Destination



Honolulu, United States Guide - - Hotels, Restaurants, Nightlife - Classic Travel Honolulu, one of America’s most unique cities, is attracting a new generation of tourists. The city still has a wide variety of options for any type of traveler. Honolulu offers a plethora of restaurants with an urban feeling and many clubs to check out after that. Take a walk down Kalakaua Avenue, the main seaside drag in Honolulu, and be impressed by a street that now has waterfall flanked sidewalks. Luxury retailers like Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany have opened. The downtown area has been spiffed up for gallery openings and stuffed with even more dining of the ethnic variety. Then there is always the beach. Waikiki is one of the most dramatic beaches in Hawaii as well as the United States and now is a perfect time to check it out. With out a doubt, the Halekulani is our first choice for the best Honolulu hotel. Activities Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve Kalaniana’ole Highway Tel. 808.396.4229 www.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/welcome.htm To get a close up view of a beautiful and fragile Hawaiian ecosystem, head 10 miles east of Waikiki to Hanauma Bay. The waist-deep waters of this park offer a great opportunity for first time snorkelers. There is also an award-winning Marine Education Center for those that don’t wish to get wet. Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial 1 Arizona Memorial Road (Pearl Harbor) www.nps.gov/usar/ While Pearl Harbor is quite large, visitors flock to the Arizona Memorial and Visitor’s Center. Nevertheless, this is still a poignant experience for anyone interested in American history. The Arizona Memorial is a long white structure that sits above the USS Arizona, which was destroyed by the tragic bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, leading America into World War Two. The ship is just six feet below the monument, making it clearly visible. Polynesian Cultural Center Tel. 800.367.7060 www.polynesia.com The Alii Luau, winner of the coveted Kahili Award for preserving Hawaiian culture, is considered Oahu's most authentic luau. It's definitely worth the trip, about an hour from Waikiki Paradise Cove Luau Tel. 800.775.2683 www.paradisecovehawaii.com For those that enjoy luaus on the beach, Paradise Cove is a must-see. Dining L’Uraku 1341 Kapiolani Boulevard (Uraku Tower) Tel 808.955.0552 www.restauranteur.com/luraku/ As the curious fusion name indicates, Euro-Japanese Cuisine prevails at one of the top restaurants in Hawaii, L’Uraku. They use local greens and local seafood in all dishes. Suspended umbrellas with abstract paintings on them add an extra ‘wow’ to the already colorful expressionist paintings on the wall. Get a dinner off of the “tasting” menu and be taken care of all evening. La Mer 2199 Kalia Road (Halekulani Hotel) Tel. 808.923.2100 Impeccable Provencal cuisine comes ashore and is fused with the color of Hawaiian ingredients at La Mer – perhaps the finest fine dining spot in the Pacific. The spiced fresh fish is sublime, and so are the Angus beef, duck and lobster. Jackets are required for men. This is the only five-diamond restaurant on the island. Alan Wong’s Restaurant 1857 South King Street Tel. 808.949.2526 www.alanwongs.com Sit down and be dazzled by the style of Pacific Rim cuisine Alan Wong has made famous. Only the freshest ingredients from the land and the sea are cleverly fused to give the diner a true taste of the varied Hawaiian cultural, as well as culinary, palette. Nowhere else does Chinatown Roast Duck Nachos appear with the Hamakua Springs Tomato, Beet and Avocado Salad on the menu. Roy’s Restaurant 6600 Kalanianole Highway Tel. 808.396.7697 www.roysrestaurant.com “Fresh ingredients, assertive flavors, deliciously wrapped in a Hawaiian state of mind” boasts Roy’s web site. European sauces blended with Asian spices and Hawaiian ingredients make this one of Hawaii’s most enjoyable dining treats. A large collection of wines to choose from makes wine and food pairing a delight here. Roy’s can now be found in many cities on the mainland, but somehow it just tastes more authentic on the islands. Matsugen 255 Beach Walk Tel. 808.926.0255 http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/12/en/hawaii710120303.html Not just any noodles but the kind your great grandmother made (if she's from Japan). First it was in Tokyo, then Hononlulu and now in New York. Whether you have the noodles hot or cold you won't be disappointed. Shopping Ala Moana Shopping Center 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Tel. 808.955.9517 www.alamoana.com Experience the world’s largest open-air shopping center at Ala Moana. Burberry, Armani Exchange, Tiffany and many more elite lines are there. This is Hawaiian style one-stop shopping. Robyn Buntin of Honolulu 848 South Beretania Street Tel. 808.523.5913 www.robynbuntin.com Fine art from across the Pacific and Asia can be had at this art establishment. A handmade, silk Chinese overcoat from the 18th century, Meiji-period Japanese statues of bronze and ivory, and 17th century Korean pots comprise a small cross section of the amazing art available here. Na Limi Mili Hulu No’eau 762 Kapahulu Avenue Tel. 808.732.0865 Aunty Mary Lou and Paulette Kahalepuna run this beautiful feather shop. Inside, the visitor is engulfed with the site of traditional and colorful leas. The title means “skilled hands touch the feathers,” and shoppers might be lucky enough to own a pair of skilled hands if they let one of the ladies teach them some of their technique. Feather combs and feather hat-bands are also among the creations, which can be special ordered. This is a unique, indigenous Hawaiian experience. Nightlife O Lounge 1349 Kapiolani Boulevard Tel. 808.944.8436 Tues-Thurs open until Midnight Fri. & Sat. open until 2:00 am This is the newest night-spot in town catering to the beautiful Kanes and Wahines and their friends from the mainland. Zen themed with silk pillows, it's a converted Chinese restaurant adjacent to Waikiki. Wonder Lounge W Hotel 2885 Kalakau Avenue Tel. 808.922.1700 Before or after dinner be sure to check out this place. It's right on Waikiki Beach. Club Pipeline 805 Pohukaina Street Tel. 808.589.1999 Mon-Sat 4 pm - 4 am Sunday 10 pm - 4 am This nightclub has two stories with separate rooms for playing pool, dancing and lounging. Hula's Bar & Lei Stand 134 Kapahula Avenue Tel. 808.923.0669 www.hulas.com One of the oldest bars in Honolulu just happens to be a gay one. Although there are other gay bars, this one is a Honolulu institution and should be visited at least once.

