TLDR: Lounge area…read morenear the "lobby" of the Fairmont Orchid resort. Since it overlooks the rest of the resort, it's the perfect place to rest and relax during the day. They start serving Japanese-inspired foods starting 5 pm and they have nightly live music starting around 6 pm. Food was fine, nothing special, but the ambiance was wonderful and the nightly torch lighting + conch shell blowing at sunset happens on this balcony. ------ FOOD: * Smash Burger (4/5): Came with two patties and a slight skirt on the meat. Was a little simple though (i.e. no lettuce or tomatoes, though did come with one deep-fried onion ring and cheese). Fries were pretty good! * Luana Roll (4/5): This is their signature roll and I thought it was good but wasn't anything special. Probably not worth $30. * Double Crunch Roll (4/5): Again, good roll but nothing special and didn't particularly love it. ------ SERVICE: * Fine service, though the waiter took a long time to check in on our table. We weren't in a rush so it wasn't a problem, but it was strange. * Note that their kitchen is not located nearby and so the waiter has to go to a kitchen downstairs before bringing the food up. That means that service can be a little slower at times. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * Really nice ambiance. It's a balcony right off the main lobby where you check-in, and there are lots of comfy lounge chairs and small tables to match. The lobby and the lounge are both technically on the 3rd floor of the resort, so you can overlook the rest of the resort including the pool, beach, and ocean. * The live music at night is nice, both if you're dining at the lounge or just returning to the lobby area after a long day out. * There's also an indoor bar area next-door to the lounge with a pool table. The pool accessories are in rough shape (only 1 usable pool stick) but anyone is able to set up the table and begin playing. Despite being here during the holidays, this table was surprisingly available for most of our stay. * Every night there's a traditional Hawaiian ceremony where torches are lit at sunset and someone blows a conch in all directions. The conch blowing happens on this balcony, so if you're seated at the lounge around 5 pm, you'll have great seats of the short ceremony.

The lounge is conveniently towards the center of the resort, close to check in. The staff are…read moredifficult to get ahold of, and service was rather lackluster. We came on a windier day, and the tiki torch kept getting blown out. The one closest to us was gushing out gas without a flame, and left an extremely heavy gas smell. We asked if they could relight it, and the first person said they'd get maintenance over right away. 20 minutes later, and getting lightheaded from the gas, I asked if they could turn it off if they couldn't relight it. The staff started getting defensive which I didn't understand, and told us that we were being unreasonable since the area wouldn't be lit up if there was no torch. I kept explaining to her that the torch was out, so we don't get the light anyways, but she wasn't listening to our concerns. Eventually another staff member came by, immediately understood, and finally turned off the gas for us so we weren't getting smothered by the odor. We ordered two cocktails and a spicy Kanpachi roll. The cocktails were mediocre, and one of them was not what we ordered. My wife asked for a blended cocktail and ended up with a drink on ice. The kanpachi roll was below average, with soggy seaweed and loosely rolled where it was falling apart while eating. I would skip on this lounge if you're looking for a place to eat and maybe even for skip and go elsewhere for drinks. We only tried one sushi roll, but after our experience we didn't intend on ordering anything else.

The Absolute Best Meal on the Island--A Masterclass in Food & Service!…read moreIf I could give Seafood Bar & Grill 10 stars, I would. This wasn't just a dinner; it was our absolute favorite meal of the entire trip. We didn't even have a special occasion to celebrate--we just had a phenomenal experience here in the past and couldn't wait to return. They somehow managed to exceed every expectation. From the second we walked in, we were blown away. We loved the Tiki Bar, everyone is family when you walk in, history covering the walls ambiafamily-friendly; ev Seafood We were greeted by Dave Yurtin, the owner, who set up a fabulous table for us inside. But here is the kicker: Dave actually remembered us from our first visit two years ago! Talk about a total legend. We couldn't believe his memory--that is next-level hospitality. Our server, Ryan, provided spectacular, world-class service. He didn't write a single part of our big order down and got absolutely everything 100% right. He was attentive, fast, and incredibly sharp--he even remembered at the end that my mother-in-law had asked for onion rings once she was finished, before changing her mind. Incredible! Now, let's talk about the food and drinks because WOW. We started with the drinks, and these were hands-down the absolute best Mai Tais we have had on the island. Every single dish that hit the table was a home run: - Escargot: Wow, wow, wow, wow! Absolutely phenomenal. The pesto and cheese with the garlic bread? Unreal. - Seafood Quesadilla & Coconut Shrimp: Perfectly executed and delicious. - Braised Short Ribs: Out of this world. Fall-off-the-bone tender. - Pineapple Macnut Slaw: Insane flavor. Do not skip this! - Garlic Bread: Spectacular and perfect for soaking up every last bit of flavor. - Fish Linguine: A rich, perfectly balanced cream sauce packed with different types of fresh fish. Somehow, we saved room for dessert and tried FOUR different ones: the Key Lime Pie was unbelievable, the Lilikoi Pie and Kona Coffee Pie were spectacular, and the NY Cheesecake with Lilikoi Sauce was the perfect grand finale. Between Dave's legendary memory, Ryan's flawless service, and a kitchen that doesn't miss, Seafood Bar & Grill is an absolute must-visit. We will be talking about this meal until our next visit! Thank you for an unforgettable night!

