Entries tagged 'Waikiki'
Hawaii Surf Spot Tour: Diamond Head Cliffs on Oahu
This is a crowd favorite. Picks up a bit of surf all the time. Blows out with true trades. Best in early mornings or late afternoons -- good for windsurfing when its blown. Rarely gets super scary and is...
Hawaii Surf Spot Tour: Diamond Head Cliffs on Oahu
This is a crowd favorite. Picks up a bit of surf all the time. Blows out with true trades. Best in early mornings or late afternoons -- good for windsurfing when its blown. Rarely gets super scary and is...
Room with a View: ResortQuest Waikiki - Partial Ocean View in Hawaii Beats Most Views
Turn down the sound (painful commentary) and check out the views from the ResortQuest Waikiki on this video. This is a partial ocean view. Doh! You'll get this room for a pittance compared to far less tasty fare in...
Hawaii Honeymoon Hotel Tours -- Halekulani Honeymoon Suite
Here's a link to a nice, amateur tour of the honeymoon suite at the Halekulani. They won't let us embed the video but follow the link. It's a solid effort and the lady is lucky to stay in such a...
Blogging at HotelChatter.com -- Aqua's New Gem in Waikiki
Here's my post on HotelChattter.com regarding the new Aqua property in Waikiki. We love this feisty little Hawaii hotel chain, Aqua Hotels, for taking a modern spin on Waikiki resorts. Alas, they've only been able to grab second-tier (and sometimes...
Local Cocktail Mavens X 4: The Taste of Hawaii Summer
Honolulu Star-Bulletin (props to local barfly Jason Gengabus) has the 411 on what local mixologists are tossing into the blender this hot summer in paradise. Hint -- lots of retro drinks with Cuban origins. Go figure, like rum in the...
Waikiki Nei - Las Vegas Style Show done Hawaiian Style
As the readers of this blog know, I've always been a big fan of Waikiki. I've become an even bigger fan since its resurgence. The place was tired but now it looks a lot less so. Which is why I...
Where the Barflies Are in Honolulu: MyOpenBar.com Rocks Honolulu
So my friend, fellow blogger, and Hawaiirama poster Super CW has asked me a coupla times to do a post on her new venture. I did not want to put it up before because I wanted to make sure...
Army Museum Hawaii: Small, Interesting, In Waikiki
I'm back with another Microsoft Mobile post, coming at you from Fort DeRussy in Waikiki. When you see the Microsoft Mobile logo, you know I'm posting on the go. I am actually posting from a coffee shop right next...
Honolulu Dates: Rum Fire Video
I've blogged about the new bar at the Sheraton Waikiki, Rum Fire. It's a very literal place. You drunk rum. You sit next to fire pits. Got it? Very sleek, very chic. But don't take my word for it. The...
Microsoft Mobile Post: Waiola Shave Ice in Kapahulu: Why Drive to Country, Cuz?
A live Microsoft Mobile Post post coming at you. Microsoft is graciously sponsoring Hawaiirama in exchange for some relevant posts (none of which are about software). So I am blogging at you from Kapahulu, sitting on the bench outside...
Honolulu Restaurants: Shokudo Review, New Wave Japanese
I'm posting from Shokudo, a Japanese restaurant right next to Ala Moana Shopping Center and five minutes from Waikiki. This mobile post, typed on the go from my laptop whilst I polish off a platter of ahi tatami atop...
Hawaii Night Surfers: Waikiki by Moonlight
This is a great article by Derek Farrar on what its like to go night surfing in Waikiki. I personally am a huge fan of night surfing, particularly in mellow waves like you find on the South Shore of Oahu...
Waikiki Parking Sticker Shock: Hawaii Hotel News
The good travel agents over at Travel Hawaii have done some homework on what guests pay to park at different hotels in Waikiki. It's a definite eye-opener. Rates range from free at the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Tower to $25 per...
