3 Island Dinner Reservations...

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help! I want to make dinner/luau reservations for our honeymoon to Hawaii which is soooo close!! We are leaving on Nov 11. We will be on Kauai for 5 nights staying at the Sheraton Poipu Beach; then we will be at the Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk in Oahu for 7 nights, and ending at the Ka'anapali Beach Resort for 7 nights in Maui. Please let me know your favorite dinner spots (fancy, casual, or in between is all fine...) and 'not to miss' luau's or shows.

Thanks a lot! Amanda

PS- How long should we stay at the Polynesian Culteral Center (there is a 1 or 3 day pass I beleive), also which dining option is the best there?

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Congratulations!

I have two recommendations for Maui. One is Mama's Fish House. Pricey, but wonderful. The second is Kimo's in Lahaina. If you go, go early and ask for a table along the railing.

Welcome to Mama's Fish House Restaurant and Inn - Maui, Hawaii

Kimo's Restaurant - Lahaina, Maui Restaurant

[Juleen Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Juleen]

First of all, one day should be plenty for the Polynesian Cultural Center. There is so much to see and do on Oahu you'll want to have time for those, too. Second, you may want to save some days for just relaxing! Weddings, flights, etc are tiring and sometimes a down day here and there is priceless. As far as places to eat: Roy's ($$$$) on Oahu has excellent food--scenery isn't that great but be sure to save room for the chocolate souflee dessert--the food warrants a visit, believe me! On Kauai, we love Duke's Barefoot Bar in the Kauai Marriott for casual lunches. Located right on Kalapaki Bay it's a great place for a romantic lunch. We enjoy the stir fry($$), a little place we love is not fancy but great Asian food--Sukothai which is located in the the Wailea/Kapa'a area in a small shopping center with a Big Save Grocery Story and a Shell gas station. This place has awesome food, is very clean and is worth a try! ($$). Kimo's on the south shore is good ($$$$), but for a very romantic dinner, head to the north shore's Hanalei Bay Resort and get reservations for the Bali Hai Restaurant. Romance oozes from this place, time dessert with the sunset and ask for a table overlooking Hanalei Bay! <sigh>. The restaurants located in the Princeville Resort in Princeville are wonderful and the views awesome! Also in the town of Hanalei, Postcards ($$$) has some good food as down the Blue Dolphin. On Maui, I've heard that Mama's Fish House isn't as good as it was once--haven't tried it myself so not sure. We enjoy the Plantation House on the Kapalua Golf Course ($$$$). And for an excellent plate lunch (main course, two scoops of rice and mac salad be sure to find Okosuka's (or something like that)--just ask the locals for the exact name. It's close to the Ka'anapali Beach Club (AKA Embassy Vacation Resort) in a small center close to at Stars Grocery store. Well worth the search! As far as luaus, I think the Old Lahaina Luau is about the best in all the islands. However, advance reservations are highly suggested!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

In reponse to the last posting about Mama's not being as good as it used to be. Dh and I went back to Maui last spring (2006) after not having been there for several years. We went to Mama's (we had been there in the past)and were overwhelmingly impressed. The restaurant, and bar area, have been enlarged, the food (and service) were wonderful.

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

Thank you both for the great suggestions!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

In reponse to the last posting about Mama's not being as good as it used to be. Dh and I went back to Maui last spring (2006) after not having been there for several years. We went to Mama's (we had been there in the past)and were overwhelmingly impressed. The restaurant, and bar area, have been enlarged, the food (and service) were wonderful.

Our very picky friends just ate at Mama's in August and said it was wonderful, as was our meal there last summer.

If you like sushi, we also really like Sensei on Maui.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

We went to a Luau in Kauai that we enjoyed very much. I could look it up for you. The Luau at the Old Lahaina Luau in Maui is a nicer location because you overlook the ocean. We still like Mama's Fish House the best for fresh fish on the island of Maui but there may be other places too that we are not aware of. Mama's Fish House is getting too snooty for their own good and they act like they are doing you a favor if you book a reservation. If you want a good table, you need to call a few days in advance and the same for the Old Lahaina Luau. They may be booked up two weeks in advance already. People make reservations here a year ahead!

