Waikiki & Oahu Thanksgiving Dinners & Events 2010

For the 2019 Thanksgiving edition, click this link —> Waikiki Beach Thanksgiving Dining and Events for 2019

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The following list is from 2010 for informational purposes only.

Seems like Thanksgiving has snuck up on us once again, doesn’t it? If you are going to Oahu for this Thanksgiving, then you’ll find many options to celebrate the day with a bit of tradition and Aloha. You’ll find everything from traditional turkey dinners to Thanksgiving-inspired sushi menus.

I’m listing a great collection of special Thanksgiving dinners, brunches, buffets, parades, and celebrations going on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26, 2010. I’m including a variety of options to suit any budget, taste and atmosphere.

If you are like me, you look for a nice open-atmosphere beach view. I’ve tried to make note of restaurants with especially good views.

THANKSGIVING DAY DINNERS, BUFFETS & BRUNCHES

Duke’s Waikiki will offer their regular menu along with a traditional turkey dinner from 4:45pm to 10pm. I love the Waikiki Beachfront setting of Duke’s Waikiki in the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach Hotel. The traditional turkey dinner price is a great value at 25.95 for adults, $7.95 for kids 11 years old and under. The Thanksgiving Dinner special includes Duke’s Famous Salad Bar, Roasted Turkey with white and dark meat topped with gravy, savory stuffing, candied yams, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel – For a unique setting, consider having Thanksgiving with the fishes in the Oceanarium Restaurant with their large saltwater aquarium. Oceanarium Restaurant will offer Thanksgiving Day brunch and dinner buffets. See their brunch menu here which costs $39.95 for adults and $13.95 for children. Brunch will be served from 9am until 3pm. Their dinner buffet menu will be served from 4pm until 10pm with a price of $43.95 for adults and $15.25 for children.

The Royal Hawaiian, that famous “pink lady of Waikiki”, offers a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner buffet in the Monarch dining room. The cost of the buffet is $88 for adults and $53 for children.  This buffet will be offered from 5pm to 9pm. See this link for the menu and contact details on how to make a reservation.

Bali Steak & Seafood at the Hilton Hawaiian Village presents a four-course dinner with all the trimmings.  It starts with a roast kabocha soup followed by salad of Hirabara Big Island greens with goat cheese “bonbons.”  Diners can choose between five entrees:  Kona sea salt brined turkey with sourdough “stuffing” bread pudding; slow-roasted12 oz. prime rib with parmesan popover; grilled 16 oz. center cut pork chop with braised red lettuce and roasted fingerling potatoes; pan-roasted king salmon with truffled white bean ragout; and fall vegetable risotto with parmigiano-reggianno and soy-balsamic marinated alii mushrooms.  The evening ends with a chocolate swirl pumpkin cheesecake with pecan crust and cranberry apple compote.  Bali’s Thanksgiving dinner is $75 for adults and $45 for children under the age of 12. Call 808-949-4321 for reservations and more information.

Kai Market, also at the Sheraton Waikiki, will offer Thanksgiving brunch and dinner buffet options at their location overlooking the pool and Waikiki Beach.  Kai Market’s Thanksgiving Day brunch is open from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. Prices are $49 for adults, $15 for children 6-12 years old; children 5 years and younger eat free, one child per paying adult. I will link to the menu when it becomes available online. The restaurant opens again from 5:00pm to 9:30pm for Plantation Nights Thanksgiving Day Dinner Table. Prices for dinner are $59 for adults, $15 for children 6-12 years old; children 5 years and younger eat free, one child per paying adult. For more information about Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii call 1-808-921-4600 or email TDRC.Hawaii@starwoodhotels.com.

Tropics Bar & Grill at the Hilton Hawaiian Village will celebrate Thanksgiving with a four-course meal that goes well with football on Tropics’ four flat-screen televisions. The menu starts with a roasted Kahuku corn and smoked bacon bisque; then a wild baby arugula and Waimanalo Farms’ salad with green apples, pistachios with bleu cheese and herb dressing. For the entrée, diners can choose between: Tropics roasted turkey with Portuguese sausage bread stuffing, Yukon mashed potatoes and homemade cranberry relish; li hing mui roasted rack of lamb with sweet potato croquette; and slow braised “osso bucco” beef short ribs with Yukon mashed potatoes and burgundy jus. A dessert of pumpkin cheesecake with seasonal berries completes the meal. The price of Tropics’ Thanksgiving feast is $47 per person, and $23.50 for children under the age of 12. Call 808-949-4321 for more information.

