Tag Archive | "Restaurants"
Finding the Best Big Island Restaurants – Now with Updates
Private breakfast on the lanai at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel After our recent visit to the Big Island of Hawaii , we’ve updated our recommendations of where to dine in Hawaii . Though the Big Island restaurant post was originally published in 2008, we do update it regularly. We aim to try as many new places as we can, which has not been so kind to our waistlines. As I say in the updated post, we don’t take our recommendations lightly. We prepare our list as if we’re giving it to our closest friends and family. We think that dining can be an important part of a memorable vacation. So we hope that you’ll find our recommendations useful for making the most of your Hawaii vacation. We’re on facebook! Please click here to join us. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Ko’Olina Beach Vacation – Oahu, Hawaii
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Hawaii Travel Deals - Oahu JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa 4 nights from $739 pp, do Promo Code:CCVWS JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa is located 25 miles west of Waikiki in an area known as Ko'Olina, this beautiful beachfront property features a world-class spa, golf course, a shark pond, tennis courts, garden pathways, and oceanview restaurants. Book this Oahu, Hawaii vacation with Travelwizard.com and enjoy a $150 air credit, every 4th night free and daily breakfast for two. Book by December 31, 2011 Call 1.800.330.8820 or click here to have a Hawaii Travel Specialist contact you. TravelWizard.com: Specialists in the Art of Travel: Call 1-800-330-8820
Continue reading...Waikiki Christmas 2011– Special Holiday Dining & Events
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Waikiki will be all aglow with holiday festivities this year. I’ve compiled this list of special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunches, dinners and buffets. Along with all the delicious dining, you’ll also find a great list of Christmas displays and entertainment across Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu. Before, we dive into our list of things to do and where to go, I want to share a few points of advice first. I recommend you make reservations, order tickets, etc. as soon as possible to secure the place and time you like. Unless otherwise stated, you can assume that taxes and gratuities are not included in the listed prices. Most Waikiki Beach hotel-based restaurants will be open on Christmas day. Check directly with the concierge of your accommodations for their special Christmas meals and events. As Christmas approaches, most likely, I’ll be adding more events, so do check back. Learn how to say Mele Kalikimaka, Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas . Christmas Eve Dining on Saturday, December 24 Breakfast/Brunch: * Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant Oceanarium will offer a a Christmas Eve Brunch Buffet from 9am to 3pm. The costs are $44.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 5 to 12 years old. Use this link to see the brunch buffet menu . For reservations, call (808) 921-6111. Dinner: * Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers an elegant prix-fixe, five-course Christmas Eve dinner ( menu ) for $75 per person or you can order from their Christmas a la carte menu. Hau Tree Lanai offers a romantic, beach front setting that’s about a 15 minute walk from the heart of Waikiki. For reservations, call (808)921-7066. * Hilton Hawaiian Village presents their Starlight Luau
Continue reading...Review: Aulani, Disney Resort & Spa
Monday, October 31, 2011
Though we’ve covered quite a bit about Aulani after visiting last month for their Grand Opening Celebration , I felt like there were several aspects that I still needed to share with you. Hawaiian Culture Is Embraced and Honored When I first heard that Disney was coming to Hawaii several years ago, I wondered how Disney would blend in Hawaii. Actually, I think Disney has gone to great lengths to incorporate Hawaiian culture into Aulani and emphasizing that above iconic Disney characters. Hawaiian culture seems to drive the car, so to speak, while stereotypical Disney aspects ride along in the backseat. For example, when we first arrived, we noticed the kalo (taro) plants in front of the resort, we were greeted with alohas and when we went into the lobby we noticed then the beautiful murals of Hawaiian scenes. It wasn’t until we got into our room that we finally noticed the first Disney-influence, which was a vintage-looking lamp with a wooden Mickey Mouse carved in the lamp stand ( see photo ). Aulani Lobby I had a chance to meet with some of the Aulani artists who were all born and raised in Hawaii – most were local from the Waianae Coast. When they were commissioned for their art, they said that Disney provided very little input. Each artist expressed how much they enjoyed being a part of Aulani, telling their story and perpetuating their native Hawaiian culture. If