Restaurant review · Waikiki
Hau Tree, Brunch on Kaimana Beach
The Kaimana Beach Hotel’s restaurant sits on the sand at the quiet Diamond Head end of Waikiki, serving brunch, a daily pau hana and dinner under the hau grove it is named for.
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Kaimana Beach at sunset, the sand Hau Tree sits on. Photo: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The 30-second verdict
Hau Tree is the Waikiki beach brunch without the Kalakaua crowds: a pastry board and eggs benedict on the sand, a lifeguarded beach out front, and free valet for diners. It is a mile from central Waikiki, so drive or plan the walk along Kapiolani Park.
Hau Tree at a Glance
- Address
- 2863 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
- Where
- On Kaimana Beach at the Kaimana Beach Hotel, Diamond Head end of Waikiki
- Cuisine
- Beach brunch, local fish, pasta, oysters
- Price tier
- $$$ (dinner entrees $37 to $75)
- Hours
- Brunch 8 AM to 1:30 PM (7:30 on weekends); pau hana 2 to 5 PM; dinner 5 to 9 PM
- Reservations
- OpenTable or (808) 921-7066; open to non-guests
- Music
- Beach Sessions on Sundays, 2 to 4:30 PM
- Parking
- Free valet for dining guests
Hours, menu prices and parking from kaimana.com, checked Sep 27, 2026. Prices before tax and tip.
Best for
- CouplesGreatOceanfront tables and dinner through sunset.
- FamiliesGoodEarly weekend brunch and a guarded beach, but no kids menu.
- FriendsGreatPau hana daily with $13 cocktails and $6 beers.
- SoloGoodThe bar is open 8 AM to 10 PM.
- GroupsGoodBooks on OpenTable; six or more pay a 20% gratuity.
Pros
- On the sand at Kaimana Beach, open to non-guests.
- Free valet for diners, rare in Waikiki.
- Brunch every day, from 7:30 AM on weekends.
- Honolulu Magazine Hale ʻAina gold for outdoor dining, 2021 and 2023, per the hotel.
Cons
- About a mile from central Waikiki.
- Dinner entrees run $37 to $75.
- A 20% gratuity on parties over five, even on separate checks.
- Dinner ends at 9 PM.
Known for
Brunch under the hau trees
The hotel calls it Honolulu’s best brunch. The standards are the Hau Tree eggs benedict with ham, harissa and tarragon ($28) and the fresh baked pastry board ($19).
What to Order
At brunch, share the pastry board ($19: croissant, dark chocolate scone, banana bread, house jams), then order the Hau Tree eggs benedict ($28) or the snow crab benedict ($37). The ube cinnamon roll ($19) and calamansi ricotta pancakes ($24) cover the sweet side, and the loco moco ($31) the local one. At dinner, the seared local fish ($42) and Kauai prawn strozzapreti ($36) lead, with a toasted coconut cake ($15) to finish. More island favorites are in the best food on Oahu.
Prices from the menus on kaimana.com, checked Sep 27, 2026.
Pau Hana, Sunset and the Hau Grove
The tables are open-air on Kaimana Beach, the stretch locals still call Sans Souci. Pau hana runs daily from 2 to 5 PM: Kupu whiskey cocktails at $13, Maui Brewing beers at $6, and a $20 burger from 3:30. On Sundays, Beach Sessions bring live music from 2 to 4:30. Sunset on Nov 7 is around 5:52, just after dinner opens at 5. The restaurant is named for the hau grove at the heart of the hotel, where Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have found rest and poetry in 1893. Hawaiian monk seals haul out on this beach; give them 50 feet. Rather sail at sunset? See our Waikiki sunset cruise guide.
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Price and Hours
Brunch runs 8 AM to 1:30 PM on weekdays and from 7:30 AM on weekends, pau hana 2 to 5 PM, and dinner 5 to 9 PM; the bar is open 8 AM to 10 PM. Brunch plates run $24 to $37, dinner entrees $37 to $75, and wine by the glass starts at $13. Parties of six or more get a 20% automatic gratuity. No kids menu is published, but brunch has plain eggs and a fruit plate.
Getting There and Parking
Hau Tree is at the Kaimana Beach Hotel, 2863 Kalakaua Avenue, past Kapiolani Park and the Natatorium. The hotel puts it a mile from central Waikiki, about a 20-minute walk from the Duke statue. Driving is easy: valet is free for dining guests, and there is no self-parking. Staying nearby? Read our Kaimana Beach Hotel review, and pair brunch with an early Diamond Head hike.
Hau Tree on Instagram
Could be better
It is a mile from the middle of Waikiki. The hotel describes itself as a mile from the heart of Waikiki, so from the Kalakaua hotels it is a 20-minute walk along Kapiolani Park or a short ride. The free valet for diners makes driving the easy answer.
Consider Instead
- Michel’s at the Colony Surf is the dressier dinner on the same beach: French tableside service, a $130 tasting menu and a smart-casual code, seven nights from 5 PM.
- Duke’s Waikiki keeps families in central Waikiki: a keiki menu for 10 and under, breakfast from 7 AM and live music every day, with $6 validated parking for 4 hours.
- Barefoot Beach Cafe is the budget beach meal on Queen’s Surf Beach: walk-up plates $16 to $25, breakfast until 2 PM and nightly music, but no alcohol and no reservations.
Tips for Hau Tree
- Drive and valet. It is free for dining guests.
- Weekend brunch starts at 7:30. Half an hour earlier than weekdays.
- Pau hana food starts at 3:30. The $20 burger and fries follow the 2 PM drinks.
- Sunday afternoon has music. Beach Sessions run 2 to 4:30 PM.
- Book dinner for 5. In November the sun sets around 5:50.
- Six or more? A 20% gratuity is added, even on separate checks.
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Hau Tree: Questions
Is Hau Tree open to people not staying at the Kaimana Beach Hotel?
Yes. The hotel says Hau Tree is open to non-guests, and dining guests get free valet.
Does Hau Tree take reservations?
Yes, on OpenTable or by phone at (808) 921-7066.
What are Hau Tree’s hours?
Brunch 8 AM to 1:30 PM on weekdays and 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM on weekends, pau hana 2 to 5 PM, and dinner 5 to 9 PM. The bar is open 8 AM to 10 PM.
Where do you park for Hau Tree?
At the hotel’s valet, free for dining guests. There is no self-parking.
Does Hau Tree have a happy hour?
Yes, pau hana runs daily from 2 to 5 PM, with $13 cocktails and $6 beers.
Sources, checked Sep 27, 2026
Researched from the sources above, checked Sep 27, 2026. We never claim a visit we did not make; first-hand notes are marked as Stew’s. How we research and review.
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