Feast on the Beach at Hau Tree in Waikīkī
Kaimana Beach Hotel keeps its celebrated restaurant pono and ʻono with weekly cultural events and delicious food.
Just before sunset, the lānai at Hau Tree restaurant fills with diners clinking glasses of rosé and frozen piña coladas. Each table, tucked beneath hau trees ornamented with wicker globe lanterns, is just steps from the sand. As the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean, a rainbow sherbet-colored sky serves as a backdrop for dinner on the beach.
The lānai at Hau Tree.
Photo: Sarah Burchard
Anytime is a good time to visit Hau Tree at Kaimana Beach Hotel. With its breezy-chic ambiance, beachfront access and light Mediterranean-style fare, locals and visitors flock for both brunch and dinner. The 1963 hotel will be undergoing event space makeovers this year and, with its new executive chef, Hau Tree has just launched a new menu.
“For generations [Kaimana Beach Hotel] has served the community as a humble yet award-winning gathering oasis for locals and visitors alike to celebrate, reconnect and relax together,” said Haʻaheo Zablan, general manager of Kaimana Beach Hotel.
Zablan, a Native Hawaiian from Papakōlea on Oʻahu, ensures Hawaiian culture is represented authentically at the Kaimana Beach Hotel. In December, the hotel celebrated Makahiki, a traditional Hawaiian late-fall-to-winter celebration in honor of the god Lono, instead of Christmas. Throughout the year, the hotel hosts a variety of cultural events, such as Hawaiian music concerts, the Pop-Up Mākeke—where guests can purchase hand-made goods from local and women-owned businesses—a lei-making class that uses local flowers instead of the imported flowers often used in hotel settings, and beach clean-ups. There are also local surf guides who introduce guests to storied surf breaks.
A slew of pūpū from the revamped menu at Hau Tree.
Photo: Sarah Burchard
Last year, chef de cuisine Bob Luong was promoted to executive chef of Hau Tree. Although the menu is evolving, he’s kept the beloved menu staples guests return for. At brunch, you can still find the house-cured salmon board with Breadshop rye ($31). New to the brunch menu are the snow crab Benedict with fresh tarragon ($37) and fried chicken sandwich with gochujang glaze and basil aioli ($28). For dinner, guests can still find fresh Kusshi oysters (6 for $36), king salmon poke cornets ($16)—which arrive resting in a piece of driftwood as wide as the table—and a variety of salads that can easily be turned into entrees with the addition of chicken, ʻahi or salmon ($22-$39).
New to the menu Luong has added a roasted octopus appetizer with ‘nduja (a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the Calabria region of Italy), fingerling potatoes and fennel ($30), and lomi hamachi crudo with tomato vinaigrette and crunchy sea asparagus ($26). There are two new house-made pastas, too: Kahuku Farm golden tomato strozzapreti ($30) and fennel-sausage orecchiette ($34). If you’re just stopping by for a snack, the housemade salt, vinegar and dill chips with three kinds of caviar (trout roe, tobiko add ossetra) and chive oil crème fraîche ($20) are a must.
The craft cocktails at Hau Tree complete the meal.
Photo: Sarah Burchard
Craft cocktails are also a reason to visit Hau Tree. The Kunia Coffee, a riff on an Irish Coffee made with Kona coffee, cream, cinnamon, Kō Hana Kokoleka honey and cacao liqueur ($18), is a smooth way to start your day at brunch. In the evening, check out the refreshing Hemingway Paloma with Real del Valle Tequila ($19) or the Pina Colada Project ($18), a frozen piña colada you can try in three flavors: cold brew, Hawaiian lava flow, or ube. Equally satisfying are the non-alcoholic cocktails, such as the South Swell ($11), a sparkling lemonade with elderflower, mint and cucumber served over crushed ice.
While you are at the hotel, stop by Kaimana Coffee Co. by Sunset Provisions, located near the front entrance for a variety of espresso drinks using coffee by Kona Coffee Purveyors and baked goods and salads prepared by Hau Tree. While you wait for your coffee you can peruse cute beach wear, sunglasses and lei all locally sourced.
Hau Tree, open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located on the lobby floor of the Kaimana Beach Resort, 2863 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, @thehautree
