It is possible to stay on Oahu without having to take out a second mortgage. Here are some options.
Aston Coconut Plaza (tel. 800/92-ASTON or 808/923-8828; www.aston-hotels.com): Calling itself a "studio apartment boutique hotel," the Coconut Plaza offers free continental breakfast and the kind of personalized service that only a small hotel can provide. Rates start at an astonishingly low $90 for a basic double. The recently renovated property has a tropical-plantation feel, with big, airy, island-style rooms, terra-cotta tile, and lots of greenery; all have private lanais. Ala Wai Golf Course is just across the canal, and the beach is 4 blocks away.
Royal Kuhio (tel. 800/367-5205 or 808/538-7145): Families will appreciate this hotel, one of the best bargains in Waikiki. Each unit in this high-rise condo has a full kitchen, separate bedrooms, and a living area with a lanai. It's 2 blocks from Waikiki Beach and within walking distance of everything else of interest. All for just $110 to $145! Not to mention the free parking -- a rarity in Waikiki.
Hawaiiana Hotel (tel. 800/367-5122 or 808/923-3811; www.hawaiianahotelatwaikiki.com): The lush tropical flowers and carved tiki at the entrance on tiny Beach Walk set the tone for this intimate low-rise hotel. From the moment you arrive, you'll experience the aloha spirit here: At check-in, guests are given a pineapple; every morning, complimentary Kona coffee and tropical juice are served poolside; at check-out, flower leis are presented to the women as a fragrant reminder of their vacation at the Hawaiiana. The concrete hollow-tile rooms, which start at $95 double, feature kitchenettes and views of the gardens and swimming pool.
Magnolia at Waikiki (tel. 808/985-7488; www.bestbnb.com): Hidden in the high-rise jungle of Waikiki is this two-story oasis of Waikiki of yesteryear. You enter through a wooden gate into a garden with a burbling fountain to one- and two-bedroom units with all the comforts of home: huge living area with TV/VCR, CD, soft, comfy furniture, complete kitchen, separate dining area, firm beds and outside sitting areas -- all for $150. Located just a short walk to the beach and to Kapiolani Park, with easy access in and out of Waikiki.
Manoa Valley Inn (tel. 808/947-6019; www.aloha.net/~wery/index): It's completely off the tourist trail and far from the beach, but that doesn't stop travelers from heading to this genteel 1915 Carpenter Gothic home on a quiet residential street near the University of Hawaii. This eight-room Manoa landmark -- it's on the National Register of Historic Places -- offers a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous in early Honolulu. Each room has its own unique decor and has been named for a prominent figure in Hawaii's history. Rates are $99 to $120 double with shared bath, $140 to $190 double with a private bath.
Santa's by the Sea (tel. 800/262-9912 or 808/985-7488; www.bestbnb.com): It's just $135 for two for this apartment right on the ocean. The location, price, and style make this place a must-stay if you plan to spend time on the North Shore. Santa's is not located on just any beach, but the famous Banzai Pipeline. You can go from your bed to the sand in less than 30 seconds to watch the sun rise over the Pacific.
Rainbow Inn (tel. 808/488-7525): This private tropical garden studio has panoramic views of Pearl Harbor, the entire south coast of Oahu, and the Waianae and Koolau mountains. A large deck and full-size pool are just outside your door. Located close to Pearl Ridge Shopping Center, Rainbow Inn is a short drive from all of Oahu's attractions, yet far enough away to provide you with lots of peace and quiet. At $75-$85 a night, this is one of Oahu's best deals.
Ke Iki Beach Bungalows: (tel. 866/638-8229 or 808/638-8829; www.keikibeachbungalows.com): Set next to its own 200-foot stretch of white-sand beach, this collection of studio, one-, and two-bedroom duplex cottages is pure rustic Hawaii. It's snuggled between two legendary surf spots: Waimea Bay and Banzai Pipeline. Ke Iki is not for everyone, though. The accommodations are modest, though clean and comfortable. Studios start at $65, and one-bedrooms at $90.
Hale Pupukea (tel. 800/262-9912; www.bestbnb.com): This is the Hawaii you've dreamed about; on the hill overlooking Sunset Beach lies this 3-acre, lavishly landscaped property with a two-bedroom, 1000-square-foot cottage, with private entrance and enclosed garage. Everything you could possibly want, from ironing board to beach paraphernalia fill the immaculately clean house. It's a short 5-minute drive to the beach, 15-minute drive to the shopping and dining in Haleiwa, and a world away from the urban hustle and bustle of Waikiki.