you’re interested in learning more about the art at Aulani, I found this article . Just about every place that has a name at Aulani has a Hawaiian name. Hawaiian is usually spoken first. In fact, a helpful Concierge, Sharilyn, told me that though she had grown up in Hawaii, she’s never spoken as much Hawaiian as she has since she started working at Aulani. Kid & Family Friendly Donald Duck rocks an Aloha Shirt at Aulani In my opinion, Aulani is the most kid-friendly resort in Hawaii. Here are some of the great things designed for kids to enjoy: Aunty’s Beach House is a dream play house for any kid. Just touring it made me want to be a kid again. There’s Hawaiian crafts, dress up, story time, outdoor play, hula, musical instruments, movies, games and more. I’ve not seen anything else in Hawaii that matches it. Not only is it outstanding – it’s a complimentary amenity for guests. Other Hawaii resorts charge $35 or more for a half day. You do need to pay for meals. Aunty’s Beach House is open from 8am to 9pm or 9am to 11pm depending on the day. Aunty’s Beach House is available for potty trained guests ages 3 to 12. Aulani offers complimentary activities designed especially for tweens and teens like pool parties, obstacle courses and stargazing. Disney Characters make regular visits and appearances much to the delight kids of all ages. Character Breakfasts are scheduled three days per week at the moment. Aulani has embraced the legend of the Menehune – so much so that they’ve placed hundreds of Menehune statues and carvings throughout the resort. It’s fun for both kids and grownups to find Menehune hiding throughout the resort. Rainbow Reef , two waterslides and the Menehune Bridge ( photo ) are ideal water fun parks for kids and adults, too. You’d have to try really, really hard not to have fun in the Aulani Waikolohe Valley collection of water park fun. Rooms include Pack ‘n Play playard for the little ones. The lagoon beach adjacent to Aulani offers relatively safe protection from big waves. Couple Friendly? I added the question mark because, I’m not too sure about how couple-friendly Aulani is. It’s not couple unfriendly , that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t say that Aulani is exceptionally romantic either. Andy and I certainly enjoyed our visit, though we spent most of our time working. When we could, we enjoyed the waterslides and lazy river like a couple of kids . Mickey & Minnie Mouse enjoy a romantic Aulani sunset. Some of the romantic things you can do at Aulani are have a Fairytale Disney Wedding , enjoy private ocean view dining, get some spa pampering with a couples massage, go on a catamaran sunset cruise, relax by the adults-only pool, watch sunset in the infinity whirlpools, have a sunset beach picnic, etc. Outstanding Spa Facilities I think it’s just a matter of time for Aulani’s Laniwai Spa to be listed among Hawaii’s best spas. Access to their outdoor hydrotherapy garden, Kula Wai, is included in most treatments. Kula Wai offers whirlpools, cold plunge, mineral baths and my favorite – six different rain shower experiences. If you’re not staying at Aulani, but you want to get a spa treatment in Oahu, I highly recommend Aulani’s spa. (Psst! Here’s a tip, when there’s availability, guests can purchase a day pass to the hydrotherapy garden for $45.) Rooms Aulani offers both hotel and vacation ownership accommodations. The hotel portion was sold out, so we were lucky to be assigned one of the Disney Vacation Club rooms . We had a sitting area, dining area, full kitchen, washer and dryer, separate bedroom and a bath and a half. We could have lived there. The rooms are nicely decorated with dark woods, Hawaiian prints and kapa designs. Even if you are not a Disney Vacation Club owner, the DVC rooms are available for booking within 60 days of your visit when they’re available. Dining Aulani offers several dining venues across the resort from take out to fine dining. Our favorite restaurant was ‘ AMA’AMA where we enjoyed their kulua pork on steamed rice buns and the ocean views. For casual evening dining, we liked The ‘Olelo Room where Hawaiian is spoken first. It’s a great place for sliders and learning to speak Hawaiian words – a great combo. For a cool treat, we really liked the shave ice hut near the pools. Aulani has their very own Shave Ice hut that looks like it was transported straight from the North Shore. As I’ve already mentioned, Aulani offers a great chance to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and other Disney characters at the Character Breakfast that’s served buffet-style for $32 in Makahiki. We enjoyed it. (Psst! They also offer an a la carte menu at Makahiki if you don’t want the buffet.) If there’s one area Aulani could improve upon, I’d say it’s with dining. We didn’t have a bad meal, but we didn’t have many impressive ones either. We chalked it up to the standard learning curve that all new restaurants endure. Pricing With rooms starting at $399, Aulani’s rates are definitely well above average for Hawaii of about $185 per night. That being said, the