Hawaiian Resources
Maui Resources:
Restaurants:
Gazebo Restaurant:
Located on the south end of Napili Beach, follow the beach along the rocky path to the furthest set of stairs you can see, located at the end of the rocky area. The Gazebo serves breakfast and lunch. If you don’t want to wait in line, I suggest you get their prior to 7:30 am (which is when they open).
5315 Lower
Honoapiilani Rd
Lahaina, HI 96761
808.669.5621
Jameson’s:
Located five-minutes away at Kapalua’s Bay Golf Course, they serve all three meals daily. They have a good lunch menu; I recommend the fish sandwich if it is the fresh catch of the day. Dinners are always good at Jameson’s look for the free ice cream desert coupon at The Napili Bay Laundry brochure area.
62-540
Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712
808.669.5653
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar:
This is a bit on the expensive side, but if you want to go to a quality Japanese and Seafood Restaurant, Sansei is renowned over Maui for it’s fabulous venue and cuisine. Sansei is located at the Kapalua Resort, less than a 10-minute drive from The Napili Bay.
2552 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-3699
808-931-6286
Bars:
Casanova Italian Restaurant & Deli:
Italian restaurant in Makawao that turns into a bar/disco late at night, especially suitable for the younger crowd. Wednesday is Ladies Night – women get in free.
1188 Makawao Avenue
Makawao
808.572.0220
Mulligan’s on the Blue:
This is a popular Irish restaurant & bar that’s a great place to meet people and chat. Every night is something different – reggae musicians, Irish folksingers, trance DJs, etc. The crowd is friendly and mixed in almost every way—Irish and non-Irish, 20s to 40s, locals and tourists.
100 Kaukahi Street
Wailea
808.874.1131
The Sea House Restaurant: Located on the north end of Napili Beach, this is a great pupus and cocktail spot, especially at sunset. Dinner & lunch is also served here. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
At the Napili Kai Beach Resort
5900 Honoapiilani Road, Napili Bay, Hawaii
808.669.1500
Activities:
Beaches: Snorkeling, boogie boarding and swimming at the various beaches. My favorite of course, is Napili Bay!
Napili Bay Beach:
off Hui Drive, South Maui
Visit the historic town of Wailuka:
Then spend several hours exploring the Iao Valley including the State Park and the Iao Valley Botanic Garden; bring a hat as you might encounter some rain in the morning hours. This is a great day excursion away from the beach!
Snorkeling trip to Molokini Crater:
There are a wide variety of snorkel and dive boats that offer tours to Molokini Crater. I suggest that you ask each operation questions in regards to number of people on the trip, size of the boat and facilities they will provide. This way you will know what to expect and hopefully have the best experience possible.
Located 2 miles off Maui’s south coast
Kauai North Shore Resources:
Restaurants:
La Cascata:
A formal, fine dinner spot at the Princeville Hotel known for Italian Mediterranean Cuisine. Great service and view!
Hanalei, HI
96714
808.826.2761
Lappert’s Ice Cream & Coffee:
Okay, so this isn’t exactly a full meal place, however their ice cream is outstanding & makes a great spot to stop for dessert or to cool you down on a hot day. Located adjacent to the grocery store at the Princeville Shopping Center.
PO Box 692
Hanapepe
800.356.4045
Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant:
This is the first restaurant you come to as you enter into Hanalei. They have indoor and outdoor seating, situated along the Hanalei River. They are known for their seafood.
Hanalei, HI 96714
808.826.6699
Bars:
Princeville Resort Beach Restaurant & Pool Bar:
Fruity tropical refreshments & appetizers right by the pool.
Hanalei, HI
96714
866.716.8110
Sushi Blues:
The best, and currently only, place for sushi on the North Shore. They also play music here regularly on the weekends. Located at the Ching Young Village in Hanalei.
5-5190 Kuhio Highway
Hanalei, HI 96714
808.826.9071
The Hanalei Gourmet:
Located in a renovated school building, Hanalei Gourmet is both a restaurant and a deli counter that serves award winning tropical drinks and imported beer on tap.
5-5161 Kuhio Highway Spc 5
Hanalei, HI 96714
Activities:
Kalalau Trail:
Hike this trail to view the Napali Coast. You can hike to the viewpoint that can be reached within 30 to 45 minutes. Two other destinations can be hiked to in a day hike including Hanakapiai Beach which is a 2 mile hike from the trailhead and Hanakapiai Falls which is an additional 2.5 miles to the falls and clear pool. This hike can be very muddy due to the rain along the coast, I recommend sturdy hiking or walking shoes for this hike, lots of water and a camera!