I agree with Luanne that Kimo's in Lahaina is a nice restaurant to have fresh fish too. We also like the Hula Grill on the sand of Ka-anapali beach for a sunset drink with some music which is part of this chain. It is wonderful. We prefer the restaurant in Lahaina over the inside restaurant here. They even have one in our area too on the beach.

If you go to the Cultural Center in Oahu, I would take the guided tour that includes a complete day plus the dinner and evening show. It will also include the bus tour. You can do it by city bus but don't ask me when the last one goes back and you do not want to miss the evening show. Don't expect too much from the dinner but the show is fabulous. It is better than a Luau "show" on any of the islands. JMHO.

I just tried to find the Luau we went to in Kauai and noticed that it is gone! I believe that it was the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort Luau where we met some interesting people from Australia and Europe because we sat at a long table. We also went to another one but it is so long ago that I don't remember the details. Here are the Luau shows that they have in Kauai today.

I have some pictures here of the Old Lahaina Luau show and the beautiful sunset we had that evening.

[Juleen Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Juleen]

The Kauai Coconut Beach Resort luau was always our favorite, too. It is still running but the resort itself has been bought and the name changed to the ResortQuest Kauai Beach at Makaiwa. The new owners poured millions of dollars into this resort which has an excellent location. The rooms are lovely and the grounds show a loving touch now, however, the luau hale burned to the ground about two years ago (we heard the fire dancer was being blamed but not sure what really happened). The last I heard this summer, the luaus were being held in a room on site which, in my opinion, just doesn't have the same feel. If you stay in this very nice resort, please be aware the beach is wonderful to walk on, to sit and read and to gaze at the incredible Hawaiian waters. However, it is listed as a "nonswimming beach" which translates to dangerous rip tides with waves that can smash you into the rocks. We personally have seen in the newspapers and on local Kauai TV of several people who have drowned there.

[Juleen Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Juleen]

Sounds to me like we have a conflict of opinions about Mama's Fish House! Thus, we must challenge everone traveling to Maui to eat there and report back here. That way, we can take a consenses of opinions and see what the majority thinks--happy eating! :O)

[Amanda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Amanda]

well I am definitely going to try Mamas fish house next month! My friend just got back from her honeymoon on Maui 2 weeks ago and went there and loved it........

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Sounds to me like we have a conflict of opinions about Mama's Fish House! Thus, we must challenge everone traveling to Maui to eat there and report back here. That way, we can take a consenses of opinions and see what the majority thinks--happy eating! :O)

Hmm, I didn't really see a conflict of opinion. One person, who hadn't been there said they'd heard it wasn't as good as it had been. A couple of us who have been there fairly recently, loved it and gave it great reviews. And one person who loved the food thought it was getting a bit "snobby" (and recommended advance reservations........which I would always recommend for a good restaurant).

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

The Bali Hai Restaurant at the Hanalei Bay Resort is a wonderful, romantic setting. Get a sunset reservation.

Near Po'ipu, Keiko's Paradise Paradise is good. We also enjoy Gaylord's, at the Kilohana Plantation.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

We are Mamma's fans, too. It is very pricey but the OP is looking for special honeymoon experiences & Mamma's definitely fits that category. Hula Grill is also a good choice, in my opinion, but certainly not in the same league as Mamma's.

On Kauai, I second the suggestion for Hanalei Bay resort for a romantic dinner. The setting is absolutely the best & the food & service is excellent. The one place that is usually suggested on these threads that I can't recommend is The Beach House. We used to love this place but our most recent visit was extremely disappointing. The food is not as good as it used to be & service, although ok, was not anything to rave about. The tables are really crowded together now so much of the ambiance is gone. I think the place is surviving on it's reputation from years past and is no longer worth the rather high prices. The Smith Family Luau in Kapaa is very enjoyable & has a really entertaining after-dinner show different from the typical luau shows. The actual meal is pretty good & has a nice variety. If you decide to go be sure to tell them it is your honeymoon when you book your reservations. They will make you feel special.

For future trips, my pick for the absolute best Luau is at the Kona Village Resort (the super big bucks place, not the Fairfield resort) on the BI. Worth every penny!