La Mariana Sailing Club

Not that hard to find if you look for the sign and follow down in between the warehouses. Just look for those boat sails. Tucked away and timeless is the coolest Tiki Bar. Drinks were nice and strong. Service was awesome. Never left for too long and our waitress was very attentive. Had the Lumpia which was cooked perfect and served with a sweet and spicy sauce. Lots of regulars filled their fav spots and everyone on staff was very kind. Cute, Tiki and passionate about making you feel at home. Will always visit!!!

Best fish and chips I have ever had. Love the atmosphere and location. Worth the trip off the beaten path to experience this jem of Old Honolulu. Will def be back.

Not the easiest to find the first time around, but that’s what GPS /​smartphones are for! Hah.
But for those of you who aren’t too GPS-​savvy, La Mariana Sailing Club is located off of Sand Island Access Road — the right turn before the liquor store /​convenience store that sits before the bridge. (Just to clarify — it’s not the right turn before the bridge, it’s the right before the convenience store.)
PARKING
Parallel along the sides of the gravel road.
TIKI BAR
What the heck is a tiki bar? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like — a bar with tiki-​themed décor and tropical /​rum-​based cocktails like the Mai Tai, etc. And, that is exactly what La Mariana Sailing Club is. Overall, the feel of the place is pretty comfortable, cute, and island-​y /​vacation-​y. I haven’t been to any place like this before on Oahu, so this was a real treat. Super cute for a date night or a get-​together with friends, especially those visiting from elsewhere.
PUPUS
Sashimi — a super nice-​sized platter of fresh sashimi. Guaranteed to satisfy.
Lumpia — a guilty pleasure for sure. A solid choice, especially when you don’t really know what to order.
VERDICT
This place is a must-​try for visitors and locals alike. It really is a cute, «enchanted» getaway for pupus, drinks, and some great conversation. A little out of the way? Maybe. Worth the trip? Yes.

Please don’t go here, cause that’ll just make the lines longer. Seriously. Don’t. But do. The end.

Sadly, this place was one of the more disappointing restaurants we visited in Hawaii. The interior and decoration of this place is definitely pretty cool and well-​themed, but it doesn’t match up with the quality of the food and the lack of customer service we were given. This place was seemingly tucked within an empty deserted pier and it was pretty hard to find it is. Once you found it, you will be relieved that you are welcomed by civilization.
The first thing that already made a bad impression was the reception desk was empty. Nobody came to greed us for a good 10 minutes. I had to start waving at the waitresses to get their attention. Okay then. We sat down at a table that was wobbly, but we were sitting next to the live piano music, which we later on realized it was actually played by a blind man for the entire night. Woww! Super impressive! My stars on this review goes to you good man!
We ordered their seafood combo, seafood trio, and macadamia nut mahi mahi. All of which were lackluster. They just taste like the food you can get at your local buffet… My friends and I were all disappointed and definitely won’t be back. The decorations were cool and all, but save your money and go to another tiki bar and food place!

Great location with staff full of aloha. The food is good and a great value particularly in Honolulu.
Make sure to read the fascinating history of the founder.

Great food! Great drinks! Great atmosphere! Very laid backed and a hidden gem. We had the Sauteed Scallops and I can’t recommend them enough. The Mahi Mahi was also great!
The only thing about this place is that its hidden in a industrial park and seems like a very odd place to find a restaurant, but I thought it made for a very nice adventure. The parking is a bit hard, there’s a super small lot and some street parking and I can imagine that it would be very hard to find a spot during peak times.

