Have not been there in awhile so can not speak for the food- but it is a beautiful setting! One of my favorites

Several years ago, we had a sunset dinner here, and it was a highlight of our trip. Everything was great..... except when I bumped my head, getting up from the table, where we were right under a hau tree branch! It was only a minor bump.
We did this on our first full day in Hawaii, so started our trip off great!
The sunset was spectacular, and while further down Waikiki there was hundreds of people watching, there weren't that many down where we were, so that made it even better.

There was recently a blog that had a number of pluses for this restaurant it's great setting. Had breakfast there years ago and it was marvelous, and again, can't beat the setting.

I haven't been there in several years, but we thoroughly loved this restaurant. The setting is so beautiful, right on the beach, but away from the rest of the Waikiki crowds, and the food was wonderful. Service was top-notch, too. I checked out their current menu and it's definitely a bit pricey, but for a special occasion (and considering you're planning to economize by cooking later on), I'd say this place would be perfect for that unforgettable meal/experience.

Thank you all so much! I am making reservations tonight and I will report back.

I wish I could also give an up to date report, but it has been many years since we were there. We had dinner at sunset and the setting was wonderful. As I remember, our food was excellent.
Where in the south are you willowjane?

I feel the setting here is better than the food. Not that the food is bad. I think it's still very enjoyable. There are few great food/great setting combinations in Waikiki/Honolulu in my opinion if great setting equals oceanfront. Maybe Le Mer but I haven't been in many years and they just changed chefs.

Tennessee on the border with North Carolina - beautiful mountains, great lakes, and wonderful people!

I haven't tried this restaurant yet but I stayed at the Aqua Lotus in February and really liked it. I travel to Honolulu a couple times a year for business and dislike the traffic and crowds at Waikiki. Tried the Lotus the last trip because it was located in a quieter area. I got a great deal and loved the rooms and location. The only downside for me was lack of walkable restaurants near the hotel. If I had someone with me or it was daylight, I'd have no problem walking to the busier part of Waikiki but it gets dark early in February. So I just drove to restaurants that had more accessible parking. I wanted to try the Hau Tree Lanai but they were booked.

I hope you enjoy the Aqua Lotus. I just saw they have been renovating the rooms. I thought they were nice before renovation with the expection of the TV which was pretty bad. Enjoy your dinners and I hope your Mother loves Hawaii.

Paula1470, thanks for the encouragement with the Lotus! It is so nice to hear that someone on Fodor's has stayed there and enjoyed it! I think for the price it will be perfect for the type of room we were able to get. We were not particularly excited to be in "downtown" Waikiki. This seemed a great alternative for us.

wj, I'm a native Tennessean, but a flatlander from out near Memphis. Now I live in North Georgia and we are frequent visitors to The Land of the Great Smoke! DH is from NC. Where are you staying on the BI and Kauai? We will be on both in March, 2013, so please post your trip reports!

wj-I did pay a few dollars extra and had one of the top floor rooms so I had a good view of both Diamond Head and the ocean. I am sure you read reviews and it is true that buildings do block the views if you are on lower floors. I still liked the room and location. You do have to be prepared that the hotel doesn't have a lot of extra amentities. I liked it just because of that and the fact that it's small. The valets were great and had my car for me in about 2 minutes. Enjoy your trip.

http://www.vrbo.com/6024 This is the place in Hilo
http://www.vrbo.com/318748 This is the place in Kauai

Iceeu2 - we love coming to Memphis and visiting - we like to stay at the Talbot Heirs when we come.

Paula - We did pay extra for the top floor rooms, but the rates were so good that it seemed a good deal.

We are going with our best friends as well and we have all traveled together before. We are really looking forward to the trip! We will be gone through most of July. I have gotten so much information off of Fodor's and I will write a report when we return. I wish I were as eloquent as some of you - but I will at least give the facts!

had thanksgiving dinner at the Hua tree 2 years ago and loved it. while they did offer turkey, weopted for a great hawaiian fish as we can have turkey at home! Plan to eat there again when we go in January 2013

Dang - who is from Memphis? One of my old college dorm-mates - he lived across the hall - has been THE guy at Graceland for decades - and our class is having a mini-reunion there this fall, end of October.