Live Audio from Kaimana Beach -- Not That It's Any Different Than Any Other Day Here
Another hearty mahalo to Mister Softee (Microsoft) for sponsoring Hawaiirama for a bit and funding my outrageous restaurant habit. Thanks, Bill! I got your back in Hawaii! Check out a brief audio post covering one of my favorite beaches...
"Waikiki is Scary": Terrified Residents Plead with Hawaii Cops to Make Resort Mecca Safer
Waikiki is called crowded, wonderful, and all sorts of other adjectives. Lately, it's being called a new word by residents who live there -- dangerous. A rise of high-profile, seemingly random low-grade violence has roiled the community enough to cause...
Hawaii Hotels: Aqua Waikiki Wave, A Relative Bargain
Aloha, Bruce here form Hawaii Aloha Travel, I am a local based travel agent who specializes in helping people plan Hawaii Vacations. I contribute reviews to Hawaiirama and also have my own blog, podcast and vodcast with lots of information...
Jimmy Buffett Opens Restaurant in Waikiki: Gone Corporate, Mate?
Sellout. That's all I got to say about Jimmy Buffett's announced plans to open a $15 million restaurant in the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Waikiki. The hotel is fine. Waikiki is actually great - I love it and spend...
Hawaii Hotel Review: Pacific Beach Hotel
Bruce blogging over at Hawaii-Aloha.com has a great video review of the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki. He's all over this puppy and Bruce makes this visits unannounced so there's no way to paper over any problems. This hotel is...
Beginner Surfspots - Diamond Head, Near Waikiki, Not Much Crowd
It's a hoof down the cliffs and most schools won't take you there because it's a bit shallow but on a calm, clear day there is alway surf at the base of Diamond Head and the waves are extremely...
Beachhouse at the Westin Moana Surfrider: Waikiki Steak House, New Hawaii Classic
Last week I finally got to eat at the Beachhouse. My friend John Heckathorn had told me I had to eat there. He is a picky eater, and he was right. First, let's talk about the hotel. I had...
Rainbow Drive In: Bad Moco in Hawaii
Tasty Island is one of my favorite local food blogs. I only wish they would post more. Here they pull a fully contrarian review, dressing down the Rainbow Drive In surf diner for sub-par loco moco (a Hawaii staple,, a...
Real Italian Food in Waikiki from a Japanese Chef:
Two of my good foodie friends, Lesa Griffith (who blogs here for the Honolulu Academy of Arts) and Dave Choo, have recommended Taormina as solid. Dave said it was good and I trust his judgement. Lesa used to work as...
D.K. Steakhouse in Waikiki: I Wll Never Eat There Again
Ate there last night with two friends. Not going to tell you why -- will leave it up to an upcoming review in a local publication, in which I was a participant. But leave it at this. Do not eat...
Good Hong Kong Chinese in Waikiki at a Resto Named Beijing
Restaurant reveiwer Wanda Adams susses out a newish (or at least unheralded until now) Chinese joint in Waikiki. The verdict? It's all good, if you dig garlic. Highlight - wontons in spicy garlic and chili. BEIJING CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Advertiser...
Royal Garden Goes Timeshare: A Pox Removed from Waikiki
Time was, the Royal Garden Hotel in Waikiki was a happening place. The marble lobby aped elegance and the upstairs rooms were quite fine. The lush pool was a showpiece and Cascada Restaurant, helmed by Chef Sayada, put out supremely...
RumFired Up: Hawaii's First Rum Bar
You knew that rum was the next boutique vodka, right? I'd been waiting for a bar like this to hit Hawaii for some time. I learned to love sipping rums (akin to single malts) on a trip to Venezuela 20...
American Apparel to Open in Waikiki: Hooray!
OK, so even if the company founder has bizarre sexual proclivities, gotta be happy that American Apparel is coming to Waikiki. We have been buying their clothes for years on my trips to NYC. They are clean, fresh, increasingly organic,...
