Set in one of the nicest hotels on Waikiki Beach, this is a great place to start or end a day in paradise. The breakfast buffet is huge and lavish. A la carte lunch and dinner menus offer a variety of tasty sandwiches, salads and hot dishes. You'll dine al fresco under the shade of a native Kiawe tree, enjoying picturesque ocean views. Needless to say, the sunsets here are exquisite. Live Hawaiian music at sunset is a long-standing tradition.
This hybrid bar and grill is set in downtown Honolulu and is a favorite hang-out for the business and media communities and one of the only places in the Hawaiian Islands where you can get a pint of Guinness from the tap. While the bar roars with excitement, the restaurant serves great salads, steaks and other fare at decent prices. The food is fresh, and the service is congenial.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this place offers good food in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant takes its name from a huge Hau tree that grows out of Waikiki Beach and shades the beachfront terrace. This is a great place to take in the sunset while enjoying a wide variety of seafood and other well-prepared offerings at moderate prices. Mai Tais here are large and make a great view even better. The Hau Tree has live slack-key guitar music on weekend nights.
The "Aloha Spirit" is very much in evidence at this friendly, entertaining luau. On Germaine's strip of beach, guests can dance the hula, sip free-flowing Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiians, and stuff themselves on a sumptuous buffet of Hawaiian and American favorites. At the dinner show, performers from varied South Pacific islands entertain the crowd with displays of skill and dexterity.
The Island Snow in Kailua has become more famous for its "shave ice" (a tasty Hawaiian treat similar to a snow cone) than for its brand of apparel. You'll often see a line of people out the door, especially on the weekend. On the walls (and on the website) you'll find photos of President Barack Obama during his trips to Island Snow, one of his favorite spots while he's in town. In addition to the shave ice counter, the rest of the store sells apparel, mainly catering to surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders. It's a great place for souvenir t-shirts. Snowboards, watches, sunglasses and other apparel can also be found here.
This little factory makes authentic Italian Gelato with a tropical twist. (To anyone who doesn't know, gelato is the upper-class cousin of ice cream). The flavors are inventive, often featuring local Hawaiian fruits and vegetables. Depending on how creative you are, you can munch on Campari, Coconut or Irish Cream Gelato. Although this gelato is sold at various points throughout the island, the least expensive way to get it is direct from the factory. Order it by the pint or the gallon.
This little factory makes authentic Italian Gelato with a tropical twist. (To anyone who doesn't know, gelato is the upper-class cousin of ice cream). The flavors are inventive, often featuring local Hawaiian fruits and vegetables. Depending on how creative you are, you can munch on Campari, Coconut or Irish Cream Gelato. Although this gelato is sold at various points throughout the island, the least expensive way to get it is direct from the factory. Order it by the pint or the gallon.
Being a small store, it can get quite difficult for patrons to spot Ono Seafood, but the hassle is completely worth it. As you enter this place, a whiteboard announcing the menu welcomes you and one knows what to expect. What draws hoards of tourists and locals to this eatery is the most delicious Hawaiian salad, poke that is served here. Though other varieties are offered here, tako and Ahi poke dominate the menu. Guests can also choose their own fillings and the order will be ready in a minute. So go ahead and gorge on this local specialty!