Sorry, stay away. Must have been good years ago, but it’s now a cranky pants has-​been.
First sign of disaster was the empty reception desk with a «rules» sigh that has roughly 20 exclamation points. «Blah, blah, blah no blah blah!!! We can’t blah blah!!! Don’t blah blah!!!»
Oh shut up.
Restaurant was ¾ full, but the staff was running around like their pants were on fire. Most patrons were in t-​shirts, food looked like Bennigan’s garbage. We were seated with no menus, then given the lunch menu, finally the dinner menu. The table had a bar menu– delaminating, tired and dirty. We ordered drinks — a watery, tasteless Mai-​tai. Sorry, but if you’re a tiki bar, the Mai tai shouldn’t taste like it came out of a can.
Bailed out and went to Nico’s, which was excellent.
There was a little shrine to the deceased founder. The restaurant should die too.

If nothing else — come for the atmosphere. I always try to stop at this quirky tiki bar every time I fly into Honolulu.
It’s stuck in one of the ugly industrial parks that you pass on the way from the airport on your way to Waikiki. I have got to think that most of the clients are locals, as very few tourists would know that it exists and it is not something you are likely to stumble on by accident.
This is a classic old (1940 – 1950’s?) style tiki bar. The atmosphere is fantastic. Check out some of the photos on this site.
This wife and I flew in with three other couples from Houston. We stopped on our way from the airport. I had been here before and wanted to share this with them. They were blown away by the quirky nature of the place and it’s location. Our table had a great view over the marina. A good introduction for a group that had not been to Hawai’i before.
I’m not a big fan of «umbrella» drinks but I generally make an exception while in Hawai’i and these are some of the best that I had the whole trip. The Blue Hawai’ian was a particular favorite with the group. We were also hungry after the long flight and got some sandwiches and Pu’Pu platters. All were good but not really stellar.
Looking for a place to have fun with friends away from the insanity of Waikiki? Try La Mariana.

If you are looking for a place to have a good maitai and a quick lunch, this «hidden gem» of a place or the locals eatery near Sand Island (away from the tourists) is place to go.
After just one maitai with good proportion of rum and pineapple, I think I see unicorns and fairies lol
Also the grilled mahimahi lunch portion was nice and moist. Just the way a fresh fish should be cooked.
Ask for Rachel. She is so cute, attentive and just made my first experience here for me to come back.
I hate to share this place but as a fellow foodie, I will give the service 5 stars. Although this is not fine dining and you can’t miss the nostalgia of the «Don Ho» era gone by, it would be 4.5.

On a trip back to Honolulu, my boyfriend and I decided to dine at this restaurant that we had no idea existed. La Mariana is located pretty much in the middle of Sand Island, an area you’d least expect to have a food establishment. Surrounded by industrial buildings and what seems to be warehouse units, this restaurant is easy to miss especially at night. But what is a better idea than to eat at a place within walking distance to your home? Eating and drinking combined together, that’s what!
Parking seems to be limited here, but there are additional spaces on the street. The lack of lights on the streets are compensated by the glowing strings of Christmas lights of La Mariana. We walk onto the pathway to the restaurant and notice that everything looks exactly like how it would back in the «old days» of Waikiki. The walls are decorated with a tiki and ocean theme. There are strings of lights made out of (real, I’m assuming) dried pufferfish. There is even an indoor waterfall fountain! Everything felt really laid back and relaxed. I’m sure that if we had gone during the daytime, we would be able to see water as well.
Because Roland T. had mentioned that a couple food channels on television had come here and raved about the drinks, we absolutely had to try it out ourselves. The Mai Tai and Zombie cocktails came with colorful umbrellas and a slice of pineapple. Side note: they are also very strong on a slightly empty belly, so beware and enjoy!
The food was what threw me off a bit. The seafood trio consisting of fish, scallops and shrimp, and the macadamia nut mahi mahi were just average. The fish tasted bland and had to be masked with tartar sauce. The broccoli that came with the meals were also hard. The macadamia nut mahi mahi is also one of the more popular dishes, so I wasn’t sure if the fish were on strike or the chef wasn’t feeling it that night. Either way, we still had an enjoyable evening.
La Mariana seems to be a very popular place for tourists who may be tired of the whole Waikiki beach scene, and even on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was half full, so I know they must be doing something right. The service was great and our waitress was very friendly. I know that if I’m ever in the area and have a craving for a nice and strong drink, this is the place to be!

