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HHVC Hawaiian village food/authentic luau?

Zac495

Zac495

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Location
Philadelphia, PA
Our first week is in Oahu.
We'll go out one night without the kids - thinking
Sushi Sasabune - How far away is the city?

We thought we might go out one night with kids - tripadvisor suggested:

Hau Tree Lanai Restaurant
outdoorAddress: 2863 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815
The Hau Tree Lanai is on the beach in the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.

We will do Polynesian cultural center - figured maybe the luau there? My husband wants to go to one that the people on the island go to - not a tourist trap.

Thoughts?


The rest of dinners will be barbecue or inexpensive places at the hotel. Does Kali (we have a one bedroom ocean view) have a barbecue on the lanai? Or is it easy to get to a grill?

What little restaurants are walking distance (with a view!) in the village that will be inexpensive?

We want to keep food cost down, as we're staying at the Marriott's hotel in Kauai - which will be expensive (and another thread elsewhere). THANKS for the help!!! :cheer: :cheer:
 
Ellen,
Almost all the restaurants in the HHV are expensive. (In fact, everything at the HHV is expensive). The Pizza place isn't bad, but not "cheap". Also, there are no BBQ's there at all. There are some in the park between the HHV and the Hale Koa.
The "Shorebird" is at the Outrigger Reef. Oceanfront breakfast buffets at much less than the HHV. Use Coupon! Reasonable dinners after 8:00 with a coupon. (Get coupons in the Friday or Sunday newspaper for 50% off).
There is a walkway along the beach that will take you over to the Shorebird and then Lewers street, where there are tons of reasonable restaurants. It's about a 10-15 minute walk.
As far as the Luau, Paradise Cove, Germaine's and the Polynesian Cultural center are all touristy. Paradise Cove seems to get the most votes here.
 
Hawaii is a big melting pot of Asian/Pacific Culture. So, depending on what you want to call true Hawaiian dishes you will find only a few close to Waikiki. Most of them are fusion of Asian Dishes, to include Hawaiian. The best Hawaiian restaurant is a place called Ono's. I might have to get back with you on the address. I know how to get there by land marks but not street address. It is a hole in the wall with very limited sitting but they serve true Hawaiian.

As for Luau, the best I was told was Germains, which is in or close to the Ko Olina Resorts. I live in Hawaii but never been to a commercial Luau, so I have no experience.

Polynesian Culture center is great! I always bring visiting friends and family there. You can waste the whole day/night there. Make sure you see the show at night. It is spectacular.

Deros
 
The cheapest place for food in HHV is the ABC Store. But, it's a food store/convenience store not a restaurant.

I don't remember how far a L&L Bbq is from HHV, but they are a good place for mixed plate/plate lunch.

Zippy's is another locals place.

Even though it's not cheap ice cream Lappert's in HHV is yummy.

We have not been to the Polynesian Cultural Center, but I think we will go up there this trip, but just for the day and not the Luau. I think most luau's are all kind of tourist traps, but they are still fun. We went to the Paradise Cove Luau and quite enjoyed it. But to me once at a luau is enough, so we have not done one since.
 
I doubt you'll find a luau that the "locals" go to. The only way you'd find an authentic luau is to be invited to one that a local group, or family, is giving.
 
Zac495 said:
Our first week is in Oahu.
We'll go out one night without the kids - thinking
Sushi Sasabune - How far away is the city?
Click to expand...
Sushi Sasabune is a fantastic choice - but it is a cab or car ride away.

Zac495 said:
We thought we might go out one night with kids...
Click to expand...
Another thought might be taking the afternoon tea at The Veranda at the Moana Surfrider. Great view and atmosphere and (at least our) kids find there is something intrinsically FUN about eating an afternoon tea.

