The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These four are the 2025 winners of the Where to Eat & Drink: Happening Hawaiian category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.
Hau Tree
Courtesy of the Kaimana Beach Hotel
Tucked along the quieter side of Waikiki’s Gold Coast with views of Diamond Head, this beachfront restaurant is the perfect place to catch the sunset alongside kama’āina (locals) and fellow travelers. Pau hana (happy hour) is a real highlight, with live music and noshy bites like rainbow chips and caviar enjoyed underneath its oversized eponymous tropical hau tree.
Lahaina Noon
Courtesy of the Royal Lahaina Resort
Lahaina Noon is a breezy new oceanfront dining concept that captures the essence of Maui’s vibrant culture with unobstructed views of world-famous Kaanapali Beach. Recently given a youthful refresh, the restaurant showcases a fresh Beverly Hills Hotel meets Hawaii aesthetic, with playful banana leaf wallpaper and chic rattan furniture, which makes the perfect backdrop to enjoy farm-to-table dishes like its signature poke bowls and locally sourced seafood.
Kahuwai Cookhouse & Market
Courtesy of Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort
Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) cuisine is practiced at this breezy restaurant at Kona Village Resort on the Big Island that celebrates local classics, often cooked over open fire. Expect smart and delicious takes on musubi rice with Spam, Kiawe wood-grilled short ribs, and barbecue Kumamoto oysters.
Mahina & Sun’s
Courtesy of The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Waikiki’s lineup of hotels is stacked, but it’s tough to compete with the vibes of Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, where you’ll find Mahina & Sun’s, helmed by Native Hawaiian Chef Erik Leong, whose menu reimagines Hawaii’s comfort foods with a refined twist. Visitors can enjoy nightly live music and some killer cocktails, including the best mai tai in town, sitting beside the retro “Wish You Were Here” pool.