Glen’s
Coconut Glen’s is an adorable food truck along The Road to Hana in Maui. The ice cream is vegan and gluten free: made from coconuts. I tried the original and chocolate chunk flavors. Super fun spot!
DAY 7
Breakfast: Maui Ono Donuts
Maui Ono Donuts makes delicious gluten free donuts. They also make non gluten-free, so just have to be careful with cross contamination. The staff was knowledgeable of celiac, and they request that you preorder the gluten free donuts. I believe this helps with cross contamination since they are making the gluten free donut batter ahead of time. They use gluten free Oreos for one of their toppings. Very tasty food truck option if you are visiting Maui!
Treat: Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
Shave ice is a must try food, so we checked out Ululani’s in Kihei. This is a popular food spot, so be prepared to wait in line! All the syrups were gluten-free. There is a cute local farmer’s market and beach nearby!
Dinner: Royal Lāhainā Resort
Royal Lahaina Resort is a beautiful hotel along the beach in Maui. We didn’t stay here, but we attended a luau one evening. What an incredible experience! The dancing, show, sunset views, food, and service was amazing! All of the food was served in buffet style. They even labeled the foods that were gluten-free. It was nice to be able to try some traditional foods such as Kailua pork. Such a magical experience!