Waikiki Starlight Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village will be held on the Great Lawn with views of Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. The dinner buffet features a modern twist on traditional luau fare with Thanksgiving enhancements on that day. For the younger diners, the Waikiki Starlight Luau features a keiki menu complete with teriyaki meatballs, sweet & sour chicken wings, tater tots and veggies. Following the dinner, guests will enjoy a journey through the islands of the Pacific  The cost of the luau is $95 for adults and $47.50 for children; or $105 for adults and $52.50 for children in the Golden Circle Seating area. For more information or to purchase tickets,  call the hotel at (808) 941-LUAU (941-5828). Specially-priced validated parking is available at the resort.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House will offer a special New Orleans-inspired Thanksgiving menu starting at 4pm. The menu includes choice of soup or salad, traditional oven roasted turkey with cornbread Andouille stuffing, and all the traditional sides. For dessert, you can choose between pumpkin cheesecake or New Orleans style pecan pie. This three course dinner is priced at $45 for adults and $19 for kids 12 and under. For reservations in Waikiki, call 808-440-7910.

Hau Tree Lanai offers a Thanksgiving Day brunch at one of Waikiki’s best oceanfront dining locations. This holiday brunch buffet is offered from 10am – 2pm. Pricing is $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 5 – 12. For Hau Tree Lanai contact information, see this link.

The Beachhouse at the Westin Moana will Thanksgiving dinner buffet with wonderful ocean views from 3pm to 8:30pm. Here is a link to the buffet menu. The cost is $79 for adults and $45 per child. For reservations or more information, contact the Starwood dining desk at 808-921-4600 or e-mail tdrc.hawaii@starwoodhotels.com Also, see this link for more information on The Beachhouse.

Top of Waikiki restaurant will offer a special prix fixe Thanksgiving menu for $35 per person. The three-course Thanksgiving dinner includes Butternut Squash Soup followed by a traditional roast turkey entree and Pumpkin & Cherry Clafonti for dessert. In addition to the special Thanksgiving dinner, the restaurant will offer their regular menu. This revolving restaurant offers commanding views of Waikiki. For more information, see this link to their website.

THANKSGIVING MEALS TO-GO
If your accommodations offer cooking facilities, you might be interested in these economical heat and eat Thanksgiving to-go options.

• Hau Tree Lanai provides a Turkey “Holo-Holo” To Go for a family of four to six for $85. You must place your orders by November 20, 2010 at 808-921-7066. See the menu and more details here. .
• Pacific Beach Hotel Catering offers Wiki-Turkey Take-Out Banquet that can be prepared in two “easy” hours. For $89 you can heat and assemble a traditional thanksgiving feast for six to eight. You must place and pay for your order by November 19, 2010. See more about the menu and ordering details, click here.
• Zippy’s offers a couple of different traditional Thanksgiving meals to go starting at $37.95 for a meal that serves up to four people. See this link for the ordering options and details.
• Ala Moana Hotel provides a “Thanksgiving Turkey To Go” with sides that serves up to six people for $99. You must order by November 19, 2010. For more information, see this link.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The 36th Annual Turkey Trot will give you a chance to burn off those Thanksgiving calories before you eat them with a 10-mile run on Thanksgiving morning. Registration is at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand at 6:30am and the run begins as soon as all are registered, so participants are advised to arrive early. Each runner will predict their finish time. At the finish line, their predicted time is compared to their actual finish.  Awards will be given to those coming closest to their own predicted finish time; also, there will be random drawings of finisher names for door prizes. Entry fee is $3; no watches, headphones,or pacing devices are allowed. For more details see this link.

12th Annual Waikiki Holiday Parade marches through Waikiki on Friday, November 26. The parade commemorates Pearl Harbor Survivors and the anniversary of the attacks. The parade starts at 7:00pm and will feature thousands of marchers, vehicles and bands from all over the US. The parade starts at Fort DeRussy and follows Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park. (See this parade route map.) For more information, see this link.or call 1-800-331-9579.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is set for Wednesday, November 24 from 4:30 – 7:30pm. This free event will take place in  the Royal Grove of the Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikiki. This event includes the lighting of its magnificent holiday tree and festive trimmings. Guests can enjoy free live entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. featuring Hawaiian music and hula by Keoahu and a performance by Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii.

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Assume that all pricing is exclusive of taxes and gratuity.

I will keep this list updated as I discover new options and details. So, if you’ve not already made your plans, do check back for more options. Several other resorts will also have a special meal for the day, so also check with the concierge of your accommodation for their options.

Happy Thanksgiving!