There’s a moment at sunset in Hawaii—you’re on a lanai somewhere, the sky is turning colors that don’t exist on the mainland, and somebody puts a drink in your hand. Maybe it’s a Mai Tai with real orgeat and aged rum. Maybe it’s a cold POG juice, the condensation dripping down the glass. Either way, you take a sip and think: this is what they mean by aloha.
Hawaiian drink culture is as layered as the islands themselves. There are the ancient Polynesian traditions—coconut water, ‘awa (kava), fermented ti root. There’s the tiki era that swept America in the mid-20th century and found its spiritual home in Waikiki. And there’s the everyday reality of what locals actually drink: POG at the beach, Kona coffee in the morning, a Lava Flow at the hotel pool, and cold beer with plate lunch.
This guide covers all of it—from legendary cocktails to refreshing mocktails, from Kona coffee culture to shave ice. Every drink recipe on the site is linked below, organized so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. For the cultural backstory on how tiki bars and Hawaiian drinks intersect (it’s more complicated than you’d think), read Talk Story: Tiki Culture and Hawaii — It’s Complicated.
Classic Hawaiian Cocktails
These are the drinks that put Hawaii on the cocktail map. Some were invented in the islands, some were adopted and made better. All of them taste like vacation.
The Tiki Legends
- Blue Hawaii – Created in 1957 by Harry Yee at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. That electric blue color comes from blue curaçao, mixed with rum, pineapple juice, and sweet & sour. It’s the most photographed cocktail in Hawaii and one of the few tiki drinks that was actually invented here
- Lava Flow – Part piña colada, part strawberry daiquiri, all spectacle. The white coconut-pineapple blend swirled with bright red strawberry puree looks exactly like lava flowing down a volcano. Sweet, frozen, and dangerously easy to drink on a hot beach day
- Chi Chi – Hawaii’s vodka piña colada. Switching from rum to vodka creates a cleaner, crisper flavor that lets the coconut and pineapple shine without the heaviness. Frozen and creamy, this is the poolside drink of choice at resorts island-wide
- Mango Mai Tai – Our tropical twist on the king of tiki drinks. Fresh mango adds a lush sweetness that takes the classic rum-orgeat-lime combination somewhere new. If you’ve only had Mai Tais made with sour mix, this will change everything
Beyond the Classics
Hawaii’s cocktail scene goes way deeper than the resort drink menu. These are the drinks that locals order, the ones with real history and serious flavor.
- Scorpion Bowl – The ultimate group cocktail. A massive shared bowl of rum, brandy, orgeat, and citrus, traditionally served flaming with long straws for everyone at the table. This is how you start a night in Hawaii
- Tropical Itch – The legendary Waikiki cocktail that comes with a back scratcher as a swizzle stick. Bourbon, rum, curaçao, and passion fruit—it’s been a Waikiki staple since the ’50s and the back scratcher tradition is non-negotiable
- Okolehao Sour – A cocktail made with Hawaii’s own spirit. Okolehao is distilled from ti root, the closest thing Hawaii has to an indigenous liquor. This sour cocktail is a piece of Hawaiian history in a glass
- Li Hing Mui Margarita – If you’ve never had li hing mui, prepare yourself. That sweet-salty-sour preserved plum powder rims the glass and transforms a margarita into something distinctly Hawaiian. Every local bar has a version of this, and every one is addictive
Batch Cocktails for Parties
When you’re hosting, you need drinks that scale. These recipes are designed for groups.
- Hawaiian Rum Punch – The easy tropical batch cocktail that serves a crowd. Mix it up in a punch bowl or dispenser and let people help themselves. Perfect for backyard luau parties
- Scorpion Bowl – Already built for sharing—just make multiples
- Guava Nectar Punch – Works beautifully as both a cocktail base (add rum) and a standalone party drink
Mocktails & Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Some of Hawaii’s best drinks have zero alcohol. These are the ones locals actually drink every day—not just when there’s a reason to celebrate.
