Makana Lani, A Dining Experience

We were the only people in restaurant . No one there perhaps because they didn’t have a liquor license…. It you could BYOB and we did.

For the price, $40, the buffet was very limited. It didn’t even include juice, $4 extra. Maybe weekends are better

Very basic nothing special not enough variety and very expensive!

The venue is good the hotel is beach adjacent, and the restaurant has a nice view of the aquarium (overlooks the former Oceanarium restaurant area). We were in the last seating for New Year's Day brunch, so it was quieter than usual. The food was excellent, especially the misoyaki butterfish and the prime rib. The food selection was high end for a buffet, and the staff was good about rotating dishes, even though it was the last seating. The service was great as well, and we never felt rushed. Although it's a Waikiki restaurant, it has a solid local friendly vibe.

I don't want to be unkind, but this was the most overpriced underwhelming meal I have had maybe ever. Positives, the onion soup and salad were great! It's Christmas, so I will stay with the positives and you can read between the lines on the rest. $651 for 5 including tax and NO alcohol. Buffet had white rice, roasted potatoes, waffles/pancakes (our meal time was 4pm), bacon sausage, fish, mixed vegetables and tiny crab legs. It was a weird menu. The buffet was very sporadically fresh and/or full during our entire meal. Our family was all together, so still a very special Christmas dinner, but we would have been happier and not broke if we would have just ordered Door Dash.