WAIKIKI. Spare and stylish, this airy restaurant presents diners with top-notch Japanese cuisine in the traditional manner. Talented chefs prepare exquisite sushi, as beautiful as it is delicious, and cooked dishes include yakitori, tempura, and more. The well-attended lunch buffet is a perennial draw, and the sushi buffet (Friday and Saturday evenings) is a favorite with hotel guests and locals as well. Kaiseki meals, consisting of a number of small, elegant, seasonal dishes, are an upscale alternative to standard fare.

ALA MOANA. An island mainstay, this pricey restaurant goes out of its way to choose the best seafood each day for its guests. Once they've marveled at the stream that wends its way about the restaurant, stocked with live creatures, patrons browse the menu for the day's delicacies. King crab, lobster, clams, oysters, and prawns represent the shellfish contingent, and a rainbow of local fish guarantees that you'll be tempted as well. The cioppino is a constant favorite, and brunch comes highly recommended by gourmands. Great service.

WAIKIKI. It's dinner and entertainment rolled into one at this Japanese hot spot. Vivacious chefs chop, slice, and sauté steak, chicken, shellfish, and vegetables right before your eyes in an exuberant display of teppanyaki cooking. It's just the place to visit if you're in the mood for an evening of sociability and fun. If you need a sushi fix along the way, don't despair ­ they'll set you up with an assortment of your favorite rolls. The superb bar begins serving drinks at 5pm, including sake and Japanese beer.

WAIKIKI. Long-lived and expensive, this top-of-the-line establishment is among the best you'll find for Japanese cuisine. A beautiful interior echoes the enchanting food, which includes everything from sushi and sashimi to tempura dishes, yakitori, and kaiseki meals. Tatami rooms are available upstairs if you're with a group or crave a little privacy, and the restaurant is especially accommodating of expense accounts and special occasions. Incomparable.

WAIKIKI. Although a wall of windows affords panoramic views of Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, diners are hard-pressed to pull their gaze from the Prince Court's fabulous buffets. Known for lavish spreads, the restaurant lays out an abundance of food in spectacular displays, and diners return again and again for the experience. At brunch, the bounty includes omelets, waffles, pastas, prime rib, seafood, and enough luscious desserts to make you weep. Breakfast and dinner buffets are also available.