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La Mer (tel. 808/923-2311): This is the splurge restaurant of Hawaii, the oceanfront bastion of haute cuisine, a romantic, elegant, and expensive place where people dress up -- not to be seen, but to match the ambience and food. It's an open-sided room with views of Diamond Head and the sound of trade winds rustling the nearby coconut fronds. Award-winning chef Yves Garnier melds classical French influences with fresh island ingredients.
Alan Wong's Restaurant (tel. 808/949-2526): One of Hawaii's premiere chefs, Alan Wong specializes in absolutely the best Pacific Rim cuisine. His restaurant is always packed, the ambience is limited and the location is neighborhood -- but for serious "foodies" this is heaven. Masterstrokes at this shrine of Hawaii Regional Cuisine: warm California rolls made with salmon roe, wasabi, and Kona lobster instead of rice; luau lumpia with butterfish and kalua pig; and ginger-crusted fresh onaga. Opihi shooters and day-boat scallops in season are a must, while nori-wrapped tempura ahi is a perennial favorite. The menu changes daily, but the flavors never lose their sizzle.
The Pineapple Room (tel. 808/945-8881): Yes, it's in a department store, but it's Alan Wong, a culinary icon. The food is terrific, particularly anything with ahi (for example, the ahi-meatloaf), which Wong conjures up in a miraculous tasty form. The room features an open kitchen with a lava-rock wall and abundant natural light, but these are details in a room where food is king. The menu changes regularly, but keep an eye out for the ginger scallion shrimp scampi, nori-wrapped tempura salmon, and superb gazpacho made of yellow and red Waimea tomatoes.
Chef Mavro Restaurant (tel. 808/944-4714): Honolulu is abuzz over the wine pairings and elegant cuisine of George Mavrothalassitis, the culinary wizard from Provence who turned La Mer (at the Halekulani) and Seasons (at the Four Seasons Resort Wailea) into temples of fine dining. He brought his award-winning signature dishes with him, and continues to prove his ingenuity with dazzling a la carte and prix-fixe menus.
L'Uraku (tel. 808/955-0552): This pleasant, light-filled dining room and expanded fusion menu make it a great spot for lunch or dinner. It's not overly fussy, but still has the right touch of elegance for dining in style without breaking the bank. Chef Hiroshi Fukui, born in Japan and raised in Hawaii, was trained in the formal Japanese culinary tradition called kaiseki; he combines this training with fresh island ingredients and European cooking styles. Dishes such as seared scallops, garlic steak, and superb misoyaki butterfish are among the many stellar offerings. The $15 "Weekender lunch" is an unbelievable value.
Olive Tree Cafe (tel. 808/737-0303): This temple of Greek and Mediterranean delights is the quintessential neighborhood magnet -- casual, bustling, and consistently great. Owner Savas Mojarrad has a following of foodies, hipsters, artists, and all manner of loyalists who appreciate his integrity and generosity. Standards are always high, the food reasonable, the dishes fresh and homemade. Order at the counter and grab a table inside or out (the place is small). Bring your own wine, and sit down to fresh fish souvlakia, excellent marinated mussels, and spanakopita made with special sheep's cheese. Mojarrad even makes the yogurt for his famous yogurt-mint-cucumber sauce, the souvlakia's ticket to immortality. And don't miss the chicken saffron, a Tuesday special.
Padovani's Restaurant & Wine Bar (tel. 808/946-3456): Chef Philippe Padovani's elegant, innovative style is highlighted in everything from the endive salad to pan-fried moi at his two-tiered approach to fine dining. Downstairs is the swank dining room with its Bernaudaud china and Frette linens; upstairs is the informal Wine Bar, with excellent single-malt Scotches, wines by the glass, and a much more casual, but equally sublime, menu.
Roy's Restaurant (tel. 808/396-7697): Good food still reigns at this busy, noisy flagship Hawaii Kai dining room with the trademark open kitchen. Roy Yamaguchi's deft way with local ingredients, nostalgic ethnic preparations, and fresh fish makes his menu, which changes daily, a novel experience every time. Yamaguchi's special dinners with vintners are a Honolulu staple.
Kakaako Kitchen (tel. 808/596-7488): In a rush or on the go and just want a quick, healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner at budget prices, here's the place. Not fancy, in fact the trademark Styrofoam plates, warehouse ambience, and home-style cooking is the signature at this local favorite in the Ward Centre. The menu, which changes every 3 to 4 months, includes hearty breakfasts of eggs, lunch of a seared ahi sandwich with tobiko (flying-fish roe) aioli; and dinner with the signature charbroiled ahi steak, beef stew; five-spice shoyu chicken; the very popular meatloaf; and other multiethnic entrees.
