Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 93

Ocean and the first of four man-made beach lagoons. Featuring a luxury spa and
fitness center, plus tennis and one of Hawaii's premier golf courses, it's a haven
of relaxation and well-being. Plus the resort is extremely family friendly, from
the huge rooms to the interactive marine life program.
It's hard to get a bad room in the 15-story building—some 85% of the units
enjoy lagoon or ocean views. Accommodations are luxuriously appointed and
spacious (680 sq. ft.), and come with huge lanais outfitted with very comfort-
able, cushioned teak furniture. The staff will supply you with a complimentary
crib or rollaway bed if needed. Although the rooms are not interconnecting,
they are grouped in sets of two, where the main outer door can be closed and
you can enter the two separate bedrooms through a foyer.
The Ihilani's children's program puts all others to shame, offering year-round
outdoor adventures and indoor learning activities for toddlers and teens alike.
There's a Computer Learning Center, a 125-gallon fish tank, an evening lounge
for teen-themed parties, and more.
All of the hotel's restaurants welcome families with kids' menus, highchairs,
and booster seats. And the spa is no longer just for adults, with special teen
facials, teen yoga, and even a fitness equipment and weight training orientation
for 11- to 13-year-olds.
92-1001 Olani St., Kapolei, HI 96707. & 800/626-4446 or 808/679-0079. Fax [phone]. www.ihilani.
com. 387 units. $354-$549 double; from $800 suite. Extra person $50. Children under 18 stay free in parent's
room. Cribs and rollaway beds free. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking $10. No bus service. Take H-1 west toward Pearl
City/Ewa Beach; stay on H-1 until it becomes Hwy. 93 (Farrington Hwy.); look for the exit sign for Ko Olina
Resort; turn right on Olani St. Amenities: 3 restaurants; 2 bars (w/nightly entertainment poolside); 2 outdoor
pools; championship 18-hole Ko Olina Golf Course, designed by Ted Robinson; tennis club w/pro shop; world-
class spa; watersports equipment rental; excellent children's program; game room; concierge; activities desk;
24-hr. business center; shopping arcade; salon; room service; in-room massage; babysitting; same-day laun-
dry service and dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer, iron, safe.
4 Family-Friendly Dining
On Oahu, family dining doesn't have to mean fast-food joints—the full range
of choices includes chef-owned glamour restaurants, neighborhood eateries,
ethnic spots, and restaurants and food courts in shopping malls. I've listed places
that will welcome your little ones and make both you and them comfortable. I
did stick in a few romantic spots where you and your honey can order up a sit-
ter for the night and spend some time by yourselves.
Anytime Grinds (www.anytimegrinds.com) is an interactive online restau-
rant guide for Oahu. The site lets you view basic restaurant information
(address, phone number, meals served, and type of cuisine); there are no restau-
rant reviews, but it can give you an idea of various restaurants in a general area.
The site also has daily information on live entertainment.
WAIKIKI
See the “Waikiki” map on p. 78 to locate the restaurants below.
VERY EXPENSIVE
La Mer NEOCLASSIC FRENCH This is the splurge restaurant of
Hawaii, the oceanfront bastion of haute cuisine where the state's finest chefs qui-
etly redefined fine dining in Hawaii. Get a sitter for the night—this is the place
for romance. La Mer is elegant, and expensive; dress up not to be seen but to
match the ambience and food (jackets or long-sleeved shirts required for men).
It's the only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in the state, with a second-floor,
open-sided room with views of Diamond Head and the sound of trade winds