Celebrity Spotting on Oahu

An article about Oahu Island entitled Celebrity Spotting on Oahu. See also more Article About Oahu and our Oahu Travel Guide.

With a thriving metropolitan city, world-class resorts, and breathtaking island scenery, it’s no wonder Oahu has found its way into the hearts of Hollywood’s A-list. Only a five-hour flight from Los Angeles, Oahu is the place to enjoy being pampered and relaxing at oceanfront resorts. With an impressive collection of world-class cuisine and fun-in-the-sun activities, Oahu has become the hot spot for elites to meet, eat, greet, and sleep. Here’s a sampling:

Star-Worthy Adventures

Celebrities have discovered many different ways to soak in Oahu’s beautiful landscape and ocean surroundings with outdoor activities.

Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake are among the celebrities that count surfer Hans Hedemann as their mentor. Hans Hedemann Surf School has two different locations on Oahu, with the most popular being in Waikiki.

Located on a floating office, Island Seaplane offers seaplane tours that have given stars like Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore a bird’s-eye view of Oahu’s famous landmarks such as Diamond Head Crater, Hanauma Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial, to name a few.

Hawaii Shark Encounters considers itself one of Hawaii’s most thrilling adventures. Three miles off Oahu’s North Shore, Kelly Clarkson has come face to face with sharks, up to 30 at a time, in an underwater shark cage.

Dining Delights

Considering the vast array of culinary experiences Oahu has to offer, celebrities have plenty of delectable eateries to choose from.

Waikiki hotels house many popular dining destinations. The beachfront Orchids restaurant at the Halekulani has attracted numerous celebrities like Kristin Davis, Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman. At The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Sandra Bullock, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have dined at Hoku’s, while Janet Jackson and Will Smith have dined at Seaside Grill. Sandler and Barrymore have also dined at Plumeria Beach House.

Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort houses two restaurants favored by celebrities. The first is Ocean House, an open-air, beachfront restaurant boasting a spectacular view of the sunset and Diamond Head, where Cameron Diaz was spotted. Singer Mark McGrath and comedic actor Rob Schneider have dined at the hotel’s second eatery, Shore Bird.

Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor has been spotted at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort’s Mai Tai Bar, as has Ellen DeGeneres, for whom a cocktail is named. Actors Justin Long and Heather Graham have also enjoyed the Mai Tai Bar.

Jimmy Buffett has treated lucky patrons at Duke’s Waikiki at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort to surprise performances, and members of Pearl Jam have also been spotted at the beachfront restaurant. Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel has counted Wyclef Jean and Paul Walker among its guests.

Located at Ala Moana Center, Morton’s Steakhouse has attracted 3 Doors Down, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, and Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly of “Lost.” Tommy Lee and Laird Hamilton have stopped for a drink at Ala Moana Center’s Mai Tai Bar.

The Cheesecake Factory Waikiki at the Royal Hawaiian Center is always a hit with celebrities and all-star athletes. Kanye West often dines at the contemporary American eatery when he is on Oahu recording. Other celebrity guests include comedian Chris Rock, actor Sean Penn, and Pro Bowl athletes Walter Jones and Reggie Bush.

For the best chance to spot your favorite vacationing celebrity, dine at Nobu Waikiki at the Waikiki Parc Hotel. Numerous A-list stars, including George Clooney, Robert DeNiro, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, and the cast of “Hawaii Five-0” have all dined here.

Experiencing Hawaii Regional Cuisine on Oahu is a must. Venture out of Waikiki to Alan Wong’s, one of Oahu’s most celebrated restaurants and a favorite of Kevin James and Oahu-born president Barack Obama. Head down the Kalanianaole Highway to Hawaii Kai, where Sandra Bullock, Norah Jones and Jimmy Kimmel have dined at the original Roy’s.

Celebrity Hotels

When stars need a place to crash, Oahu’s hotels deliver. There’s something for everyone, including the A-list, on Oahu.

Turtle Bay Resort & Spa on Oahu’s North Shore has been featured in several films and TV series, including starring roles in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and the popular MTV reality series, “The Hills.”

The Kahala Hotel & Resort has housed Will Smith, The Osbournes, Noah Wyle, Cameron Diaz, and Justin Timberlake. The property features gentle Asian décor, lush gardens, a dolphin lagoon and a secluded beach. No stranger to filming and celebrities, The Kahala was the site of the “50 First Dates” press junket and often served as a film location for “Lost.” Gwen Stefani, Cuba Gooding Jr., Matt Lauer, Bette Midler, J.J. Abrams, and Diana Krall have given Halekulani their stamp of approval. The hotel, a peaceful oasis in the heart of Waikiki, has gained a reputation for impeccable service, hospitality and cuisine.

Heather Graham, Justin Long, and Hayden Panettiere have stayed at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, one of Oahu’s historic hotels located in the heart of Waikiki. The hotel has been used as a film location for “Punch Drunk Love,” “My Wife & Kids” and “Flirting with Forty.”

Waikiki’s largest resort, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is also Paris Hilton’s favorite hotel among those in her family’s namesake chain. The 22-acre property features tropical gardens, waterfalls, exotic wildlife, priceless artwork and more than 20 restaurants and lounges.

The Ilikai, another one of Honolulu’s production-friendly hotels, has hosted film crews for movies such as “50 First Dates,” “Tears of the Sun,” “The Rundown” and “Windtalkers.”

Resource

Hawaii Tourism Authority / Oahu Visitor's Bureau / July 1 2015

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