The Finer Things
Tropical cocktails from Mai Tais to Blue Hawaiis, island-brewed craft beer, locally distilled rum and vodka, luau feasts, and the best bars and nightlife on every Hawaiian island.
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Hawaii taught me that the best drink is the one with a sunset behind it. I've had Mai Tais at resort bars that cost $18 and Mai Tais at beach shacks that cost $8, and honestly the $8 ones with sand between my toes hit different. The craft beer scene here surprised me — Kona Brewing and Maui Brewing make world-class beer, and the smaller breweries like Lanikai and Waikiki Brewing are putting out stuff that rivals anything on the mainland. The local spirits are legit too — Kōloa Rum from Kauai and Ocean Vodka from Maui are made from sugarcane grown in volcanic soil, and you can taste the islands in every sip. But the real magic of Hawaiian drinking culture is the pau hana tradition — that after-work ritual of gathering with friends, ordering the first round, and watching the sky turn pink over the Pacific. No rush, no pretension, just good company and cold drinks in warm air.
— Scott
Tropical Cocktails
4 tipsMai Tai
The quintessential Hawaiian cocktail. Originally invented at Trader Vic's in Oakland, the Mai Tai was perfected in Hawaii and became the islands' signature drink. Rum, fresh lime juice, orgeat syrup, and orange curaçao shaken over crushed ice and garnished with a mint sprig. $12–18 at a resort bar, $8–12 at a local spot. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki serves a legendary pink Mai Tai made with guava juice — it's been the drink to order on the beach since the 1950s. Every bartender in Hawaii has their own riff, and sampling Mai Tais across islands is a vacation in itself.
Blue Hawaii
Created by bartender Harry Yee at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki in 1957. The story goes that a liquor rep asked Yee to create a drink featuring blue curaçao, and he delivered a tropical masterpiece that became an icon. Rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet and sour mix blended with ice. The electric blue color is ridiculously photogenic against a Hawaiian sunset. $10–15 at most bars. Touristy? Absolutely. Unapologetically fun? Also absolutely.
Lava Flow
A frozen blend of piña colada (coconut cream, rum, pineapple juice) and strawberry daiquiri (strawberry purée, rum, lime), layered in the glass to look like red lava flowing through white volcanic rock. It's a visual spectacle and tastes like a tropical smoothie that happens to contain rum. $10–14 at beachside bars. Touristy but delicious — the best ones are made with real fruit rather than artificial mixes, so ask before you order. Perfect poolside drink when you don't want to think too hard.
POG Mimosa
Hawaii's spin on the classic brunch cocktail. POG — Passion fruit, Orange, Guava — is the unofficial juice of the islands, found in every grocery store and hotel breakfast buffet. Mix it with champagne or sparkling wine and you've got the best mimosa you'll ever drink. Sweet, tangy, tropical, and dangerously easy to put back three of these before your eggs arrive. Most brunch spots in Waikiki and Lahaina serve POG mimosas for $8–12. Some offer bottomless POG mimosa deals for $20–25 — Hawaii's version of brunch done right.
Hawaiian Craft Beer
4 tipsKona Brewing Co.
Hawaii's most recognized brewery, founded in 1994 on the Big Island. Big Wave Golden Ale is the flagship — light, easy-drinking, with a subtle tropical hop character that makes it the perfect beach beer. Longboard Island Lager is a smooth, clean lager that pairs well with anything from poke to plate lunch. $5–7 draft at bars and restaurants across all islands. Available everywhere — from resort restaurants to corner bars to ABC Stores. Visit the Kona Pub & Brewery in Kailua-Kona for limited-release brews you can't get anywhere else.
Maui Brewing Co.
The largest craft brewery in the state, brewing everything in-house in Kihei, Maui. Bikini Blonde Lager is their best-seller — crisp and refreshing, a beach day essential. Coconut Hiwa Porter is the standout — a dark, roasty porter brewed with hand-toasted coconut that somehow works perfectly in tropical heat. $6–8 draft. Their Kihei brewpub is worth a visit for the full tap list, brewery tours, and great food. Look for limited and seasonal releases in cans at local grocery stores.
Waikiki Brewing Co.
Small-batch ales brewed right in the heart of Waikiki. Two locations — the original on Kalakaua Avenue and a larger brewpub in Kakaako. They rotate taps frequently, so there's always something new. Try the Skinny Jeans IPA — a West Coast-style IPA with citrus and pine notes that's become the fan favorite. Great spot for craft beer enthusiasts who want something beyond the resort bar selection. Not a chain, not a tourist trap — just good beer brewed locally. $6–9 per pint.