Vera Wang Shop to Shutter: Bummer
Pacific Business News reports that the really nifty Vera Wang brand shop , one of the signature shops at the posh Halekulani is going to shutter after the designer shut down here signature jewelry line, which as one of the...
Hawaii Hotel Reviews: Sheraton Waikiki, Pleasant Surprise
Aloha, Bruce here again! Friday night we had an opportunity to stay at the Sheraton Waikiki and to tell you the truth, I really didn't know what to expect because it's been a while since I've actually stayed at the...
Waikiki Date Rape Incidents: Watch Your Mai Tai, Ladies
Honolulu Advertiser reported a week or so ago about a mysterious spate of date rate incidents at a still unnamed Waikiki bar (cops say they can't say location b/c of ongoing investigation -- this sounds nutty to me and others)....
Update on Renovated Version of Moana Surfrider: Old Hawaii Still In the House
If you don't remember, I'm Bruce from Hawaii-Aloha.com, a Hawaii-based travel agency with excellent local expertise and an unbiased POV. I thought I would bring you up tp date with whats happening at the Moana Surfrider. The Moana hotel originally...
Latest Review from John Heckathorn -- Some Promising New Japanese Joints, Some Real Duds
John reviewed five places for this issue (whew!), all Japanese. The buffets (no, John, no!) he kinda sorta liked. Thankfully, he was into Kaiwa, a restaurant I'd been hearing very good things about. The other place he likes, Shigezo, is...
Crazy Cocktail this Friday at Halekulani
I wangled an invite to the the INNAUGURAL TRAVEL + LEISURE'S BEVERAGE ARTS CHALLENGE 2007 this Friday at the posh Halekulani. This the culmination of a massive cocktail combination pitting 250 mixologists against each other in a quest to come...
Deep Fried Pickles at MAC 24-7
This is why I love Mixed Plate Special. Video food reviews. I know the Advertiser is doing video but they are mostly little snippets with no soul. The MPS crew is funky, irreverent and a lot of fun. I disagree...
Duke's Lagoon -- From Slime Pit to Sparkling Swimming Hole
For several decades, Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, the fetid body of water fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort (or part of it, since that place is HUGE), has long been an unsightly eyesore. Infested with jellyfish, coated with slime and cursed...
Massive Renovations of the Royal Hawaiian: Looking Good
The legendary Pink Palace, an iconic presence on the sands of Waikiki, has long been a bit of a paradox. It oozes elegance and bygone luxury yet has clearly lacked TLC, staff training, and any decent food to speak of....
Hawaii Hotels: Suite Deal at Outrigger Reef on the Beach
The Outrigger Reef on the Beach has undergone a lot of renovations in the past year. True, it's still a box on the beach and hardly an architectural marvel. But the Outrigger chain has done a nice job of renovating...
Hawaii Hotel Deals: Farecast on Waikiki Bargains
I am a huge fan of Farecast.com, a sight that predicts airfare trends (and can help you save a lot of money by timing your buys). Farecast also is doing hotels and they are comparing past rates to current offerings...
Puka Dogs in Waikiki - More Haute Hot Dogs (And Lilikoi Ketchup)
Continuing on the Hawaii high-end hot dog meme, my friend Lesa Griffith at the Honolulu Advertiser comes out with a review of Hank's Haute Dogs (which I blogged about earlier) but adds a mouth-watering review of a second gourmet dog...
Hawaii Travel Tips: Best Waikiki Hotel for Families
Just got a good question in from Dr. S in our comments. I get asked this question a lot. So here's the answer, Dr. S. "We are coming to oahu in oct with 4 kids (7 mos, 3 yr, 6...
Waikiki Super Pool on Tap at Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Waikiki
I just blogged about the Royal Hawaiian yesterday but heck, hard to miss this news. The owners of the the four big Starwood properties in Waikiki -- the Royal Hawaiian, the Westin Moana Surfrider, the Princess Kaiulani and the...
