Mike sometimes jokes that he didn't really live in Hawaii, since he saw so little of it. Working an average of 80 hour weeks didn't help, and then an average of seven to nine months out at sea in any given year didn't help either. You'd be surprised at how many people want to get AWAY from the islands (they call it "Rock Fever"), but you almost get a little claustrophobic when you think that you can't really drive anywhere for very long before you end up right back where you started. Then there's the old riddle of why Hawaii bothered to build an INTERstate highway...
In any event, as long as you're willing to keep your mind open, there's a ton of things to do just on Oahu alone, even sifting through all the tourist trap nonsense. The hike up Diamond Head crater is breathtaking (in the exhaustion sense; the trail is mostly paved, but it's quite steep. Oh yes, the view is quite nice, too) The Polynesian Cultural Center (55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., Laie, HI 96762 Tel: 808-293-3333) is a rich resource of information on the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands, and is well worth at least a full day's visit. Strolling through Waikiki is a sociologist's dream come true, and may certainly satisfy the whimsy of the most die-hard shop-aholic as well. Chinatown is certainly a different experience from the one back in Seattle, as far as we're concerned -- Hawaii has a much larger percentage of Asians in the population, so Asian culture has a tendency to weave its way into daily life, sometimes in the damnedest of ways.
Obviously, if you're into aquatics, Hawaii is a tough act to follow. Some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving can be found within an hour's drive of Honolulu, and there are sailboat and dinner cruise excusions leaving almost around the clock. The beaches are almost always crowded with sun-worshippers from around the world to soak up the rays year round (I did say this place was like Pleasantville, didn't I? The weather forecasters around here actually have to think about the weather for maybe three days out of the year -- the rest of the time, the forecast is "Lows in the upper 70's, highs in the lower to mid 80's, light Mauka (mountain) showers in the afternoon, trade winds 10-15 mph.")
Of course, Oahu isn't the only island in the Hawaiian chain, and flights to neighbor islands are readily available. Depending on the kind of trip you want, there is nearly always an island catering to your specifications.
Da Kine: Local Grinds
La Mer  Halekulani Hotel and Resort 2199 Kalia Rd. Tel: (808)923-2311 The best of the best. Click here to read more.
Michel'sColony Surf Hotel 2895 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, HI 96815 Tel:(808) 923-6552Fine French cuisine in a tropical setting; what could be better? The restaurant opens out directly onto the beach, offering a direct view of the water. The food is classic French-influenced cuisine: escargots in a garlic butter sauce, medallions of veal with roasted fennel. We couldn't say this was the best we've had, but it was certainly one of the better restaurants in Honolulu. There were a few places where the management cut corners to save money, notably by offering of New Zealand lamb instead of a higher quality Colorado lamb, somewhat reprehensible for a restaurant trying to be one of the best in Hawaii (skimping on quality to appeal to the tourists, and failing to uphold a strict dress code tend to diminish from the ambience somewhat) Still, a very good place to eat French cuisine if you're in the mood and don't want to blow as much money as at La Mer.
Quintero's Cuisine 1102 Piikoi Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Tel:(808)593-1561 Authentic Mexican cuisine, as we've learned, is somewhat difficult to find outside of... well, MEXICO. What you usually get is a mix of Tex-Mex standards and Americanized, overspiced, overcooked, and dumbed-down renditions of classic Mexican cooking, but every now and then you run across a restaurant that comes close to the original. The food here is simple, unassuming, unadorned by Anglicized interpretations of flavor and texture that are "supposed" to be Mexican in nature. The offerings on the menu are very down to earth, and very reasonable in price. If you want Tex-Mex, go to Bandito's, but if you're looking for something close to authentic Mexican food without buying a ticket to the mainland, Quintero's should be your first choice.
Keo's in Waikiki2028 Kuhio Ave., Tel: 808-951-9355 http://www.keosthaicuisine.com/restaurants.html Thai food with a twist! The atmosphere is relaxed, with an eclectic mix of decor which cleverly divides the dining room into several smaller niches of five or six tables, so you feel more private than you really are. The menu borrows heavily from classical Thai cuisine, with a local touch to some seafood dishes. The waitstaff were friendly and helpful without obviously upselling menu items, and the food was incredible: rich, intense flavors permeated every dish, and were familiar yet exotic at the same time. The only dish which didn't light our fire was the green mango salad -- it wasn't bad, but it was a little bland. Prices were quite reasonable for a restaurant of this calibre. Definitely high on the list of repeat visits -- we'll be back, and so should you.
Sarento's at the I
1777 Ala Moana Blvd # 225 Tel: (808) 955-5559 Excellent food and a great view of the city, Sarento's is located on the top of the Ilikai Hotel, and offers a good selection of Italian dishes. They have a tendency to use a lot of rosemary in their dishes, which is fine if you like rosemary a LOT. If you stay for dinner past sunset, you may be treated to live jazz piano performances while you enjoy your dessert or coffee.
Sushi LocomotionSalt Lake Shopping Center, 848 Ala Lilikoi St., tel:833-5988 Friendly folks greet you as you enter this fairly small sushi restaurant just off Salt Lake Boulevard, and a wide array of your favorite sushi dishes trundle by on the conveyor belt which runs along the center of the dining room, as well as a number of house specials which change each night. Island fresh ingredients are used to create mouth-watering morsels for an extremely affordable price. Definitely one of the better values for dinner on the island!