Lanikai Brewing
Kailua's homegrown craft brewery on the windward side of Oahu. Small taproom tucked into an industrial park, big flavors. Pillbox Pale Ale is the local favorite — named after the Lanikai Pillbox Hike, it's a hop-forward pale ale that's perfect after a morning on the trail. They also brew excellent sours, stouts, and seasonal releases. This is not a tourist spot — this is where locals drink. Worth the drive from Waikiki for serious craft beer fans. $6–8 per pint in the taproom.
Hawaiian Spirits
3 tipsKōloa Rum
Distilled on Kauai from locally grown sugarcane. Kōloa is Hawaii's premier rum, and the lineup includes white rum, dark rum, spiced rum, coconut rum, and a gold rum — all made from sugar grown in the red volcanic soil of the Garden Isle. The aged dark rum is excellent for sipping neat. The coconut rum is the best you'll ever have — nothing like the artificial stuff on the mainland. $25–35 per bottle at local shops. The Kōloa Rum Company distillery in Kalaheo offers tours and tastings — a perfect rainy-day activity on Kauai.
Ocean Vodka
Made on Maui from organic sugarcane and blended with deep ocean mineral water drawn from 3,000 feet below the Pacific surface. The water comes through a pipeline from the ocean floor, giving it a mineral purity that's unique in the spirits world. The result is an exceptionally clean, smooth vodka with a slightly sweet finish. $30 per bottle. Visit the Ocean Organic Farm and Distillery in Kula on the slopes of Haleakala for tours through their organic sugarcane fields. Beautiful setting with panoramic views of Maui's central valley. Distillery tours available.
Pau Maui Vodka
Pineapple-based vodka distilled in Maui from Maui Gold pineapples. The name Pau means "finished" or "done" in Hawaiian — as in pau hana (done with work), the local term for happy hour. Smooth and distinctly Hawaiian with a subtle tropical sweetness that makes it outstanding in cocktails and surprisingly good on the rocks. This is the vodka that local bartenders reach for when making craft cocktails. Bring a bottle home — it's a conversation starter and a souvenir that actually gets used.
Island Nightlife & Experiences
4 tipsLuau
The ultimate Hawaiian night out and a bucket-list experience. A traditional luau features kalua pork slow-roasted in an underground imu oven, poi, lomi-lomi salmon, haupia coconut pudding, hula dancing, live Hawaiian music, and fire knife performances. $100–200 per person including dinner and drinks. The Old Lahaina Luau on Maui is widely considered the most authentic — oceanfront setting, traditional focus, and excellent food. On Oahu, Paradise Cove Luau in Ko Olina offers a big production with a gorgeous sunset backdrop. Book at least a week ahead during peak season.
Waikiki Strip
The epicenter of Oahu's nightlife. Kalakaua Avenue and the surrounding streets are packed with bars, lounges, and live music. Duke's Waikiki is the iconic beachside bar — live Hawaiian music, sunset cocktails, and a view that never gets old. Skull & Crown Trading Co. is the late-night spot with craft cocktails and a speakeasy vibe. The strip gets lively after 9pm and runs until 2am. The dress code is flip-flops and aloha shirts — nobody's checking at the door. Bars close at 2am by law, so last call comes around 1:30am.
Sunset Cruise
One of the most memorable ways to spend an evening in Hawaii. Cocktail cruises along the coast during golden hour offer open bars, appetizers, and views of the shoreline you simply cannot get from land. $80–150 per person including drinks. On Oahu, boats depart from Waikiki and the Ala Wai Harbor. On Maui, cruises along the West Maui coast with views of Molokai are stunning. Many include live music and dancing. Book the later departure for the best sunset timing — the sky turns pink and orange for a solid 30 minutes.
Local Hangouts Beyond Waikiki
For a night out like a local, skip the tourist strip. On Oahu, Chinatown in downtown Honolulu has the best cocktail bars — Bar Leather Apron is a James Beard-nominated cocktail bar, and Tchin Tchin is a lively wine bar. Kakaako has brewery taprooms and hip restaurants. On Maui, Front Street in Lahaina has waterfront bars. On the Big Island, Kailua-Kona's Ali'i Drive has laid-back beach bars. The local scene is low-key — don't expect Vegas. Expect good drinks, warm people, and live music under the stars.