Hawaii Hotel Deals: Royal Hawaiian On Sale
With occupancy rates continuing to fall in Hawaii and the summer travel season sleepier than normal, lots of deals to be had out there. The Sheraton Royal Hawaiian is offering a pretty good one -- $289 for an ocean view...
Hawaii Nightlife: Partying With Owen Wilson
The lovable low-brow comedy star was spotted in June cutting the rug at an afterhours club event in the Hanohano Room at the Sheraton Waikiki. Apparently, Wilson showed up for the extremely popular and still red hot after two years...
Hawaii Restaurants: Halekulani's House Without a Key Lambasted
I personally love the House Without a Key. It's where we've gone to eat many, many nights. with guests in town. When I was drinking man, I tossed back countless potent Mai Tais mixed up at this oceanfront restaurant on...
Hawaii Hotels: Free Phone Calls / Web Access at Outrigger
Seems Outrigger is joining the free phone and Internet frenzy with an offer of free dial tone and high-speed Internet access at the Outrigger Reef, one of their flagship beachfront properties in Waikiki. This hotel has undergone extensive renovations and...
The New, New Waikiki: A Quick Roundup
Waikiki has been getting a lot of travel section and magazine press of late. A slew of hotels have rebranded, revamped, and renovated. A new, massive and quite attractive airy mall has opened, the Waikiki Beach Walk. The ugliest tourist...
Best Hawaii Bars: Halekulani's Lewers Lounge Makes Esquire Mag's List of Best Bars in America
Well, of course it was. I've blogged about the refined pleasures of the Lewers Lounge on several occasions and in more than one blog. I'm glad to see the folks at Esquire agree with me. Of course, there are a...
Hawaii Hotels: Renovation Almost Done at Moana - Can Westin Upgrade the Service?
For most of the past two decades, the historic and lovely Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel may have been the most underwhelming hotel in Hawaii. A lovely wooden, turn-of-the-century Victorian structure in virginal white, the Moana is one of two remaining...
Tropical Drink Recipe of the Week: Pink Mai Tai from Royal Hawaiian
You can quaff cold glasses of this riff on a traditional Mai Tai at the "Mai Tai" Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, which has, arguably, one of the better Mai Tais on Earth. INGREDIENTS: * 1 oz....
Hawaii Restaurants: First Look at Roy's Waikiki: Hawaii Diner has the Goods
I often don't agree with what Gail Jennings at Hawaii Diner has to say but I love reading her stuff anyway. Here she gives us a sneak peak at the new Roy's at Waikiki Beach Walk. This is a "Mock"...
Hawaii Culture: Must Do: Brothers Caz 30th Annual May Day Concert at the Shell
Roland and Robert Cazimero have been top dogs in the contemporary Hawaiian music scence for three decades and their stellar chops and soulful songwriting and innovative adaptation of older tunes is unquestions. Each year, the Brothers Caz have rocked out...
Waikiki Hotels: The Secret Pyramid - the Diamond Head Beach Hotel
I had been meaning to write up this wonderful condotel set at the far side of Waikiki close to Diamond Head and the uncrowded shoreline on the eastern side of this resort town. Here's an image of the view...
Sunset on the Beach: A Convenient Place for "An Inconvenient Truth"
I've blogged about the amazing Sunset on the Beach series in Waikiki. This Sunday (meaning today) the film on offer is the Al Gore documentary about global warming. How fitting that the show takes place on a beach that could...
Don Ho: R.I.P. -- Thanks for the Memories!
UPDATE: The Honolulu Advertiser has an enormous and well-done package on Don Ho, a veritble primer on his life and times. Don Ho, who had been suffering from chronic heart disease, passed on today. I was fortunate to catch his...
Another Revolving Restaurant Post: Top of Waikiki
On the heels of the last post, I'd thought I'd bring in another post on the topic. While La Ronde is long gone, the Top of Waikiki is still spinning, quite literally. Atop the Waikiki Business Plaza, the Top of...
