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ibew292
Jan 19, 2012 06:44 AM
Does anyone know anything about this two?
Mediterranean Gourmet 5-7132 Kuhio Highway Hanalei HI, 96714.
Tahiti Nui 5-5134 Kuhio Hwy Hanalei HI, 96714›23 Replies-
re: ibew292
Ahhh, the Nui! Go when they have early evening hawaiian entertainment, or go late for a more rocking vibe! Check their schedule when you get on island. I've never done Med Gourmet luau, but they are great people, great location and they make a perfect mai tai.
Edit: I didn't realize the Nui had brought back their luau. They had stopped it years ago with the passing of Auntie L. It's a small tikibar, so you wont have the big production value, but something I would certainly want to check out compared to the touristy ones. I've always enjoyed their hawaiian entertainment, so imagine this would be kicked up a notch.
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re: ibew292
Aloha ibew292:
Not familiar with the MedG place. Tahiti Nui is a great place IMO, in a gritty local way. Not especially a dive, but definitely a throwback to simpler times. Hanalei is a tough market for restaurants, and TN seems to keep hanging on despite everything. It and the Dolphin (utterly different vibe) are the closest things to institutions there. Definitely worth a visit while on Island Time.
Now if Black Pot would only come back in kino!
Aloha,
Kaleo-
re: kaleokahu
Off topic, but I'd love to know how Hanalei is a tough market for restaurants. I've only a dozen years of experience but in those years have had many return visits to many places new and old that are alive and well, or surviving in the current economy.
One of the great fundraiser luaus is the Canoe Club, but that is in the summer. . .
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re: Bellachefa
Bill Hunt
Jan 25, 2012 07:03 PM
Hanalei is sort of "at the end of the road," and is inhabited by many wonderful "free spirits." That would, in no way, be a negative, except that there is a need for tourists too. Relying on just the locals, can be tough, though we have also had some great food in the restaurants, and are always happy to see that some have remained, year-after-year.
Owning a restaurant there, is hard. Many locals will only dine there, for occasions, while the tourists often stop short. It is a lovely area, and the taro crop is wonderful, but as a market, it has to be tough. Love it, but would not want to own a restaurant there, unless I had a fortune in escrow.
Hunt
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re: Bellachefa
Hi, Bella: "...how Hanalei is a tough market for restaurants."
I tend to agree with what Hunt said. To those many good points, I'd add: (a) the success of dreck places like Bubba's (and to a lesser extent the bizzy-er incarnation of Tropical Taco) siphons away $$ that the econotourtistas would spend there; (b) the on-estate (and stripmall) places in Kaua'i's "Little Lichtenstein" (Princeville) siphon away a good portion of the luxotouristas' $$; (c) there are no view establishments; (d) there are almost no real condo/hotel complexes nearby, save the Princeville abomination; (e) a high percentage of savvy travelers who pick Hanalei are going to the public markets and fish markets there and in Kilauea and cooking for themselves; and (f) the population afta da bridge is neither numerous nor demographically ideal enough to support more than a small number of restaurants; Dolphin and Postcards and now BarAcuda soak up most of the few dollars that remain available.
IMO, Tahiti Nui and the cafe in the old school seem to me to be the only places which have struck a balance between normal-income locals and tourists.
What are the "many" Hanalei places you consider OLD that are "alive and well"? What will be in the Zelo's spot next? How many came before it? Has Charo's reopened? Bali Hai? Black Pot?
As for *new* places that are "alive and well", well, unless you own them or are their accountant, how do you know about the "well" part?
If you know anything about Night Marchers, if you listen carefully, you can hear the footfalls and pahu drums of all the Hale 'ai Kahiko o Hanalei, Charo playing wicked Flamenco, and Lohiau himself pounding poi. In another few, you will also hear Taj, Rundgren and Nash riffing along.
Aloha, Kaleo
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re: kaleokahu
Thank you for the reply kaleokahu. Are you Kamaʻaina? Native? Bill, I am not. My opinion is from visiting and staying in Princeville and Hanalei many times. My opinion is from revisiting over the years establishments that have been there from my first visit.
