Halekulani Hotel
2199 Kalia Road • Honolulu, HI 96815
808-923-2311
The intense, brilliant colors of Hawaii have for centuries dazzled the eyes of mainlanders. From the blues and whites of the ocean and sky to the reds and oranges of the sunrises and sunsets off Waikiki Beach, these dramatic vistas are mesmerizing. And for visitors with a taste for tea, the Halekulani Resort offers a front-row seat to observe nature’s spectacular display while enjoying a classic tea meal.
This popular beachfront location has welcomed people since 1883 when original owner Robert Lewers built a two-story house on the site of what is now the hotel’s main building. The fishermen of the area would bring their canoes onto Waikiki Beach in front of the property to rest. The locals named this welcoming location “house befitting heaven,” Halekulani.
As guests stroll through the immaculate 5-acre property, they notice that the original bungalow, one of the first permanent structures on Waikiki, is now home to the Halekulani’s Orchids restaurant. What was once a private home has evolved into an oasis for tea lovers.
For afternoon tea, served from 3:00 until 4:30 p.m. daily, diners have a choice of formal 
indoor seating, which is open to the outdoor breezes and the sound of the ocean, or a table on the patio with an uninterrupted view of Diamond Head in the distance.
Halekulani’s Classic Afternoon Tea features an array of tea sandwiches, including Ham and Watercress, Cucumber with Cream Cheese, Chicken with Horseradish, Smoked Salmon with Lemon Cream, Currant Scones with Devonshire Cream and Kula Strawberry Preserves, and assorted tea pastries made fresh daily. A dozen loose teas are offered, from Second Flush Darjeeling or Assam to Japanese Sencha or Earl Grey Lavender.
Champagne and strawberries are available as an upgrade, or a personalized cake may be ordered ahead to help celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or other special occasion. But, isn’t a tea setting like this always a special occasion?
