Where to Find the Best Happy Hour in Kaanapali

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Clean Plate Club

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The community of West Maui is recovering from the wildfires that devastated Lāhainā. Many restaurants are no longer in business or are temporarily closed. Please check their websites for the most recent information.

This three-mile stretch of Ka’anapali Resort’s white sands location on the west side of Maui is ideal for a sunset cocktail and tasty snacks. On the islands, the expression “pau hana” is often interchanged with the phrase “Happy Hour” and translates to “work is finished.” The essence of “pau hana” encourages visitors to put down their phone and relax in the company of others over drinks and pupus (appetizers). Here are some of the top spots to get your pau hana on in Ka’anapali.

But wait, there’s more. We’re here to help demystify some of the unusual words you might see on menus like furikake, laulau and lilikoi — and explain which meat is being served and why. And possibly most importantly of all, provide the fun facts on the origins of local dishes

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Feature Image: Monkeypod Kitchen

A top-view photo showing four hands holding colorful drinks in glasses, garnished with various decorations like umbrellas, lemon wedges, and fruit slices. The background has blurred food items on a wooden table, capturing the best Happy Hour vibes in Kaanapali Maui.
Photo: @hulagrillkaanapali

Pina coladas, mai tais, and the other classics — Barefoot Bar has them all in spades. Be sure to try their Maui mule made with local vodka and mint for a regional twist on this refreshing favorite. Open daily from 11am to 9:45pm. 

A variety of Japanese dishes are displayed on a table, perfect for the best sunset dining in Maui. The spread includes sushi, sashimi, a plate of cooked seafood with vegetables, edamame, and other assorted dishes. Two hands are seen reaching for food, suggesting sharing during a meal.
Photo: @japengo.maui

Temporarily Closed

Happy hour drinks are great, but you need some sushi to sop up that booze, look no further than Japengo. With plenty of hand-rolled options as well as half-sized portions, here you can try a wide variety of some of the best sushi on the island. Open daily 5pm to 9pm with happy hour on Thursday 5pm to 6pm. 

Three tropical cocktails grace a wooden surface with Kaanapali maui's beach and ocean in the background. The best Happy Hour features a pink cocktail with a lemon slice and straw, a martini glass holding a purple drink, and a brown tiki glass adorned with a pineapple slice and mini umbrella.
Photo: @leilanisonthebeach

Reopened in spring of 2018, Leilani’s features not only a killer happy hour, but breathtaking sunsets too. A unique cocktail list and diverse menu make this a local and tourist favorite. The chef’s tasting menu is $21 from 4pm to 5:15pm daily and it’s a delicious steal. Open 11:30am to 9pm. 

A close-up of three tacos filled with fish, vegetables, and toppings sits on a rectangular plate. The tacos are garnished with a light green sauce and seeds. A wedge of lime is placed on the side of the plate. The background appears to be a blurred outdoor setting, ideal for the best Happy Hour Kaanapali Maui offers.
Photo: @monkeypodkitchen

Just cause it’s an island doesn’t mean you need a fruity cocktail, and Monkeypod Kitchen is a beer lovers heaven. So there are 36 beers on tap here, and they’re all handcrafted. Of course there are cocktails as well, all of which are made with fresh ingredients (read: less of a hangover.) Open daily 11am to 10pm. Happy hour is daily 3:30pm to 5pm. 

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