Ocean Views, Serious Pours, Honolulu Standout
Kahala · Honolulu · Seasonal Pacific Rim
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hoku's’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're sitting oceanside at the Kahala Hotel, and the wine list arrives like it belongs there — polished, confident, and weighted toward California and France. This isn't a hotel list that coasted on the room rate; somebody actually thought about this. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2024, and it's not hard to see why.
The 200-300 bottle range covers the classics with real intention: Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet sits alongside Kistler Chardonnay, and Stag's Leap shares shelf space with Louis Jadot Burgundy — that's a list that respects both sides of the Atlantic. Champagne gets proper representation with Veuve Clicquot anchoring the sparkling section, though dedicated fizz lovers might want more depth there. The California Cab contingent — Caymus, Jordan, Opus One — reads like a greatest hits album, which is fine if you like the hits, but adventurous drinkers looking for small-production or anything outside the mainstream will hit a wall pretty quickly. Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a nice nod toward the Pacific Northwest and adds at least one unexpected move to an otherwise predictable lineup.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options with pours ranging $12-$25, which is reasonable for a hotel of this caliber in Honolulu. We'd like to see more rotation and a stronger presence from producers outside the greatest-hits tier, but what's here is well-chosen and properly served. Patrick Okubo is on the floor and clearly cares — ask him what's pouring well tonight and you'll likely land somewhere interesting.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir — $50–$80 (est. bottle range)
In a list full of California Cab heavyweights and French prestige labels, Drouhin Oregon is the quiet overachiever. World-class producer, Willamette terroir, and it tends to be priced more accessibly than its European counterparts on this list. Order this over the Jadot if you want elegance without the Burgundy premium.
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet
Most people at Hoku's are reaching for Kistler or going straight to Opus, which means one of the great white Burgundy producers in the world might actually sit undisturbed on this list. Leflaive's Puligny-Montrachet is a benchmark wine — precise, mineral, and built for the kind of delicate seafood that Hoku's does well. Don't sleep on it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a restaurant markup magnet — widely distributed, heavily recognized, and priced accordingly at every establishment it lands in. You're paying a premium for a label that's become more brand than wine. With Jordan and Stag's Leap on the same list, there are better California Cab options for the money.
Kistler Chardonnay + Hand Rolled Taro Root Agnolotti
Kistler's richly textured, oak-touched Chardonnay has the weight and depth to hold up against the earthiness of taro while its bright acidity cuts through any butter or cream in the pasta. This is the kind of pairing that makes you order a second glass without thinking about it.
The Bottom Line
Hoku's is a genuinely impressive wine program hiding inside a hotel restaurant — Patrick Okubo keeps the list credible and the service sharp, and the ocean setting makes everything taste a little better. Markups trend steep, as expected for Kahala, but there are smart picks here if you know where to look.
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
Morton's Honolulu gives you a competent, Cabernet-saturated list that will reliably satisfy the guest who came for a big steak and a big red — just don't expect any surprises, and watch the markup on the entry-level bottles. Send a friend here if they want comfort, not if they want discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Latin American / Tasting Menu
El Cielo earns its reputation on atmosphere and food, but the wine program is a black box — and in a city where you're already paying tourist-tier prices, a list you can't see or trust is a list you should probably skip. Order a cocktail and save the wine night for somewhere that wants to earn it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikīkī · Honolulu · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Waikīkī is a dependable splurge for steak night, but the wine list is corporate comfort food — Napa-forward, markup-heavy, and unlikely to surprise you. If wine is the point of your evening, this isn't your destination; if steak is the point, it'll get the job done.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Waikiki · Honolulu · Seafood / Steak
Chart House Waikiki is giving you a safe harbor, not a destination — the list is functional, the by-the-glass selection is surprisingly broad, and a couple of smart picks exist if you know where to look. Come for the ocean views and the fish; just don't expect the wine list to match the scenery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Honolulu · Honolulu · Hotel Wine Bar
Vintage 1901 is a well-organized hotel wine bar doing exactly what it should — giving visitors something better than the minibar without demanding too much effort or knowledge. The port program is legitimately great and worth your time; the rest of the list is competent, if a little sleepy on value.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Rooftop Wine Bar
Tchin Tchin is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine with a view, and nearly everything being available by the glass means you can graze without committing to a bottle. Just don't come expecting discovery — come expecting a solid pour and a great sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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