Duke’s is a pretty famous restaurant in Waikiki. It sits right on Waikiki beach and in homage to Duke Kahanamoku.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was born August 24, 1890 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first of six sons and three daughters of Duke and Julia Kahanamoku.
He grew up in carefree Waikiki with the ocean as his playground, doing what he loved – mostly swimming, surfing, canoeing and bodysurfing.

At the age of 21 he won his first Olympic gold medal, then went on to represent the United States in the Olympics for 20 years, winning not only medals but the hearts of people all over the world. He is remembered as a swimmer not just for remarkable speed, but for his grace in the water, his good humor, and his sportsmanship.

Brian and I are very fond of eating at restaurant that sit on the water, and this restaurant has a ton of great reviews. The reservations also book THREE months out… I originally reserved it for August, but as we know shit hit the fan and Brian left. So I booked for after he was supposedly getting home. Correction, I booked for three weeks after he was supposed to be getting home to “play it safe”. Well, you guessed it, they were delayed by a full four weeks… BUT thankfully I ALSO booked one for four weeks after he got back, just in case. This ended up with me having back to back weekend reservations for Duke’s (How lucky!). I invited my friend Jess to join with me and she graciously accepted.

Jess and I’s experience was FANTASTIC. We went early to walk around Waikiki and stumbled upon a Hawaiian show, which I want to make a point to specifically go see sometime.

We roamed around Waikiki, got caught in an anti vax march (if you see pictures and we’re in them, we’re just trying to get through, I swear!!) and ended up at Duke’s. We had an amazing table in the corner of the patio over looking a smaller small bites bar and live band patio. Our waitress was great, she was attentive but not overwhelmingly so. She asked if I wanted my cocktail (guava jamz) on the rocks or slushy (on the rocks was my choice). I got the macadamia nut crusted fish. It was an amazing night.

If you recall, Jess came with me to celebrate my birthday as well, and I had prefaced to her that the place we bought the cake from we’d only need one slice. So when we went to get the Hula Pie at Duke’s (10/10 recommend), I told our waitress the other cake story and had just though hula pie would be a lot smaller size, so I said Jess and I should get our own pieces. I talked about it with such confidence that the waitress thought I knew what I was talking about, except that I didn’t at all. When the pie arrived, it turns out it was HUGE and Jess and I could’ve totally split a piece. This is why I’m laughing so hard in this picture. The waitress said “Well, it’s mostly whipped cream” (spoiler alert, just LOOK at it, it’s NOT mostly whipped cream).

Regardless, we both did a solid amount of damage to our individual slices which come with a specific plate and fork/shovel (it’s a big spork) engraved with “hula pie” on the spoon. I know some people in the family who could finish this on their own, for sure. It was incredibly delicious. It’s macadamia nut ice cream, an oreo crust, fudge, whipped cream… my mouth is watering again.

Anyway, I’ve been learning that my second time around experiences have not been as great as my first round. I’m not sure if it’s beginners luck or what. But I returned the next week with Brian. We had a seat a row back and on the pool side… so while I was trying to take pics of the sunset there were half naked old men (Nothing against them enjoying their lives but they don’t make good picture aesthetics). Then the band was there again, but they were really loud so I was also kinda glad we weren’t near them, but it was that or screaming kids at the pool. My waitor didn’t ask if I wanted it on the rocks, so it came as a slushy… I ordered the slow roasted prime rib instead of the fish, and I wasn’t all that impressed. I did get a free hula pie because I mentioned I was there celebrating my birthday in the reservations. Brian got a Mai Tai.

Anyway, I thought round one was a way better experience for a lot of small reasons, I guess. It’s been hard having multiple experiences of things, because I’m finding the next sets aren’t as good as the first for one reason or another. It’s very weird. Maybe it’s a sign I should stop experiencing things without Brian, but I don’t have much of a choice. Maybe it’s the magic of experiencing things the first time? Anyway, more posts to come about this.

I convinced Brian to walk around after a bit to let our stomachs settle. We went back to the Royal Hawaiian Center and were treated to their Christmas decorations.

I would definitely go back to Duke’s and know better what to choose and make sure happens I guess. Idk that we could really pick our table… The food in and of itself was enough to bring me back.

Maybe I’ll just get it to go?