Hale Aina Awards are Honolulu Magazine's annual dining awards. The Hale Aina Awards are voted on by magazine readers and subscribers and published annually in the January issue of Honolulu.
The Hale Aina Awards are announced in November through a gala celebration where restaurant owners and chefs find out for the first time what award and at what level they have won.
Categories range from Best Restaurant by Island (Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Big Island) and Little Restaurant You Love to Best Hawaiian Cuisine and Most Romantic Restaurant.
The Hale Aina Awards were created in 1984 by Honolulu Magazine. It was the first Hawaii dining award given by a local media company. Prior to that the only dining awards were given by mainland travel publications.
"Hale Aina" is the closest equivalent to the word "restaurant" in the Hawaiian language. It literally means "eating place" and is now mostly synonymous with these awards.
Restaurant of the Year is the highest honor bestowed each year to one Hawaii restaurant. Alan Wong's Restaurant holds the most Hale Aina Award Restaurant of the Year wins.
1985 - The Third Floor <br> 1986 - Michel's at the Colony Surf<br> 1987 - Michel's at the Colony Surf<br> 1988 - Matteo's<br> 1989 - Michel's at the Colony Surf<br> 1990 - Bali by the Sea<br> 1991 - Golden Dragon<br> 1992 - Maile Restaurant<br> 1993 - Maile Restaurant<br> 1994 - 3660 On the Rise<br> 1995 - Roy's<br> 1996 - Alan Wong's<br> 1997 - Alan Wong's<br> 1998 - Hoku's<br> 1999 - Alan Wong's<br> 2000 - Alan Wong's<br> 2001 - Alan Wong's<br> 2002 - Roy's<br> 2003 - Hoku's<br> 2004 - Roy's<br> 2005 - Alan Wong's<br> 2006 - Alan Wong's<br> 2007 - Alan Wong's<br> 2008 - Alan Wong's<br> 2009 - Alan Wong's<br> 2010 - Roy's<br> 2011 - Roy's