Get on the Right Path

After turning her passion for the outdoors and an enjoyment of Hawaii’s alluring scenery into a successful business, Crystal Evans could finally tell her office job to take a hike.

The entrepreneur started Hiking Hawaii in 2010 as a way to encourage visitors to get out of Waikiki and enjoy the natural beauty Hawaii has to offer. Two years later, the cafe was born as a space for hikers to meet and enjoy simple sandwiches and chips before heading out to various hikes. The concept expanded as the restaurant added ovens and grills, and eventually morphed into one of Waikiki’s go-to spots for healthy, delicious cuisine.

Hiking Hawaii Cafe is situated on Ala Moana Boulevard just steps away from Hilton Hawaiian Village and numerous condominiums in the Waikiki area. The eatery is pet friendly and offers multiple hiking books and guides, as well as Wi-Fi Internet for customers to research upcoming hiking adventures. In addition to purchasing food and beverages, customers also may book various hiking tours and packages that showcase some of the Island’s unique landscapes and scenery.

“A lot of people will come in and ask about hikes, and we provide a lot of information — I have all the hiking books here at the cafe,” Evans explains. “Some visitors come all the way to Hawaii, spend all that money, and never leave Waikiki. We take them out and show them the island.”

The eclectic menu at Hiking Hawaii Cafe offers up a host of light yet filling options, including sandwiches, salads, smoothies and pizzas. Evans explains that customers are treated to dishes that incorporate fresh, local and organic ingredients whenever possible, and there’s also an emphasis on vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options for discerning diners.

Healthy and tasty options abound, including Pitaya Bowl ($8.95), which features dragon fruit, banana and pineapple topped with house-made granola, kiwi, raspberry and honey. Acai Bowl ($8.95) and House-Made Granola ($7.50) are also full of flavor and provide plenty of energy, as do a wide array of smoothies available, including Pineapple Coconut ($5.95) and the appropriately named Hiking Smoothie ($7.95), which is fortified with spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, coconut milk and honey.

Loyal customers clamor for Spanish Panini ($8.95), a grilled wrap filled with guava jam, salami, prosciutto and Brie cheese. Evans also recommends Vegetarian Quinoa Burrito ($8.95), a superfood-filled option composed of spicy taro burger, mozzarella, quinoa, peppers, onions, kale and egg all rolled in a tortilla (gluten-free wraps are available as well).

Hiking Hawaii Cafe also dishes out flavorful pizzas that are filling but “don’t weigh you down,” as the thin-crust creations are topped with a slew of tasty combinations. Chicken Pizza ($10.95) features chicken, pesto, spinach, artichoke and mozzarella, and is one of the most-requested pizza pies.

Readers are encouraged to take advantage of a special Hot Deals Hawaii offer good for a $20 voucher for just $10. Vouchers are available for purchase now through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 14, via HotDealsHawaii.com, and upon each visit, customers may redeem one voucher per person. As a reminder: The Hot Deal is valid for dine-in or hiking tours only; not valid for the purchase of Acai or Pitaya (dragon fruit) bowls; no cash or credit may be returned for the unused balance of a Hot Deal voucher; the deal is not to be combined with other offers; and the vouchers expire April 15, 2015.

“Come try out a unique, local company — there’s nothing else like us in Hawaii,” Evans says. “We offer fresh, local food that interacts well with hiking and a healthy lifestyle.”

Hiking Hawaii Cafe

1910 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
855-808-HIKE (4453)
Sunday-Monday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
HikingHawaii808.com