I love the idea of a fairly authentic tiki bar. But the food at this bar/​restaurant is not that good. And the wait for the not-​so-​good food was too long, even during the weekday for lunch. Probably better there to go hang out, drink, and eat appetizers at a very leisurely pace. I was hoping the eggplant parmesan would be available for lunch, but it was unfortunately not. Instead I chose the veggie sandwich with onion rings since I did not want to get some pasta tossed in some olive oil and garlic. But the sandwich was not good at all. Just put some salad ingredients and place inside two slices of sandwich bread. The sandwich was so sad, and I was so sad. Ah sorry, but I won’t go back again if I can help it!

The coolest restaurant I’ve been to yet!
FOOD:
La Mariana serves a number of seafood and other dishes and a really hearty pupu menu. They specialist in ahi, but make everything in house — and it is tasty!
My friend and I split the Ahi taro spring rolls, the calamari and the spicy garlic edamame. I would say that the Ahi spring rolls with the taro and carrot and the wasabi sauce was my favorite! The ahi was fresh and lightly seared inside the roll and the wasabi sauce was to die for! All of the food was great, but that pupu stood out to me.
We also enjoyed a couple of their specialty cocktails each, and they were quite good (but not the most boozy). I especially liked the lychee margarita!
SERVICE & SPACE:
We had the best waitress ever. She was so sweet and welcoming. My friend was visiting from New York and this waitress brought over a handout which has the history of the area and the restaurant. It was a really nice gesture. Even when business picked up, she was still so kind.
But the reason this place deserves 5-​stars is the atmosphere. It feels like you’re stepping into 1960’s Hawaii with the tiki theme and the lounge atmosphere. We sat outdooors to overlook the lush greenery along the path and the marina, but the indoors looked amazing. There was carved wood and lights up everywhere. In the back there is the most fantastic indoor waterfall, and I will say that the lounge singer that night certainly added to the atmosphere.
Aside from the atmosphere of the actual restaurant, the surrounding area is amazing as well. It’s a little oasis in the middle of industrial sand island. The trees are so green and plentiful and the marina is picturesque as well. Definitely worth the trek.
PRICE:
At about $ 20 – 25 per entrée, the prices are what you’d might expect. For two of us, we paid $ 60 for three pupus and four drinks — no too shabby!
I will definitely be coming back to this place, I can’t believe it took me four years to find it.

Small bar, no A/​C, pitcher of beer $ 15 had something stuck to the side. Had BBQ sandwich$ 12 nothing special, garlic fries $ 1 extra were good (3 stars). Wife ordered Mahi Mahi platter$ 12 Very dry over cooked since it was not fresh but frozen (no taste) Prices a little high for the food. Drinks were cold and $ 5 for draft.
Parking was hard to find since it is in an industrial area. Dining area is throw back Hawaiian beach shack theme.
We sat at the bar, not as clean as I would like, beer tap dripped for at least 5 min before bartender even noticed. Nice mess.
Not planning on coming back.

