Star Power: The Haute 5 Celebrity Hangouts in Honolulu

Many people come to Hawaii for rest and relaxation and the celebrities are no different. Unlike many other cities, stars come to Hawaii not to be seen! They want to be paparazzi free, casual and let loose without a million prying eyes.

About one hour from Honolulu, is Oahu’s North Shore. This area is most famous for its world class surfing breaks. In the winter months this town swells with huge waves and an influx of people coming to watch the professional surfers ride some of the most challenging waves on the planet at the iconic Pipeline and Sunset beaches. Not surprisingly this is a great time for celebrity sightings, anyone from Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake to musician Jack Johnson who lives full time on the North Shore.

One surfer celeb that has been spotted hanging out on the North Shore for years is surfer hottie Kelly Slater. He is here to work and surf during the Vans Triple Crown, but he also finds time to entertain a bevy of beauties ranging from Pam Anderson, Cameron Diaz to Gisele Bunchen. Come to think of it – maybe the location has nothing to do with it and perhaps it is all about Kelly? www.gonorthshore.org

Also on the North Shore is the Turtle Bay Resort where they filmed the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008. Aside from the popularity of the movie, this spot has always been popular with stars looking to really get away from it all and unplug. The Turtle Bay Resort has great amenities like golf and a full service spa, yet is totally tucked away from busy Honolulu. The resort has hosted Lauren Conrad,  Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner and I heard the the cast and crew of Entourage spent some time here while filming on Oahu.

If you are a fan of the Lost television  series, you may find The Counter in the upscale residential area of Kahala of interest. This build your own burger spot has hundreds or ways to satisfy your burger cravings and may also be the place to curb your celeb cravings! One of the establishment’s investors is actor Daniel Dae Kim, who has often been spotted enjoying a burger and a martini. In fact, many of his co-stars have been seen at the venue, and now with the filming of his next series Hawaii Five-O, I would expect this could be an up and coming Honolulu celebrity hangout. www.thecounter.com

So speaking of Hawaii Five-O, another Honolulu celebrity hangout is the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. With the launch of the new version of the famed program, much of the filming is on or around the Hilton and an excellent spot to see the actors in action. www.hawaiifive0.com

The final celebrity hangout is full of famous spectators as well as professionals – the Sony Open. Each January, the exclusive Waialae Country Club hosts this signature PGA event. While Tiger Woods may be a no-show, you can rest assured that many celebrities like Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and George Lopez all come to take part in the pre-event star golf event for charity. They come to Hawaii to have some fun and get on the green! www.sonyopeninhawaii.com