A Trip to Waikiki

A quick trip to Waikiki is my ideal vacation. From the West Coast, it is a quick hop to Honolulu and the splendor of Waikiki Beach. Waikiki may have a bad rap, but most don’t realize that this was the home to Hawaiian royalty for years. Why, the long half moon stretch of beach, calm lagoon and great surf. It also one of the few places where the city meets the sea in a tropical mix of world class shopping, amazing hotels, weird tourist stuff and ABC stores.

Of course, I go for the cocktails. Waikiki is ground zero for truly spectacular cocktails. Loving Mai Tais, I naturally gravitate towards the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian. Still the cocktail menu at Lewar’s Lounge in the Halekulani, created by Dale DeGroff, is not to be missed. Of course the list goes on Duke’s Canoe Club, Lulu’s, Moose McGillycuddy’s and a myriad of dive bars.