One Of Honolulu's Greenest Neighborhoods Is A Hawaiian Paradise Full Of Tropical Trails And Scenic Lookout Points

When you travel to Hawaii, you'll already be stepping into paradise, but a quiet respite with exceptional greenery that's minutes from downtown Honolulu is the Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl neighborhood. The area is inland from downtown, which gives it a feeling of being separate from the city-life activity. The name Nuʻuanu translates from Hawaiian as "chilly heights," a reference to the cooler climate you'll find in the valley. The area's other main geographical feature, the Punchbowl Crater, is known in Hawaiian as Puʻowaina, or "Hill of Sacrifice," a name connected to its past use for ancient human sacrifices and as a key site in the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu.

The valley was mainly used as a retreat for Hawaiian royalty who went there to cool off. Nowadays, its tropical setting has a plethora of hiking paths. Many of these trails are part of the Honolulu Mauka Trail System, which goes through the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve. You can check out paths like the Judd Trail, which is a one-mile loop that goes over a stream and passes through a bamboo forest on its way to the Jackass Ginger Pool. Another route is the Mānoa Falls Trail, which is a 1.5-mile hike that ends at a stunning waterfall.

You'll find two main scenic lookout points in the area. For a panoramic view of Oʻahu's Windward Coast (East Coast), you can head up to the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, which is about 1,200 feet up the Koʻolau Mountains. Your view will be of Kāneʻohe Bay, O'ahu's North Shore, and the town of Kailua. While you escape the Waikiki crowds, you can check out the rim of the Punchbowl Crater and see Downtown Honolulu, Diamond Head, and the Pacific Ocean.

Outside of its gorgeous greenery, the Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl has important Hawaiian historical sites. In the Nuʻuanu Valley, you can visit the Hānaiakamalama, which is now called the Queen Emma Summer Palace. This was the private home for Queen Emma, her husband, King Kamehameha IV, and their son, Prince Albert Edward, from 1857 to 1885. The building's mainframe was constructed in Boston and shipped to the islands, and the queen inherited it from her uncle. In 1915, the Daughters of Hawaiʻi bought the home, which saved it from being torn down. Now it's a museum where you can see a collection of Queen Emma's personal items, royal antiques, and other original furniture.

When you're at the rim of the Punchbowl Crater, you can also check out the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on this inactive volcano. The cemetery was founded in 1949 and is the final resting place for thousands of American service members who died in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and their families. Inside the cemetery, you'll find the Honolulu Memorial, which honors the nearly 29,000 American service members who are missing in action or were lost at sea in the Pacific. You can see their names written on stone tablets in the Courts of the Missing.

Even though you're inland in Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl, you're still just a quick drive away from some great beaches. You can head over to Ala Moana Beach Park, which is a spot many locals love because its waters are protected by an offshore reef. This makes it a great place for a casual swim or to try stand-up paddleboarding. If you're looking for bigger waves to surf, you can find them just past the reef.

Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl is mainly a residential area, so places to stay inside the neighborhood are mostly vacation rentals. If you're wanting more of a hotel vibe, you can find a bunch in the nearby areas of Downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana, or Waikiki. The AC by Marriott Hotel Honolulu and the Aston at the Executive Centre Hotel are in the downtown area, while a more high-end stay at the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa is in Ala Moana. In Waikiki, you can find 'Alohilani Resort, which is a family-friendly option to see the King Kamehameha Floral Parade or be a "Marine Biologist for the Day." You can also pick the Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki for a close-knit group stay, as it has single and bunk-style rooms, or the Royal Hawaiian Resort, which was built in 1927 and shows the island's history. For a completely different experience, you can head over to the nearby Malaekahana Beach, which is a hidden golden sand beach that has some of O'ahu's best camping spots.

The food scene in Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl is made up of local spots and is close to Downtown and Chinatown. Zippy's is a chain known for local comfort foods like Chicken Katsu. For Thai and Asian food, Bangkok Chef on Nuʻuanu Avenue is a popular choice. Fete Restaurant Hawaii, which is a James Beard Award winner, serves up farm-to-table American-style food. The Pig and The Lady make contemporary meals based on Vietnamese flavors. For a more upscale choice, Senia makes specialty-crafted Hawaiian-American dishes, and Podmore has pub food and cocktails. When you're heading to the neighborhood to try these treats, it's about a 10-minute drive (around 5.5 miles) from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).