Tip #1: Poke is your daily bread.
Cubed raw ahi tuna in soy sauce, sesame oil, and chilli flakes, served over rice. Permissible, available everywhere, and one of the great seafood preparations in the world. Ono Seafood on Kapahulu Avenue is a family-run shop that locals rank among the best on the island. You will eat this almost daily.
Tip #2: Avoid Spam at all costs.
Hawaii has a deep love affair with Spam (canned pork). Spam musubi is sold at every convenience store and gas station. It appears in fried rice, plate lunches, and breakfast dishes. The default assumption for any prepared food containing meat: it might be Spam. Always ask.
Tip #3: There is one mosque on Oahu.
The Muslim Association of Hawaii at 1935 Aleo Place in Manoa is the only mosque, about 15 minutes by car from Waikiki. Open daily for all five prayers. Jumu'ah is held weekly. The community is small, diverse, and welcoming to visiting travellers.
Tip #4: Pray on the beach at Fajr.
With one mosque on the island, most prayers happen at your hotel or outdoors. Walking to Waikiki Beach before sunrise with a travel prayer mat is one of the most serene prayer settings you will experience. The Pacific at dawn is worth waking for.
Tip #5: Eat garlic shrimp on the North Shore.
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku has served garlic butter shrimp from a battered white truck since 1993. The shrimp are drenched in garlic and butter over rice. There is a queue. It is worth it. Romy's and Fumi's nearby are also good.
Tip #6: Rent a car.
A rental car is essential for anything beyond Waikiki. Diamond Head, the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Kailua Beach, and Hanauma Bay all require driving. Budget USD 50 to 80 per day. Book well in advance, as Hawaii rental cars sell out during peak season.
Tip #7: Hike Diamond Head before the crowds.
The volcanic crater walk above Waikiki takes 1.5 hours round trip. The panoramic view of the ocean and the Koolau mountains is the best on the island. Gates open at 6 AM. Reserve a time slot online in advance; entry is now by reservation only.
Tip #8: Self-cater if you can.
Renting a condo with a kitchen is the most practical food strategy. Whole Foods, Foodland, and Safeway stock excellent fresh fish, tropical fruit, and vegetables. Halal meat is very difficult to find, but if you build meals around fish and eggs, you eat well and save significantly.
Tip #9: Try the halal restaurants that exist.
Kan Zaman serves Moroccan and Lebanese food. Himalayan Kitchen does Indian and Nepali with halal lamb options. Amina Pizzeria has halal pizza and calzones. The scene is small and can change, so verify before visiting.
Tip #10: Snorkel Hanauma Bay.
A volcanic crater that opened to the sea, forming a sheltered bay with tropical fish and clear water. Reserve online in advance, as the bay limits daily visitors. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Entry fee USD 25 for non-residents. One of the best snorkelling spots in Hawaii.
Honolulu does not cater to Muslim travellers, but the ocean feeds you and the sunrise does not discriminate. Bring a prayer mat and eat the fish.