Many hidden treasures await those who know where to explore the Hawaiian Islands…little places tucked away in mountain crevasses, on valley floors, or under a canopy of dense tropical foliage. Happily, not all such adventures require a backpack and compass. If you like to do your adventuring by auto, one excellent place to begin is the Mänoa Valley on the island of O‘ahu.

That’s where you’ll find one of Hawaii’s most charming hidden treasures – a delightful full-service restaurant called the Wai‘oli Tea Room.

As with all good adventures, getting there is half the fun. To begin, you wind through tight streets of boutique homes and lush landscaping. Eventually, you arrive at 2950 Manoa Road – “where O‘ahu Ave and Manoa Road meet,” say the Tea Room’s owners. There, nestled among the palm trees, you will come upon an unobtrusive, low-slung little house with a wide, sheltering entry supported by square black stone columns.

As you enter the cool and comfortable building, you’ll realize that you have arrived at a one-of-a-kind oasis of food and drink. Visitors may dine on the lanai or in their choice of rustic yet well-appointed interior rooms, each offering views of the extensive tropical garden or a spot near a cozy fireplace. Whichever dining room you choose, be sure to see all three: the Ginger VIP Room, The Atrium, and the Robert Louis Stevenson Room – named after the author of the all-time pirate adventure classic, Treasure Island.

The Tea Room provides classic afternoon tea service along with delicious breakfasts, lunches, and the occasional dinner service. (Dinner is served only if there are 20 or more guests; traditional tea service requires reservations 24 hours in advance). The menu includes multicultural breakfast choices, a tempting variety of sandwiches, salads, and a fine assortment of teas.

Visitors never fail to find the Tea Room and its grounds healing and relaxing. More than 200 different plants surround the main building. This tranquil, tropical paradise can be explored or simply enjoyed for shade and ambience while you sip your tea and escape into a good book.

The Wai‘oli Tea Room is an especially fitting subject for “Final Look Back” because – in addition to beauty, charm, and comestibles – it also offers a unique glance into Island history. Even among the most ardent lovers of Hawaiiana, few are aware that the author of Treasure Island once lived on these grounds. A replica of R.L. Stevenson’s thatched house – listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places – has been reconstructed from the writer’s original 1920s cottage.

The Tea Room’s main building also has a pretty good story to tell. Completed in 1992, it was first employed as a vocational facility for the Salvation Army Children’s Home, serving primarily as a training center for residents to learn food preparation, tea service, and baking. Today the Salvation Army still owns the grounds, leasing the space to Tea Room owners Rebecca and Gary Walker. With the help of manager Brian Jahnke, the Walkers spearheaded major renovation in 2003. The trio continues to make improvements. For example, a fundraising effort is underway for restoration of the Stevenson cottage, recently damaged by storms.

From the romance of Stevenson’s high seas to the charm of the Wai‘oli High Teas, this is one hidden Hawaiian treasure that should not remain a secret.