Crossword Genius

Port kept in house: hardly a great example (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

honolulu

'port' is the definition.
(Hawaiian port)

'house hardly a great example' is the wordplay.
'house' becomes 'ho' (abbreviation for house).
'hardly' becomes 'no' (eg 'hardly a meal' means 'not a meal' or 'no meal').
'a great example' becomes 'lulu' (informal term for a great example of something).
'ho'+'no'+'lulu'='HONOLULU'

'kept in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for honolulu that I've seen before include "City of Hawaii" , "island capital" , "Port in Hawaii" , "State capital of Hawaii" , "location in Hawaii" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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