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.
If you’re happy with your meal, tag us @HawaiiIslander on Instagram to share the love.
Feature Image: Monkeypod Kitchen
Kaanapali Happy Hour Map
Hula Grill
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. hulagrillkaanapali.com
Japengo
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. hyatt.com
Leilani’s
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. leilanis.com
Monkeypod Kitchen
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. monkeypodkitchen.com
Did we miss your favorite restaurant?
Our always-hungry team team of foodies have compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com
