Imperial Hotel hosts Hawaiian Fair

Celebrating its new alliance with Honolulu's Hotels & Resorts of Halekulani, Tokyo's 119-year-old Imperial Hotel is hosting a series of hotel-wide summer season events saluting the food and spirits, dance, music, arts and lifestyle of the islands of Hawaii in progress at various venues around the hotel through August 31.

Directing the production of selected traditional dishes and drinks from the Hawaiian islands will be Halekulani's visiting Executive Chef Vikram Garg, Chef Michael Moorhouse and Sous-Chef Nelson Yamagata, whose tantalizing creations will enhance the grand buffet tables at Sal and the menu choices in the Parkside Diner through July 31. Among the Hawaiian dishes at Sal will be Macadamia Nut Surf and Turf Steak and Shrimps; Hawaiian Furifuri Chicken with Pineapple Salad; Lomilomi Salmon and seven other tempting island delights. The buffets are 5,250 yen (3,150 yen for children) during lunchtime from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 7,875 yen (4,725 yen) for children during dinner, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekends and national holidays). Eight typically Hawaiian specialties will be offered a la carte at the Parkside Diner during the same period, including Halekulani Loko Moko, Joy's Special Sandwiches a la Halekulani, and Halekulani Coconut Cake.

Refreshing Hawaiian cocktails and spirits famous at Halekulani will be served through August 31 in The Imperial's plush Aqua Lounge atop the Main Building, daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight (11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays and national holidays preceding weekdays), and in the Rendez-Vous Lounge in the Main Lobby, daily from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., with selections such as Pink Elephants, Lost Passion, Hale Passion and Mai Tai Royales.

From July 1 through August 31, The Imperial's Lobby Floor deli and specialty shop, Gargantua, will offer take-home Hawaiian selections including Macadamia Nut Surf and Turf Steak and Shrimps (2,625 yen) and Hawaiian Furifuri Chicken (2,310 yen) and two Halekulani desserts -- Halekulani Coconut Cake (735 yen) and Halekulani Mango Cheesecake with Lilikoi Sauce (735 yen).

In The Imperial's spacious Peacock Room ballroom on the evening of Sunday, August 23, the music, dance and cuisine of the islands combine in a 16,000 yen per person presentation of traditional hula and song by the renowned Leilani Rivera Bond troupe of three musicians and four native dancers, plus a lavish buffet featuring a number of Halekulani specialties. Reservations are available at (03) 3504-1255.

On Saturday, July 4, singer-guitarist Bucky Shirakata Jr and the Aloha Hawaiians perform live free of charge in the Main Lobby from 3 p.m. and again from 5 p.m., while on the evening of Friday, August 7, Grammy Award-winning Hawaiian singer Daniel Ho sings a charming array of Hawaiian melodies live in the Aqua Lounge, 17th Floor, Main Building, from 8:00 p.m. and again from 9 p.m., at a 1,050 yen cover charge.

From July 1 through August 31, The Imperial will host an exhibit in the Main Lobby of 25 items representative of Hawaiian culture and history, free of charge. During the same period, the hotel will market special junior suite packages featuring Hawaiian beauty treatments, accommodations and Halekulani style breakfasts, featuring popovers with poha berry jam and Eggs Benedict Halekulani Style, through Room Service, at 70,000 yen per person or 105,000 yen for two.

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