After a morning exploring of the Big Island, you deserve something cold, delicious and refreshing. It doesn’t matter whether your itinerary is adventure-packed or leisurely and restful, drinks and pupus are always a good idea! You’re on vacation, after all. Here are some of the best places to enjoy happy hour on the Big Island. Bottoms up!
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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Happy Hour in Kona
Cronies Bar & Grill
If you just need to catch a game and enjoy a burger and a beer, Cronies is the place for you. Located in downtown Hilo, this sports bar has a good selection of burgers (including a loco moco burger) with an even better selection of beers on tap. Try to save a little room for one of their homemade desserts. Cronies also offers a “halftime” happy hour with food and beverage deals to enjoy during your game’s halftime show! Open Wednesday through Saturday and Monday from 11am to 8pm, Tuesdays 11am to 3pm, and Sunday 8am to 8pm.
Don’s Mai Tai Bar
75-5852 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona
808.930.3286
Inside the Royal Kona Resort at Don’s, you can enjoy happy hour with an oceanbi with friendly service in this open air restaurant. The happy hour menu is available every day with $8 mai tais and $10 lava flows. Don’s happy hour also offers $1 off draft beers, a selection of well drinks, and a limited food menu that includes favorites like coconut shrimp and loaded nachos. Open 6:30am to 8:30pm with happy hours 4pm to 6pm.
Umekes Ali’i Plaza
74-5599 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona
808.238.0571
Umekes serves Hawaiian cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Happy hour is offered every day from 2pm to 5pm, with $2 off beers, $3 off specialty cocktails, $4 well drinks, and $5 specialty cocktails and wines by the glass. The food menu for happy hour has a small selection of pupus including ono kalbi bao buns and fish tacos. Open daily 11am to 9pm. Happy hour is Monday through Saturday 3pm to 6pm and Sunday 3pm to 5pm.
Happy Hour in Waikoloa / Waimea
Lava Lava Beach Club
69-1081 Ku’uali’i Place, Waikoloa Village
808.769.5282
Lava Lava Beach Club is a great place to enjoy farm-to-table food with your toes in the sand and a mai tai in your hand. There’s live music every night, and every third Friday the renowned Oahu musician Henry Kapono performs. Open daily 12pm to 9pm.
Tommy Bahama
At Tommy Bahama, “Island Time Happy Hour” is offered every day from 2pm to 5pm in the bar. The menu has a few drink deals including $10 martinis, $8 specialty cocktails and $6 draft beers. There are also wines by the glass, and a small but mighty snack menu that includes both blackened mahi mahi tacos and coconut shrimp. Open daily 12pm to 8pm. Happy hours daily 3pm to 5pm.
Happy Hour in Hilo
Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill
Tropical drink specials, wines by the glass, and $5 draft beers are available for the liquid portion of the daily happy hour. The pupu happy hour menu has some tasty bites including Ahi Tartare on Wonton chips, Kalua Pork Quesadillas and a Lemon Grass Caesar Salad. This well decorated restaurant is a great place for some tasty happy hour treats. Jackie Rey’s in Hilo is open daily 4pm to 8:30pm. Happy hours are Monday through Friday 4pm to 5pm.
Did we miss your favorite restaurant?
Our always-hungry team of foodies have compiled this list.
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1 thought on “Where to Find the Best Happy Hour on the Big Island”
lava lava no longer has happy hour. May want to remove from your site.