GREAT EATS HAWAII

Saturday, March 23, 2013

MAUNA LANI GOLF - SOUTH COURSE

MAUNA LANI GOLF

SOUTH COURSE

KOHALA COAST, HAWAII

MAUNA LANI GOLF - SOUTH COURSE

68-1310 MAUNA LANI DRIVE

KOHALA COAST, HAWAII 96743

808-885-6655

808-885-9612 FAX

www.maunalani .com

Mauna Lani is a high end resort community located about 40 minutes north of the Kona airport. Once you pass the large lava sign you will be in lava fields for miles. The lava fields are lined with high end homes and condominiums that surround the resort and two world class golf courses. We played the Mauna Lani South Course which is famous for its 15th hole and for being the past home to the Senior Skins Game for over ten years. Greats like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have played this incredible course on the beautiful Kohala Coast. On the day that we played, the Kona "Vog" was thick and hazy. Vog is Hawaii's form of fog and is caused by the erupting volcano on the Big Island. How many people in the world can say they golfed while a volcano was erupting just miles away. Lucky we live Hawaii they say. While the Vog did change the beautiful blue skies of Kona to gray, it did nothing to improve my game or diminish the dramatic beauty of the course and Kohala Coastline. I hit some of the best shots of my life here including reaching the green off the tee on the famous 15th hole. Truly memorable for this hacker. Loved the course and food after in the Clubhouse. We dined at Huli Sues restaurant that sits adjacent to the Pro Shop and overlooking the putting green and South Course. I went for the Southwestern Marinated Big Island Fish Tacos ($18). Two huge fish tacos filled with super fresh Hawaii Ono. Probably one of the best fish tacos I have ever enjoyed in Hawaii. The fish was cooked perfectly and served with crunchy cabbage on a good tortilla that was lightly charred. Added salsa and guacamole and they were fantastic!

MAUNA LANI SOUTH GOLF COURSE

LOVE THE KONA AIRPORT - OLD SCHOOL HAWAII WITH NO TERMINALS OR JETWAYS

WALK DOWN THE RAMP INTO THE KONA SUNSHINE

THERE IS NOT AN AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY LIKE KONA. NO HEATING AND NO A/C.
JUST PALM TREES AND THE KONA SUNSHINE

ENTRANCE TO BEAUTIFUL MAUNA LANI

MAUNA LANI SOUTH COURSE HAS BEEN HOME TO THE PGA SENIOR SKINS GAME

LAVA DOES FUN THINGS TO YOUR BALL. IT EITHER BOUNCES BIG OR GETS EATEN ALIVE

THIS KONA DAY WAS FILLED WITH "VOG" WHICH IS LIKE FOG BUT COMES FROM THE VOLCANO

THINK I ENDED UP IN THE WATER ON THIS HOLE

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS TO THE OCEAN WHERE HUMPBACK WHALES WERE PLAYING

OCEAN ON THE LEFT AND LAVA BEDS ON THE RIGHT - HIT IT STRAIGHT!

THE MAUNA LANI COASTLINE IS MOSTLY LAVA

COURSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITH ROLLING FAIRWAYS AND FAST GREENS

THIS HOLE IS A LAVA OBSTACLE COURSE - HAD ONE OF MY BEST DRIVES OF THE DAY
AND LANDED THE BALL SAFELY IN THE FAIRWAY

MAUNA LANI SOUTH COURSE HUGS THE HAWAII COASTLINE

YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT YOUR BALL IN HERE

MAUNA LANI HOLE #15 - THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED OVER THE WATER HOLE IN THE WORLD

PULLED OUT MY FIVE IRON AND MADE IT ON THE GREEN. WILL REMEMBER THIS FOREVER!

VIEW FROM OUR TABLE AT HULI SUES RESTAURANT AND BAR INSIDE THE MAUNA LANI CLUBHOUSE

HULI SUES BAR AND RESTAURANT AT MAUNA LANI CLUBHOUSE

HULI SUES LUNCH MENU

SOUTHWESTERN MARINATED BIG ISLAND FISH TACOS

FISH TACOS WERE FILLED WITH FRESH HAWAII ONO AND WERE GREAT!

