Sarento's at the Top of the Ilikai Hotel, a Restaurant Review

When a Happy Hour says "All Day Wednesdays & Thursdays and 5-8 pm Friday - Tuesday", I take it upon myself to check it out. It's for the benefit of all our guests... right? I am very glad we did, because it was a great experience. You ride a glass elevator to the restaurant and the entry way is very elegant. We got there at 8pm on a Wednesday and the dining room had maybe 10 tables. There were about 8 people in the bar, so we were seated right away. We sat at the bar, but it was a bit cramped, so the waiter graciously invited us to sit in the dining area.  The staff was very attentive the whole evening and did a great job of explaining the dishes and drinks to us.

We tried the Filet Mignon meatball sliders, Calamari Fritti, Boccocini, Escargot, Arancini, and Fried local mushrooms. The portions are small but rich and delicious. 

Being on top of the Ilikai Hotel gives this restaurant an amazing panorama of Waikiki. As we were leaving we went around the back of the dining room, which has floor to ceiling windows and booths that face the ocean. Next time, I am planning a sunset romantic dinner with the husband, I know which tables to request! Parking was easy to find on the ocean side of the hotel by the marina. There are clearly marked parking pay stations and you can use credit card, which is really helpful.

I would highly recommend making Sarento's at the Top of the Ilikai a part of your dream Waikiki Vacation.

Written by
Corie Jack
Ali'i Beach Rentals, Accounting Department  

Waikiki's Friday Night Fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

After years of hearing the fireworks while being in Waikiki but not being able to see them, I was so excited when we had family visiting and finally had an excuse to go see the Friday Night Fireworks!  They are every Friday at 745pm at the Hilton Hawaiian Lagoon.  The show lasts about 7 minutes. The night we went, the hotel near the Ilikai was having an event so parking was really difficult to find.  Generally you can find parking by the marina or at the public parking and use the meters behind the Ilikai. 

I was surprised by how crowded the beach by the lagoon was.  Many families with kids and pets having picnics on the sand and grass.  They don't give any warning when they are about to start the show, so keep a watch on the time so you aren't as startled as we were!

It was a great show, many different kinds and colors of fireworks. There is plenty of light from the parking lot so you can enjoy your food and still be able to take a stroll around the lagoon after the show.  If you have time on a Friday night, we definitely recommend checking out the Fireworks!

Written by
Corie Jack
Ali'i Beach Rentals
Accounting Department

Morton's Steak House at Ala Moana Center - A Restaurant Review

 

My husband and I had recently had an opportunity to dine at Morton's Steak House in Ala Moana Shopping Center and wanted to share our experience with all of you. We decided last minute to go Morton's, so I called as we were on the way and asked how long the wait would be (Saturday night at 6pm) for 2 people.  The hostess on the phone said she would be able to take us at 630pm.

We were seated right away when we got there.  The server (Misa?) was really nice. Started us with drinks, a Berry Blossom for me, yes I love froufrou drinks.  It was great!  My husband had a beer.  The bread is a huge hot loaf of soft yummy onion bread with smooth butter.  We split a Caesar salad, and yes the leaves were really big but from other reviews, I was expecting it.  The dressing was great and tangy.  I had the 8oz Filet and Lobster tail, my husband had just the 12 oz Filet.  The lobster might be the best I've ever had! The steaks were cooked perfect.  They had a tiny bit of charred edge to the outside, like they flamed it right at the end, that i didn't love, but my husband said he liked that  flavor to the steak.   Dessert was a sundae with the chocolate cake and ice cream.  Huge and delicious ending to the meal. 

It was pretty crowded but didn't feel like it in the restaurant.  All the staff was very attentive and professional.  If they say they will seat you next to the kitchen, I wouldn't recommend it.  The kitchen has a big open counter they run food out of all night.  I didn't see anyone sit at the row of tables next to the kitchen the whole time we were there.

 
Can't wait for our next date night so we can go to Morton's again! 

 

Written by: 

Corie Jack

Ali'i Beach Rentals, Accounting Department

WANTED: Vacation Rental Manager for Fast Growing Property Management Company Based in Waikiki, Hawaii

We are looking for a self motivated individual with property management experience to run the day to day operations for Ali'i Beach Rentals. Position requires:

- Open schedule and availability for emergencies
- Common sense and leadership ability
- People and problem solving skills
- Basic computer knowledge
- Real Estate Broker or Salesperson license in the state of Hawaii

Serious applicants please be prepared with a resume and references.