service and the amenities are well above average for Hawaii, too. I could be wrong, but I predict that Aulani will begin offering more deals. At the moment, they have a limited 5th night free offer. We felt like food and beverage costs were in line with what most Hawaii resorts charge. Nothing shocked us in comparison to other Hawaii resorts we’ve visited. A few tips for getting the most out of your stay: Check the all the resort happenings with the weekly, and daily ‘IWA for crafts, character meet and greet, movies on the lawn, Starlit Hui show, etc. Most of these activities are complimentary for guests. If you think you might be interested in taking part in the Character Breakfast, I recommend you book a month or more in advance to make sure you secure your spot. Also, aim to get there for an early arrival, like 7am, where you’ll have the characters almost all to yourself. If you are getting a spa treatment, do plan to check in an hour before to enjoy the spa amenities. Check out is at 11am, but don’t worry if you have a late flight. Aulani provides a fantastic lounge for guest after check out, the Luana Lounge. You’ll find lockers, showers, swimsuit dryers, hair dryers in case you need to freshen up before your flight. There’s two separate lounges with sofas and televisions. They even provide a monitor with Honolulu flights and a station to print your boarding passes. Wifi is free, yippee! See all the photos we took during our Aulani stay. Don’t forget to check out our video tour of Aulani . We’d like to thank Aulani for hosting and inviting us to their Grand Opening Celebration. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Have you tried Spam Musabi?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
You know Hawaii loves Spam .
Continue reading...Public parks, private profits? Big changes coming to Hawaii restaurant inspections, ocean nibbling Kauai development, Maui tech park in the works, Big…
Monday, July 25, 2011
Oahu North Shore beach (c) 2011 All Hawaii News A father and son from Oahu have a dramatic fishing tale to tell and video to prove it. They came face to face with a tiger shark while spearfishing on the Big Island Sunday. Hawaii News Now. Allowing private companies to profit from state parks and beaches may sound like a tough sell in Hawaii. But Act 55, signed into law two months ago by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, facilitates just that. Civil Beat. Big changes are coming to the way the state Department of Health inspects and evaluates food establishments. West Hawaii Today. Without union agreement, the state is forging ahead on a pilot program in the coming school year that will substantially change how some public school teachers are evaluated, basing their rating in part on the academic growth of their students. Star-Advertiser. The state will be applying for the new “Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge” federal grant administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Filipino Chronicle. Hawaii has long been a national leader in the generation and consumption of solar energy, and the state continues to be a concrete example of the growth of the solar energy industry in the United States. Hawaii Independent. A solar-powered charging station in Honolulu is being used to study the impact electric vehicles can have on electric grids. Associated Press. Hawaii has been largely successful in preventing snakes from entering the island paradise over the years and avoiding the grave danger they present to tropical birds, colorful plants and the vibrant environment that draws millions of tourists to the state each year. Associated Press. An advisory committee to help Honolulu find a new landfill site must weigh dozens of possible choices Star-Advertiser. The Mayor of Honolulu went on the offensive today in the battle of what to do with the city’s wastewater sludge. Hawaii Public Radio. Oahu residents will begin paying more for electricity starting Tuesday. KITV4. When University of Hawaii at Hilo students set pen to checkbook this summer in preparation for the first day of classes on Aug. 21, they will no doubt notice that tuition has once again increased. Tribune-Herald. Schools on the Big Island keep their kitchens pretty clean. West Hawaii Today. New plans in the works for Maui high-tech park. Maui News. Ocean eating Anahola properties. Garden Island. A Maui-based veterans charity called "highly questionable" by a watchdog group and now under review by the state attorney general's office has dropped its website, but the organization's president vows to resume operations. Star-Advertiser. Four Punahou graduates are hoping to change the on-line marketplace when buying and selling college textbooks. KHON2. Kealakehe High students will no longer earn a "D." West Hawaii Today. The start of direct flights from Shanghai to Honolulu is welcome news for Hawaii tourism industry officials still recovering from the impact of the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami as well as state’s persistent economic downturn. Hawaii Reporter.