Island Movie Tour:
If you are a movie buff and enjoy seeing locations where films have been made then you may want to sign up for a tour with Hawaii Movie Tours located in Kapaa. This is a great tour as they show you the clips from the movies and then the actual location. If you want to save some dollars, you can do your own movie tour by identifying some locations from the reference book I have here in the condo and then spending a day hunting them all out!
Visit the Kilauea Lighthouse & Bird Sanctuary:
This is quite a scenic view spot and definitely a place to visit. There are many larger birds that can be viewed from this location.
Kauai East Shore Resources:
Restaurants:
Blossoming Lotus:
100% organic vegetarian food. Also the home of Vegan World Fusion Cuisine.
4504 Kukui St.
Kapaa, HI 96746
808.822.7678
CJ’s Steak & Seafood:
This is a casual family style restaurant located at the Princeville Shopping Center. Good for traditional style food, it’s a “meat and potatoes” place specializing in prime rib!
5-4280 Kuhio Hwy
Princeville, HI 96722
808.826.6211
Mediterranean Gourmet:
The only restaurant located in Haena within the Hanalei Colony Resort. Serves very good Mediterranean & Hawaiian dishes. Oceanfront indoor & outdoor dining. Belly dancing on Friday & Saturday nights at 7pm.
Hanalei ColonyResort
Haena, HI
808.826.9875
Bars:
Paradise Bar & Grill:
Sandwiches, pupus & standard bar fare, plus a spin with local seafood. Prices are more on par with mainland establishments.
Princeville Shopping Center, Princeville
Hanalei, HI 96714
808-826-1775
Happy Talk Lounge:
Relax to the soothing sounds of a nearby waterfall with your favorite beverages or a light meal at the Happy Talk Lounge. Open from 11am to 10pm. Happy Hour Aloha Friday – 3pm to 6pm. Sunday jazz – 3pm to 7pm. Entertainment – 6:30pm to 9:30pm Monday through Saturday.
Located in the Hanalei Bay Resort
808.826.6680
Tahiti Nui:
Local bar and party spot.
Lunch: 11a-3p M-Su Dinner:
5p-10p M-Su
5-5134 Kuhio Highway
Hanalei, HI 96714
808.826.6277
Activities:
Ke’e Beach:
Spend several hours at the beach, snorkeling, swimming and watching the big waves. This beach is located at the end of the road at the Napali Coast. It is a fabulous place for sunset watching.
Highway 560
North Shore, Kauai
Helicopter Tour of the Island:
While all of the islands in Hawaii offer this type of activity, the island of Kauai provides the best value for your money in regards to what you will see on the tour, since a good portion of this island can only be seen from the air or through extensive trekking into the interior. There are quite a few companies on the island that offer this service, I have used Will Squyres in the past and had a great experience. I recommend that you try to schedule a morning tour verses an afternoon tour. I also recommend postponing your trip if the weather is a bit adverse or cloudy in the mountains, since the clearer the weather, the better the experience! Make sure you understand the company’s cancellation policy before you pay!
888.245.4354
Golfing at either the Prince or the Makai Course:
Both of these courses are tremendous with wonderful views and course design. For those easily deterred by lost balls and penalty strokes, you may want to pass on playing the fabulous Prince Course and play the more gently landscaped Makai Course.
If you should decide to play the Prince Course, then bring at least 2-dozen golf balls. The Prince course is so tough that when Tiger Woods played, he shot over an 80! One other tip in regards to the Prince Course is to make sure that after you pass the snack shop on the 9th tee that all food items are neatly tucked away in your cooler; otherwise the roosters and chickens may indulge in your food. This caution applies especially at the greens and tees at 9, 10 and sometimes 11.
Schedule a Tee Time: 800.826.1105
Big Island Resources:
Restaurants:
The Aloha Angel Cafe :
Located South of Keauhou on Hwy 11 on the right hand side. Good for Sunday brunch, breakfast or lunch.
Located: 8 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Highway 11 in Kainaliu Town
79-7384 Mamalahoa Hwy.
Kainaliu, HI 96750
808.322.3383
Kona Inn Restaurant:
Great food in a great location in downtown Kailua-Kona town.
75-5744 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808.329.4455
Huggo’s:
Good seafood and right on the ocean. Very romantic, but may be a bit pricey.
75-5828 Kahakai Rd.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808.329.1493
Bars:
Durty Jake’s Cafe & Bar:
Live music most nights and right across from the ocean.
