GIOVANNI'S ORIGINAL WHITE SHRIMP TRUCK
56-505 KAMEHAMEHA HWY
KAHUKU, HI 96731
808-293-1839
HOURS: Daily 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM
I have done many blog posts on Giovanni's Original Shrimp Truck on the North Shore of Oahu. This time I thought it would be fun to show some of the great spots you can enjoy on the way to Giovanni's when driving from Honolulu. I like taking the Pali Highway over and then staying on Kamehameha Highway through Haleiwa and then to H2 back to Honolulu. This can be a half or full day trip depending on the number and duration of stops. Our first stop was the Pali Lookout where you can get an incredible view of Kaneohe and Kailua. Follow Kam Highway and make a stop at Valley of the Temples. This is one of my favorite places on Oahu. So beautiful and serene. Looks and feels like Japan. The temple is in the valley beyond one of the largest and most beautiful cemeteries on Oahu. Admission is $3 and you can purchase fish food for $2 to feed the Koi fish that are so beautiful and plentiful. A stop at Kualoa Beach Park gives you a great view of Chinamans Hat.
I highly recommend a stop at Kualoa Ranch if you have the time. This is a fabulous ranch with spectacular scenery, horseback and ATV riding, tours, hiking and secret private beach. You can also make a stop at the Polynesian Cultural Center and Mormon Temple along the drive to Giovanni's. Just depends how much time you have. Once you hit Giovanni's get ready to spend a few minutes in line where you order at the trucks window. A plate of Shrimp will run you $13 cash. No credit cards here and don't expect great service. I recommend the Shrimp Scampi with Hot Sauce on the side. You can order the Shrimp Scampi with Hot Sauce but beware, the sauce is smoking hot and there are no refunds. The Hot Sauce is what makes Giovanni's the go to Shrimp Truck for me. It is absolutely delicious, hot and addicting. I dip the garlicky buttery shrimp into the sauce with caution. Too much and it may be too hot. Also make sure the Garlic Rice gets a nice coating of the Hot Sauce. The sauce is so good that I always tip the guy or gal at the window and politely ask for extra sauce. This is one of my favorite meals in Hawaii. Giovanni's Shrimp Scampi with Hot Sauce and Garlic Rice. Yummy. Recommend you bring hand wipes because your hands will be smelling like garlic for a few hours. There is a sink in the back of the pavillion but no towels. After a nice plate of shrimp my next stop is Matsumoto's Shave Ice in historic Haleiwa Town. On this day the line at Matsumoto's was so long we decided to move on and grab a Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation. A Dole Whip is Pineapple Soft Serve Ice Cream and it is delicious!
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| GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP SCAMPI PLATE |
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| FROM HONOLULU TAKE THE H-1 FREEWAY TO THE PALI HIGHWAY AND STOP OFF AT THE PALI LOOKOUT |
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| VIEW FROM THE PALI LOOKOUT IS AMAZING |
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| VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES |
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| SMALL GIFT SHOP WHERE YOU CAN BUY FISH FOOD |
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| VISIT KUALOA AND CHINAMAN'S HAT |
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| CHINAMAN'S HAT |
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| KUALOA BEACH PARK |
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| KUALOA RANCH IS INSIDE THIS MOUNTAIN |
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| MADE IT TO GIOVANNI'S |
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| THE LINE WAS LONG THIS DAY |
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| WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT GIOVANNI'S MY BUDDY GRABBED SOME FRESH GRILLED CORN ON THE COBB FROM UNCLE WOODY'S BBQ CORN |
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| $5.00 PER CORN BUT IT IS DRENCHED IN BUTTER, SALT, PEPPER AND GARLIC. SO GOOD! |
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| GETTING CLOSER TO ORDERING THE SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH HOT SAUCE ON THE SIDE |
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| ORDER AT THE WINDOW AND HAVE CASH READY. NO CREDIT CARDS. |
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| GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP SCAMPI PLATE. GARLIC AND BUTTER HEAVEN. |
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| CONTINUING OUR ADVENTURE AT SUNSET BEACH |
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| SUNSET HAD NO WAVES IN SEPTEMBER |
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| VISIT HISTORIC HALIEWA TOWN |
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| CROSS THE HALIEWA BRIDGE INTO THE SHOPPING/DINING DISTRICT |
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| OUR LAST STOP WAS THE DOLE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION WHERE WE ENJOYED A DOLE WHIP |
