Best Places on Oahu to Pick up Picnic Food

I love family picnics and Hawaii has many beautiful locations for picnics. For me the best picnics are the ones unplanned and require a minimum amount of effort. It's not unusual for us to decide to go on a spur of the moment picnic. Whether it's to take the kids to the park after school or a family picnic dinner at one of the beaches, it's always a fun way to share a meal and a great way to get kids out of the house and away from the TV.

Whatever the reason one thing a picnic requires is food. If there's time, and if we have the ingredients, we bring food from home, sandwiches, bentos, fried chicken, or whatever is easiest. But many times its easier to pick up food on the way. Of course a quick stop at a KFC for a bucket of chicken, or trip to the local supermarket for a loaf of french bread and deli meats are both good options assuming you're in the mood for fried chicken or sandwiches.

Technically a picnic is simply a meal you take to a park, beach, or other location; so there are no rules as to what you can bring. Hawaii has a great many options that are easy to bring and eat; not having to pack it back up and take it home is a plus; you just toss the containers and utensils in the nearest trash bin and your done.

Here are some of our favorite places to buy inexpensive picnic fare.

If you have a membership and it's along the way Costco and Sam's Club are great places to pick up picnic fare for a large group. We love the turkey wraps from Costco, they're sold in a tray and are sliced into pinwheels, easy and neat! If you're headed to the Ko'olina beaches on the Leeward side a stop at Tanioka's in Waipahu is a must.

They have pre-packaged bentos and plate lunches, complete meals with meat and rice, starting at $5.50 or you can make your own by choosing ala carte from their showcases. The fish patty is delish! They also have fresh poki and sashimi and a selection of desserts. Every thing is packed to go.

After a visit to Pearl Harbor, or on the say to Blaisdell Park, a stop at Kabuki Restaurant & Deli in the Waimalu Shopping Center in Aiea is great for a quick fairly inexpensive take out lunch. The window facing the parking lot has a big selection of food for a boxed lunch. We have been going there for years to pick up boxed lunches for the kids' field trips and even to take on the plane with us when we go to the mainland.

For great bentos stop at the counter at any Zippy's in the islands. Their Zip Pac has a slice of teri beef, a slick of span, a piece of fried fish, and a fried chicken thigh on a bed of rice for under $10. This is one of my favorites!

Mitsu-ken Okazu on North King Street in Kalihi is a local favorite. If you're in Honolulu stop by and grab a plate of their Garlic Chicken, it's yummy. Stop by early, they close at 1:00 pm and are closed on Mondays. 2300 N King St Honolulu, HI 96819

If you're in the Stadium/Pearl Harbor area grab a manapua (meat bao) or two from Aiea Manapua & Snacks They have steamed and baked manapua with different fillings. They also have fried noodles, rice cakes, pork hash, and other goodies. Manapuas are just a bit over a buck each. They make these great mini- manapuas for .99 cents each, minimum order a dozen. These are great for family picnics or parties. Just order them a day in advance. If you want to bring some home to the mainland they will freeze your manapua and box them for traveling, just give them a 24 hour notice. I love this place!Aiea Village Square, 99-149 Moanalua Rd, Ste103, (808) 488-7443

If you're picnicking on the Windward side you can grab food at Masa & Joyce Okazuya on Kam Hwy. in Kaneohe. They have the standard Okazuya choices of fried noodles, tempura, and sushi. Try their teriyaki fish patty and fried noodles, they're great! Depending on your choices a boxed lunch will cost about $7.50 for noodles and 4 other items including a veggie tempura and a hot dog maki sushi.

If you're in the mood for different kinds of Poke (raw ahi, crab, octapus, or other seafood marinated in sea salt, soy sauce, and other spices) you'll find a great selection at Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquor on Kam Hwy. in Aiea.

They also carry the largest selection of wine and other spirits on the island, but if you're picnicking in a public park or beach skip the liquor as drinking alcohol on public property is prohibited. If you do pick up some wine or liquor save it to enjoy when you're in private.

For a quick snack or light lunch grab some Spam Musubi from any 7/11. They're easy to take and yummy. There are other choices available, I love the chicken musubi.there you can also pick up other snack foods and drinks to take on your picnic. If you're heading to the North Shore there's a 7/11 right on Kam Hwy. as you enter Haleiwa town, that's where we stop all the time when we go fishing at Haleiwa Harbor or Haleiwa Beach Park.

There are several in Haleiwa town including one that does burgers and dogs, and a crepe truck. These trucks are parked in a large lot as you enter the town, they will be on your right hand side if you're coming in from Wahiawa. Giovanni is the original shrimp truck but you'll find several more along the road.