You want Tiki, you’ve got it here at La Mariana! Come in and get your Aloha spirit, and soak up the island vibe! You’re in Hawaii for crying out loud!
This is a perfect stop before or right after a flight, given how close it is to the airport. It’s in a somewhat industrious part of town, and in an unassuming location. While driving, I felt that the GPS was steering us in the wrong direction, but it wasn’t!
There are a tables outside so you can kick back and watch the sunset and/​or enjoy al fresco dining. Just beware of the mosquitoes and bugs, and there are hanging ziploc bags half filled with water and pennies throughout, which are supposedly insect repellents. (I know because I asked. hahah!). Watch the sunset and enjoy the maitais, lava flows, and the eats.
Staff is super friendly and helpful. We went from sitting outside for a drink, to moving inside by the bar because we watched the sunset and wanted to check out the vibe inside. Our server had no issue with us moving and transferring our check over! The bartender (Dave, I think) is a long time employee and super happy to work there. He was super nice and knowledgeable, and makes a darn good mai-​tai!
BTW, it can get quite warm, given there is no air-​conditioning inside, but there are plentiful electric fans about. There’s also daily live music for you to really feel the island and Aloha spirit! The décor is just so tiki and island, that the pictures don’t give it justice. From the bamboo to the lights to the tiki statues to the hanging puffy fish décor, it’s all kinds tiki awesomeness!
The menu has something for everyone, from small bites (poke, kahlua pork nachos) to seafood and meaty entrees and desserts. Prices won’t break the bank, either.
Make sure to check out the store (next door, and limited hours) for handmade tiki glasses and other tiki and La Mariana souvenir merchandise like tanks, shirts, etc.,. While there, we met the designer of the tiki glass ware, and she was incredibly nice and patient (as we had a hard time deciding what tiki goods to buy).
There’s a lot of history at La Mariana, and make sure to read up about it on the menu (I think or articles posted throughout the restaurant). Some parts of the building look a bit dated (and with time, it’ll get renovated). The out-​datedness may not be a bad thing, and makes a place like this so charming and worth visiting.
Go on and get your Tiki on! MAHALO!

This place is hidden and located behind a warehouse. Parking only fits roughly 5 cars but street parking is available.
We went during night time after paddling and this seemed like «the spot» for fellow paddlers. With that said, attire is very casual– even ragged almost; definitely no hassle.
Love love love the friendly ambiance; it kind of reminded me of a tiki/​dive bar. Live music (which was alright) is available as well.
Service is fast. We were seated pretty quickly and our server was attentive; although she wasn’t the friendliest, she also wasn’t bad.
Food is yummy! They have good selection and all sounded Delish! Crab cakes is a must!
All in all, it was a good experience.

You’re not officially on Hawaiian vacation until you’ve stepped foot into La Mariana and ordered a Mai Tai. It’s a rule.
The vibe is pure Magnum P.I. circa 1980, a mix of nautical, Tiki kitsch that I love. How could you not feel like you’re on a tropical vacation when here?
Normally at joints such as this, the vibe more than makes up for bad food or service. But here’s the thing — La Mariana has way what’s up servers and tasty grub. Our waitress has been working here for many years and still brings her out of town friends to La Mariana on days off. That’s a sign of a great establishment.
What to order? Mai Tai, Lava Flow, Chi Chi — and a burger or club sandwich. Sweet potato fries are delish, so are the regular French fried ‘taters. Can’t go wrong with the daily fish special either.
Really, just go to La Mariana on your way in or out of Honolulu. It’s close to the airport and rental car lots. Have a cocktail, sit back and relish in Hawaii life.

«I think is where I learned to sail» he mused, looking out towards the docked sailboats and the slice of aqua water that is Keehi Lagoon.
I stirred my Mai Tai and peered out towards a small slice of still, blue water imagining him young, barefoot, and learning to control a Sabot. Last time in Oahu he searched for his childhood home (now demolished) and paid a visit to his one-​time elementary school (completely rebuilt).
«This is definitely where I learned to sail» he stated with greater emphasis, his memories becoming more fully realized. «I’ll bet my mom and dad once sat right here doing exactly what we’re doing right now» (drinking).
I had a vision that this was so and suspect the scene hadn’t changed much. Tiki décor doesn’t really ever get old and this is already old tiki décor, literally. The tikis were attained from the Sheraton’s Kon Tiki Room, the Koa wood tables from Don the Beachcomber.
Crispy sweet potato fries arrived with a side of ranch dressing. We were too early for pupu hour (3 — 5 p.m.) or for the evening’s live Hawaiian music.
In my opinion, a tiki bar — any tiki bar — is worth a visit. This one well represents the genre but also, with it’s slice of water view, well represents old Hawaii. Your old home might no longer be there, your old school might be unrecognizable, but La Mariana appears to have stayed much the same as always. Located somewhere between the airport and your (Waikiki Beach) hotel, La Mariana is a good reason to delay your check-​in.
For me, it’s my new first stop on the island. Here’s to new-​old traditions.