Contact
Kai Jack (R)
kai@aliibeachrentals.com
808 256-6091
www.AliiBeachRentals.com

Hawaii Gun Club Shooting Range - An Exciting Waikiki Activity!

I have to tell you about the Waikiki Activity a friend and I discovered last Friday night. Us and the wives had just finished dinner at Jinroku's in Waikiki and were trying to figure out something fun to do since it was still early. I thought back to all the sandwich board solicitors that I had passed by a hundred times on the streets of Waikiki distributing flyers for various shooting ranges. That's it... we should go shoot guns! Trust me, if you walk down Kalakaua Ave. at night you will get approached by these guys trying to get you to go to their shooting range. I haven't had a chance to visit them all, but I have to say that for the price we got at Hawaii Gun Club we shoot some pretty huge guns. We shot an AK-47, M1A Socom II, 12 Gauge Shot Gun, and the grand finale was the Magnum 500 handgun. That sucker had some kick! Anyways, the staff at Hawaii Gun Club was knowledgeable, accommodating, and safe so I wanted to let all our guests and potential guests know about our experience.

Lastly, don't pay full price. Go to www.hawaiigunclub.com and get the coupon for 30% off. The VIP package is $139 with the online coupon and has some great guns. Also, the lady at the front desk will let you do some negotiating as far as what guns you get in your package. I switched out the Uzi for the 12 Gauge Shot gun which was pretty great. I also paid an extra $20 to be able to shoot 1 round of the Magnum 500. Have fun and be safe!

Address: 339 Royal Hawaiian Ave. #3
Phone: (808) 922-6442
Website: www.hawaiigunclub.com

Written by
Kai Jack, R

Kahala Beach Luxury 3BR Monthly Vacation Rental. Relax and Enjoy This Exclusive Oahu Property!

Looking for some peace, quiet, and relaxation? Then escape to the Kahala Beach which is known for being one of Oahu's most exclusive properties. The Kahala Beach is the perfect place for an overdue family retreat or a romantic getaway. Located at 4999 Kahala Ave. the location is absolutely unbeatable. The Kahala Beach condos are right on the beach bordered by the Waialae Country Club and the Kahala Hotel.

This 3BR end unit (Kahala Beach 141) is located right across the street from the Waialae Golf Course. The Annual Sony Open golf tournament is just across the street! Enjoy panoramic views of both the Ko'olau Mountain Range as well as the Waialae Golf Course. You may want to cool off with the tropical breeze on your spacious lanai.

The courtyard Koi ponds and the gentle sound of the waves kissing the shoreline will make you wonder why you waited so long to be here. Picture yourself and those you love combing Kahala's beaches, watching the daily sunsets, and lounging by the oceanfront pool. It may sound like a dream, but Ali'i Beach Rentals can make it a reality. Click Here for details, availability, and rates.

We'll see you soon... Aloha!

Third Eye Blind Pop Up Show at Sans Souci Beach, Diamond Head

I wanted to share this story with all of you. My wife and I were driving home from work today, August 31st when we saw a Facebook post by a local radio station (Star 101.9) announcing Third Eye Blind would be putting on a last minute unplugged pop up show this evening. We had heard that the night before hand many fans didn't make it into their show because of some sort of fire code law restricting the amount of people they let into the venue. I guess Third Eye Blind decided to put on a second show for those who bought a ticket but weren't allowed into the show.

Since it was supposed to start in just a few minutes we rushed home to Waikiki and power walked down the coast to Sans Souci Beach. For those of you not familiar with the area Sans Souci Beach is at the beginning of the Diamond Head district and is a beautiful area. I'll be honest with you... I only half expected them to be there, but it was a beautiful evening for a walk anyways. Why not check it out right?

As we walked up to the beach park there weren't many people there. Just a small group sitting around in a circle. Actually at first it looked like nothing more than a drum circle put together by the local hippies. As we got closer we realized that this was in fact Third Eye Blind putting on a beach side jam session. Super exciting! At first there was only about 30 people or so sitting on the grass watching them play, but more and more fans started to trickle in as the news went viral. To make a long story short they sounded great and it was pretty amazing to get that up close and personal with such a legendary band. It was an evening we all won't forget. Please take a moment to watch the above video I put together of one of their hit songs. Aloha!

Written by
Kai Jack (R)