Just minutes away from the bustling state capital of Honolulu — but still within the city limits — is the lush Manoa Valley. This residential area is home to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, receives almost daily rain, and was the site of the first sugarcane and coffee plantations in the Hawaiian Islands. And hidden deep within Manoa Valley are three amazing destinations worthy of a Saturday full of exploration: Manoa Falls and the Lyon Arboretum. Also found within this verdant valley? A remarkable restaurant nestled amidst the trees in the surrounding rainforest.

Welcome to Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop, a culinary gem nestled amid old monkeypod trees and lush greenery that opened in the space of the historic Waioli Tea Room, which opened in 1922 and served fragrant teas and finger sandwiches until it closed four years ago.

With its lava-rock fireplace and garden views, the restaurant sat empty until last November, when the Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop opened its doors to the public.

While the interior is warm and welcoming, it is the lush garden surrounding the historic establishment that truly draws our attention.

This historic treasure has been restored to become a destination that not only brings people together — Manoa Valley residents and tourists alike — but serves a greater purpose.

In addition to serving outstanding quality meals utilizing products grown, cultivated, and harvested on the property, including their own sea salt and honey, Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop also transforms lives by providing vocational training, life skills, and perhaps most importantly, hope to individuals in recovery.

Embrace the sense of community here as owners Ross and Stef return Waioli to its original purpose of making a social impact. You see, when the restaurant was first opened nearly a century ago, the young women who lived at the nearby group home staffed and operated the restaurant.

Here in this beautiful setting, these young women learned about the food service and hospitality industries, giving them a valuable head start into the working world after they aged out of the program. This lasted from 1922 to the 1970s, when the orphanage closed. Throughout the next 40 years, the sense of purpose once found in this restaurant was captured… until now.

Serving breakfast and lunch six days a week, the menu here is simple: you’ll find breakfast classics like acai bowls, loco mocos, and banana macadamia nut pancakes…

...as well as a variety of soups, sandwiches, and salads for lunch.

You’ll also discover a variety of scrumptious, housemade breads, pastries, and pies.

The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and in 2019, has become a must-visit establishment for anyone looking to enjoy a simple, delicious meal and support the community at the same time.

Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop is located at 2950 Manoa Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit their website or follow them on Facebook. Have you ever been to this recently reopened restaurant? Is it on your list of places to try? Sound off in the comments below.

There’s no better spot than this to visit on your way to or from the beautiful and enchanting Manoa Falls Trail. So, what are you waiting for? This restaurant and hiking trail combination has the makings for a picture-perfect day.