The Dolphin
Hanalei
Restaurant in Hanalei, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Pacific-to-Plate North Shore
Dress
Casual
Why go
The Dolphin is a practical Hanalei pick for an easygoing lunch or dinner that needs more atmosphere than a cafe without becoming a formal occasion. Choose it for relaxed dates, small celebrations, or mixed groups; cross-shop Bar Acuda for a more intentional dinner and Chicken in a Barrel or Pat's Taqueria for quicker value.
About The Dolphin
The Dolphin is a Hanalei venue open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, with a casual dress code. Plan around its daily hours and relaxed dress expectation.
For comparison, Hanalei Bread Company and Hanalei Wake Up Cafe are other Hanalei options to consider, while The Dolphin may fit when you specifically want to keep the plan centered on its daily 11:30 AM to 9 PM availability.
Use it when the hours fit your plan
The clearest planning advantage is schedule clarity: The Dolphin is listed as open every day from 11:30 AM to 9 PM. If you are comparing options in Hanalei, that daily schedule is the main detail to weigh against other choices such as Bar Acuda, Chicken in a Barrel, or Pat's Taqueria.
Avoid building the plan around assumptions about reservations, seating, service style, or special accommodations. Use the hours and casual dress code as dependable planning details, then check directly with the venue for anything more specific.
Best fit: a casual Hanalei plan
The dress code is casual, which makes The Dolphin easiest to think of as a relaxed Hanalei option rather than a formal-dress venue. For atmosphere, group policies, bar seating, or special-occasion setup, check directly with the venue.
Quick reference: choose The Dolphin when its Hanalei location, daily 11:30 AM to 9 PM hours, casual dress code fit your plans; compare Bar Acuda, Chicken in a Barrel, Pat's Taqueria, Hanalei Bread Company, Hanalei Wake Up Cafe based on the kind of meal you want.
Planning details
- Location
- 5-5016 Kuhio Hwy C, Hanalei, HI 96714
- Website
- hanaleidolphin.com
- Phone
- (808) 826-6113
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Dolphin reads like a Hanalei institution that foregrounds place over presentation. It keeps things deliberately small and unfussy, trading spectacle for daily attentiveness to what the Pacific supplies. The room lands between casual and considered: familiar enough to feel easy, precise enough that the menu’s choices communicate local knowledge. The kitchen’s focus on fish and straightforward technique gives the dining experience an honest, intimate quality—no frills, just arrivals from nearby waters turned into immediate, well-executed plates that fit the island’s quieter tempo.
Best For
The Dolphin is best for diners who prioritize freshness and provenance—travelers and locals who come ready to eat in tune with the sea’s daily offerings. It suits daytime meals and evenings where the point is the catch rather than ceremony, making it a reliable stop for lunch or dinner anchored by seafood. Its smaller, steady presence on Kuhio Highway makes it a natural fit for relaxed meals, casual celebrations, or anyone seeking a clear sense of place in Hanalei’s modest dining lineup.
Ordering Tips
Treat the menu as a daily brief: start by asking what just arrived. The restaurant builds around availability, so the freshest options change regularly; the “Fresh Catch of the Day” is the clearest entry point. Signature items such as Teriyaki Ahi, Sushi Rolls, Calamari, and Scallops appear reliably, but the house advantage comes from ordering whatever the fishmonger recommends. Opt for preparations that showcase the fish rather than heavy sauces to get the most of the kitchen’s local-first approach.
Venue details
Ambiance
Tropical and romantic with torchlit riverside seating, umbrella-shaded tables overlooking the Hanalei River, lush greenery, and nostalgic island ambiance.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Teriyaki Ahi
- Fresh Catch of the Day
- Sushi Rolls
- Calamari
- Scallops
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Hanalei Wake Up Cafe, Notable alternative
- Chicken in a Barrel, Notable alternative
- Hanalei Bread Company, Notable alternative
- Bar Acuda, Notable alternative
- Pat's Taqueria, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How The Dolphin compares in Hanalei
The Dolphin sits in the flexible middle of Hanalei dining: more occasion-ready than Hanalei Wake Up Cafe or Hanalei Bread Company, but less of a planned dinner play than Bar Acuda. Pick it when the group wants a real sit-down meal and an easy booking path rather than a cafe stop or a tightly scheduled date-night reservation.
For value-driven meals, Chicken in a Barrel and Pat's Taqueria are the better calls, especially when speed matters. They are the smarter backups if the goal is a casual bite before or after the beach rather than a meal that anchors the day.
For ambiance, The Dolphin works for relaxed celebrations and mixed groups because it gives more room energy than the breakfast-and-cafe options without pushing the meal into special-occasion formality. Bar Acuda is the stronger choice for a more deliberate evening; The Dolphin is easier to fit into a North Shore day.
Explore Hanalei
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Dolphin guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Dolphin
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Dolphin | Hanalei | 2026 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Featured Restaurants |
| Hanalei Wake Up Cafe | Hanalei | No published awards |
| Chicken in a Barrel | Hanalei | No published awards |
| Hanalei Bread Company | Hanalei | No published awards |
| Bar Acuda | Hanalei | No published awards |
| Pat's Taqueria | Hanalei | No published awards |
How The Dolphin Hanalei compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to The Dolphin in Hanalei?
Other options to compare include Hanalei Wake Up Cafe, Hanalei Bread Company, Chicken in a Barrel, Pat's Taqueria, Bar Acuda. The Dolphin is in Hanalei and is open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Dolphin?
The schedule is 11:30 AM to 9 PM every day in Hanalei. Choose based on when those hours fit your plans.
Can I eat at the bar at The Dolphin?
Can The Dolphin accommodate groups?
For group accommodations, check directly with The Dolphin. The main planning details are that The Dolphin is in Hanalei, is open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, has a casual dress code.
What should I wear to The Dolphin?
The dress code is casual. For The Dolphin in Hanalei, casual clothing is the expectation.