First Revolving Restaurant in the World: Ala Moana Flashback
Food blog SeriousEating has a nifty post on the history of revolving restaurants.Turns out the first one ever was opened in 1961 in Hawaii by Seattle architect John Graham atop the Ala Moana Office Building (where it remains today doing...
Sheraton Waikiki Renovation Update: Floor Six or Higher
I've covered here before the Sheraton Waikiki's ongoing renovations. So when a news release hit my box claiming the hotel had completed $55 million in room renovations, I thought it might be a good time to update with the good...
Waikiki Jellyfish Attack: 15 year-old Goes to Hospital With Gnarly Sting
A quick reminder from mother nature that even small, squishy packages pack a punch in King Neptune's Garden. The monthly box jellyfish onslaught that washes ashore in Waikiki and along southern shores of Oahu sent an unsuspecting visitor to the...
Hawaiirama Barack Obama Vacation Tours -- The Platinum Version
Ho, cuz! Barack got some kala! (That's money in Hawaii slang). So now that Barack has raised almost as much money as Hillary Clinton, me thinks he can afford a REAL NICE Hawaiian vacation at this point. Not that I...
Tricks for Desperate Times -- The Glass Elevator in the Sheraton Waikiki
Waikiki on a rainy day with small children can be, well, a total frigging nightmare. Take away the beach, the ocean, the Honolulu Zoo and the park and there simply is not enough there for kids to do. You can...
Lucky Brand Jeans Come to Waikiki -- Yay!
So this hip jeans and casual clothes chain is pitching a tent in Waikiki. Why am I enthused? Well, a couple of reasons. First, I love New York. Stay with me here, please. One of my favorite things about New...
Starwood Planning Major Waikiki Redo: More Traffic, Better Waikiki?
First Outrigger pushed through its massive Beach Walk Project, now nearly finished, in western Waikiki. Now Starwood is planning a similar sized renovation and rejuvenation of its four major Waikiki properties, the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, the Sheraton...
Eddie Kamae at the Elk's Club: Hana Hou!
We had heard a rumor that Eddie Kamae, the phenomenal Hawaiian musician who was a sidekick of Gabby Pahinui, was playing a semi-regular guest gig at the Honolulu Elks Lodge in Waikiki. It was true. So we went down yesterday...
Civilized Fireworks Venues for New Year's Eve in Hawaii
Where to watch the pyrotechnics and croon "Auld Lang Syne" in paradise? The fireworks displays in Hawaii aren't as impressive as those found in bigger metropolises. But the setting tends to make up for that, thank you very much. Here...
Hawaii Nightlife: Pipeline Cafe -- Your View May Be Limited
A word to the wise. This bar bills itself as a concert venue. Don’t be fooled. The concert part is an afterthought due to the confines of the space and the crazy crowd factor. The Pipe is long and very...
Oahu Hotels: New Years Eve - Not Much Room at the Inn (Apparently)
I've been searching for hotel rooms for a quick New Year's jaunt down to Waikki to enjoy the madness and the fireworls. And, not surprisingly, good room deals are hard to find. Many hotels are already sold out. I wanted...
You Can Pet the Cucumber: Waikiki Aquarium Reef Walk
I am standing ankle-deep in turquoise water that's washing over a shoreline reef I'm doing something I have never done before: petting a cucumber. A black sea cucumber, to be exact, held by Mark Heckman, an educator at the Waikiki...
Hawaii Hotels: Embassy Suites Opens In Waikiki w/$199 Ka'amaaina Deal
Call it Hawaii's own version of the Big Dig in Boston. The $625 million Waikiki Beach Walk Project has disrupted traffic, made a handful of Waikiki hotels far less habitable, kicked up dust and turned up the volume so loud...
Fares to Honolulu from Newark International -- January Snapshot
My favorite way to travel to and from New York is on the non-stop Continental flight from Newark International to Honolulu. It's a daily departure. In fact, I've found Newark to be the most convenient way in and out of...
