We had decided this last day to visit some places on our "want to see list" and Hilton Hawaiian Village was one of them. We checked out several restaurants $40 and up. Finally I strolled up to a hotel employee and asked him where the working stiffs ate around the Village and he called Rainbow Lanai to check their schedule. So we decided to try it.

The Lanai opened at 5:30pm and we were first in line. It was open air and had semi-circular "islands" of the dining space that extended over the lagoon on one side. The waiter steered us to one of the lagoon tables that had a view of one of the pedestrian walks over the lagoon that connected the beautifully landscaped swimming pool area and the beach. Behind the walk was a lava rock cliff with water cascading over the edge to the lagoon. A more romantic spot we couldn't have created ourselves. We enjoyed watching a wedding photographer posing a couple in the lovely settings and people almost fall into the lagoon because they were so busy watching the activity in the Village.

There were several salads and sandwiches that were under $10 on the menu. What really tempted me was the lavish buffet that was only $23 for the early birds but went to $28 later. I took a good look at it but decided to not stuff myself for the long plane ride home later that night. We had excellent service. Next time I will make time for the buffet. I highly recommend this for those who want a fine dining experience that is also within a limited budget

Just after the meal we caught a Polynesian dance program taking place around the pool area. We just relaxed on a lounge chair and let our food digest while watching some more of what makes Hawaii so special . . . it's people, music, and culture.

The dining area, on the ground floor, is predictably open-air. We were seated at a table next to the koi pond which placed us at eye level to the beach and ocean. The high ceiling, light colors and tall dark wooden louvers opened to the breeze create a very pleasant atmosphere. Service was excellent, but the food was not up to the standards to justify anything approaching the price. Regular menu items were also available including dishes such as swordfish ($21.95) prepared with a deviled crab crust. This dish was very salty, and the seasonings seemed heavy handed. The buffet menu items promised much but delivered less. Some items that stood out included the snow crab legs, roast beef, seared salmon steak, scallops, pot stickers and chicken with ponzu chili sauce. Unfortunately, frustration set in due to the inadequate pace of replenishing the buffet. The crowd was not large that night, but the kitchen seemed unable to keep pace resulting in multiple trips to the line in order to catch a particular item before it was all gone: not what I expect for the price, and a little disappointing for a Hilton.