Zac495 said:
... maybe the luau there? My husband wants to go to one that the people on the island go to - not a tourist trap.
Click to expand...
For better or worse, a luau that you can buy a ticket to will be by definition a tourist trap - locals don't pay to go to a luau. If you really are interested in getting that luau vibe, my suggestion would be to pick a Saturday or Sunday, get your beach toys/gear, buy a couple plate lunches from Keneke's in Waimanalo and then eat at Waimanalo beach park. There will be lots of locals with their kids eating, playing, drinking, swimming, and then eating and drinking some more. Do the same.

Zac495 said:
What little restaurants are walking distance (with a view!) in the village that will be inexpensive?
Click to expand...
The quick answer is that there aren't any. That said, you can find some relatively inexpensive good 'hole in the walls' on Beachwalk St (just past Ft. Derussey) - I've found fabulous sushi (Sushi Koh) and noodles (name escapes me). You can also find inexpensive food in the area along and behind Kuhio but the quality is more suspect.
 
Zac495 said:
What little restaurants are walking distance (with a view!) in the village that will be inexpensive?
Click to expand...

"Inexpensive" is not in the vocabulary at HHV. ;)

For dining with a view, think Rainbow Tower (Bali By the Sea (menu) or Rainbow Lanai (menu)) or Ali'i Tower (Tropics Bar & Grill).

Other choices (no view) are Italian (Sergio's), Japanese (Hatsuhana), a New York-style deli, Round Table Pizza, and Benihana.

Roger
 
We always go to Hau Tree for lunch at least once whenever we're on Oahu.We like to stroll along Waikiki all the way there and back,we like the "setting" and the food in the restaurant-small and elegant---a lot of locals go there.

If you like Thai food,right across from HHV there is a lovely little restaurant called Singha Thai,especially their assorted appetizer for 2---such beautiful plating and tasty too. We would only go for dinner,it's right underneath the Japanese restaurant Todai.If you go to their website,there is a 2 for1 coupon.

Enjoy your stay in Hawaii.
 
Zac495 said:
Our first week is in Oahu.
We'll go out one night without the kids - thinking
Sushi Sasabune - How far away is the city?
Click to expand...

Ellen - you will be right in the middle of the city of Honolulu.

HiltonHawaiianVillage.jpg


We will do Polynesian cultural center - figured maybe the luau there? My husband wants to go to one that the people on the island go to - not a tourist trap.
Click to expand...

This is a huge buffet style "luau." We enjoyed the PCC and the big nightly show, but skip the "luau" - too much like Home Town Buffet.

Besides private luaus, sometimes luaus are held for charitable fund raisers, and you will find locals at these, too. Check the local newspaper.

I haven't looked lately, but the Hawaii Entertainment book used to have very good discounts for Honolulu.
 
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While it might be considered a tourist trap, we enjoyed the luau right there at HHV. They have it two nights a week, the entertainment was good and we both enjoyed the food. We went the first night it was available and then watched it a second time from our balcony with a pizza from Round Table pizza.

As mentioned, the restaurants in HHV are not inexpensive. Still, I did not feel that the Benny Hana's (sp?) was to badly overpriced, there was a noodle restaurant that wasn't to bad and there's another NY Style restaurant (can't recall the name) in the village that wasn't to bad for breakfast. Within walking distance is a Cheeseburger in Paradise but, it doesn't have a view. We were told to walk up the beach to Duke's but never made it. I believe they have an early bird special that was suppose to be reasonably.

Not exactly on everyone's list of places to eat while in Hawaii but, there is a Red Lobster within walking distance as well. Prices there did not seem out of line with prices on the main land.

We also had an inexpensive lunch after touring the Dole Plantation. It's cafeteria style food but, the pineapple chili hot dogs were interesting (and actually tasty). If you're up by the north shore the Dole plantation also has clean bathrooms if you need a potty stop along the way. If you're thinking about bringing pineapples home, dont' worry about buying them at the Dole Plantation. They sell plenty of them already boxed up at the airport. Just keep in mind you carry on limitations. If you do buy pineapples at the Dole Plantation and want to take them home, save your receipt. The inspectors at the airport may want to see it and it can get you through the pineapple inspection a little faster. In our case, they never asked for it and just waved us through.
 
