Makana Lani, A Dining Experience

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.

Loved the buffet offerings. Such a great mix and delicious. All staff were super friendly. I plan to go again.

There was barely any food for the cost of $125 per head. When we got there at 10 am, there was little to no food left in the warmers. Some were even empty and there were no signs telling you what the food was.

There were few and not enough food and drink items and quantities. There were apparently not enough workers around though they seemed to try hard. The meat station was not staffed and a worker dropped off a few pieces of roast pork and prime ribs at a time that looked like scraps. My wife had to resort to eat some small buns and a small dish of pasta as the main dishes. I am simply unable to describe how poor the other hot food items as well as the salad bar and the dessert station were. We also had to self serve ourself coffee. I felt so disappointed and unsatisfied for the over $800 (including 18% mandatory tips) I spent and was very embarrassed by inviting my out of town guests to eat there. I will not eat there again!