Brunch at Orchid's Restaurant at the Halekulani in Waikiki

The Halekulani is high-end hotel I never stayed at and probably never will - I just can't afford it!  $500 a night seems a little steep for anyplace in Hawaii especially when you consider that you'll be spending most of your time outside the hotel, exploring the island.  However, splurging on brunch at the Halekulani is something I can affording to do - on special occasions.  Usually that means Sunday brunch (hey, it's Sunday, that's special), my birthday (like this occasion), and we also ate there for Thanksgiving. 

The entrance, leading into the tranquil inners of the Halekulani.

The Halekulani Courtyard.

Brunch is available in a space that opens up to the ocean.  The food options are abundant - the management is so lucky I didn't come here when I could eat a LOT.



I'll start with a photo of an orchid plant at our table because that happens to be what the restaurant is called - Orchids.



Now, we came here to eat so let's get to it!  We arrived for the first seating and were one of the first guests allowed in the restaurant, so I have lots of pristine food photos.

The food options include American, Hawaiian, and Japanese cuisines.

The carving station guy.

Lots of breakfast items.

The omelette making guy.

And then there are desserts.  Lots and lots of desserts.

Bread pudding.

Sorry to be ungrateful, but when it's an all-you-can-eat buffet I would like to choose my own dessert.  I felt guilty not eating the whole thing.

And fresh fruit for the people trying to avoid desserts.  The mangoes always taste fantastic in Hawaii.  Someone told me it's because they stay on the tree until they're ripe and then are picked, but when they're picked for shipping to the mainland they're not ripe yet (they become ripe on the voyage) so aren't as good.

Service is excellent, watching the birds fly in and attack abandoned plates of food is fun, and the food is delicious and there is just so much of it!  Even if you're not a big eater it's a special experience searching all those excellently prepared treats to see what will have the pleasure of occupying your very valuable stomach space.  So inhale the ocean air and nibble at carefully prepared food, and if it makes you feel any better imagine all the money you will save when you don't have to eat again until dinnertime.  :)