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dougp26364 said:
While it might be considered a tourist trip, we enjoyed the luau right there at HHV. They have it two nights a week, the entertainment was good and we both enjoyed the food.
Click to expand...

It's now five nights a week.
 
Duke's is good, reasonably priced, with a view of the beach.

Inexpensive and view are generally oxymorons in Hawaii. For more inexpensive food, there's a huge food court and other restaurants in the Ala Moana mall within walking distance. There are lots of restaurants in all price ranges in the area around the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, which is also within walking distance.
 
HHV Food

Has anyone been to the new tropics cafe on the beach in the HHV? They were building it when we were there in Dec. and were scheduled to open in April. It was supposed to have fire pits and live entertainment. It sounded like a nice place for a casual lunch or dinner. It was supposed to compete with Dukes.
It addition there is a IHOP across the street and a MacDonalds. Across from the Mcdonalds is a larger ABC store that has a larger food selection. It is like a mini supermarket. They had frozen steaks and roasts as well as most vegatables. Next to the Prince hotel is a Red Lobster and a Outback. Across from the marina is a Bar/Rest that had a great cheap breakfast. It is called the Harborview. Lots of locals go there. Lots of nice places if you just walk around.
Looking forward to our trip 32 days and counting:cheer:
 
The food court at Ala Moana shopping center.
 
HatTrick said:
It's now five nights a week.
Click to expand...

linsj said:
And now on top of the convention center instead of the lawn by the Lagoon Tower.
Click to expand...

5 nights per week might be a bit of overkill. They weren't full either of the two nights when we were there but, that was January and things seemed a bit slow.

On top of the convention center instead of on the lawn? I don't think I'd be very impressed with that setting. Down on the lawn was very nice but, I suppose guests would watch from their rooms and feel they didn't need to really pay $100 to actually be in the crowd. I'm glad we went when we did.
 
BocaBum99 said:
If you want authentic Hawaiian food, go to Ono Hawaiian Foods on Kapahulu. Skip to luau and go there instead for food.

If you want to see good Hula, go to a hula competition like the Merrie Monarch festival. Or, find out when the King Kamehameha school is performing. That's good hula.
Click to expand...


Oh, I have to disagree L&L is better than Ono!;)

And if you want to see really good hula, just ask my wife to do the hula for you when you are there, she is quite the little hula mama, and has performed in various spots here in LA & the OC with the hulau (hula troop/group) she belongs to. :)

I will admit her hula and her hulau are not Merrie Monarch worthy, but they do have a lot of fun and they still can shake it up pretty good! :D
 
From personal experience, I would advise skipping the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The exhibits and experiences at the Center are great, but I wouldn't attend my only luau there. Many, many years ago a friend and I went to a month summer program for teachers at BYU Hawaii Campus; the dorm food was not good!

When my family returned in 1998 and had the luau at PCC, it reminded me of the same food served in the dorm. There is no alcohol at the PCC luau also. I am sure there are better luau's in Oahu than this one.


Sally
 
thinze3 said:
Ellen, Jim's holding back on you. :)
See his personal restaurant guide starting with post nine on this thread.
Click to expand...

There's a new burger joint at Kahala mall right next to Chili's. It's called "The Counter." There is absolutely no need to get a burger anywhere else. It's about the best burger I've had anywhere. Great Sweet potato fries, too.
 
There's "The Counter" here too in Santa Monica at Ocean Park Blvd & 30th street.
 
Not sure if it's "military only", but the Luau at the Hale Koa is actually fairly cheap and a good show...and it's within stumbling (I mean walking) distance.

Ono and L&L are both great choices! Duke's is great (stumbling distance as well) both with or without kids - can get pretty loud and fun on a Friday night.
 
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