Pack Smart — Gear Worth Bringing
12 tipsDJI Mini 4 Pro Drone
Na Pali Coast aerial footage is bucket-list material — those 4,000-foot cliffs plunging straight into the Pacific look completely different from 400 feet. Sub-250g means no FAA permit required for non-restricted airspace, and most of Na Pali qualifies. View on Amazon →
Peak Design Travel Tripod
Compact and carry-on-friendly — essential for long-exposure Milky Way shots from Haleakala summit (10,023 feet, near-zero light pollution) or sunrise timelapse over Kailua Bay. View on Amazon →
Suunto D5 Wrist Dive Computer
Molokini Crater off Maui and Lanai's Cathedrals are among the finest dive sites in the United States — visibility often 100+ feet, walls covered in coral and reef fish. The D5 tracks depth and no-decompression limits with a clean color display. View on Amazon →
AKONA Adventure Mesh Backpack
Keeps all your dive gear organized and dry-ish between sessions — the mesh allows dripping without soaking everything else in your bag. Sized right for mask, fins, wetsuit, and regulator on a multi-day dive trip. View on Amazon →
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
Hawaii is 5–6 hours from the West Coast, 10+ from the East — one of the longest domestic flights in the US. Best-in-class noise canceling makes the crossing genuinely comfortable and starts the vacation right. View on Amazon →
iROCKER All-Around 11' Inflatable SUP
Kailua Bay and Lanikai Beach on Oahu are textbook SUP water — flat, warm, crystal-clear, and practically empty on weekday mornings. Bring your own board and skip the $80/day rental rate. Inflates to rigid in 8 minutes with the included pump. View on Amazon →
Apple AirTag 4-Pack
Inter-island connections through small airports and rental car transfers create plenty of bag-loss opportunities. Drop a tag in every checked bag — tracking works anywhere with iPhone users nearby, which covers the whole island chain. View on Amazon →
Anker 735 GaN Charger (65W)
One compact unit replaces your laptop brick and phone charger — three ports, fast charging. Hawaii's resort rooms often have limited outlets, and this covers everything from one socket. View on Amazon →
Manta Sleep Mask
Hawaii sits 6 hours behind Eastern time — which means your body thinks it's 4am when the sun rises at 6. The first two mornings are rough. The Manta's molded blackout cups help your circadian rhythm reset faster without light pollution from resort courtyards. View on Amazon →
Sockwell Compression Socks
Long flights to Hawaii plus a day of hiking Kalalau Trail or Haleakala crater leave your legs wrecked. Compression socks on the flight over and back make a real difference in recovery time and swelling. View on Amazon →
Flypal Inflatable Foot Rest
The 10+ hour flights from the East Coast to Hawaii are genuinely long — this foot rest fills the dead space under the seat in front and takes pressure off your lower back. Small enough to pack in a carry-on pocket. View on Amazon →
Osprey Poco Child Carrier
The Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast and the Haleakala summit hike on Maui are both accessible with a good child carrier for kids under 40 lbs. Built-in sun shade, hydration sleeve, and a child-safety harness — the right gear for serious trails with little ones. View on Amazon →
Practical Tips
4 tipsAlcohol Laws
The legal drinking age in Hawaii is 21, same as the rest of the United States. No open containers on beaches — technically. Police do enforce this in busy tourist areas like Waikiki Beach, but at quieter beaches many people enjoy drinks discreetly in koozies or opaque cups without issue. Glass bottles are banned on all beaches statewide. Use cans or plastic cups. Bars close at 2am by law. DUI enforcement is strict — use Uber, Lyft, or a designated driver.
Happy Hour
Hawaii has an excellent happy hour culture. Most bars and restaurants run happy hour from 3–6pm, with some starting as early as 2pm. Expect $2–4 off cocktails, $1–2 off draft beers, and discounted appetizers. Some of the best deals: Monkeypod Kitchen (multiple locations) has half-price pizza and $6 Mai Tais. Duke's Waikiki has a solid pau hana menu. Happy hour is the local way to start the evening — pau hana (after work) drinks are a Hawaiian institution.
ABC Stores
Hawaii's ubiquitous convenience stores — over 70 locations, mostly in tourist areas. They sell beer, wine, and spirits at reasonable prices. A six-pack of Kona Big Wave runs about $10. They also carry pre-mixed cocktails in cans, wine, and basic spirits. ABC Stores are your best friend for stocking your hotel mini-fridge without paying resort markup. Prices are higher than a mainland liquor store but far cheaper than any hotel bar or poolside service.