Continue reading...Retreating to Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Have you ever wondered where Hawaii residents go on staycation or to celebrate a special occasion? We’ve discovered that many residents are attracted to the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele . On our recent visit to Lanai, we shared the shuttle with a couple from Kauai. They were coming to the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele to celebrate their anniversary. Part of the attraction to the Lodge at Koele is the perfectly cool temperature in the Lana’i highlands, with the average daytime highs in the 70s. It’s a refreshing retreat from the warmer, coastal temperatures. Another draw to Lanai is the slower pace. Lanai is such a relaxing island to visit. I’m pretty sure there’s some sort of magic in the Lanai air that whispers, “You can relax now. You’re in Lana’i.” Of course the Koele resort is appointed with all the luxuries you expect from a Four Seasons property, such as spacious rooms, luxury linens and L’Occitane toiletries. We were impressed from the moment we arrived as we were greeted with kukui nut leis, chilled towels and a glass of pineapple lemonade. As I reflect back on our stay at the Lodge at Koele, I picture us walking the grounds, sitting on the lanai in the morning (See a short video of one of our peaceful morning views from the lanai .) and then relaxing in the Great Hall by the fireplace at night. Those are not your typical things-you-do in a Hawaii resorts. They’re not exciting and splashy, but surprisingly, they’re wonderful memories. The award-winning restaurants at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele are really outstanding. We’ve dined there many times and have always had an excellent meal. So, yeah, I can see why Hawaii residents are drawn to the Lodge at Koele — relaxation, great food, luxury pampering and perfect temperatures. It’s a perfect retreat! Andy created a short video tour of Four Seasons Lodge at Koele. (Email subscribers: click here to access the Lodge at Koele video tour .) You might be wondering if this is a paid advertisement. It’s not! We never post paid advertisements. We truly enjoyed this one-of-a-kind Hawaii resort. Apparently, we’re not alone as both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler readers rate the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele among the top 10 Hawaii resorts. For other opinions, see TripAdvisor reviews of the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele . Have you been to the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele? How was your experience? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Fia Fia Polynesian Show Is On Fire
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Fia Fia Show at JW Marriott Ihilani offers a bit of a niche among luaus on Oahu. I might describe it as being a boutique-ish, because it’s smaller than most others and
Continue reading...Hawaii gas highest in the nation, state workers to get 64 days off, appointed ed board seated, West Hawaii gets new civic center, Hilo sewer leak…
Friday, April 15, 2011
Hawaii gas prices (c) 2011 All Hawaii News Hawaii's average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline hit a nation-leading $4.46 on Thursday, 28 cents higher than second-place California. Associated Press. With gas prices on Oahu around $4.50 a gallon, the operators of the city's bus system said more people are buying bus passes and taking the bus. KITV4. Gas prices in Wailuku, Maui reached a new all-time record price on Wednesday, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. KHON2. House Republicans question amount of paid time off for state workers. Hawaii News Now. Ratification vote dates have been set for members of the state's largest public worker union to decide on a new contract. KHON2. Hawaii saw 2,447 initial jobless claims filed during the week ending April 9, down 14.7 percent from the 2,868 claims filed during the same week last year, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News McDonald's restaurants are looking to fill 1,000 jobs in Hawaii. Associated Press. Two of Hawaii’s largest hotel brands, Hilton and Starwood, are likely to host three of the top countries at the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, and other hotels cleared for the high-level international event are in the final stages of negotiations. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii’s health disparities and gaps in care need community collaboration to help residents make healthier choices and to increase longevity among the state’s neediest population, according to a report that will be released today. Star-Advertiser. In an unusual display of bipartisan acclaim, nine new members of the board of education were confirmed by the state senate Thursday and were to take office immediately. KITV4. The State Senate approved Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s nominees for Hawaii’s Board of Education on Thursday, Hawaii Independent. Representatives of more than 50 social service agencies rallied at the state Capitol yesterday to urge lawmakers to restore proposed cuts to human services programs. Star-Advertiser. PHOCUSED gathered its members and supporters — some with walkers, some in wheelchairs — Thursday in the Rotunda, most wearing green, all fighting to protect their share of the haupia. Civil Beat. Citizens concerned with Hawaii Legislature’s plan to hike their taxes will hold “tea parties” across the state on Friday, April 15. Hawaii Reporter. County officials and former elected officials recalled the long process it took to bring the West Hawaii County Civic Center to fruition Thursday as they formally dedicated the new facility. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii County may have to release raw sewage into Hilo Bay in order to fix a sewer pipe found leaking Saturday, its Department of Environmental Management announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald. Now that the county's land fund is back in the budget, Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann wants to expand the list of eligible properties and give the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission more power to set priorities. West Hawaii Today. A Hawaii Community College chancellor search committee has named four finalists for the position. Garden Island. Three new cases of dengue fever are suspected in Hana, along with a possible case in Haliimaile and an additional two or three Upcountry, according to health officials. Maui News. Sparks were flying Thursday morning between County Council members during a heated discussion at the Nawiliwili Council Chambers. Garden Island. The Honolulu medical examiner's office says three of the victims in an underground fireworks blast last week suffered carbon monoxide inhalation before dying. Associated Press .
