If you’re looking for onolicious food, live music and a warm, friendly atmosphere, Tahiti Nui in the heart of Hanalei will welcome you with open arms. Since opening in May 1963, Tahiti Nui has been family run and operated
If you’re looking for onolicious food, live music and a warm, friendly atmosphere, Tahiti Nui in the heart of Hanalei will welcome you with open arms.
Since opening in May 1963, Tahiti Nui has been family run and operated and continues to serve and entertain patrons with the same casual, romantic vibe found only in Hanalei.
“Tahiti Nui is our family restaurant and business,” said Nanea Marston, general manager of Tahiti Nui. “My grandmother (Louise Marston) started Tahiti Nui in May 1963.”
Marston spoke fondly of her late grandmother, who was the heart and soul of Tahiti Nui. Marston and her family strive to continue her legacy by serving and entertaining anyone who walks through Tahiti Nui’s doors.
“Our biggest goal now, if she was still here, is to figure out what would be her biggest desires and wants and try to make that happen,” Marston said. “Everyone (the family) is back now and we’re trying to connect back and touch back to our roots, and see what would make her happy, what she would be stoked about if she was still here.”
Marston said her grandmother loved people: “She loved entertaining, she loved parties, she lived for entertaining and hosting. This was her pride and joy. She was here every day. She was the bouncer, bartender, everything for a long time.”
Marston also explained how Tahiti Nui got its name. She said the island of Tahiti is shaped like a paddle and nui means big in Tahitian.
“The big part of it (Tahiti) is Tahiti Nui and the small part of it is Tahiti Iti,” Marston said. “My grandmother was from Tahiti Nui and that’s why we named the lounge Tahiti Nui. And that’s why we named the wine bar Iti, because it’s like the small part of Tahiti.”
Every Wednesday, Tahiti Nui holds a luau. Marston said the luau was her grandmother’s favorite night of the week. The original luau at Tahiti Nui was more of a casual affair.
“We had a couple of pool tables in here and they used to throw table cloths on them, and everybody would just bring food, and people would come in and play music,” Marston said. “That would be the original luau. My grandma would meet anybody that would come and she would invite them to stay.”
Nowadays, the luau is still a family-run affair with Marston’s father and brother handing the pig for the imu (underground oven) and Marston in charge of the show. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show ends at 8 p.m. Mai tais are on the house until 6 p.m. The luau is $75 for adults and $35 to $45 for children.
There is live music every day at the Nui. On Thursday and Friday there are two performances for dinner: a solo act from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and a late night band that follows. On the weekends the Nui is open until 1 a.m. On Fridays there is Hawaiian slack key music at 4:30 p.m.
“There’s live music every night,” Marston said. “Music starts at 6 p.m. until closing. On the weekend there’s usually three bands.”
Tahiti Nui uses locally-grown produce from local farmers and distributors. Farmers and distributors include Kolo Kai Organic Farms, Maria Whatmore (assorted fruits), Jimmy Ramsey (honey), Wes Haraguchi (ahi), Kailani Farms (greens), Kaneshiro Farms (pork) and some of the Tahiti Nui employees, who bring in herbs and spices from their gardens.
Marston and her awesome crew served TGI FR!DAY three onolicious dishes that we won’t forget: The Macadamia Nut and Panko Crusted Fresh Ono, the Fresh Seared Island Ahi Steak and the Slow Roasted Baby Back Ribs. All entrees comes with your choice of white rice, homemade mashed potatoes or French fries.
The fresh, locally-grown produce is the highlight of each dish. The Macadamia Nut and Panko Crusted Fresh Ono, $26, is generously topped with bits of crushed mac nuts and is served with young coconut cilantro lime sauce.
The Fresh Seared Island Ahi Steak, $25, is my choice for any fish lover. It comes with four thick slices of seared ahi steak, and is lightly topped with a delightful wasabi cream sauce that is mouthwatering.
The last dish, the Slow Roasted Baby Back Ribs, is worth every penny. These ribs are about as tender as it gets — you can tear the meat with a spoon. The ribs are covered with Tahiti Nui’s famous zesty barbecue sauce and sells for $21.
Tahiti Nui, located at 5-5134 Kuhio Hwy. in Hanalei, is open daily from 11 to 1 a.m. Food service ends at 10 p.m. Call (808) 826-6277 and visit thenui.com for more information.