Bandito's Cantina
98-151 Pali Momi Street Tel: (808) 488-8888 As Tex-Mex as they get, Bandito's is a loud and busy restaurant situated across the street from Pearl Ridge Shopping Mall, featuring a great selection of border favorites and a few surprises. As with most restaurants in Hawaii, they still offer a few pupus with a distinctly Polynesian origin, and have a very extensive list of cocktails available. They move tables pretty quickly here, so you'll almost never have to wait more than 15 minutes to be seated. Oh, by the way, you should come hungry -- some of the combination plates could feed both Mike and Chris, with enough for a doggie bag.
Olive Tree Cafe
4614 Kilauea Ave # 107, Tel: (808) 737-0303 We LIVE here. Just as in Charleston, it seems odd to find a Greek restaurant here (hell, they treat SPAM as a delicacy, so anything even hinting at ethnic diversity outside of Asian cuisine is a surprise), but (again) as in Charleston, someone has managed to create something special. A small cafe tucked into a corner by Kahala mall, the owner and staff are friendly and courteous, and offer a selection of Greek specialties that make your mouth water before you make it to the front counter. This is one of the few restaurants where even Chris will walk up and order one of everything on the menu, because EVERYTHING is good here. Bring your billfold, folks -- they don't take credit cards, but it's worth the trouble (hell, I'd pay in Kruggerands if it was necessary, the food is that good)
Zaffron Restaurant
69 N King St Tel: (808) 533-6635 Who would open an Indian restaurant in the middle of Chinatown? These guys were crazy enough to try it, and the result is Zaffron, a very warm and inviting establishment with an unpretentious streetfront. The food is quite tasty and (as far as we can tell) authentic. The owners/proprietors are friendly and very concerned over the quality of your dining experience, and in that they succeed with flying colors.
Palomino Euro-bistro
66 Queen Street Mezzanine Tel: (808) 528-2400 A bustling and boistrous bistro (sorry), Palomino offers a wide selection of well-prepared dishes to satisfy the palate of most diners. This is one of a chain of nearly identical restaurants all across the US, and while we haven't been to any of the others stateside, we're pretty sure they match the Honolulu branch in quality and selection. When we were there, the restaurant was packed and very noisy, to the point where we had difficulty hearing each other across the table.
Bravo's
Uptown, Pearlridge Center Tel: 487-5544 Reasonably priced Italian cuisine within minutes of the Pearlridge shopping plaza. The atmosphere is quite busy, so don't expect to spend a quiet, romantic evening alone here, but the food is reasonably priced and decent quality. If you don't like to hear screaming children while you eat, we'd suggest you look across the street to Ricardo's.
The Banyan Veranda
Sheraton Moana Surfrider, 2365 Kalakaua Ave. Tel: 922-3111 You can savor high tea beside the stately banyan tree for which the restaurant is named, or settle in a rattan armchair and enjoy a potpourri of entertainment, from piano standards to Hawaiian music, presented from 5:30 pm to 10:30 p.m. Definitely a experience to remember.
House Without a Key
Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd. Tel: (808)923-2311 Expensive, but you don't go here for a full meal (the hotel also has a full service seafood restaurant around the corner, so if you're going for dinner, go there instead) Offering a full range of pupus and cocktails, they offer nightly hula and music performances around sunset, and feature one of the best views of the Hawaiian sunset around. Located in Waikiki, it can be a little difficult to find parking nearby, but there's a garage within walking distance.
Mariposa
Macy's, Honolulu, HI 96813 Tel: (808) 951-3420 Located on the top floor of the Macy's department store in the Ala Moana shopping center, you'd think this place would be stuffy and pretentious, but you'd be wrong. They offer a wonderful selection of local foods, prepared with creative touches which perfectly accent the character of the ingredients. Yes, it's a little more expensive than Chuck E. Cheese's, but heck, you only live once. (Oh yeah, and don't ask for any recipes *wink*)
Ricardo's
98-199 Kamehameha Highway Tel: (808) 488-0215A seemingly much more authentic Italian restaurant atmosphere across the street from Pearl Ridge Shopping Center, in a large strip mall, this cozy eatery boasts an extensive menu, friently waitstaff, and a much more intimate dining environment than its larger counterpart across the highway. Given the choice, we come here when we're in the mood for Italian food -- no screaming children, better quality food, and better service all around
Murphy's Bar and Grill
2 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 Tel:(808) 531-0422 You don't always expect much from a bar and grill: greasy burgers, steaks, maybe ribs if the management is particularly energetic. For this type of dining, you'd expect to use a bib more than a finger bowl. Murphy's rises above expectations to deliver hearty meals, a decent selection of imported and domestic beers and hard ciders on tap, and no hassles from the waitstaff. The only thing which we felt would make it better is if it were more authentically Irish in nature -- drop the 50's crooner and teeny-bop rock tunes and give us Gaelic angst; we can take it.
Ninniku-Ya Garlic Restaurant
3196 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 Tel:(808) 735-0784 Garlic in everything! (Well, not quite EVERYTHING... but a lot). The garlic bread is a good way to start, followed by a garlic smothered steak, served piping hot on a cast-iron sizzle platter with fresh vegetables -- just be sure to pull that puppy off the pan if you like your meat rare, because it'll continue to cook as it sits there! A good selection to wine is available, and the atmosphere is very cozy (the restaurant is a converted house). Be sure to ask for the garden or lanai tables when making reservations; you'll be glad you did. Not necessarily the best idea for a first date, because your breath will be a thing legends are made of, but definitely a place for repeat visits later on.
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