Now that the hustle and bustle of finding the right Christmas gifts for everyone is over, we can start to consider where we want to celebrate as we ring in the New Year. Whether it be a New Year’s Eve party or a first meal in the New Year, we have a few suggestions that will give 2023 a proper welcome.
1) Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
The iconic Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa will open its three ocean-facing venues–Beachhouse at the Moana, the Veranda, and the Beach Bar under the banyan tree for a magnificently themed celebration inspired by the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. The resort’s “A Great Gatsby Event” is sure to add some Roaring Twenties socialite fun as we welcome in a new age of Twenties. Hotel guests will be able to take an elevator ride down to get to the party but the general public is also invited to participate from 6:00 p.m. to midnight for a nominal $50 entrance fee, which includes one drink. So don your Jay Gatsby or Daisy Buchanan attire and make it over to this great event!
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
2365 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI
(808) 921-4600
2) The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
If you want to stick to iconic Hawaiian venues, then The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki should be on your list of considerations. The Pink Palace of the Pacific will host two sensational New Year’s Eve events–a dinner at the beachfront fine-dining venue Azure and a luau on the sprawling Ocean Lawn.
The event at Azure entitled, “An Elegant Event at Azure” will open from 8:00 p.m. until 12:15 a.m., and include a buffet dinner from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m., three drink coupons, and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Depending on the seating area, prices will run from $300 to 400 plus tax and tip per person, but will feature an impressive seafood bar (with lobster cocktail, ahi poke, oysters on the half shell, abalone, and more), a salad bar with cheese and charcuterie, a chef’s action station serving wagyu prime rib and steamed whole fish, luxurious sides as pommes puree and truffled cauliflower soup, and a decadent dessert bar with delights as chocolate framboise cake, arte au citron, chocolate & macadamia nut entremet ube, and more.
The New Year’s Eve Luau on the Ocean Lawn will operate simultaneously as the Azure event, for $350 to $400 plus tax and tip per person. It will take you on a fantastic odyssey with music, dance, and exquisite island cuisine. The evening will comprise of three acts: Act 1: Welcome to Ancient Waikiki, Act II: The Royal Feast, and Act III: the Helumoa Story Unfolds. Unlike the typical luau with kalua pork and poi, this meal will be truly indulgent, starting with a Crab Louie of apple, endive, cucumber, tomato dressing, and bonito aioli. The second course of a citrus butter-poached Kona lobster with lobster fondue, and beef tenderloin with horseradish beet puree, Madeira sauce and accompaniments will precede a luxurious chestnut Mont Blanc. The meal also comes with three drink coupons and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight to keep everyone in the party mood past the stroke of midnight.
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI
(808) 921-4600
3) Dean & Deluca at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
If you want to inaugurate 2023 with an uber-special meal or if you just cannot seem to finagle a highly coveted reservation at Sushi Sho, consider the revival of the pre-pandemic collaboration between Dean & Deluca and Sushi Sho. The $40 Sukeroku sushi set by Sushi Sho is sold exclusively at Dean & Deluca at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach. Incorporating ingredients unique to the Hawaiian islands, this special meal showcases futomaki rolls with curated ingredients as Molokai shrimp, taro, and warabi (fern) from the Big Island of Hawaii, with the addition of macadamia nuts in the sushi rice used in the inari sushi to enhance the flavor. Pre-orders for this will close once it is sold out on or before December 28, 2022, so act fast. Pickup will be on Saturday, December 31, or Sunday, January 1, both at 1:00 p.m.
Dean & Deluca at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
383 Kalaimoku Street, Honolulu, HI
(808) 729-9720
To order the Sukeroku sushi set, go online here: https://www.deandeluca-hawaii.
4) Zippy’s Restaurants
Maybe you’re a little adventurous but want to experience the popular traditional Japanese dishes on a more economical level for the entire family, consider the popular local family restaurant chain’s chicken nishime, konbu maki, and namasu. Chicken nishime, which symbolizes togetherness, is a classic one-pot stew comprised of chicken, konyaku (konjac), carrots, satoimo (taro balls), renkon Iotus root), gobo (burdock root), bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms. While this stew may contain a number of foreign sounding ingredients, its colorful appearance mimic its delightfully unique ingredients that are beautifully simmered in one pot to represent family and loved ones coming together. Konbu maki, representing happiness, are hand-rolled pieces of pork, carrot, and burdock root, tied together with konbu (seaweed) and kanpyo (dried gourd). Finally, namasu, which is intended for good fortune, is a local version of the Japanese sunomono. Representative of the red and white “mizuhiki” (decorative cord made of rice paper, used on special occasions), the side dish features pickled cucumber, carrots, and daikon.
There are several ways to order these dishes. The chicken nishime is offered as a Zip Meal ($23.95) including 2 pounds, or in a barrel ($65.95) for 7 pounds. Six pieces of konbu maki are sold for $22.95, and namasu is sold as a Zip Meal ($19.95) for 2 pounds, or in a barrel ($54.95) for 7 pounds. Sushi platters are also available for pre-order for $51.75, featuring 40 pieces of maki sushi, 16 pieces of cucumber, 16 pieces of takuan (pickled daikon), and 10 pieces of inari.
Pre-orders are already underway, so book as soon as you can, as you still have a day or two left to order. Pickup will be available on Saturday, December 31, and Sunday, January 1, at twelve Zippy’s locations.
Zippy’s Restaurants
Multiple Locations
For more information, visit zippys.com/newyears
How will you close out 2022 and welcome in 2023? Will it be a dinner full of laughter and cheer, ending with the pop of Champagne and fireworks, or will it be a quiet evening at home with an early rise to get a head start on the New Year? Whatever it is, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable celebration! Happy New Year!
