What to eat and things to do for a relaxing Hawaii Babymoon! If you're pregnant and heading to Oahu, this travel guide is for you.
During my 20th week of pregnancy, we planned a dream babymoon to Oahu, Hawaii. It was a mix of relaxing and exploring!
Previously when we've visited Hawaii it was for our Oahu Honeymoon and to spend One Week in Waikiki. This time, we wanted to stay outside of Waikiki, rent a car, and really see what the island has to offer.
What is a babymoon?
A babymoon is a vacation taken during pregnancy to relax and enjoy quality time with your partner before the baby arrives. Popular babymoon destinations include tropical beaches, historical gems, or local getaways.
Related: Catch up on my first trimester or how we did our gender reveal!
Hawaii babymoon itinerary
Day 1: Fly into the Honolulu International Airport
On arrival days, I always like to head to local stores to stock up on anything we may need during our visit. I highly recommend Down to Earth Organic & Natural and Foodland. If you're close to a Costco or Target, stop by for drinks and snacks.
Down to Earth is an awesome grocery store with a deli inside that has several allergy friendly and vegan food options. I frequented this spot several times!
Foodland has fresh poke available that my husband, Zack enjoyed multiple times during our vacation. He also really liked the sushi from Costco! These were great options for grab and go lunches.
Day 2: Relax at the beach
There's no shortage of gorgeous beaches on Oahu! We especially enjoyed the Ko Olina Lagoons. Parking is free, on a first-come first-serve basis, and the parking lots can fill up fast depending on the day of the week. There's also a lovely walking or biking path that runs alongside the 4 lagoons, with a few public restrooms and water fountains!
For dinner, we had a casual meal at Ramen Bones. I suggest making a list of a handful of restaurants nearby your hotel, so that you can quickly choose a spot before the hunger really strikes.
Day 3: Explore the island
When planning a vacation to Oahu, be mindful of the location of your destinations. I was sure to group activities according to where they fell on the map, as well as what times they close.
Wahiawā Botanical Garden
Admission is free to this 27-acre garden and forested ravine. The self-guided tour throughout the Wahiawa Botanical Garden can last as long as you want to explore. I read online that it should take 30 minutes, but we spent nearly 2 hours exploring the tropical rainforest.
Lunch at a North Shore food truck
Grabbing a bite to eat at a North Shore food truck is a must when visiting Oahu! By far, the most popular spot is Giovanni's Shrimp Truck.
Zack ordered the shrimp scampi, which came with a dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, and lemon butter. It was served with a side of two scoops of rice, a drizzle of garlic lemon butter, and caramelized chunks of garlic.
Across the street from the food truck park, there's a cute little vegan restaurant named The Beet Box Cafe! That's where I had lunch and I've been dreaming about it ever since.
I ordered the McJagger, which is their version of the famous breakfast sandwich, made with a house-made plant based breakfast sauce, vegan egg patty, vegan cheddar cheese, and vegan garlic aioli, served on a toasted english muffin, and served with potatoes. It was delicious!
Dole Plantation
During our first trip to Hawaii, we did the Circle Island Tour and stopped at the Dole Plantation. It's filled with tours, activities, and our favorite – Dole Soft Serve! Just like the Dole Whip you can get from Disney.
We spent a good amount of time browsing the souvenirs, bought a onesie for Baby Urben at the gift store, then grabbed a Dole Whip to enjoy before they closed for the day.
Green World Coffee Farm
On our drive back to the hotel, we noticed a coffee farm, so decided to stop in. Green World Coffee Farm is a coffee grower's cafe and espresso bar.
They roast all of their coffee at the farm, have free coffee samples daily, as well as offer a self-guided tour through the coffee garden. We purchased their macadamia nut coffee, after Zack sampled a handful of tasty freshly-brewed coffee.
Day 4: Discover Oahu's east side
The east side of Oahu is called the windward coast. You'll see jaw-dropping scenic views, lush valleys, and some of the most popular beaches the island has to offer.
Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
During a previous trip, we took a bus tour around the island, and the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout was on the itinerary. Unfortunately, that time it was incredibly foggy and we could hardly see anything. This time, it was a beautiful and clear day!
Parking costs $7, but admission is free. This iconic lookout is a must-see, with its panoramic views of the Koʻolau cliffs and lush landscape. The drive up the Pali Highway, through tall trees and dense forest, was just as gorgeous.
Lunch at Morning Brew Kailua
I was very excited to have brunch or lunch at Morning Brew! They offer coffee, tea, juice, classic breakfast food, sandwiches, and more. Plus, they have vegan and gluten free options!
Zack ordered the bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato sandwich on an everything bagel and I had the vegan haupia banana mac nut pancakes. It was my favorite meal of the entire trip! I can't wait to recreate haupia pancakes at home soon.
Haupia is a Hawaiian coconut pudding that can be warmed and made into a thick, creamy sauce. It comes together with sugar, cornstarch, and coconut milk – so it's totally dairy free and vegan!
I highly recommend stopping in Kailua town, walking around after your meal, and popping into the cute boutiques.
Southeastern Beaches
My original plan was to go to Lanikai Beach, but since there's no dedicated parking and it's in a private, residential area, we decided to go just down the road to Kailua Beach instead.
Kailua Beach has plenty of free parking, restrooms, and a large park near the beach and ocean. The water is a beautiful turquoise blue color and the sand is white and soft.
It's an easy walk along the water and the beach stretches about two and half miles. Even if you're only stopping by for a quick glance, it's worth it!
