Tiki culture was born in 1930s Hollywood, not Hawaiʻi. Donn Beach (born Ernest Gantt) opened the first tiki bar in Los Angeles, mixed rum with tropical fruit, and decorated the walls with Polynesian carvings he collected during his Pacific travels. The aesthetic eventually crossed the ocean and landed in the place it was inspired by. Full circle.
But Hawaiʻi’s cocktail scene goes beyond tiki. Honolulu has craft cocktail bars that would hold their own in New York or Tokyo. Maui’s resort lounges pour drinks with views that no mainland rooftop can match. And a handful of old-school dives have been mixing mai tais since before your parents’ honeymoon. This guide covers the spots worth a deliberate stop on each island.
