Chuck E. Cheese tops for keiki parties
With our keiki being so important to us, it's crucial that these members of our family have a place to celebrate in style. And for the readers of the Star Bulletin/MidWeek, no place better fits the bill better then Chuck E. Cheese.
The fun-filled restaurants, which combine child-friendly food with good times for all, handle about 100 parties each week. And it seems the only difficult thing about a party at Chuck E. Cheese is getting the kids out once the party is over.
"A lot of them want to stay longer," laughed owner Wayne Hayami. "It's a special place were parents can bring their kids in for special events and when they want to reward them. It's a mini Disneyland."
No doubt one of the things parents appreciate is that Chuck E. Cheese can take care of everything, or the restaurants can modify things to fit individual tastes. Fair prices don't hurt either.
Like nearly every town in the United States, nightly entertainment in Hawaii centers around the television. However, when the need arrives for a more personal acting experience, Diamond Head Theatre tops the list.
Deena Dray, DHT's executive director, believes community involvement has been the key to the theater's 91 years of success.
"We have a reputation for quality and professionalism, but the most important thing is that we include everyone in the production," she said.
With the exception of occasional guest actors, everyone associated with what happens on stage is a volunteer. From the actors to the costumes and set designers, Diamond Head Theatre is a labor of love. And it shows.
"People have likened what we do to Broadway. Not saying that we are equals. But I think we have a level of quality that is fabulous for a community theater in the middle of the Pacific. Given our budget and the size of the theater, we're comparable."
After an evening of theater, or an afternoon with the kids, winding down with a nice glass of wine might be just what you need. Ruth's Chris, more famously known as the place to go for a great steak, is also home to Oahu's best wine list. Star Bulletin/MidWeek readers love its huge selection of wines that are brought in weekly to pair with the meals or that have been requested by its loyal customers. General manager Don Asam can only laugh when asked the actual number of bottles, but says the restaurant offers more than 20 wines by the glass. Perfect for dinner or that pau hana drink.
Others winners are: Ocean Club (night club), Star of Honolulu (sunset cruise), Don Ho (local entertainer), Society of Seven (local music group), Mai Tai Bar (pau hana hour), Polynesian Cultural Center (tourist attraction), Paradise Cove (luau), Ward 16 Theatres (place to see a movie), Indigo (martini bar), Karaoke Hut (karaoke), Taste of Honolulu (best annual event), Waikiki Shell (live music), Honolulu Zoo (family attraction), East Side Grill (sports bar).
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Sports fans love the ono grinds and cold libations at East Side Grill.
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Night Club
1. Ocean Club
500 Ala Moana Blvd., 531-8444
www.oceanclubonline.com
2. Rumours
410 Atkinson Dr., 955-4811
3. Zanzabar
2255 Kuhio Ave., 924-3939
www.zanzabarhawaii.com
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Family Attraction
1. Honolulu Zoo
Corner of Kapahulu and Kalakaua, 971-7171
www.honoluluzoo.org
2. Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park
400 Farrington Hwy., 674-9283 Ext 107
www.hawaiianwaters.com
3. Star of Honolulu
1540 S. King St., 983-7700
www.starofhonolulu.com
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Live Theater
1. Diamond Head Theatre
520 Makapuu Ave., 733-0274
www.diamondheadtheatre.com
2. Hawaii Theatre
1130 Bethel St. 528-0506
www.hawaiitheatre.com
3. Manoa Valley Theatre
2833 East Manoa Rd., 988-6131
www.manoavalleytheatre.com
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Pau Hana Hour
1. Mai Tai Bar
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 947-2900
www.maitaibar.com/hawaii.html
2. Ocean Club
500 Ala Moana Blvd., 531-8444
www.oceanclubonline.com
3. (tie) Murphy's Bar & Grill
2 Merchant St., 531-0422
www.gomurphys.com
3. (tie) Side Street Inn
1225 Hopaka St., 591-0253
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Luau
1. Paradise Cove
92-1089 Aliinui Dr. # 20, 679-0003
www.paradisecove.com
2. Germaine's
444 Hobron Ln., 941-3338
www.germainesluau.com
3. Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., 293-3333
www.polynesia.com
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Wine List
1. Ruth's Chris
500 Ala Moana Blvd., 599-3860
www.ruthschris.com/locations/
honolulusteakhouse.html
2. Hoku
5000 Kahala Ave., 739-8780
3. Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors
1216 10th Ave., 735-7100
851 Pohukaina Street Suite C, 589-1677
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Martini Bar
1. Indigo
1121 Nuuanu Ave., Suite 105, 521-2900
2. Mai Tai Bar
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 947-2900
www.maitaibar.com/hawaii.html
3. Palomino
66 Queen St., 528-2400
www.palomino.com
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Karaoke
1. Karaoke Hut
909 Kapahulu Ave., 734-7771
2. HMC
98-108 Lipoa Pl., 488-1881
3. Room 2
1680 Kapiolani Blvd., 949-2644
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Keiki Parties
1. Chuck E Cheese
Aina Haina Shopping Center, 373-2151
Pearl City Shopping Center, 455-1448
www.chuckecheese.com
2. McDonald's
52 Locations on Oahu
www.mcdonalds.com/usa.html
3. Dave & Buster's
1030 Auahi St., 589-2215
www.daveandbusters.com
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Local Entertainer
1. Don Ho
www.donho.com
2. Frank Delima
3. Augie T
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Live Music
1. Waikiki Shell
2805 Monsarrat Ave., 527-5400
www.blaisdellcenter.com
2. Mai Tai Bar
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 947-2900
www.maitaibar.com/hawaii.html
3. (tie) Aloha Tower Marketplace
1 Aloha Tower Drive, 528-5700
www.alohatower.com
3. (tie) Chai's Island Bistro
Aloha Tower Marketplace, 585-0011
www.chaisislandbistro.com
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Local Music Group
1. Society of Seven
www.societyofseven.org
2. Makaha
3. Na Leo
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Tourist Attraction
1. Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., 293-3333
www.polynesia.com
2. Pearl Harbor
1 Arizona Memorial Pl., 422-0561
www.nps.gov/usar/
3. Star of Honolulu
1540 S. King St., 983-7700
www.starofhonolulu.com
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Sports Bar
1. East Side Grill
1035 University Ave., 952-6555
eastsidegrill.tripod.com
2. Hooters of Honolulu
Aloha Tower Marketplace, 524-4668
www.hooters.com
3. Murphy's Bar & Grill
2 Merchant St., 531-0422
www.gomurphys.com
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Dinner aboard the Star of Honolulu is a relaxing way to see the sunset and a breathtaking view of the city at the same time.
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Place To See a Movie
1. Ward 16 Theatres
1044 Auahi St., 593-3000
www.consolidatedtheatres.com
2. Signature Dole Cannery
753B Iwilei Rd., 526-3456
www.signaturetheatres.com
3. Wallace Theatres
Restaurant Row, 526-4171
Keolu Center Cinemas, 263-4171
Laie Cinemas, 293-7516
www.wallacetheaters.com
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Annual Event
1. Taste of Honolulu
www.tasteofhonolulu.com
2. Merrie Monarch Festival
www.merriemonarchfestival.org
3. Aloha Week Parade
www.alohafestivals.com
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Sunset Cruise
1. Star of Honolulu
1540 S. King St., 983-7700
www.starofhonolulu.com
2. Navatek
1600 Kapiolani Blvd., 973-1311
www.navatek.us
3. Alii Kai Catamaran
Aloha Tower Marketplace, 539-9400
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