Where to Stay

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa has dazzling views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, and you can watch the Friday night fireworks from your balcony. Best of all, it’s a short drive to Grace’s Inn and L&L Drive-Inn plate lunches.

Kalia Rd., Honolulu, 808-949-4321, www.hilton.com

Along with having the raucous bar scene at Duke’s Canoe Club, Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach also puts you within walking distance of several locally favourite plate lunch joints on Kapahulu Avenue.

2335 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, 808-923-0711, www.outrigger.com

Between rounds of golf at Turtle Bay Resort (it has Palmer and Fazio courses), pop down the road to the red-roofed Romy’s Shrimp Shack. If you’re still hungry, Turtle Bay spa’s pineapple pedicure is very nearly edible.

57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, Oahu, 808-293-6000, www.turtlebayresort.com

Where to Eat

Grace’s Inn 20-2919 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu (plus two locations on Oahu) 808-732-0041

Helena’s Hawaiian Food 1240 North School St., Honolulu, 808-845-8044

I Love Country Cafe 451 Piikoi St., Honolulu, 808-596-8108

Kakaako Kitchen (Ward Centre), 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, 808-596-7488

L&L Drive-Inn (Ward Centre), 310 Kamakee St., Honolulu (plus several locations around Honolulu), 808-597-9088

Ono Hawaiian Food 726 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, 808-737-2275

Rainbow Drive In 3308 Kanaina Ave., Honolulu, 808-737-0177

Sugoi Okazu & Bento 106-1286 Kalani St., Honolulu City Square (plus locations in Kalihi and Oahu), 808-841-7984

Zippy’s 601 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, 808-733-3725

What to Do

Matthew Gray, a former food critic and professional chef, runs Hawaii Food Tours including a four-hour Hole-in-the-Wall tour that always stops at a plate lunch joint (and several other yummy outposts, including ethnic restaurants, bakeries and more). Transportation and tons of in-depth local and culinary knowledge are provided — just bring comfortable walking shoes. And a big appetite.

1-800-715-2468, www.hawaiifoodtours.com

One of the best food festivals celebrating Hawaiian cuisine happens this month. Food & Wine Magazine presents its Best New Chefs 2005 at the fourth annual Hawaii’s Big Island Festival. Ironically, this year’s program includes a seminar on spa cuisine. Tours of local boutiques and estate farms are also on the menu. For a caffeine kick to wake you from your post-plate-lunch carb-induced coma, visit the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, which is Hawaii’s oldest
food festival.

Hawaii’s Big Island Festival November 9–13 / du 9 au 13 novembre, www.bigislandfestival.com;

35th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival November 5–14 / du 5 au 14 novembre, www.konacoffeefest.com

Getting There

Air Canada offers the most weekly flights between Vancouver and Hawaii, with convenient daily service to Honolulu, Maui* and weekly service to Kona starting December 3.  

* Service increases to daily starting December 16.