Honolulu, United States Guide - - Hotels, Restaurants, Nightlife - Classic Travel

Honolulu, one of America’s most unique cities, is attracting a new generation of tourists. The city still has a wide variety of options for any type of traveler. Honolulu offers a plethora of restaurants with an urban feeling and many clubs to check out after that. Take a walk down Kalakaua Avenue, the main seaside drag in Honolulu, and be impressed by a street that now has waterfall flanked sidewalks. Luxury retailers like Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany have opened. The downtown area has been spiffed up for gallery openings and stuffed with even more dining of the ethnic variety. Then there is always the beach. Waikiki is one of the most dramatic beaches in Hawaii as well as the United States and now is a perfect time to check it out. With out a doubt, the Halekulani is our first choice for the best Honolulu hotel.

Activities

Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve
Kalaniana’ole Highway
Tel. 808.396.4229
www.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/welcome.htm
To get a close up view of a beautiful and fragile Hawaiian ecosystem, head 10 miles east of Waikiki to Hanauma Bay. The waist-deep waters of this park offer a great opportunity for first time snorkelers. There is also an award-winning Marine Education Center for those that don’t wish to get wet.

Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Road (Pearl Harbor)
www.nps.gov/usar/
While Pearl Harbor is quite large, visitors flock to the Arizona Memorial and Visitor’s Center. Nevertheless, this is still a poignant experience for anyone interested in American history. The Arizona Memorial is a long white structure that sits above the USS Arizona, which was destroyed by the tragic bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, leading America into World War Two. The ship is just six feet below the monument, making it clearly visible.

Polynesian Cultural Center
Tel. 800.367.7060
www.polynesia.com
The Alii Luau, winner of the coveted Kahili Award for preserving Hawaiian culture, is considered Oahu's most authentic luau. It's definitely worth the trip, about an hour from Waikiki

Paradise Cove Luau
Tel. 800.775.2683
www.paradisecovehawaii.com
For those that enjoy luaus on the beach, Paradise Cove is a must-see.