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Admission is free to this 400-acre botanical garden. You can drive through for a quick look at tropical plants or park and hike around the many walking trails.
The Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is incredibly beautiful, even on a cloudy or rainy day! The Koʻolau Mountain Range in the background make for a dramatic, quintessential Hawaiian photo too.
Dinner at Tanaka Ramen
After driving back to the western side of the island and freshening up, we headed to dinner at Tanaka Ramen. We both really enjoyed our ramen and I suggest giving the vegan ramen with crispy tofu a try!
Day 5: Drive to the North Shore
On our last full day, we wanted to sleep in and take it easy. We originally were going to hike Waimea Valley earlier in the trip, but this worked out so much better, so we weren't rushed making our way through the gardens and enjoying the waterfall.
Sunrise Shack at Sunset Beach
We had breakfast at our hotel, packed up, and drove to the North Shore! There was supposed to be a farmers market, but I think we arrived too late, so we'll save that experience for another time.
The highway over to Haleiwa and Waimea was pretty backed up since it was a Saturday, so we decided to stop at a popular food truck park across from Sunset Beach.
There were several options to choose from but we ended up sharing an acai bowl and avocado toast from the Sunrise Shack. I wish we could have had breakfast here every day, it was so good!
Hike Waimea Valley
After fueling up for our hike, we made it to Waimea Valley. Admission costs $25 per person and parking is free.
There's a paved, family-friendly hiking trail that's approximately 2 miles roundtrip. The trail ends at Waimea Falls, where you're able to swim or just enjoy the scenery.
In addition to the hike, we explored the many of the 52 themed gardens and historical sites where staff shared Hawaiian culture and history.
Matsumoto Shave Ice
We couldn't leave Hawaii without indulging in shave ice! We stopped by the iconic Matsumoto Shave Ice and enjoyed our lemon, pineapple, coconut flavored shave ice.
Takeout Dinner
After searching for a spot to have dinner, we agreed to get takeout pizza from a popular spot around the corner in Haleiwa, Jax Pizza. They have several pizza topping options and it was a great way to end our final full day!
PS: The vegan pizza was loaded with veggie and absolutely delicious.
Day 6: Enjoy your last day
Depending on what time your plane takes off, you may find yourself checked out of a hotel with your luggage in tow, and several hours until you need to arrive at the airport.
Our flight left at night, so we decided to request a late checkout from our hotel, headed to the beach for one last time, grabbed lunch at Aloha Salads, then hung around the area for a while.
If you rent a car with a secure trunk, you could have an extra full day of fun. Since we did all the main activities we wanted to do, we took it easy before heading into Honolulu to be closer to the airport.
Honolulu Museum of Art
We wanted to find something to do that was indoors and not near a ton of traffic. The Honolulu Museum of Art absolutely blew our minds and had us wishing we planned for a long time to wander in and out of the exhibitions. We were able to get free parking and admission cost $20 per person.
Hana Koa Brewing Co
We stayed at the museum until closing, then drove down the road to Hana Koa Brewing Co. It's a full scale brewing facility with a large bar and open space restaurant.
To celebrate the end of our trip, Zack sampled a beer flight and I had a ginger lime mocktail. We also got dinner here and were both seriously impressed with the quality and flavor of the food.
This was a fantastic spot to chill before making our way to the airport to fly home!
Hawaii Babymoon FAQs
Yes! Hawaii is a Zika-free babymoon destination. Plus, it's part of the United States so it was easy for us to travel and get around.
While each island offers something unique, I've found that Maui is the most popular babymoon destination in Hawaii due to their luxurious resorts. We chose Oahu because it's special to us and we wanted to explore the island more than we previously had.
This will largely depend on where you're flying from and how much you want to spend. Hawaiian Airlines takes pride in ensuring guests experience the Islands as soon as they board from the music to the food and island-inspired beverages on board. We often fly American Airlines to Oahu since we live close to their hub at DFW. Also on the list for popular airlines are Southwest Airlines for their low-cost options and two free bags per flyer perk.
It's typically recommended to travel during your 2nd trimester. We took our Oahu babymoon in the beginning of March and had mostly great weather, with the occasional big gust of wind.
I suggest packing comfortable clothes and shoes, along with a couple swimsuits, and a few nice outfits if you plan to take photos or go to a fancy restaurant. I mostly wore leggings with oversized shirts during the day then changed into a dress for evening activities and dinner.
Depending where you end up staying during your babymoon, you'll have plenty of options. A few years ago I had a wonderful massage at Abhasa Spa in Waikiki! If your hotel is on the leeward side of Oahu, check out Naupaka Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel or Laniwai at Aulani Resort. All of these spots offer many popular spa treatments.
You can save money on your babymoon by packing products you would otherwise have to purchase on the island, bringing your own breakfast or snacks, using a reusable water bottle, and booking flights and hotel dates ahead of time. I was surprised by how many free things there are to do around Oahu!
Even though we've been to Oahu a few times, there's still so much to explore. Next time we plan to visit the Byodo-in Temple, snorkel Hanauma Bay, do a tour at Kualoa Ranch, and take a drive up to Tantalus Lookout.
More travel guides
I hope these babymoon ideas help you when planning your vacation! Did you take a babymoon? If yes, leave a comment where you traveled and what you did. If you're heading on a babymoon to Hawaii, share what you have planned!
TravelWithTheGreens
Is it safe for pregnant women to participate in traditional Hawaiian luaus and try foods like poi and lomi lomi salmon during their babymoon in Oahu?