Honolulu Advertiser | Na Heke: The 2001 'Ilima Awards

Six thousand people. That's how many Advertiser readers took the time to vote in this year's 'Ilima Awards readers' choice poll for favorite restaurants. And that's an increase of nearly 4,000 ballots over last year, probably because of the convenience of being able to download a ballot from our Web site this year.

The 'Ilima Awards — 33 reader selections plus two Critics' Choice awards each from our restaurant critic, Matthew Gray, and food editor Joan Namkoong (who left us just before this publication went to press, alas!) — are truly eclectic and broad-based, ranging from decadent high-end restaurants such as Alan Wong's and La Mer, to everyday hangouts such as Zippy's and Pizza Hut. Some new spots made the cut, including Tokkuri Tei and Sarento's on the Beach on Maui, while many familiar names pop up yet again, including John Dominis and the Pagoda Hotel.

The balloting in early summer not only selected 33 'Ilima Award winners named here, but serve as a database that, along with our critics' and food writers' choices, determines which restaurants will be included in a new publication coming out next month, "Hawai'i's Best 150 Restaurants." Look for the free magazine in the newspaper and at restaurants and other locations.

Based on the vote tabulated by Nishihama & Kishida, CPAs Inc., — and what a task that was! — we selected one winner in each of 33 categories. To achieve the widest range of honorees, each restaurant was limited to winning in only one category. In case of a double win for a restaurant, we gave it the award in the category in which it received the most votes.

Representatives of each restaurant will receive their awards Oct. 8 at the annual 'Ilima Awards gala, a sold-out benefit for Diamond Head Theatre.

In this special section, restaurant critic Gray introduces you to the winners of the sixth annual 'Ilima Awards.

Benefiting from the 'Ilimas

For six years, The Advertiser has partnered with Diamond Head Theatre in presenting the 'Ilima Awards gala event, the theater's major annual fund-raiser.

We organize the reader poll that selects the winners; Diamond Head Theatre's hard-working volunteers, led by co-chairman Ronnie Cantor and Uson Ewart, and with sponsorship assistance from VISA, create the event(Oct. 8 this year). The unique format includes a riotous show of song parodies in the theater itself, followed by a luxurious tasting event under the stars on the DHT grounds.

Says DHT managing director, "For each dollar in tickets sold, DHT must raise another dollar to operate the theater. That's why events like the 'Ilima Awards are so important to us."

Drawing winners

Everyone who took the time to fill out a valid 'Ilima Awards ballot was eligible to enter a drawing for the grand prize of Mainland air fare for two on Hawaiian Airlines and secondary prizes of dinner-theater packages provided by The Advertiser and Diamond Head Theatre.

What does Na Heke mean?

Heke (heh-kay) means best, greatest, foremost, which is what we think our readers are — along with the restaurants they chose. Na means "the," and indicates a plural noun.

VS — Visa
MC — Mastercard
AX — American Express
DC — Diners Club
JCB — JCB Card
OliOli — Olioli Card

$$$ — Expensive (entrees mostly above $17)
$$ — Moderate (entrees mostly $10 to $16)
$ — Inexpensive (entrees mostly less than $10)