Happy Talk Lounge - Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Hawaii

As a hospitality professional living and working on the island, I hold a deep appreciation for the spirit of aloha and the importance of creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere—especially in a place as special as Hanalei. Sadly, my recent experience at the bar at Hanalei Bay Resort left me not only disappointed, but genuinely concerned about the way guests—local or visiting—are being treated.

My team and I approached the bar after work and were about to take the last available seats when someone else was seated there. No big deal—we didn’t make a fuss. I chose to respectfully stand off to the side, tucked into the corner, making sure I was not in the way of the staff or other guests.

However, one of the hosts looked directly at me and quite rudely told me I couldn’t stand there. I calmly and kindly explained our situation and what had just happened, expecting maybe some understanding or an alternative suggestion. Instead, she repeated herself in a sharp tone, again insisting I couldn’t stand there, with no regard for my explanation or tone.

Trying to remain polite, I asked what the solution was. I was told I could go sit in the lounge area—which, again, I was happy to do. I then asked if I could at least take my drink with me, and was again met with a blunt “no.” The lack of hospitality and dismissive attitude were jarring, especially in a resort setting where graciousness should be the norm.

Out of respect for the bartender (who was kind), I paid for our drinks, tipped properly, and moved to the lounge. But the tone had already been set, and frankly, it left a bitter taste.

If this is how locals—who understand and live hospitality—are treated, I can’t help but wonder how first-time visitors or tourists are being spoken to when they’re simply trying to enjoy themselves. Respect should be a two-way street. The guest experience begins the moment someone steps foot into your space, and it's not just about the view or the drinks—it's about how people are made to feel.

This experience was a missed opportunity for connection, kindness, and showing true aloha. I hope the resort takes feedback like this seriously, not just for the sake of reviews, but for the soul of hospitality on...

I had the hummus appetizer, the lava flow and the loco moco. My wife had the kale salad.

So first, the good stuff. My wife raved about the salad. She said it was in her top ten favorite salads of all time. The view was absolutely incredible. The hostess told us that the side chairs were the only ones available as if that were a bad thing. We got the best views in the house.

That being said, you’re definitely paying for the ambience. The waitress was nice, but they were clearly understaffed. I can usually measure attentive waiters by how long it takes for them to refill my water. Ours never did until I asked after the meal was over and even then it took about 5-10 minutes.

The lava flow was definitely the worst I’ve ever had. I’m not quite sure if it’s even possible to dump more sugar in a drink. I usually have lava flows wherever I go in Hawaii, and this was extremely over sweetened. I couldn’t come close to finishing it. I wish I could get my money back for that.

The hummus was... average. I think you’d be better off getting a pre made one at your local grocery store. Certainly not worth the price.

The loco moco was pretty tasty... but not $20 tasty which translates to $25 after taxes and tip. The burger didn’t taste any different than a regular beef burger (it was wagyu). The fried onions were delicious but sparse. The gravy was the best part of it. The egg was clearly overcooked. Perhaps a well done egg is what they meant by fried egg, but where I’m from, fried egg means the yolk is runny.

You’re certainly paying for the convenience and the view here. This is only a first impression, but I wouldn’t come back here for the drinks or for the food again. I might come back again before we leave simply because it’s so close.

I suggest management reviews the quality of the food, drink and service on a busy night like tonight.

If you’re willing to do the work of going back to your car, I suggest going somewhere else. This won’t be a meal you’ll remember.

I’m giving it 3 stars because my wife really liked her salad and that view was unbeatable for a restaurant. If those both were taken away, I’d probably rate my...

CORRECTION

REBECCA GAVE US A 20-25 MINUTE ESTIMATE AND WHEN MY WIFE SAID IT’S BEEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES YOUR FRONT OF HOUSE (REBECCA) REPLY WAS A VERY ADVERSARIAL — “IT’S ACTUAL BEEN 39 MINUTES.” Wow.

Point is your front of house needs a little training in hospitality and may want to drop the attitude. I use my Yelp and Google accounts to give 5 star reviews and this is the first Google review I’ve given that wasn’t 5 stars.

We don’t mind waiting 50 minutes to be sat, but with 8 and 10 year olds we need to set their expectations. You guys are missing the point though. It’s the attitude and rudeness that was an issue. Not your shoe policy or inaccurate wait times.

Disappointing Experience at Happy Talk – Rebecca Needs a Hospitality Check

We gave Happy Talk not one, not two, but three chances during our recent trip to Princeville—and each time, Rebecca at the host stand managed to make us feel more unwelcome than the last.

On our first visit, Rebecca pointed physically at each occupied table, as if we were too dense to see that the restaurant was busy. It came off as needlessly condescending and set an awkward tone from the start.

The second night, we stopped by after a swim, and I was turned away for not having shoes. Fair enough if it’s policy—but her delivery was unnecessarily sharp and dismissive. It felt less like a rule and more like an excuse.

The final straw came on night three. Despite our better judgment, we returned with our two young children and were told the wait would be 20 minutes. After close to 45 minutes of waiting, we asked Rebecca for an update. Her only response? “It’s only been 39 minutes.” No apology, no table, no explanation—just attitude and precision about being slightly less wrong than we claimed.

I understand that staffing on the North Shore can be a challenge, but that should never justify rude, condescending behavior. Hospitality starts at the front door, and sadly, Rebecca makes it...