We have been coming to Seafood Bar and Grill for years on our annual Hawaii vacation and it never…read moredisappoints. The owner Dave is always friendly and a pleasure to chat with. I got the ginger steamed clams and they were amazing. We also ordered an extra serving of Parmesan bread because it was so tasty. My dad got the prime rib, which is only available on Tuesdays, and it was great as always. Our server Matt recommended my mom try the black bean seafood combo, and she was pleasantly surprised by how much she loved her meal! My husband got the cajun style fresh catch and loved his meal! We highly recommend this restaurant and love supporting Dave and his team. It's always a great experience!

The Bartender Gregory all round great personality…read more Himself is ideal customer service attitude

My husband Justin and I Lisa walked in to Sam's to order the bar tender accused me of being…read moreintoxicated. I rarely drink alcohol and had no alcohol beverages that day. We only went in to order a drink and get our parking validated so we could go next door and get a bite to eat. Very unwelcoming and quite the jerk wiring that day. We know the owner Bailey and I hope she takes care of her rude bartender.

Overall a very good experience. The vibe of this place is amazing, with outdoor games and even…read moretheir own gift shop. We got lucky and were seated on the beach, just ten yards or so from the water's edge. The place is very nicely lit with torches and table lamps, great for photos and a celebratory feel. Our server, whose name I didn't catch, was friendly and helpful but not super present. He checked on our table a little infrequently. Granted, it was pretty busy. The food was mid. The loaded tots were visually appealing but average tasting. I got the LLBC burger and it was tough, and some of the toppings tasted like refrigerator. The sweet potato fries were okay but lukewarm when they came out, like they had been sitting. The chocolate banana cake also kind of tasted like fridge, but did have a good banana flavor. We would probably go back just for the great ambience, but I do wish the food tasted a little fresher.

My husband and I had a sunset wedding on Kukio beach. We decided our dinner after the ceremony…read morewould be at Lava Lava based on the menu. We made our reservation several weeks in advance...and I would recommend doing that online and in advance since the place was packed! We arrived in formal attire: I was in my wedding dress and my husband in a suit. Everyone was super friendly to us and really made us feel so special. Our table was right in front to the live musician, so that was great. I had the coconut shrimp, whereas my husband ordered a veggie burger. We did some garlic bread as an appetizer, and the appetizer waa great! My husband was super happy with his burger, and he spent the next week trying a burger at every restaurant to top it. To my knowledge, I think there was only one place that topped it. My shrimp was soo good! I love coconut shrimp and am somewhat of a tough critic. Lava Lava nailed it. However, the coconut rice wasn't amazing. It was a rather disappointing side to such a great main. We shared a slice of coffee cheesecake as a gift from the server, which we were extremely grateful for. Honestly, our server was amazing the entire time, and the cheesecake was spot-on and a perfectly sweet end to our meal. We had a great time here, and we would recommend the restaurant to anyone!

Yummiest breakfast ever! And the view is incredible! The service was great, very attentive.read more

Another fabulous Christmas dinner at Manta at the Mauna Kea!…read more It began on a weird note as for the second year running we were relegated to a side table right next to a walkway while all the tables towards the ocean were empty - as we were celebrating a milestone birthday and anniversary we asked if we could be moved and they did kindly accommodate us ! Service was fabulous throughout the dinner which made for a great meal! We began with some cocktails and champagne and a couple of appetizers- the ahi sashimi and the ahi katsu - exceptionally fresh ahi but the sashimi could have been a little cooler and both needed a tad more seasoning! Mains were the standout - I had the Kampachi which was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection served with wasabi gnocchi, my husband had the catch of the day - a snapper, also fabulous. The kids had the seared ahi which was melt in your mouth served with Bok Choy which they loved and a taro mash which was not good and we could have done without! Ordered the chocolate soufflé which was perfection and the Alaskan Bombe which has a delicious macadamia base! So good! A great was to celebrate Christmas and a fabulous meal !

This is most awesome beach ever (I've been to many beaches), and the hotel is very good too…read more One caveat is if you have mobility issues, this might not be the place as there's a bit of up and down stairs to get to the pool and beach. But we enjoy going up stairs for fun. I'm sure they have some accommodation, tho. One disappointment is they don't great each other by saying HaPuna matata. I got blank stares when I tried this. But it is really good pun, no? Food is expensive, out of compound restaurants are distant, so pay and enjoy as it was very good.