Continue reading...Hawaii volcano erupts, Abercrombie silences watchdog, electric company bargaining during strike, Maui resort owners head to court, Kauai waters…
Monday, March 7, 2011
Kilauea fissure photo USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Madame Pele is putting on quite a show on the Big Island. KHON2. A new vent that opened Saturday on Kilauea continued to erupt yesterday with quiet periods punctuated by curtains of lava 80 feet high, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Star-Advertiser. The floor of Pu'u O'o crater collapsed Saturday afternoon and an eruption occurred along the middle of Kilauea Volcano's east rift zone, according to scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald. Negotiators for Hawaiian Electric Co. and striking union workers held a marathon, closed-door session with a federal mediator yesterday with no word of progress in settling a strike that coincided with a widespread blackout. Star-Advertiser. HECO President Richard Rosenblum comments on labor talks. Hawaii News Now. Electrical power has been restored to most of Oahu, according to Hawaiian Electric Company and Hawaii Civil Defense. Hawaii Independent. Crews of nonunion Hawaiian Electric Co. employees had restored power to all but about 500 customers by early Sunday morning, the company said in a statement issued at noon Sunday. Pacific Business News A key player in Hawaii’s effort to cut oil dependency will soon run out of money. Hawaii Public Radio. A month after contradicting Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s position on a public records issue, Office of Information Practices Acting Director Cathy Takase has been given her walking papers by Abercrombie. Hawaii Reporter. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has informed the head of the state's open records agency that she's being laid off and that he plans to replace her with his own appointee. Civil Beat. Unless the legislation undergoes further amendments when it goes before the full Hawai‘i House of Representatives, a proposal to create a state-run interisland ferry system has been effectively tabled. Garden Island. Hawaii's three-strikes law was touted as a way to make the community safer, but since its passage nearly five years ago, the statute has been used only once and is now destined to quietly expire this summer. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii excise tax revenues for the current fiscal year were up at the end of January, but the state's general fund deposits were 2.1 percent lower compared to the same period last year because of delayed income tax refunds. Associated Press. Governor Pushes Big Wind to be Pono. Molokai Dispatch. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $37.9 million contract to a Chicago company to build a tactical maintenance facility at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. KITV4. Store shelves and restaurants will be out of Hawaii's popular, fresh bottom fish soon as state and federal officials shut down catches in the main Hawaiian islands on Saturday. Star-Advertiser. On Tuesday, Wailuku attorney Richard Rost will be in 1st Circuit Court in Honolulu asking for partial summary judgment in a lawsuit by a buyer at the Honua Kai Resort & Spa who is trying to back out of his purchase. Maui News. Besides the alleged defects in the legal language of the sales documents, customers at Honua Kai Resort & Spa have alleged a wide range of omissions of pertinent information or of physical features that didn't appear when the project was built out. Maui News. Heavy rains over the past couple weeks have made some coastal waters on Kaua‘i unsafe until further notice, health officials and local experts said. Garden Island. Congress' two-year ban on earmarks won't jeopardize federal funding needed to complete the most-expensive government project being built on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald. The cash-strapped Hawaii County government is leaving hundreds of thousands in unpaid property taxes on the table for the $60 million Target-Safeway complex in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.
Continue reading...
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
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