Every major tourist destination has those special, off the beaten path places where the local folks shop. Trust me. They’re not spending much time in Waikiki’s shops or the Third Floor at Ala Moana Center (can you say, “Needless Markup? instead of Neiman-Marcus…). They’re shopping in the local neighborhoods because…

…that’s where the food is. As with any major city, Honolulu is made up of many smaller neighborhoods. Kaimuki. Kalihi. Kapahulu. Manoa. Pearlridge. Aiea. Hawaii Kai. And many more too numerous to mention and some more difficult to spell correctly.  I left out the Kahala area because there’s not that many places to eat (really) and that’s where Kahala Mall is located—can you say, “Pricey?”

The real deals are in a handful of neighborhoods in and around Honolulu’s downtown area. Today I’ll focus on three neighborhoods—two that are good for shopping and dining, and what that pretends to be.

Heading up Waialae Avenue from the University of Hawaii area is a long neighborhood called “Kaimuki.” There’s more local style restaurants per block in this stretch of neighborhood than you’ll find anywhere else on the island. As an added bonus, there’s shop after shop and block after block of local businesses catering to this century old working class neighborhood.

This is the 1940s and 50s all over again. The range of dining locations goes from the fast and furious of authentic Boston Pizza to Big City Diner with all the local favorites. Up the street is the ritzy and tasty 3660 On The Rise. Waialae Avenue may have more Chinese restaurants per block than Chinatown. It’s definitely the “good” of the group.

Closer to Waikiki is the Kapahulu neighborhood which borders the Honolulu Zoo and extends back towards Kaimuki and Waialae Avenue. This two mile stretch of crowded streets in middle class neighborhoods is a local plate lunch favorite. Folks pack themselves into New Kapahulu Chop Suey, Ono Hawaiian Food, and Kanak Attack. Up and down Kapahulu you’ll find ethnic food of all kinds—all inexpensive.

Famous Leonard’s Bakery is housed on Kapahulu. Just down the street from Genki Sushi.

Of course, the neighborhood is also home to shop after shop of local merchants competing, successfully at times, against K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and CostCo. It’s the “bad” looking neighborhood that’s surprisingly friendly on the pockebook.

Ah, but what of “ugly?”

The neighborhood “wannabe” is Manoa Valley. It’s a mixture of the old and new nestled deep in the Koolau Mountains and above the University of Hawaii. The whole neighborhood smacks of elitism, though. The lone shopping center houses a mishmash of local businesses, local restaurants, a Long’s Drug Store, and a Safeway grocery not. Not much happening in Manoa.

Including progress.

The one exception is Paesano’s Italian Restaurant. I think the owners and the cooks are Vietnamese. Don’t let that bother you. It’s the best place to eat in a neighborhood more known for dishing it out than tasty dishes.

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.