Love the Hapuna Beach Hotel. We have been coming here for over 20 years and the service is always…read moretop notch. There has never been a bad day or anyone that has been anything short of providing the best service. They understand how to treat guests; with an abundance of mana! The rooms are comfortable, spacious and private. They have laundry facilities so that is super handy! In all our stays, just lots of great memories. Every-m time we come back, it feels like coming home. Love this place.

Perfect spot to unwind with great food and an even better view. We ordered the tasty burger, spring…read morerolls, and a round of drinks -- the espresso martini and their Lani Tai. Everything hit the spot. The burger was juicy and flavorful, and the spring rolls were fresh with a nice crunch. Drinks were on point too: the espresso martini was smooth and bold, and the Lani Tai had that perfect tropical kick. What really made the experience memorable was the outdoor setting. Comfortable vibe, relaxed, and the sunset view was absolutely amazing -- one of those scenes you just want to sit with a little longer. Definitely worth a visit!

I was very disappointed! Wanted to go out for a special night but did not want to drink alcohol…read more Asked about mocktails or nonalcoholic beverages and none were available and server did not make any recommendations. I happen to be vegan. This establishment used to have great options but now all I could get was sides and the farmer plate appetizer. This was literally 4 slices of tomato, carrot, cucumber, and radish. Server acknowledged there was nothing on the menu but said chef could put something together but had no idea what that would be. For such a nice resort, this dinner was a disappointment

We went to this resort to see the mana rays and had dinner here. The drinks were good. My husband…read morehad the catch of the day which was mahi mahi and was really meaty. I had the butter fish which was tender and it had miso and bok choy with it. Overall the fish was good, not great. The app we had was the Korean fried cauliflower and that was the best thing i ate there. We each had two drinks. My drinks were really good, but my husband said his were ho hum. The resort is beautiful and the view is beautiful. Food overall is good, but not spectacular. We were disappointed that the mana rays did not make an appearance, but we went during a Kona storm when the tours weren't running up north due to the waves so I figured that might have impacted it. Would i go again? To see the manta rays, yes, but probably not for the food. Final note: valet parking was free with the validation done by the server.

The view from this place was breathtaking, the service was amazing. The food absolutely delicious…read more I highly recommend the KFC, that was my favorite. I would also get the red dragon roll again, charred fish. I plan to come back and try more foods. Special shout out to John Carlo for taking such great care of us.

Visited Tikehau Lounge with some friends on a weekday evening for cocktails after dinner. We were…read moregreeted by a friendly face and promptly seated in the outdoor section. We did get a peek indoors as we walked through. The space was dimly lit, well-decorated with trendy patterns and furniture, and overall, inviting. The outdoor patio, in contrast, was more well-lit but still comfortable. The cocktail menu was fun to explore and our server did not hesitate to offer suggestions. I ordered the Pandan Killer Milk punch, which is 8yr aged rum, Planteray Cut & dry rum, pandan liquer, clarified coconut, pineapple, vanilla, lime, and nutmeg. I was truly blown away! It's simple presentation was deceitful in the best way possible. All flavors were beautifully captured and left nothing else to be desired. The Pina Colada on the other hand....my friend felt extremely underwhelmed. The other two cocktails we had in the party were the Ultra Violet Seventy Five, which was very gin-forward and the Snoop PPOG, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed. Aside from the Pina Colada, we had a great first experience at Tikehau Lounge! Would visit again and certainly recommend!

Drinks are good. Pulled pork sliders are surprisingly really good!…read more We got the 1944 mai tai and takes two to mango and both were excellent. Kai was amazing present server who made some good drinks

Poor Service! Overpriced! I would like to specify Jacques and his unprofessional attitude. We…read moreordered a Mai Tai, I asked to make it extra strong. He pour the left over bottle into the cup which barely made 30ml of Rum. He unprofessionally prepared a mai tai and throw a piece of lime covered with sand on top of the cocktail! My cocktail tasted like a Fanta with a hint of rum. I gave him $2 tips to show my respect but disappointment about my order. He said loudly to his co-worker l, they gave me $2 tips. You know what I'm saying!? Seriously??? You should be fired for that!!! This is extremely unprofessional!!! If you would like to stay happy, don't visit this location. Poor service and management if they allow employees to talk like this with their clients.

An iconic bar at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. You cannot stay at this hotel and not at least get a…read morefew drinks here. They make awesome tropical smoothies and some pretty damn good alcoholic drinks as well. My two favorite bartenders would have to be Sheldon and Jacob. They get very busy here so service can sometimes be slow but thats not their fault as they are the only bar at the beach. If you are looking for a drink with a huge kick try out the Tropical Itch, the 151 float will make you feel pretty good haha. They also have a signature drink invented by one of the past bartenders called the Fredrico. It has guava juice, rum, and jack daniels all blended with ice.