Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise

[Therese S.]

Has anyone experienced the nighttime dinner cruise on the Star of Honolulu.  We’re looking for something different from the traditional luau.  Thoughts, likes, dislikes.  

[princeton123211]

12 hours ago, Therese S. said:

Has anyone experienced the nighttime dinner cruise on the Star of Honolulu.  We’re looking for something different from the traditional luau.  Thoughts, likes, dislikes.  

It's a fairly standard dinner cruise. You're paying $110 a person for a buffet dinner or $150ish for a plated banquet dinner. We did it years ago begrudgingly at friend's insistence and it met my very low expectations. Its reminded me basically of a half put together luau with more western food (and a fairly strong mai tai). The food ashore at any full service restaurant was much better than what we had here-- this had a distinctly pre-cooked, pre-plated midrange wedding quality to it. 

 

$300 for dinner would get you an extremely nice dinner at Orchid's at Halekulani and then you can go  listen to some live music at House Without a Key before or after. Personally I think the views from the beach looking out are much nicer than the ones looking back towards the big city. 

[Therese S.]

4 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

It's a fairly standard dinner cruise. You're paying $110 a person for a buffet dinner or $150ish for a plated banquet dinner. We did it years ago begrudgingly at friend's insistence and it met my very low expectations. Its reminded me basically of a half put together luau with more western food (and a fairly strong mai tai). The food ashore at any full service restaurant was much better than what we had here-- this had a distinctly pre-cooked, pre-plated midrange wedding quality to it. 

 

$300 for dinner would get you an extremely nice dinner at Orchid's at Halekulani and then you can go  listen to some live music at House Without a Key before or after. Personally I think the views from the beach looking out are much nicer than the ones looking back towards the big city. 

Thank you for your thoughts and opinions.  I was thinking how can they cook food for so many people at once and have it be fresh.  
 

I’ve read here many recommendation for House Without a Key.  We’re leaning in that direction.  Is Orchids the indoor restaurant and House without a key the outdoor restaurant within the same hotel?  
 

can you see the hula and hear the music from Orchids?  

[princeton123211]

1 hour ago, Therese S. said:

Is Orchids the indoor restaurant and House without a key the outdoor restaurant within the same hotel?  

They are both located within the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki-- the top hotel in Waikiki in my opinion. House Without a Key is a mostly outdoor (but a little bit of indoor) lounge and bar essentially. There is a dinner menu with a few dinner options, but its mostly appetizers (pupus) and drinks. You're there for the live entertainment and snacks. Entertainment is from 5:30-8:30 every night. 

 

Orchid's is their more casual main dining room (La Mer is their formal dining room and is very over the top unless this is a major celebration). Orchid's has a much larger dinner menu than HWAK and if you were looking for a nice dinner out would be a better dinner choice than HWAK. 

 

You can't go wrong with either but they just do slightly different things. If you wanted to really make a night of at at Halekulani you could go to HWAK around 6, grab dinner at Orchid's around 730-8 and then grab a night cap at Lewer's Lounge with live jazz after.