I need some suggestions on resturant in Oahu (Honolulu). What else is worth doing there. I will be there for 7 days but 2 days are for business... so that leaves me 5 days to do whatever I want.

Thanks,
Empress

I hope I have it right.. but the restaurant at the 5 star Halekulani hotel is great. So is the hotel.

Some restaurant suggestions -

1) Pacific Cafe - Pacific rim cuisine
2) Roy's - also Pacific rim cuisine
3) Michel's - French with lots of atmosphere but also lots of $$

jeffreyt is probably referring to La Mer. I like Nicholas Nickolas; its on Atkinson near the Ala Moana shopping center. Also, John Dominis for seafood (excellent Sunday brunch).

I highly recommend the Diamond Head hike (real easy and great view) and Hanauma Beach Park.

If you're interested in Polynesian culture, the dinner show at the Polynesian Cultural Center is done well. The dinner itself (Luau) is okay; basic "hawaiian" foods with some Western (just in case you find that you don't like the hawaiian stuff). If you have the whole day to spend, you can take part in games and crafts from the various cultures.

If you want to see truly great Hula dancing, now don't laugh, go to the King's Court shopping center directly behind the Hyatt on Waikiki. Several times a week a group of talented young people perform in the courtyard by the, now don't laugh again, Burger King entrance.

My sisters and I used to belong to this group. Each show lasts about fifteen or twenty minutes. It's free, it's good, and it often stops traffic.

Enjoy, Aloha.

Also check out Orchids at the Halekulani for a knock-out Sunday brunch.

I have to agree with Island Girl, I stumbled across the King's Court show by accident. If I had only found it earlier I would have saved a bundle of US$ by NOT going to Germaines, "too good to miss"

How about a brief jaunt to either Kauai or Hawaii? Relatively cheap and worthwhile too!

BTW- It is indeed La Mer

Don't forget to act like a local and make time for a "plate lunch." Find a dive that sells them (there are many throughout the city), plunk down your $5, and eat away. Certainly not fine dining by any means, but at least you can pretend you're not a mainlander for an hour. (If you're into the beach/ocean, make Sandy Beach -- about a 15-20 minute drive from Waikiki -- a priority. Great body surfing!)

[This message has been edited by dallasnewsman (edited 05-04-2000).]

I wish I had your problems - thinking of things to do in Honolulu!!
We have been to Honolulu three times and have had some pretty good meals there. We had a great lunch at the Hau Tree Lanai (I think in the New Otini) near Diamond Head. The food was great, and it is on the beach, so you can get some oggling in. If you are there, stop by and visit the Honolulu aquarium. It is small, but is one of the best we have visited. (You can also pick up an Entertainment Book for 2-fers there).
At the low end, we have had good meals at the Shore Bird Grill - a cook-your-own place right on the beach, and we enjoyed the Hard Rock Cafe.
I respectively disagree with Hi-Guy about the ease of hiking up to the top of Diamond Head, but it is definately worth it. Just do it early in the morning while it is still cool.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is worth going to - I think it is open only in the afternoon - but get the "good tickets" with the Luau and good seats at the nighttime show. It is spectacular.
Enjoy!

DD

I just got back from Hawaii a few weeks ago. Some awesome restaurants were:

- The Pineapple Room (This is an Alan Wong place)
- Alan Wong's Steakhouse
- Tony Roma's (BBQ Ribs)
- Villa Paridiso (Italian)
- the restaurant in the Pacific Beach Hotel (HUGE AQUARIUM) very neat!
- Roy's
- Sunset Grill
- Duke's Canoe Club

A lot of these places are PRICEY, but since I was on the company expense account, it was no big deal for me. ALSO: Make reservations whenever possible. We learned this the hard way the first night.

If your looking for places to shop, the International Marketplace was cool and if you want get all your "Hawaiian" shopping done at once, go to Hilo Haddies (sp?). They have everything Hawaiian there. They claim to have super-low prices (I'm not too sure about that though).

I also went to the Arizona Memorial, which was worth the free admission.

Lastly, a driving trip around the island is worth it. Tons of cool stuff to see. I didn't get off the Island (though I wish I had).

Any questions, feel to ask!

I want to add my name to the ones recommending the Orchids restaurant at the Halekulani Hotel. I was there last fall and it's excellent. There's lot of cheaper places but I haven't run into any better on Oahu.

The Macadamia Pancakes are wonderful at the Ocean Beach Hotel Oceanarium! And you can't beat the view. Yum!

Check these out....
1. Sam Choy's
2. Food Court at Ala Moana shopping center (pretty good variety of ethnic foods)
3. Any local Drive-Inn for a plate lunch special (L&L drive-inns are local favorites)
4. For shopping go to the swap meet at the stadium (Wed, Sat, Sun only). Many bargains to be had (ie: t-shirts around $3-4 each)




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Since everyone else is talking about dinner, I will be a contrarian (as is my nature) and offer a suggestion for the best breakfast location in Honolulu.

The food is good, but not haute cuisine. However, eating breakfast on the beach under the banyan tree at the New Otani Kaimana hotel is not to be missed. The hotel is located on the 'quiet' end of Waikiki Beach near the foot of Diamond Head. It abuts Kapiolani Park and offers a view along the beach to the far end where the 'major' hotels are located.

[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 05-09-2000).]