Matthew Gray Food Tours: Cheap(er) Eats Than Usual
Former Honolulu Adverttiser food reviewer and all around bon vivant Matthew Gray shifted from writing to tour guide a few years back when he opened his own foodie tour biz. I have not been on one of his sojourns around...
A Piece of Paradise More Affordable?
So it looks like the long, crazy real estate run is over in Hawaii. The median price of homes sold on Oahu fell nearly 5% in November as compared to the same month in 2005. This is the first time...
Freak Waikiki Sailboat Accident Kills One, Critically Injures Another
You've probably already read about the accident, which happened on Dec. 2, if you arrived at this post. If not, quick recap.The catamaran Na Hoku II was sailing off Waikiki in fairly heavy winds with dozens of tourists aboard for...
Cool Hawaii Shops: MaHaLo Water Boutique
First it was gourmet coffee. Then it was gourmet tea. Now its...gourmet water? Well, Japanese visitors swear by the stuff. And for sheer gimmick value, its hard to beat. The water comes from the Kona Coast of the Big Island,...
Advertiser Blogger Catherine Toth: Good Stuff
When Honolulu Advertiser staff writer (and former Cherry Blossom Beauty Queen), Catherine Toth started her blog for the paper a few months ago, I anticipated gossipy pop-culture Oprah Winfrey pap. Toth writes great stories on surfing and food. Her columns...
Taylor Steele in the House: Sipping Jetstreams Drops in on Honolulu
Noted surf filmmaker -- and best friend of the old-school surf pros -- Taylor Steele teamed up with hot surf photographer Dustin Humphrey for “Sipping Jetstreams.” This double-barreled effort is both a movie and a coffee-table book of the duo’s...
Department of Relentless Commercialism: Waikiki Land Grab
It's really a tiny pocket beach between the Sheraton Waikiki and the Halekulani. I guess they call it Grey's Beach and its a nice spot. There's a beautiful shady hau tree that's nice to sit under when the homeless haven't...
Hawaii XMas Shopping: Spring for Vera Wang
Who doesn't like Vera Wang? Her designs are timeless, clean, and classy. Her color selection is subtle. The fabrics and materials she uses are sublime. I was in the Vera Wang Boutique at the plush Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki this...
Hawaii Hotel Reviews: Hilton Hawaiian Village
Pros: The Hilton sits on a stretch of rather nice beach, one of the widest in Waikiki. While its rarely empty, this beach tends to feel less crowded than the other primary Waikiki beaches. There is a great swimming channel...
Hawaii Hotels: Boutique, Sleek Aqua
Hawaii has a dearth of boutique hotels. Most properties are run by super-mammoth companies like Starwood or Hyatt. Many indie hotels are still too big to be boutique, or they are just plain dowdy and underkept. Aqua Hotels and Resorts...
Hawaii Condos: The Donald Does Waikiki Quite Nicely
UPDATE: THE ENTIRE TRUMP TOWER PROJECT SOLD OUT IN A DAY. THAT'S RIGHT, ONE DAY. THIS IS NUTS! The Donald is apparently a perfect fit for Waikiki. So far, according to this article in the Honolulu Advertiser, Trump's planned 462-unit...
Cool Bars: Hula Grill
The Hula Grill, located on the second floor of the Outrigger Waikiki, really shouldn’t be a cool bar—at least not the type most Honolulu aficionados would enjoy. But on a Halloween evening, as Kalakaua Avenue flared with devils and pirates,...
Hawaii Beach Video of the Day: Waikiki 360
A 360-degree shot of the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. This is one of the widest beach stretches along Waikiki and its got great surfing offshore (Kaiser's), a wonderful swimming channel, and an easy...
