CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii -- Sunset Lanai, the all hands club here, re-opened June 1 and had its grand re-opening celebration June 29, where guests enjoyed Mongolian barbeque and free pupus.
The Sunset Lanai sits next to Bordelon Field overlooking Pearl Harbor and has a grand vista from Diamond Head to the Waianae coast ─ a view Col. Russell H. Smith, commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, called “a multibillion-dollar view.”
“There are many developers who would kill to get this property for their purposes,” Smith joked.
“The main idea for getting the renovations was so that it would be a nice enough facility that the MARFORPAC commanding general can bring his foreign dignitaries to a facility that’s standards are high enough to be proud of,” said Normand A. Cote, the manager of the Sunset Lanai, the American Eatery and the U.S. Pacific Command food court.
The club was shut down for five months due to renovations. A few of the upgrades included new front doors, new painting and new lighting for the bar. The restrooms were also remodeled in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the carpet was replaced by hardwood floors.
“I like the floors much better than that carpet they had,” said Alan Dunston, a guest from PACOM. “The bathrooms are nice.”
Don G. Figueira, food and beverage general manager, said the Sunset Lanai looks more professional and the renovations were a needed upgrade.
In total, the cost of the renovation was just less than $800,000.
The Sunset Lanai serves as a community center that has rooms available for parties and celebrations. It is also used to host professional military education and other training.
Just after Smith’s opening comments, he announced the winners of the prize drawings. The guests entered for a chance to win miniature golf, bowling alley and theater passes, and the grand prize, a weekend at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
The club promoted their new burger menu by making free meal samples available to their guests as appetizers. Mongolian barbeque is available every Wednesday from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the club, along with the bar menu from 5 - 8 p.m. The bar menu is also available Fridays from 3:30 - 9 p.m. at Sunset Lanai’s lounge.