Hawaiian Juice Classics
- POG – Passion Orange Guava – If you grew up in Hawaii, POG is the taste of childhood. This tropical juice blend has been a staple since 1971, and making it fresh at home with real fruit is a revelation compared to the bottled stuff. Sweet, tangy, and bright—it’s liquid sunshine
- Lilikoi Lemonade – Fresh passion fruit transforms ordinary lemonade into something extraordinary. The aroma alone is worth making this. Lilikoi’s natural tartness and intense tropical perfume make this the perfect hot-day refresher
- Guava Nectar Punch – Sweet, fragrant, and crowd-friendly. This is the go-to party drink for keiki (kids) and anyone who wants tropical flavor without alcohol
Tropical Mocktails & Refreshers
- Coconut Water Mocktails – Refreshing tropical drinks built on fresh coconut water. Light, hydrating, and naturally sweet. These are what you want after a morning at the beach
- Hawaiian Sun Tea – Simple island refreshment brewed slowly by the Hawaiian sun. Infused with tropical flavors, it’s the most laid-back drink you’ll ever make—set it outside, wait, pour over ice
- Haupia Smoothie – A creamy coconut breakfast blend inspired by Hawaii’s beloved haupia dessert. It’s like drinking coconut pudding for breakfast, and it’s as good as it sounds. Try it with fresh homemade coconut milk for the full experience
For the fresh fruit behind all these drinks, our Hawaiian Tropical Fruits for Drinks & Cocktails Guide covers every tropical fruit you’ll need—from sourcing lilikoi on the mainland to picking the perfect pineapple.
Hawaiian Coffee
Kona coffee is one of Hawaii’s greatest contributions to the world, and the islands’ coffee culture deserves its own section. Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows commercial coffee, and what comes out of those volcanic slopes on the Big Island is genuinely world-class.
- Hawaiian Coffee Culture – The complete guide to brewing Kona coffee at home. Covers the history, the growing regions, brewing methods, and why those “$10 Kona blend” bags at the supermarket are mostly a scam (hint: they only need to contain 10% Kona beans)
- Iced Kona Coffee (Local Style) – Hawaii’s afternoon pick-me-up. The local way of making iced coffee is different from what you’ll find at mainland chains—stronger, simpler, and built for hot days
- Best Kona Coffee Brands Worth Buying – Our gear guide to the real thing. How to tell authentic 100% Kona from the blends that trade on the name without delivering the quality
Shave Ice: Hawaii’s Frozen Treasure
Technically not a drink, but no Hawaiian beverage guide is complete without shave ice. And if you call it “shaved ice” with a D on the end, you’ll immediately mark yourself as a tourist. In Hawaii, it’s shave ice. No D.
The ice is shaved so fine it’s almost snow—nothing like the chunky crunches of a mainland snow cone. Then it’s drenched in tropical syrups, and if you’re doing it right, you add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or azuki beans (sweet red beans) underneath. The syrup melts through the ice and pools with the ice cream at the bottom, creating the best last bite of any dessert anywhere.
- Hawaiian Shave Ice Guide – Everything you need to know about making real shave ice at home, from the right ice texture to the syrup technique
- Shave Ice Syrup Guide – Make your own tropical syrups at home. Real fruit syrups are a different universe from the neon-colored stuff at county fairs
- Best Shave Ice Machines for Home – Not all machines create that fine, snow-like texture. This guide helps you find one that actually works
Essential Tropical Drink Ingredients
Stock these and you can make almost any Hawaiian drink on the spot. Most are available at well-stocked supermarkets; for the specialty items, check our Hawaiian Pantry guide and Ingredients Guide for sourcing tips.
