FOOD

ENTERTAINMENT

Entree/Lunch For lunch, many locals thrive on plate lunches from the local lunch wagon or diner. The wide range of entrees reflects Hawaii's multicultural history:  Japanese saimin, Filipino chicken adobo, and Hawaiian-style chopped steak are but a few popular plate lunches which are usually served with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad.

Fruit  Go for the fresh fruit grown in Hawaii:  pineapples, papayas, mangoes, lychee, guavas, bananas, coconuts, passion fruit, and starfruit, among others. Fresh locally-grown produce are sold at a reasonable price by farmers at the People's Open Markets at certain city parks on specific days of the week. Wake up early and don't delay; the markets are only open for about an hour. Call the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for info at 523-4182.

Dessert and Snacks  One dessert you've got to try while in the islands is haupia, a custard made from coconut milk and cornstarch. This dessert complements the flavor of traditional Hawaiian food well. Another must-have is shave ice, a cone of shaved ice topped with sweet syrup (not to be confused with thesnow cone, which can't compare). Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts are delicious and make great gifts, and the nuts themselves are a snack in themselves and can be used for baking.

Luaus  A visit to the Hawaiian islands would not be complete without going to a luau, that ceremonial feast once reserved for special occasions. The main course is kalua pig, which is roasted in an imu , an underground oven, for four to eight hours. Lomilomi salmon, poi, and haupia add to the aromatic flavor of the kalua, not to mention the song and dance you enjoy while you eat.

Nightlife  Should you prefer to stay in Waikiki, opt for one of the many revues with some of the well-established names in Island entertainment:  Don Ho (Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel), Danny Kaleikini (Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel), the Brothers Cazimero (Royal Hawaiian Hotel), the Society of Seven (Outrigger Waikiki Hotel), or Charo (Outrigger Reef Towers Hotel).  You can choose among dinner and cocktail shows or among the long-running professional revues. Another possibility is to take a moonlight dinner cruise on a major cruise line to get in some sightseeing and watch fabulous Polynesian entertainment.

     Waikiki also serves as a center of nightlife in bars and clubs that appeal to the young and old with a spectrum of musical tastes. Other areas near Waikiki that feature live entertainment, clubs, restaurants, and water holes are the Aloha Tower Marketplace and Restaurant Row off Ala Moana Boulevard.

Concerts  Many acts that perform in Honolulu are featured at the Waikiki Shell and the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Concert Hall. Check the box office or newspaper listings for details. The Blaisdell Concert Hall is the home base for the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and also hosts guest orchestras, the occasional musical, internationally-known soloists, and Honolulu's annual Opera Festival. Call 521-2911 for schedules or ticket information.

Theater  Productions ranging from musicals to serious drama are offered by theaters like the Manoa Valley Theatre, the Kumu Kahua Theatre, the Diamond Head Theatre, and the University of Hawaii Department of Theatre and Dance. Call the Hawaii State Theater Council hotline at 988-3255 for information on all plays and musicals currently running on Oahu.