Charo's closed many years ago. MedGourmet took over the location a few years ago and is positively regarded within the community. Postcards (which rebuilt a building after Iniki and opened in 1996), Dolphin(been in business for over 30 years) Baracuda has been a hit since it opened although younger then the others you note, are succes stories and have been in business for many years. Bali Hai? Do you mean in Princeville where the demise of as well as Happy Talk are due to poor management and corparate
choices?Most of the places in Hanalei have managed to stay in business. Zelo's is one that has not been able to find a proper direction, which is a shame as it is a great local. SushiBlues/Bouchon shot themselves in the foot.
Just differing opinions.
So, from my many visits to many restaurants in which the owners or staff recognize my face as a return mainlander, I respectfully again disagree. With a few thousand condos, homes and hotel rooms up the road, Hanalei is in better economic stance then many mainland city restaurants.
Aloha, and I apologize for taking this thread off topic. I am very interested to read a review from you ibew. Are you an electrician?
Best
Bella-
re: Bellachefa
Hi, Bella:
I am hanai in a Oma'o native 'ohana.
It is true that several places in Hanalei have persevered. A few (like the Dolphin) have even attained a critical mass that will allow them success--although I consider that the Dolphin phones it in about 4 nights out of 7. I think pretty much all the rest are in survival mode. And how long *has* BaraCuda been around?
Do you remember the original Casa di Amici when it was at Kong Lung in Kilauea? Fabulous place. I made Chef Randall a knife to thank him for a particularly great meal. Even there, accessible from Princeville, and more accessible from Kapa'a/Lihu'e, they were struggling. Ended up moving to my 2nd-least favorite spot on Kaua'i, Po'ipu.
But if you think Hanalei is a good and easy place to put in a resto, that's up to you. Reasonable minds can differ.
Aloha Kaua,
Kaleo
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re: Bellachefa
Bill Hunt
Jan 26, 2012 05:49 PM
Aloha Bellachefa,
Thank you for the comments. While I have been in Hanalei, my trips get rather spread, over several Islands, and also sides-of-Islands, so I am certainly not as frequent as traveler, as you are.
However, I have been fortunate enough to spend some quality time with some of the owners, and their staff. Much is really just talk-story, but several have opened up to this haole. I think that they can see that I care.
I love little better, than supporting the "local folk," though will admit that much of my Hawai`ian dining has been rather up-scale. Still, when I am at "the end of the road," I am not looking for linen tablecloths, and a 16-piece place-setting.
In case it is not clear, I wish the local proprietors the best, and support them, when I am there.
The North Shore of Kaua`i has always been a bit of a problem, and much of that has been outlined in this thread. I'd love little more than to see the restauranteurs in Hanalei do well, expand, and maybe even produce a fine-dining location, though that would have to be weighed against the clientele. More "deep pockets"seem to suffer with Princeville, and then just complain.
Dining on the North Shore of Kaua`i is a constant topic, and for visiting CH's, there are not THAT many options.
As for the Kaua`i lu`au, I know little. We observed one at the Sheraton Poipu, from our lanai, with some wine, and it was not bad, from a purely entertainment standpoint, but we dined elsewhere, so cannot comment on their food.
Wish that I could help the OP on that count.
Aloha,
Hunt
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re: kaleokahu
ibew292
Jan 27, 2012 06:20 AM
Thank you all for the thread going off track. It has helped me formulate a plan for my visit. I am a retired electrician coming to Kauai for the first time in the middle of Feb. Any suggestions for must do places would be appreciated. I am a little worried because I read that TH was the bar/restaurant in The Decedents. I hope fame does not change it for the worst. See you soon...........
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re: ibew292
Hi, ibew:
As for restaurants, I posted a long review on this board in late 2010/early 2011.
As for things to see, that depends. Kaua'i has a lot to offer. Are you the kind of person who likes to research everything (saving time--and risking expectations being dashed), or are you an explorer who likes to poke around and stumble onto things? Have you been to Hawai'i (other than Honolulu) before? Are you interested in walking to get places you can't get to by car?
