A sampling of Hawaii Magazine’s best in the islands — hotels, restaurants and more

Hawaii Journal shares its “better of the islands,” pots of gold on the finish of the rainbow that's Hawaii.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Instances)

Need insider tips about a few of the greatest locations to eat, keep, sightsee and surf in Hawaii? Look no farther than the April difficulty of Hawaii Journal.

The journal’s 2019 “Better of the Greatest” comprises listings for greater than 1,600 winners and runners-up. Readers selected their favorites in a spread of classes, together with Greatest Pageant (Hawaii Island’s Merrie Monarch hula competition), Greatest Historic Landmark (World Struggle II Valor within the Pacific Nationwide Monument at Pearl Harbor) and Greatest Loco Moco (Rainbow Drive-In in Honolulu).

The lengthy record is large on spots to remain, eat and drink — simply what a customer must know.

Right here’s a sampling of a few of the winners:

Greatest resort, statewide: Grand Wailea

Readers of Hawaii Journal selected the Grand Wailea resort in South Maui because the state’s greatest resort. The property’s options embody the elegant spa, above.

(Grand Wailea)

The Grand Wailea, a family-friendly resort on Maui, took high honors. The property is understood for a shocking spa and a plethora of swimming swimming pools. (There’s a seashore too)

Greatest new resort, statewide: Alohilani Resort

Readers selected the Alohilani Resort on legendary Waikikii Seaside as the highest new resort.

(Alohilani Resort)

A 280,000-gallon aquarium greets visitors on the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Seaside. The resort is house to 2 eating places created by the acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto: Morimoto Asia Waikiki and Momosan Ramen and Sake.

Greatest luxurious resort, Oahu: Turtle Bay

Guests searching for seclusion on Oahu can select the North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort as an alternative choice to bustling Waikiki.

(Turtle Bay Resort)

Turtle Bay Resort occupies an enviable spot alongside Oahu’s North Shore. For seekers of serenity, the resort is roughly a 1½-hour drive north of Waikiki Seaside.

Greatest worth resort or resort, Kauai: Waimea Plantation Cottages

The view is idyllic from a lanai at Waimea Plantation Cottages on Kauai.

(Waimea Plantation Cottages)

Waimea Plantation Cottages boasts a 43-acre oceanfront location with a black sand seashore. The 61 cottages have been constructed between the late 1800s and the Nineteen Thirties, and no two are the identical.

Greatest bed-and-breakfast or inn, Hawaii Island: Palms Cliff Home

The Palms Cliff Home Inn is a secluded getaway north of Hilo, on the other facet of Hawaii Island from the better-known accommodations that dot the Kohala Coast.

(Waimea Plantation Cottages)

Palms Cliff Home is an upscale boutique resort with solely eight rooms. It's within the village of Honomu, about 12 miles north of Hilo on the island’s less-traveled jap facet.

Greatest resort or resort for a romantic getaway, Hawaii Island: 4 Seasons Hualalai

A lone bike owner pedals previous one of many swimming swimming pools on the 4 Seasons Hualalai, one among a number of luxurious resorts positioned alongside the Kohala Coast on Hawaii Island.

(4 Seasons Lodges & Resorts)

The 4 Seasons Hualalai had a number of wins, together with within the romance class. The resort is tucked away off the primary highway north of Kailua-Kona. The black lava panorama typical of the realm contrasts with white sand seashores.

Greatest seashore for a marriage, Hawaii Island: Mauna Kea Seaside Resort

Couples searching for a scenic setting for his or her marriage ceremony can think about Mauna Kea seashore on the resort of the identical title on Hawaii Island. The seashore is public, like all of them within the state.

(Mauna Kea Seaside Resort)

With its glowing, crescent-shaped seashore, typically thought-about one of many Large Island’s greatest, the Mauna Kea Seaside Resort received this class. No worries if you happen to can’t afford the resort’s costs; the seashores are free and open to the general public.

Greatest new restaurant within the state: Moku Roots

Moku Roots in Lahaina was voted one of the best new restaurant within the state. Its choices embody the “burger” constructed from taro — vegan, as are all its choices.

(Moku Roots)

Readers voted Moku Roots in Lahaina on Maui their favourite new restaurant within the state. It’s a vegan restaurant, and the eco-friendly homeowners attempt to make use of regionally sourced meals and to create zero waste.

Greatest low-cost eats, Kauai: Da Crack

Kauai’s favourite restaurant for bargain-hunters is Da Crack in Koloa. The restaurant serves tasty Mexican fare, together with this shrimp bowl.

(Da Crack)

Da Crack in Koloa serves Mexican dishes for vegans and meat lovers. All the seafood dishes function regionally caught fish. It additionally made the L.A. Instances’ 20 meals for lower than $20 record for Kauai.

Greatest restaurant $30-$60 per individual, Oahu: Browsing Pig

Eating out in Honolulu may be expensive, however the Browsing Pig options quite a lot of dishes, together with St. Louis-style ribs, at comparatively modest costs.

(Kono’s Restaurant Group)

The costs on the Browsing Pig are comparatively cheap: $16 for St. Louis-style again ribs, $26.50 for brick rooster and $28 for pan-seared ahi.

Greatest mai tai, statewide: Monkeypod Kitchen

Readers ranked Monkeypod Kitchen’s signature mai tai No. 1 within the state of Hawaii. It's served at places on Oahu and Maui.

(Steve Czerniak)

Monkeypod Kitchen, which has three places on Maui and Oahu, makes use of native juices and rum for its signature drink. The cocktail is topped with a singular honey-passion fruit foam.

Greatest bartender, Maui:. Dale Simonson

Bartender Dale Simonson has been a well-known face on the Kaanapali Seaside Resort’s Tiki Bar for 5 many years. Readers gave him the title of high bartender on Maui.

(Kaanapali Seaside Resort)

This honor goes to Dale Simonson, the chief bartender on the Kaanapali Seaside Resort’s Tiki Bar. Simonson has been serving refreshing tropical cocktails on the poolside bar for half a century.

Greatest mountaineering path for inexperienced persons, Oahu: Diamond Head Summit Path

Guests to Honolulu can ascend to the summit of Diamond Head, the enduring and long-extinct volcano, on a 1.6-mile round-trip hike rated as Oahu’s greatest for inexperienced persons.

(Tor Johnson / Hawaii Tourism Authority)

Diamond Head Summit Path, southeast of Waikiki’s accommodations, climbs 560 ft alongside the crater of the extinct volcano.

Browsing, Kauai: Hanalei Bay

The sheltered but nonetheless difficult waters of Hanalei Bay make it an excellent vacation spot on Kauai for each starting and skilled surfers.

(Brian J. Cantwell / Tribune Information Service)

For browsing on Kauai, Hanalei Bay, alongside the island’s North Shore beside the village of Hanalei, is ranked No. 1 in each the newbie and skilled classes.

journey@latimes.com

@latimestravel