“How Tree”: A Dish That Surpasses the Signature Menu, Best Enjoyed on the Beach The Gold Coast area has long been a gathering place for celebrities from around the world who are “true Hawaii enthusiasts.” On the first floor of the Kaimana Beach Hotel, situated in this prime location, there is a restaurant with prime seats facing the ocean. Formerly known as “Hau Tree Lanai,” it was reborn as “Hau Tree” in 2020 following the hotel’s complete renovation in 2019. Kaimana Beach stretches out right before your eyes, with a pleasant breeze blowing through. This beach is also known as a birthing ground for Hawaiian monk seals, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a mother and her pup. While Eggs Benedict is the signature brunch dish, ever since I discovered the HOUSE-CURED SALMON BOARD ($31), it’s become my go-to choice. It features rye bread from “The Bread Shop,” a popular bakery in Kaimuki, topped with house-cured marinated salmon, herb cream cheese, salmon roe, and vegetables. A local friend who’s a regular recommended this dish to me, saying, “This is my favorite.” The balance between the rye bread—which becomes more flavorful the more you chew it—and the salmon, cream cheese, and pickles is superb. It’s certainly not cheap, and you might think, “Is this a small portion?” the moment it’s served, but it’s actually quite satisfying. It’s the perfect size to share if there are two or more of you. If I had to name one more dish, it would be the classic calamansi ricotta pancakes ($24). While Hawaiian pancakes tend to be on the dense side, these have a light, fluffy texture that’ll put you in a happy mood first thing in the morning. By the way, this restaurant has a “Pau Hana” happy hour from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, but they only serve drinks until 3:30 PM. Take this as a word of advice from someone who went there on an empty stomach and had to get through an hour and a half on alcohol alone—please keep this in mind. During the winter, you can spend your time watching the sunset sink into the ocean, so I recommend a late Happy Hour or an early dinner. Note that while there is parking available, you’ll still have to pay even if you’re dining there. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Waikiki. I think it’s a nice idea to take a stroll along the beach on your way there.
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