The people have voted and three Hawai‘i eateries have made the list of Best New Restaurants in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.
The three restaurants were among the field of 20 vying for a spot on the list. Voting took place in December and the winners were announced Jan. 2.
Koast, located at 116 Wailea Ike Dr. Suite 2204, in Wailea, tops the list at No. 1. The eatery invites visitors to “come as they are for every occasion” and aims to “forge a meaningful connection between the food, the island and the community,” its website states. Chef Chris Cosentino is a Top Chef Masters winner and James Beard Award nominee.
At No. 6 is Coco Deck Kitchen + Bar Lahaina, located at 1312 Front St. in Lahaina. The restaurant is a casual dining spot led by owner and Chef Alvin Savella that offers “a blend of Mexican, local, American and seafood cuisine,” its website notes. Read more about it here.
And taking the 10th spot is 855-Aloha, located in the Romer House Waikīkī at 415 Nāhua St. The restaurant offers “iconic local flavors inspired by nostalgic island dishes,” according to its website. Chef Brad Dodson “strives to reflect Hawai‘i’s melting pot of cultures through his cooking, which showcases a blend of classical and modern techniques,” Aloha State Daily’s food and dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta wrote in August 2025.
Additionally, ‘Auana, Cirque du Soleil’s first resident show in Hawai‘i, ranked No. 4 on the 10Best list of Best New Attractions, which also were announced on Jan. 2. The show, staged in a 784-seat theater at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, recently marked its first anniversary and tells the story of Hawai'i from the Polynesian migration to the golden age of tourism. ASD previously interviewed one of the show's hula dancer's, Oriana Mahealani Lulu, here.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
