Sunset Views Carry More Weight Than the List
Waikiki · Honolulu · Steak and seafood with Hawaiian regional influences
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Beachhouse at the Moana’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Opening the wine list at Beachhouse at the Moana feels exactly like you'd expect from a high-end hotel restaurant on Waikiki Beach — safe, familiar, and priced for people who are already in vacation mode and not watching the bill. The selections read like a greatest hits of American dining: California Cabs, New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, a French token or two. Nobody's trying to surprise you here.
The list leans heavily on California with recognizable names like Jordan and Stag's Leap anchoring the red and white columns, while Oregon and New Zealand fill in supporting roles. France shows up, but don't expect anything deep — this is hotel-list France, meaning a Burgundy or two and maybe a Bordeaux to justify the 'international' label. With an estimated 100–180 selections, there's range in theory, but the emphasis on familiar commercial producers means depth is more illusion than reality. Gaps are obvious: no meaningful exploration of Italian, Spanish, or Southern Hemisphere beyond New Zealand.
Somewhere in the 12–18 glass range, the by-the-glass program covers the basics without embarrassing itself — expect a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Cab, and a Sauvignon Blanc at minimum, all at prices that reflect the zip code more than the quality in the glass. Glasses are running $16–$28, which is the going rate for Waikiki, but it stings a little when you're pouring Meiomi at the top of that range. No rotation or active by-the-glass program to speak of — what you see is what you get, indefinitely.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $55–$75 (estimated bottle)
Jordan is a reliable, well-made Alexander Valley Cab that drinks above its commercial profile. On a list full of steeper markups, it's the bottle that gives you the most actual wine for your dollar — especially alongside a ribeye with a view of the Pacific.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay
Most people at a Waikiki steakhouse order the Cab and call it a day, but the Stag's Leap Chardonnay is the sleeper pick. It's a structured, restrained California Chard that avoids the butter-bomb trap and holds up beautifully against fresh island fish — a much more interesting choice than its reputation suggests.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a $15 grocery store bottle dressed up in a resort menu. At Waikiki hotel markups, you're likely paying $50 or more for something that has no business being on a list at this price point. It's sweet, it's simple, and there are better options for the same or less money here.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay + Fresh island fish entrée
The Stag's Leap Chardonnay has enough acidity and minerality to stand up to whatever local fish is on the menu without overwhelming it. It's the rare California Chard that acts more like a food wine than a statement wine — exactly what you want with delicate Hawaiian seafood.
The Bottom Line
Beachhouse at the Moana is a perfectly decent wine experience as long as you know what you're walking into: a hotel list with hotel markups and a stunning ocean backdrop doing the heavy lifting. Go for the Jordan with your steak, catch the sunset, and save the serious wine exploration for somewhere else on the island.
Kahala · Honolulu · Italian
Arancino at The Kahala is doing something genuinely unusual for a hotel-adjacent Italian restaurant in Hawaii — it's built a list around obscure Northern Italian producers that most diners won't recognize, and that's exactly the point. Markups are on the steeper side and we can't vouch for glassware or staff knowledge from the available data, but the wine selection itself earns respect. If you know your Nebbiolo from your Barbera, this list rewards attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Seafood
Mina's Fish House isn't building a wine program — it's building a dessert wine moment, and that is a genuinely uncommon thing to find at a restaurant of this profile. If you're eating dinner here, you'll need to source your table wine elsewhere on the menu or order cocktails; this list doesn't cover that ground. But if you want to close out a Four Seasons meal in Honolulu with a glass of 2013 Tokaji Aszú or something out of the Madeira cellar, this is a quietly excellent place to do it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Italian
Quiora isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a 22-label Italian restaurant list on a rooftop in Waikiki with an ocean view doing the heavy lifting. But the list is genuinely considered, the glass-pour selection is deep for the size, and pricing is fair by hotel standards. If you're eating here, drink the Tintero rosato or the Selbach Riesling and enjoy the sunset.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Italian / Californian Coastal
Botanico is doing something genuinely unusual for Waikiki — building an Italian-forward wine list with real regional depth and mostly fair pricing in a place where restaurants routinely treat wine as an afterthought. The by-the-glass program alone is worth a seat at the bar. If you care at all about what's in your glass, this belongs on your radar.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Hawaii Regional
Moku Nui is a casual Hawaii Regional spot that has no business running a wine list this thoughtful — and we mean that as high praise. Fair glass prices, a sommelier clearly making intentional choices, and enough variety to reward the curious drinker. If you're eating here, skip the default beer order and let someone at the table order the Vouvray.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Seafood
Azure is a genuinely lovely place to drink wine — the setting does a lot of heavy lifting and the France-Italy-Hawaii focus is a sensible match for the island seafood menu. Just go in knowing resort markup is real, and if the tasting menu with wine pairing is available, that's likely your best shot at getting something memorable poured without having to guess blind from the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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