Post #280116 by big kahuna59 on Sun, Jan 21, 2007 8:21 PM

I'm glad to see someone else knows about this place. My Grandparents lived in Waikiki in the 60's & 70's & the Willows was one of their favorite spots. My wife & I went for the 1st time in 1982 while on our honeymoon. The place was definately for the locals as it was in the middle of a neighborhood & you defintely had to know where it was to find it.

The place was so original, beautiful, so incredibly authentic & un-touristy. When we visited again in 1989, we ran into Joe Penny & his girlfriend as they were filming their TV show. Anyway, the food was great & you could not get any better atmosphere as it was like eating in the most wonderful hawaiian gardens.

Unfortunately, we went back last year to show our kids and found a mere shadow of what used to be. The original had gone out of business, was sold to another who tried to fix it up but took out most of the plants, turned it into a buffet, and I was sad I could not have just remembered it for what it once was. I will never go back but instead cherish the memories. I still have the original menu and a matchbook somewhere...

Thanks for the memories!

Aloha,
Kahuna