I suggest you get a copy of The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook (the one with the satellite photo on the cover) as a basic orientation, and then explore.
I am torn to recommend helo tours (noisy intrusions that they are), but seeing Na Pali from the air is worth every penny. There is one company that flies Bell Jet Rangers, and they will take the doors off if you ask. Boat tours this time of year are great, too, if you have a strong stomach.
Kaua'i's biggest treasures are her people, both in kino and uhane. Most tourists make only superficial contact with them. If you show an honest interest, have no expectations, feel no entitlements, doors will open for you.
I think it is sad when visitors do not work a little bit to learn about Hawai'ian culture (going to a hotel lu'au isn't much work). For example, all of Hawai'i--and especially Kaua'i--is about unique gods, myths, history, heroes, poetry and placenames. All of the funny-looking, unpronounceable names *mean* something important. You might therefore enjoy reading Chipper Wichman's book "Placenames of Kaua'i" so you can put yourself in cultural context, rather than just driving from points A to B.
Go to the public markets. Ignore the rental car company and get off the pavement. Make friends with a pig hunter. Hike the Na Pali from both ends. Learn to make poke. Listen to KONG or KKCR to find out what's happening for free. Go to the florist and surprise your wife with a real lei. Take a little of Kaua'i home with you (no rocks!), leave a little of your own aloha behind.
Have Fun,
Aloha,
Kaleo-
re: kaleokahu
Beach Chick
Jan 27, 2012 10:30 AM
Aloha Kaleokahu..
Kaua'i is my favorite island with so much aloha but I wouldn't ignore the rental car company rules of getting off the pavement...we've all done it but the ramifications can be huge if something happens.
Totally agree about the beautiful Hawaiian culture..from the night marchers, the Gods, history...it is all so incredibly beautiful..is Auntie Maria still on the radio?
I'm not a fan of the guide book..most of them encourage trespassing on others property.Just my two aloha cents..and yes, don't take the rocks!
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re: Beach Chick
Another off topic comment. I recently read Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler which I found to be a thoroughly researched and a very accurate account on many levels. So if you enjoy the history of the islands BC and Kaleo, you might really enjoy this read. A lot of care was taken from this haole author/journalist.
I dont think the Descendents will have an impact on the Nui. Please take the time to visit Farmers Markets and talk story with the locals.
And unless this is outdated, looks like Auntie is still mele
http://www.kkcr.org/schedule.htm
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E, ibew292, Aloha:
The one at the Sheraton is my favorite because of Auntie Kapu's dance troupe. The food is excellent as well. The Sheraton has always been a good citizen on Kaua'i, sponsoring learned presentations on traditional Hawai'ian cultural topics, like ancient celestial navigation.
The one at Princeville also has excellent food, IME.
Hope this helps,
Aloha,
Kaleo›3 Replies-
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re: ibew292
Bill Hunt
Jan 13, 2012 07:08 PM
Most of those would need to be discovered, when you are there. One might look at the bulletin boards at say Star Market, etc., to see what is happening during your trip. Another source would be local newspapers.
Of the various Islands, I have zero experience on Kaua`i, so cannot even offer comments on commercial lu`aus.
Most of all, enjoy and aloha,
Hunt
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re: ibew292
Hi, ibew292:
I'm not sure what you mean by Local Fundraiser, but yes there are always fundraisers going on for something.
Na Lu'au have become highly stylized at the hotels. The food can be very good and semi-authentic, but the tourists expect (and therefore the hotel, kumu and haumana provide) basically an all-Polynesian revue, that gives only glimpses of traditional Hawai'ian hula and 'oli.
You can start checking for fundraisers now, by listening on-line to either "Kong AM" (I think the call letters are KQNG) or the community-owned FM station KKCR. Both will have "What's Going On" segments. KKCR is actually a great station to listen to anytime,
Aloha,
Kaleo
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