Hawaiian Honeymoon

In less than a month I will be getting married and then heading off with my new bride for 12 days in Hawaii for our honeymoon. We'll be spending about 3 days in Honolulu/Oahu, 6 days in Maui, and 3 on the Big Island. I am looking for some restaurant recommendations. I've searched a bit through LHT and come up with some suggestions, but there wasn't too much info. I'm interested in everything from high end places worth the slurge to local dives tourists normally overlook.

Roy's in Maui and Honolulu - where it all started; They are significantly better/different than the ones on the mainland.

Hoku's in Honolulu (in what used to be the Kahala Mandarin Hotel)

Restaurant recommendations will also vary whether you love seafood or Asian food.

On Maui, I'd recommend Maui Brewing Company in Lahaina. They used to be called Fish & Game but the name got changed a year or two ago.

Kona Brewing Company has pubs on both Oahu (at Koko Marina, Hawaii Kai) and the Big Island (Kailua Kona). They have expanded their menu from pizza, pupus and sandwiches to include entrees.

On the Kona side of the Big Island I'd recommend the following (in addition to the Kona pub):

Original Thai Restaurant (75-5629 Kuakini Hwy)

Orchid Thai (74-5563 Kaiwi St # 27)

Orchid Thai used to be my "must go to" restaurant each trip to the Big Island. My first time to Original Thai was this past March (they opened within the last year maybe two) and they are now my favorite. Both are (Thai) family run, always are busy, have great food and can make it as spicy as you want. Orchid Thai is definitely BYO for alcohol and I think Original Thai is too. I'm particularly fond of the Tom Yum soup and the Papaya Salad at either place.

Big Island Grill (75-5702 Kuakini Hwy): A locals' place. Full gamut of diner fare. I've only been in for breakfast but it's a great place to get your arteries clogged given the huge portion of Portuguese sausage they serve with eggs and rice or hash browns.

The King Kamehameha Kona Beach hotel does a luau several nights throughout the week. I haven't attended but friends who have said they enjoyed it.

There are several plate-lunch places around. There's one in the same strip mall as Original Thai (don't remember the name) and there's one of the L&L chain restaurants a couple of blocks mauka in a larger shopping plaza near Palani and Kopiko. I also just read about a place called Kona Mix Plate on Kopiko that people like although I haven't been there (will try next time).

Quinn's Almost By The Sea is across the street from the King Kamehameha Kona Beach hotel. Initial impression is that it's just a bar. I've only been a few times but the service and food was good when I was there. Some reviews I've read indicate service and food may be variable though.

On Maui, Mama's Fish House is as good as the guidebooks say. Beautiful surroundings, and amazingly fresh fish; worth the splurge.

The places that we went on our honeymoon on the Big Island are in this post.

It's been nearly four years, but I enjoyed The Plantation House in Kapalua, Maui. It's a little far if you're staying in Wailea, but if you're in the Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua area, it might be worth a visit. The fish is fresh and local, and the views are outstanding. Also, you can drive northeast around the island to Kahului from Kapalua on a little one-lane road which has awesome cliffside views (although the rental car agencies discourage it).

Thanks for the info so far! Definitely a good start for us to begin planning out our meals...

As I recall (long time ago) the best meals I had on my Honeymoon were from Room Service!

On the Big Island, I recommend Pahu i'a at the Four Seasons resort for high-end. My sister and I ate there on our trip last year and thought the food was excellent. Plus you can't beat the setting - right on the beach. We timed our reservation so we would be able to view the sunset during dinner and it was gorgeous.

website

On our first trip, we got around, hitting Pahui'a, the Hualalai Grille (Alan Wong), Roy's, Merriman's and Brown's Beach Club.

On our second trip, I booked us for four straight nights at Pahui'a, and I'm somebody who always makes a point of trying as many different places as possible.

So take that for what it's worth.

I'm glad this thread was started, because I am going to Hawaii for the first (and probably the only) time in my life in August. I will only be in the Honolulu area, and I will only have a day or two free. I'm not so interested in hiking in the jungle humidity or seeing the volcanoes; what I would most like to do is go to one or two of the really good restaurants in the Honolulu area.