I am also looking at a great fishing trip in Cabo that week.

So which would you do?

Tomsd, get real.....THE guy at Graceland actually died in 1977.

wow willow, those look like two extraordinary places you will call home for a few days!

I hope so! I will report back. I am always a little nervous when I am the one doing the planning and choosing of places to stay. I keep telling myself that attitude is everything and that we will have fun no matter what!

iceeu2. Wrong, but you are probably too young to remember.

The guy who built Graceland up from when poor widow Priscilla was almost destitute (Elvis' Trust was down to next to nothing) lived across the hall from me in our college dorm.

Priscilla was the public image during all that time - but he was the one really doing the heavy lifting, and he built Graceland up to what it is now (sold recently for what - half a Billion), from pretty humble beginnings, despite the King's fame/prominence.

We're having a mini-class reunion there this fall - but I might be fishing in Cabo at the time. Shame - as I would really like to visit it.

If you go to this page - there is even a pic of much younger Jack/my classmate - cutting the ribbon years ago.

http://www.elvis.com/graceland/

Also - check this for the opening of the London Museum/Branch:

http://www.elvis.com/photos-video/photos.aspx?aid=107

Tomsd, we had a great mother daughter trip to Nashville and Memphis
Sat summer. We both loved Graceland, but we both loved Elvis! It was great for us to see his home.

Amen Willowjane. I will always remember when a young Elvis first started singing and shaking (You ain't nuttin but a Hound Dog, etc etc) - and our parents were aghast while we young fans were stoked.

About 10 years ago - I was in Vegas for a golf equipment show - and my ole classmate Jack was there at the time - as they were having a one time - Elvis Memorabilia sale at the MGM Grand and he gave me a pre-show tour. http://articles.nydailynews.com/1999-08-26/news/18108930_1_presley-place-elvis-presley-museum-graceland

I was interested in one of the pistols that Elvis carried around - but alas - when the bidding started - it quickly zoomed to over $50,000, so no peashooter for moi.

My friend Jack said that somebody even brought an old Cadillac to the MGM - and said Elvis had given it to him and he was going to donate it back as it was the right thing to do, or some such. Apparently Elvis was very sympathetic to the downtrodden - having himself come from humble beginnings - and would sometimes just hand somebody the keys to the car he was driving.

He was as one and only.

willowjane, thanks for posting the the links to the places you are staying. The place on the BI looks stunning.

tom, are you next gonna tell me that you are best friends with George Klein?

wj, love, love, love the places you are staying. When is this trip?

Tom, it sounds to me like you need to get to Graceland! iceeu2 - we leave in two weeks!! Our first trip to Hawaii and I can't tell you how excited I am....I can hardly stand myself.

Never met George - but did meet another member of the Memphis "Mafia" - who had some very interesting pictures.

Willowj: Was just checking on airfares from SD to Memphis for the next do last weekend in Oct. Dang expensive right now - and if I had to choose between the mini-reunion (did see a number of the college lads last Fall when I went back to for the USC game at Notre Dame and also stayed in Chicago) - or fishing for big Tuna/Marlin at Cabo - well - think Cabo wins, but still trying to figure out how to do both.

If my wife can't get away - one of the other guys and I are talking about getting a cheap room somewhere (the others are staying at the Peabody) and having all the guys over for a deja vu kegger while the wives go shopping or whatever they have organzied for the day.

Golly - we haven't had a good old fashioned keg party since waaaaaaay back in the 60's in Denver.

I would recommend the Talbot Heirs - right across the street - great little room with kitchen and sitting area. Then you could cross the street - watch the dang ducks and have a drink.

LOL and thanks for the recommendation. Gotta see those ducks wondering around like they own the place, eh?

So, are you gonna eat ribs at The Rendevous? Where did you go to school that this reunion is taking place? Christian Brothers? Ole Miss? Memphis State? Dyersburg State?

I've only had drinks in the bar, but I LOVE the feeling of the Hau Tree Lanai. It's very unique with tables right down on the sand. So I can't speak to the food but the restaurants is lovely and a very special setting.

hmmm... i was just reading over on the Trip Advisor Honolulu forum, and a local person posting mentioned they thought the quality at Hau Tree had gone down a lot in the past few years.