Makana Lani, A Dining Experience

We were the only customers in the restaurant, which might have been due to the lack of a liquor license. However, they allow BYOB, so we brought our own drinks.

For $40, the buffet was quite limited and didn’t even include juice, which was an additional $4. Perhaps the experience is better on weekends.

The restaurant is quite basic with nothing exceptional to offer. There's a lack of variety on the menu, and the prices are quite steep for what you get.

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 asked someone coming out of the kitchen for a utensil to grab the crab legs since there was none. The person told me it's coming but I never saw it. I ended up grabbing it with chopsticks. I didn't see sauce for the oysters so I ate it plain. The food was just okay. Luckily we were seated by the aquarium. That was cool.