The Hawaii Traveler

If you’re wondering what on earth there is to do in Honolulu on New Year’s Eve, then here’s a full breakdown on this evening’s events. 

DINNER:

Grab some grub before the parties and fireworks.  Senor Frogs has a special NYE Buffet with live music and dancing for $75.  If you’re looking for an enormous meal, Hoku’s at the Kahala Resort will have a 6-course menu with dinner starting at 7:30 p.m.  Hoku’s is expensive though; the meal will cost you $185, and make sure you call ahead for reservations #739-8760.

CONCERTS:

The legendary 80’s band, Foreigner, will be playing all its catchy tunes from 10:30 ’til midnight at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.  Dinner and concert packages range from $275-400, or if you’re just catching the concert, tickets are $125-250.  Call #921-4600 for package deals or #1-877-750-4400 for show-only tickets.

If girly 80’s music is your thing (it’s mine!), head to the Hilton Hawaiian Village to watch The Bangles ring in the new year.  They take the stage from 10:45 to midnight.  Tickets are more reasonable, ranging from $90-200.  Call #550-8457 or visit www.honoluluboxoffice.com to purchase tickets.

There’s some kind of MTV hip-hop party at Pipeline Café, which features Shwayze, Cisco Adler, and DJ Skeet Skeet — none of whom I’ve heard of, and probably none of whom I will know in five years.  If you’re interested in going, though, doors open at 9 p.m., and tickets cost $45 or $90.  Order tickets online at Ticket Master or call #1-877-750-4400.

CRUISES:

The Navatek I departs from Pier 6 at Aloha Tower at 10:30 p.m. and returns just before 1 a.m.  Tickets are $145 or $170.  Call #973-1311 for reservations.

Sail aboard the 170 foot Ali’i Kai Catamaran for $40 or $50.  The boad leaves at 10:30 p.m. from Pier 5 of Aloha Tower and returns at 1:30 a.m.  Visit FireWaterEvents.com for more info.

The Star of Honolulu leaves from Pier 8 at Aloha Tower at 10:45 and comes back at 12:45 a.m.  Tickets are $113 and up.  Call #983-STAR or visit them online to purchase tickets.

FIREWORKS:

There will be plenty of activity around Waikiki and Aloha Tower and fireworks will be a big part of the festivities at midnight.

PARTIES:

If parties are more your thing, there’s stuff going on Downtown at Next Door (which will finally be re-opening after a long hiatus!),  thirtyninehotel and an 80’s music bash at The Loft.  In Waikiki, there’s a masquerade ball at The W Honolulu and a “sparkle” themed party at Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand.

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I thought the Hawaiian Electric Company was completely incapable when they shut off my apartment’s power last week.  Then, just four days later, the island of Oahu went black for a solid 12 hours. Supposedly, ABC Stores in Waikiki and other stores with candles, flashlights, and batteries made tons of money — so much so that people lined the streets just to get through their doors.
We certainly learned a thing or two about how thoroughly screwed we are in times of emergency.  But the after-effects of such a crisis are quite intriguing:
Generators were ordered to light up Obama’s compound in …read more

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"Oh, the weather outside is frightful" never really applied to Hawaii around Christmas time, but this winter’s been a different case altogether.  It’s important, then, to keep things in perspective. We’re in Hawaii, for goodness sake!  At least we are not dealing with blackouts or ice storms like the folks in New Hampshire. 
Here are a few things to keep you in the holiday spirit:

Morning light: If you’re the walking/running type, then enjoy the A.M. hubbub around Diamond Head.  Be sure to stop at Cliff’s, the famed DH surf spot, for a breather and to watch the morning surfers at …read more

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How had I not come across this gem earlier!  Supposedly, the DVD rental phenomenon from the mainland called "Redbox" made it all the way across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu and nobody bothered to tell me about it!  A friend from the mainland finally filled me in last week and we made to to my local Safeway supermarket to see if there was a Redbox.  Lo and behold, like a beacon in the otherwise dreary supermarket stood the red box that we were looking for!
 Supposedly, Redboxes have been installed in at least ten locations throughout Honolulu.  They tend to …read more

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Hooray for cave-like restaurants that remind me of divey joints in Rome!  Formaggio Wine Bar is one of the few places that only locals know about, and in many ways we’d like to keep it that way. Located on the bottom level of Market City Shopping Center, there’s a very dark, shady door next to the wine store that is the only entrance to Formaggio Wine Bar.  There are no windows in the place.  You walk down a narrow corridor, and you might feel like you’ve stepped into another world — one that is far removed from tropical Hawaii.  Wine …read more

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Hawaiian South Shore (HSS) has become my favorite surf store on the island.  A relatively new store, it always carries some great boards and surf gear.  I stopped in for the first time this summer and was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of boards and apparel offered.  I purchased a cute women’s spring suit for surfing in the winter, and browsed the board racks while my friend contemplated purchasing a shortboard.  Instead, he ended up renting a Xanadu fish for just $25 for the day. 
There are very few stores on the island that rent really decent boards, and …read more

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While most of Hawaii has no shortage of Asian cuisine, Indian food is a completely different story.  There are plenty of Indian residents, but very few Indian restaurants in Honolulu.  That’s why, following the Mumbai attacks on Thursday, my friend and I were on a hunt to find something in the way of decent and affordable Indian food this weekend. 
My pug’s dogsitters had told me there was a decent place near Kapahulu and Waialae, but not remembering the name, and therefore needing to perform a Google search I came up with two restaurants in the area: India Café and …read more

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A great little hole-in-the-wall that has been a fixture in Makiki (at the corner of Beretania and Pensacola) is the Dew Drop Inn, which features northern Chinese cuisine among other things.  This tiny little restaurant is frequently packed with diners desiring mouth-watering and satisfying Chinese dishes.  While some dishes (like the spicy string beans) are not the most authentic, others (like the pork-filled steamed buns) are delightful.  Eating here never leaves a significant dent in your wallet either.  Dishes range from a miniscule $4 to $10 for seafood delights. 
Some favorites on chef Charlie Tsai’s menu include orange chicken, fried …read more

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There is a major shortage of decent food at the Honolulu Airport, but here’s the short list of restaurants that are worth checking out upon checking in through security. None of these places have the best atmosphere, but there is a very pleasant, green courtyard with benches on the ground floor of the airport near the central concourse that would be worth taking your meal in.
1. Stinger Ray’s
The only place with a restaurant-like feel to it, Stinger Ray’s served affordable and edible food from sun up to sun down. An E-pinion.com review suggests the chili ‘n cheese fries and …read more

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Duke Paoa Kahanamoku is one of Hawaii’s most famous icons.  His love of swimming, surfing, canoeing, and bodysurfing won him several accolades, including Olympic gold medals.  His legacy as the Ambassador of Aloha is visible in several forms — from his bronze statue on Kalakaua Avenue to one of the most popular restaurants on the Waikiki shore.  
Locals and tourists alike crowd the famous restaurant and bar known simply as “Duke’s,” which is conveniently tucked on the bottom floor of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel.  The best time to enjoy the amazing atmosphere in this place is just before sunset.  You …read more

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