Way of the beaten path, and far removed from the waves of Japanese and mainland tourists, this dive bar oasis can be found. When trying to find it, don’t be discouraged by the neighborhood. Yes, it’s an industrial-​looking area and that’s the point! Order up a zombie, shoot the shit with the bartender, get some mediocre pupus to go and keep it moving.
Great place and I’d gladly return if given the chance!

I really enjoy Out-​of-​Town guests! They trust me as I trust the reviews of my fellow Unilocalers: Joe, Dave, Nikki, Alexander, Kathy, Christa, Paul, Shay, Jody, Adrienne, etc.
So — when my high school friend asked me where we should go for dinner, I had La Mariana Sailing Club on my Bucket List! It sounded like an exotic place that a «tourist» would enjoy and maybe her teenaged kids would get a kick out of it!
We began our adventure on the wrong foot because we read the same directions on a Unilocal review as the last right turn before the bridge — negative. It is the second to the last right before the bridge. We parked right in front of the restaurant, on the side of the road, in the dirt. No problem!
In the evening, the lights look brighter and the decorations look cooler! We loved the string of puffer fish lights, the indoor waterfall, the aquarium, the hanging glass ball floaters, the tikis, tapa, lauhala, and rattan furniture! The live music by the Visually Impaired Piano Player was fun for me as I sang loudly with him so as to embarass the kids. I figured that I didn’t know anyone and no one would remember me… hopefully…
We started off with Plantation iced Tea (Pineapple juice and iced tea) — refreshing! and a Hawaiian Platter appetizer. The sashimi was fresh and the ahi poke was great! The only suggestion was for the onions to be chopped smaller in the tako poke.
My friend’s hubby had a salad — no complaints. Her son had a burger dish — he asked for mustard, then cleaned his plated quickly & quietly. Her younger son had the ribs — he loved the fries! Her uncle had the Seafood trio (scallops, mahi and shrimp) — it disappeared. She had the Eggplant dish which she enjoyed. I had the Seafood combo and the side Caesar salad — yum!
I would definitely return and try other menu items. It was a unique experience that I would like to share with others. The story about the founder, Annette Nahinu, was a very touching and interesting one. You must go and find out about it yourself!

Alors après être atterrit a l’aéroport d’Honolulu, nous avions un bon 2 heures a perdre avant notre vol pour la ville de Kona à Big Island et on avait pas mal faim après le fabuleux vol de 10 heures et 55 minutes.
J’ai biensûr ouvert Unilocal pour né pas avoir à manger a l’aéroport et nous sommes tombés sur La Mariana Sailing Club. Hop! Dans le taxi. Nous sommes arrivés sur place et j’ai du demander à mes amis d’aller voir a l’intérieur avant d’entrer, car la place avait l’air louche de l’extérieur. J’ai eu le go.
Il fallait avoir un membership, car c’est un restaurant de marina, mais la serveuse nous a très bien accueillie sans problèmes.
Cest la que nous avons appris le mot Pupus qui veut dire appetizers, donc des entrées a partager.
Nous étions quatre à la table avec une bonne bière avec vue sur l’eau.
Les frites de patates douces avec de la sauces ranch étaient très bonnes, le thon frais était aussi de bonne qualité et d’habitude, je né suis pas de type poisson cru (not a sushi fan, sorry)
La serveuse était super gentille et a bien pris le soin de s’assurer que nous étions correct.
10 minutes avant notre départ un aveugle avait commencer a jouer du clavier, il était pas mal bon et un line up commençait déjà a se former. J’pense que ça se transforme en bar les soirs
Si vous avez un 2 heures à perdre à l’aéroport d’Honolulu, arrêtez y en taxi pour une bouchée (environ 10 $ de taxi)