Waikiki Travel Guide

Image via Wikipedia

Being the major tourist center of Hawaii, the beautiful and always lively Waikiki never fails to offer excellent dining, shopping, and entertainment.  However, you might also want to be aware of many of the great events and festivals that take place in and around Waikiki.  Many of these events include open markets, hula performance, music festivals, and much, much more.

Throughout the entire year there are popular monthly events that take place in Waikiki such as “Brunch on the Beach” and “Sunset on the Beach.”  “Brunch on the Beach” is an event where many well-known local chefs treat guests to their discounted and tasty dishes right along the beach.  “Sunset on the Beach” takes place in the evening when a 30 foot movie screen is erected on the beach to treat beachgoers to a fun-filled evening.  Some other popular events in Waikiki include the Ku Ha’aho Hula Performances which take place every Tuesday at the Waikiki Beach Walk.  Other unique events include the Wiki Wiki One Day Vintage Hawaiiana & Collectibles Show and Na Mele No Na Pua Kamaaina Concert, which is held every other month on the Grand Lanai of the Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk.  Located in downtown Honolulu is the Fort Street Open Market, which offers fresh, local produce, plants, and crafts.  Major festivals that take place in and around Waikiki include Bay Fest, Hawaii International Film Festival, and the Aloha Festivals.

One of the beauties of living in Hawaii is being able to enjoy the unique food that the island state has become known for around the world.  Although Hawaiian food is typically known as the traditional fish, poi, lomi salmon, lau lau, kalua pork, and rice, a new generation of contemporary fusion and Asian-Pacific cuisine has begun to infiltrate the upper echelons of discerning diners.  With an increase in Hawaii real estate for sale, a rising number of wealthy residents has increased the demand for high class, quality gourmet cuisine.  Luckily, a number of top chefs have risen to the occasion and today operate a series of award-winning restaurants that have begun to catch on and spread across the United States and the world.  Roy’s Restaurant is based on the cooking of Roy Yamaguchi, known as the “Wolfgang Puck of the Pacific.”  A master of Hawaiian fusion cuisine, his food reflects the Hawaiian island heritage while mixing in a number of Asian tastes and traditions.

Alan Wong’s Restaurant uses a modern Japanese cuisine that infuses a Pacific and local taste palette.  Hoku’s is known for seamlessly blending east and west by taking a number of tradition western dishes and created a Pacific-inspired rendition for the menu.  In these ways, local restaurants have become some of the most highly-regarded eateries in the world.  Living in Hawaii puts people closer to these centers of kitchen excellence.