Best Value
The smartest move for budget-conscious drinkers: grab a six-pack of Kona Big Wave at an ABC Store for $10 and enjoy them on your hotel lanai at sunset. That's the same price as one resort cocktail. For dining out, hit happy hour aggressively — $5–8 cocktails and half-price appetizers make even resort restaurants affordable. If you're splurging on one cocktail experience, make it a Mai Tai at the Royal Hawaiian — $18 is steep, but the setting is once-in-a-lifetime.
Scott's Pro Tips
- Pau Hana is Sacred: The Hawaiian happy hour tradition — pau hana literally means "finished work." Most bars and restaurants run specials from 3–6pm. This is when locals drink, prices are best, and the sunset timing is perfect. Build your evening around pau hana and you'll save serious money while having the most authentic experience.
- Skip the Resort Bar: That Mai Tai at the hotel pool bar costs $18. Walk 10 minutes off the resort strip and you'll find the same drink (often better) for $8–12. In Waikiki, head to the side streets off Kalakaua. On Maui, the local spots in Kihei and Paia are half the price of Wailea resorts.
- ABC Store Strategy: ABC Stores are everywhere in tourist areas and they sell beer, wine, and spirits. A six-pack of Kona Big Wave runs about $10 — the same price as one draft at a resort. Stock your hotel mini-fridge and enjoy sunset drinks on your lanai. It's the best-value drinking experience in Hawaii.
- Luau Booking: Book your luau at least a week in advance during peak season (December–March and June–August). The good ones sell out. Request oceanfront or front-row seating — the experience is significantly better. Old Lahaina Luau on Maui and Paradise Cove on Oahu are consistently the best-reviewed. Skip the cheapest options — you get what you pay for.
- Uber Over Driving: Hawaii takes DUI extremely seriously — penalties are steep and checkpoints are common, especially on weekends. Uber and Lyft work well on Oahu and Maui. On the Big Island and Kauai, ride-share availability is spottier, so plan ahead. Many resorts offer shuttle services to nearby dining areas.
- Bring Bottles Home: Kōloa Rum, Ocean Vodka, and Pau Maui Vodka all make excellent souvenirs. Buy at local liquor stores or distillery gift shops rather than the airport — better selection and lower prices. Pack bottles in the center of your checked bag wrapped in clothes. TSA allows alcohol in checked luggage up to 5 liters per person for spirits under 140 proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
The legal drinking age in Hawaii is 21, the same as everywhere in the United States. Bars, restaurants, and stores will ask for valid photo ID if you look under 30. Foreign passports and driver's licenses are accepted. There are no exceptions for tourists from countries with lower drinking ages.
Technically, no. Open containers of alcohol are prohibited on all public beaches and parks in Hawaii. Police do enforce this in busy tourist areas like Waikiki Beach. However, at quieter beaches many people enjoy drinks discreetly in koozies or opaque cups without issue. Glass bottles are banned on all beaches statewide regardless — use cans or plastic cups.
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki is legendary for its pink Mai Tai made with guava juice — it is the most iconic Mai Tai in the islands. For a more traditional version, the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Center is excellent. On Maui, Monkeypod Kitchen makes an outstanding version with hand-shaken lilikoi foam. Every bartender in Hawaii has their own riff, and honestly there are no wrong answers.
Yes, if you choose the right one. A quality luau like the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui or Paradise Cove on Oahu is a genuinely memorable cultural experience with traditional food, music, hula, and fire dancing. Budget $100–200 per person. Avoid the cheapest options, which tend to feel like tourist traps with mediocre buffet food. Book ahead, request oceanfront seating, and go in with the right expectations — it is a celebration, not a Michelin-star dinner.
Start with Kona Brewing Co. Big Wave Golden Ale — it is the quintessential Hawaii beer, light and crushable on a hot day. Maui Brewing Co. Coconut Hiwa Porter is a must-try if you like dark beers. Kona Longboard Island Lager is smooth and crowd-pleasing. For craft beer fans, seek out Waikiki Brewing Co. for their Skinny Jeans IPA or make the drive to Lanikai Brewing in Kailua for the Pillbox Pale Ale. All are brewed in Hawaii and taste best enjoyed on the islands.
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