75-5819 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
808.329.7366
LuLu’s:
Enjoy their happy hour and watch the sun set. This is the late night place to be in Kailua.
2586 Kalakaua Ave.
Waikiki, HI 96815
808.926.5222
Hard Rock Cafe:
Don’t miss the beautiful sunset view you’ll see right from your table: magical green colors flashing on the Pacific Ocean horizon in an open-air, no-wall setting. Enjoy the abundant display of rocks and memorabilia.
75-5815 Alii Dr.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808.329-8866
Activities:
Scuba Diving:
We are both avid divers and love to dive here in the Big Island. Our favorite dive company is Dive Makai and they provide training for certification.
Dive Makai
P.O. Box 2955
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
808.329.2025
A trip to Hilo:
See the waterfalls and gardens. One of our favorite mini trips on the Big Island is to spend 1 night either near the volcano or in Hilo so that we can see the Volcano and spend the next day enjoying the beautiful lush tropical East Coast. Bring an umbrella, raincoat or hat because Hilo is one of the rainiest cities in the state of Hawaii. Rainbow waterfalls located just outside of Hilo on Highway 1 are especially beautiful when viewed in the morning. Boiling Pot Falls is located a mile further down the road. Head North on Highway 19, then turn off on the scenic route, which winds around the coast and Onomea Bay. Stop and visit the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden to see beautiful tropical vegetation and flowers, plus it also has beautiful coastal views & walks. There is a small cafe / juice stand on the scenic route heading North from the gardens. We often stop for lunch or tropical juice (It’s a small little house on the left hand side; in the past there has been a hula dancer in front near the road!). Driving North on Hwy 19, stop and see some of the other waterfalls.
Green Sand Beach:
Green Sand Beach: It’s a 2 1/8 mile hike in from the boat launch to the top of the beach. It can be very windy and dry on the hike into the beach. Due to the surf often being very high, there are times when the beach isn’t accessible. This beach is unusual and worth the trip if you are used to hiking and can put up with a fair amount of wind.
Oahu Resources:
Restaurants:
Sarento’s:
Award winning, sky-high dining in Hawaii’s most elegant Italian restaurant. Enjoy delicious Italian regional cuisine, plus panoramic views of Waikiki, Honolulu, Diamond Head, and the Pacific Ocean. A stone pizza oven, colorful murals, and tile accents lend an authentic Mediterranean flavor. Located at the top of the hotel accessible via the outside glass elevator in the lobby.
1777 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808.955.5559
Sam Choy’s Diamond Head Restaurant:
Eat Hawaiian style cooking in the same location as “Sam Choy’s Kitchen” cooking show is filmed.
449 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.732.8645
Tanaka of Tokyo West:
A superb meal and exciting show in one as you watch master teppanyaki chefs prepare steak, chicken, lobster, Pacific salmon, and island fish on tabletop grills. Voted one of “The 10 Best Japanese Restaurants in the United States” (Five Star Diamond Award) and winner of the prestigious Hale Aina Award in 1995 as Honolulu’s best Japanese restaurant. Here is great for large groups.
1777 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.945.3443
Bars:
The Harbor Pub:
The Harbor Pub has been opening in Waikiki since 1980, and has a great atmosphere, great food and generous cocktails. It’s a perennial favorite of both locals and visitors alike.
Paddle’s Bar:
Paddles Bar is the ideal spot for enjoying a Mai Tai at sunset and watching for the green flash. Guests can enjoy songs of old Hawaii by Kawika and hula performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Paddles Bar also offers food menu items throughout the day and seasonal poolside grill specialties. Open daily.
1777 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.949.3811
Canoes Lounge:
Whether guests desire a table indoors or outdoors, Canoes provides views of the Ala Wai Yacht Marina and breathtaking sunsets. Enjoy a Mai Tai at sunset and watching for the green flash.
Canoes at the Ilikai also specialize in regional Hawaiian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local produce and seafood. Located lobby level at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel.
1777 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.949.3811
Lucy’s Grill ‘N Bar:
One of the most popular hot spots in Kailua. Features outdoor seating and open-air bar.
33 Aulike St.
Kailua, HI 96734
808.230.8188
Activities:
Ala Moana Shopping Center:
Enjoy a day of shopping.
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808.955.9517
Shark’s Cove:
Enjoy the beauty of this wonderful reef. This is a wonderful beach for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Sea Kayaking:
Enjoy the views and stay active by sea kayaking at Lani Kai and Waikiki.