Don Ho: Waikiki's Original Donald
If anyone of you out there reading hasn't hummed along to "Tiny Bubbles" at some point in you life, then, well, your probably lying! This anthem to cheap champagne entered the musical anthology of America courtesy of Don Ho, the...
Cool Shops: Cina Cina Hawaii
Asiaphile shopaholics tend to lose their minds in Honolulu. You can buy hard-to-find purple chinese clay teapots from Taiwan, rare antique Japanese tansu chests, and jade of all shapes and shades. There's also a ton of nifty east-meets-west fusion...
The Next Generation Part 3: Whither HRC or Wither HRC?
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 3. Here is part 1. and part 2. That hasn't...
Hawaii Spa Reviews: Waikiki Planatation Spa -- Big, Nice, Loud?
Note from editor: I am going to be publishing a series of spa reviews here on Hawaiirama. These are based on first-hand experiences and are not complimentary or reduced rate treatments. I personally know nothing about spas. So I'm sending...
Honolulu Hotels: Film Fest Room Deal, Cocktails, Tix
Movie buffs -- no, it's not too late. The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (you can call it the HIFF if you want as the LVHIFF doesn't roll off the tongue) has a total deal with Starwood's four Waikiki...
Honolulu Hotels: Trip Advisor Rankings Takedown
Very often when I go to look up a property on Trip Advisor I scratch my head at its ranking. Why? I have lived in Hawaii for over a decade. I know virtually all the hotels in Waikiki. And while...
Honolulu Hotels: Hyatt Regency Waikiki -- Boxy But Safe
Pros: Like most Hyatt properties, this hotel is extremely clean and well maintained. Service is strong. Rooms comfortable. The pool deck is a great place to hang out and watch the waves but avoid the hoi polloi on Kuhio Beach....
Honolulu Weekly Bar Guide Online
The Honolulu Weekly published its annual (first?) Bar Guide for Oahu a week ago. Now you can view it online (which is a good thing because its always there and because the nifty graphics in the print version were illegibly...
Cool Bars: Tiki's
Tiki’s Bar & Grill, located on the eastern edge of the Waikiki strip, is the kind of breezy, ocean-view experience you would expect find amid the array of Honolulu nightlife—an experience that is more unique than you’d think....
Waikiki Hotel Review: ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel
Pros: Not to be confused with the more upscale ResortQuest Waikiki Tower. Underwent extensive renovations several years ago. The swimming pool and common areas are very cool, kitschy Hawaiian (think Don Ho's bachelor pad). The flaming volcano above the...
Deal of the Week: $699, 5 nts + Air from Chicago
A total steal. The Ohana Maile Sky Court is not on the beach and its not luxurious. In fact, the building is non-descript at best. But its clean and functional and Ohana hotels are reliable. The property is two blocks...
Cool Shops: In4Mation
Triple 5 Soul meets the beach. This two-store chain, run by four partners with deep roots in the surf/skate set (including sponsored pro surfer Jun Jo) brings urban design ethos and fresh threads to the aloha shirtless masses. Stussy,...
Foodie Deal Alert: Sam Choy's Diamond Head 20% Off
Cruising Costco Hawaii Kai the other day I spotted a nifty gift card bonusorama from Sam Choy's Diamond Head. Cough up $80 at Costco and get two $50 giftcards good for all meals at Sam's! I personally am a big...
Hawaii Spas: Spa On High; "It's All About Me!"
The Waikiki Plantation Spa takes the pleasure principle to new heights in Hawaii -- quite literally. Located on the penthouse level of the Outrigger on the Beach Hotel - an unremarkable beachfront property recently buffed, polished and expertly repositioned upscale - the new spa floats serenely above the surfers, the blue waters and the crowded sidewalks of Waikiki.
Hawaii Hotels: Your Mileage May Vary
With 1,695 rooms (!!!!), the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel is the largest structure in Waikiki. And it's a classic example of the kinds of traps that await unsuspecting travelers expecting Hawaii paradise. The Expedia description notes that hotel rooms are...
