Hike to Manoa Falls just right for family
Need a hike that can be enjoyed by seniors and preschoolers alike? Manoa Falls fit the bill when my parents came to visit and spend time with their then-3-year-old grandson. The Manoa Falls hike was never on our to-do list in the past because we thought it was too touristy. While it remains popular with visitors, we found the 1.6-mile round-trip hike to be a pleasant surprise. The trail takes you over a footbridge and through a grove of eucalyptus trees. The reward, a 100-foot waterfall, is less than a mile in.
It’s a comfortable trek for novice hikers, with a few boulders to climb near the waterfall. Thanks to volunteers from the Sierra Club and other groups, the trail was well maintained. Be sure to heed all warning signs, stay on the trail and hike with caution. Parking is available for $5 near the trailhead at Paradise Park (3737 Manoa Road). Visit hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov, click on Oahu and No. 37, Manoa Falls Trail.
—Nina Wu
Medici’s offers fabulous music
If you are up for an evening of great music, try Medici’s Supper Club in the Manoa School of Art & Music at Manoa Marketplace. Medici’s has wonderful acoustics to showcase performances by local artists. You’ll love the intimacy this venue provides, which sometimes results in spontaneous dancing on the beautiful wooden floor surrounding the stage. Get there early for the best seats. Light fare is available for purchase. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and shows begin at 8 and last until about midnight. The cover charge is $15, $10 for students and seniors. Visit www.honolulumusicatmedicis.com.
—Robyn A. Schaefer, Honolulu
Morning Glass serves coffee and sandwiches
Find a pick-me-up containing caffeine at Morning Glass coffee and cafe shop, 2955 E. Manoa Road. I usually grab an iced caramel latte with almond milk ($4). It’s just like me: strong and a little bit sweet. If you’re hungry, I highly recommend the savory grilled ham and apple sandwich ($11), which combines ham, thinly sliced apples, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and mustard. Perfect for brunch. Call 673-0065.
—Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, honolulupulse.com blogger
Manapua maker remains favorite
I lived in Manoa back in the 1980s, and one of my favorite snacks back then was manapua from Island Manapua Factory. To my pleasant surprise it’s still there, tucked away in Building 5 in back of the Manoa Marketplace. Unlike many manapua joints, the manapuas here have more filling than bun. I love the traditional steamed and baked char siu, but they also have Peking duck, black sugar, baked kalua pork, teri chicken and others, priced from $1.80 to $2. The dim sum is great, too. Open daily; call 988-5441.
—Steven Mark
Croissants from Fendu Boulangerie are heavenly
Manoa feels like Paris — on the hill of Montmartre, say — when you’re coated with flaky crumbs and a sheen of butter from a French croissant at Fendu Boulangerie. Chef-owner Niel Koep’s croissants ($2.25) resemble plump crabs. Bite through the crisp outer shell and the cloud-light interior almost dissolves in your mouth without chewing. Herein lies the omiyage of the croissant, and the magic: Koep’s recipe, adapted from Lenotre’s Parisian classic, rolls nearly 2 ounces of European-style Plugra butter into each one. The result is at once weightless and filling, and your taste buds will cry out for more. So go ahead and chase it with a puffy pain au chocolat ($2.60) filled with a big stick of French Cacao Berry chocolate. Fendu Boulangerie is in Manoa Marketplace; call 988-4310.
—Mindy Pennybacker
This week we continue our recurring feature in 5 Things We Love spotlighting stuff you have got to do, see, hear, wear, use or eat in Oahu neighborhoods. Today: Manoa. Coming up: Kailua, Moiliili, Kakaako and Haleiwa. Send your suggestions to features@staradvertiser.com.