THE WILLOWS - HONOLULU, HAWAII

THE WILLOWS

HONOLULU, HAWAII

THE WILLOWS

901 HAUSTEN STREET

HONOLULU, HAWAII 96826

808-952-9200

808-952-0050 FAX

EMAIL: feedback@willowshawaii.com

HOURS: Monday thru Friday Lunch 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Dinner 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Dinner 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

www.willowshawaii.com

I love the Willows and have been going there since I moved to Hawaii over 20 years ago. I have to be honest though with my readers. The place has lost some charm and the dinner buffet is good at best. At $37.95 per person this is not cheap but the assortment of food and quality is worth the price to many. What disturbs me about the Willows is that you have this absolutely beautiful peaceful setting that is unlike anything in Hawaii. From the moment you walk through the tree lined entrance you are transformed to the Hawaii of yesteryear. A truly serene venue that will remain in your mind forever. Then you are taken to a very bare and open seating area that feels like a school cafeteria. No effort has been made here to take advantage of the beautiful views of the water or to make the seating area more attractive. That sets the tone for service that is just o.k. While the wait staff was friendly, they did nothing to enhance the experience or make guests feel welcome. So much could be done here to make this a dining destination. The Willows at night serves a Hawaiian Style Buffet with a mix of local favorites plus Prime Rib and Seafood. The dishes were hit or miss for me. The Portuguese Bean Soup was incredibly salty while the Teppan Yaki Steak was seasoned to perfection. My daughter LOVED the Chicken Long Rice. The Crab Legs were good but very skinny and meatless. Got a ton of water out of them though. I liked the Poke here and also the Potato Crusted Fresh Fish. Did not try the Prime Rib on this visit but it looked very good. Lots to chose from at the Willows and plenty of local deserts such as Mochi and Haupia. The Willows is a very special place. Just wish they could be a little more inventive with the atmosphere, decor, seating and food.

THE WILLOWS BUFFET

THE WILLOWS ON HAUSTEN STREET IS A HAWAII INSTITUTION

LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDED BY HOUSES AND APARTMENTS

ENTER INTO A HIDDEN OASIS

CHECK IN AT THE HOSTESS STATION

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS

LOVE THE SEATING INSIDE THE CANOE OVERLOOKING WATERFALL

VIEW FROM BUFFET SEATING AREA

DATED AND PRETTY BASIC SEATING AREA REALLY RUINS THE GREAT FEELING OF SURROUNDINGS

the Willows Dinner Buffet
Mon.–Fri., 5:30–9:00 pm • Sat. & Sun., 5:00–9:00 pm $37.95 • Keiki ages 4-10, $18.95 • Senior citizen ages 65+, 10% off
Rotating Selection of Salads
Classic Caesar Salad, Tossed Green Salad, Green Pea Salad,
Potato Salad, Bean Sprout Namul, Ahi Tofu Salad,
Carving Station
Garlic & Hawaiian Salt Crusted Prime Rib
with Horseradish & Au Jus
Traditional Hawaiian Selections and Hot Entrées
Ahi Poke
chilled tuna cubes seasoned with sesame oil, chili pepper & alae sea salt
Tako Poke
tender octopus served with chili pepper water, Maui onions & cucumbers
Lomi Lomi Salmon
salted salmon Lomi Lomi (massaged) with tomatoes, onions, and salt Poi, Hawaiian favorite, taro root pounded until smooth
Lau Lau
pork wrapped in ti leaves & cooked for 2 hours until fork tender
Kalua Pig
slow cooked smoked pork with onions and cabbage
Chicken Long Rice
Hawaiian style chicken noodle soup
Teriyaki Chicken Kara‘age
Fish of the Day
The Willows Original Shrimp & Chicken Curries
with assorted condiments
The Willows Specialty Fire Roasted Portobello Mushrooms
with balsamic butter sauce
Seafood Station
Sushi of the Day
Chilled Snow Crab Legs
Rotating Selection of Desserts
Haupia
traditional Hawaiian Coconut Custard
The Willows famous Fried Haupia,
our delicious Haupia breaded in panko & deep-fried
Pina Colada (Pineapple) Bread Pudding,
Vanilla Crème Brulee, Fresh Fruits,
Soft Serve Ice Cream with assorted toppings Chocolate Mousse Cake New York Style Cheesecake, Macadamia Nut Cream Pie, Tiramisu Beverages
Iced Tea, Hot Tea, Coffee (Items subject to change)