Dining

L’Uraku
1341 Kapiolani Boulevard (Uraku Tower)
Tel 808.955.0552
www.restauranteur.com/luraku/
As the curious fusion name indicates, Euro-Japanese Cuisine prevails at one of the top restaurants in Hawaii, L’Uraku. They use local greens and local seafood in all dishes. Suspended umbrellas with abstract paintings on them add an extra ‘wow’ to the already colorful expressionist paintings on the wall. Get a dinner off of the “tasting” menu and be taken care of all evening.

La Mer
2199 Kalia Road (Halekulani Hotel)
Tel. 808.923.2100
Impeccable Provencal cuisine comes ashore and is fused with the color of Hawaiian ingredients at La Mer – perhaps the finest fine dining spot in the Pacific. The spiced fresh fish is sublime, and so are the Angus beef, duck and lobster. Jackets are required for men. This is the only five-diamond restaurant on the island.

Alan Wong’s Restaurant
1857 South King Street
Tel. 808.949.2526
www.alanwongs.com
Sit down and be dazzled by the style of Pacific Rim cuisine Alan Wong has made famous. Only the freshest ingredients from the land and the sea are cleverly fused to give the diner a true taste of the varied Hawaiian cultural, as well as culinary, palette. Nowhere else does Chinatown Roast Duck Nachos appear with the Hamakua Springs Tomato, Beet and Avocado Salad on the menu.

Roy’s Restaurant
6600 Kalanianole Highway
Tel. 808.396.7697
www.roysrestaurant.com
“Fresh ingredients, assertive flavors, deliciously wrapped in a Hawaiian state of mind” boasts Roy’s web site. European sauces blended with Asian spices and Hawaiian ingredients make this one of Hawaii’s most enjoyable dining treats. A large collection of wines to choose from makes wine and food pairing a delight here. Roy’s can now be found in many cities on the mainland, but somehow it just tastes more authentic on the islands.

Matsugen
255 Beach Walk
Tel. 808.926.0255
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/12/en/hawaii710120303.html
Not just any noodles but the kind your great grandmother made (if she's from Japan). First it was in Tokyo, then Hononlulu and now in New York. Whether you have the noodles hot or cold you won't be disappointed.

Shopping

Ala Moana Shopping Center
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Tel. 808.955.9517
www.alamoana.com
Experience the world’s largest open-air shopping center at Ala Moana. Burberry, Armani Exchange, Tiffany and many more elite lines are there. This is Hawaiian style one-stop shopping.

Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
848 South Beretania Street
Tel. 808.523.5913
www.robynbuntin.com
Fine art from across the Pacific and Asia can be had at this art establishment. A handmade, silk Chinese overcoat from the 18th century, Meiji-period Japanese statues of bronze and ivory, and 17th century Korean pots comprise a small cross section of the amazing art available here.

Na Limi Mili Hulu No’eau
762 Kapahulu Avenue
Tel. 808.732.0865
Aunty Mary Lou and Paulette Kahalepuna run this beautiful feather shop. Inside, the visitor is engulfed with the site of traditional and colorful leas. The title means “skilled hands touch the feathers,” and shoppers might be lucky enough to own a pair of skilled hands if they let one of the ladies teach them some of their technique. Feather combs and feather hat-bands are also among the creations, which can be special ordered. This is a unique, indigenous Hawaiian experience.

Nightlife

O Lounge
1349 Kapiolani Boulevard
Tel. 808.944.8436
Tues-Thurs open until Midnight
Fri. & Sat. open until 2:00 am
This is the newest night-spot in town catering to the beautiful Kanes and Wahines and their friends from the mainland. Zen themed with silk pillows, it's a converted Chinese restaurant adjacent to Waikiki.

Wonder Lounge
W Hotel
2885 Kalakau Avenue
Tel. 808.922.1700
Before or after dinner be sure to check out this place. It's right on Waikiki Beach.

Club Pipeline
805 Pohukaina Street
Tel. 808.589.1999
Mon-Sat 4 pm - 4 am
Sunday 10 pm - 4 am
This nightclub has two stories with separate rooms for playing pool, dancing and lounging.

Hula's Bar & Lei Stand
134 Kapahula Avenue
Tel. 808.923.0669
www.hulas.com
One of the oldest bars in Honolulu just happens to be a gay one. Although there are other gay bars, this one is a Honolulu institution and should be visited at least once.