- Quality rum – Aged (dark) for sipping cocktails like Mai Tais, white for lighter drinks like the Blue Hawaii. Plantation, Appleton Estate, and Rhum Clément are solid choices
- Coconut cream – Coco López is the classic for piña coladas and Lava Flows. Cream of coconut, not coconut milk—they’re different things
- Pineapple juice – Fresh-pressed is always better, but Dole 100% juice works in a pinch. Never use “pineapple drink”
- Passion fruit (lilikoi) – Fresh pulp or frozen. The frozen puree is actually great and much easier to work with than fresh
- Guava nectar – Look for brands with real fruit listed first on the ingredients
- Blue curaçao – For that iconic Blue Hawaii color. DeKuyper or Bols both work well
- Orgeat syrup – Almond syrup essential for Mai Tais. Small Hand Foods and Liber & Co. make excellent versions. It’s the ingredient that separates a real Mai Tai from a rum punch with a paper umbrella
- Fresh citrus – Limes and lemons, always fresh-squeezed. Bottled juice is the fastest way to ruin a cocktail
- Li hing mui powder – For rimming glasses and adding that distinctive sweet-salty-sour Hawaiian twist. Available at Asian markets and online Hawaiian retailers
Pairing Drinks with Hawaiian Food
The right drink turns a good Hawaiian meal into a great one. Here’s how to think about pairings:
- With poke – Keep it light. A crisp beer (Kona Big Wave is perfect), cold sake, or Lilikoi Lemonade. The acidity cuts through the rich fish
- With plate lunch – POG juice or iced tea cuts through the richness of kalua pig, shoyu chicken, and rice. A cold lager works too
- With pupus – This is cocktail territory. Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiis pair perfectly with appetizers and create that relaxed social vibe
- With desserts – Iced Kona coffee or a Chi Chi complement sweet dishes without competing. With chocolate haupia pie, coffee is the only answer
- With breakfast – POG, hot Kona coffee, or a Haupia Smoothie. Breakfast is about comfort, not cocktails (save the mimosas for brunch)
Setting Up a Hawaiian Drink Bar
Hosting a luau or Hawaiian backyard party? A good drink station makes everything easier and keeps you out from behind the blender all night.
- Pre-batch your cocktails – Make large batches of Rum Punch or Mai Tai base (without ice) the day before. Store in pitchers in the fridge. When guests arrive, just pour over ice
- Set up a blender station – For frozen drinks like Lava Flows and Chi Chis. Pre-measure ingredients into ziplock bags in the freezer—just dump and blend when someone orders
- Always offer mocktails – A pitcher of fresh POG, Lilikoi Lemonade, or Coconut Water Mocktails shows you thought about everyone, not just the drinkers
- Garnish bar – Pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries (Luxardo if you’re fancy), fresh mint, orchids if you can find them, and yes—paper umbrellas. They’re not ironic in Hawaii, they’re tradition
- Ice, ice, ice – You always need more than you think. Buy bags, fill every cooler, and have a backup plan. Nothing kills a drink bar faster than running out of ice
Where to Drink in Hawaii
Every island has legendary spots where the drinks are as good as the setting. Here are some worth seeking out:
- The Royal Hawaiian’s Mai Tai Bar (Waikiki, Oahu) – Pink palace, ocean view, and one of the most iconic Mai Tais in the islands. Tourist? Absolutely. Worth it? Also absolutely
- La Mariana Sailing Club (Honolulu, Oahu) – The last authentic tiki bar in Hawaii. No Instagram staging, just decades of accumulated tiki decor, strong drinks, and live music. It feels like stepping into 1956
- Skull & Crown Trading Co. (Honolulu, Oahu) – Modern tiki done right. Creative cocktails in a speakeasy-style space
- Monkeypod Kitchen (Multiple locations, Maui/Oahu) – Peter Merriman’s restaurant with an excellent craft cocktail program and great happy hour
- Duke’s (Multiple locations) – Named after Duke Kahanamoku, with beachside seating and reliable tropical cocktails. The Hula Pie is legendary but the Lava Flow is why you’re there
- Matsumoto Shave Ice (Haleiwa, Oahu) – The most famous shave ice stand on the planet. The line is always long. Get rainbow flavor and don’t skip the ice cream underneath
The Complete Recipe Collection
Every drink recipe on the site, organized by category:
Cocktails
- Blue Hawaii Cocktail
- Lava Flow
- Chi Chi
- Mango Mai Tai
- Scorpion Bowl
- Tropical Itch
- Okolehao Sour
- Li Hing Mui Margarita
- Hawaiian Rum Punch
Non-Alcoholic
- POG Juice
- Lilikoi Lemonade
- Guava Nectar Punch
- Coconut Water Mocktails
- Hawaiian Sun Tea
- Haupia Smoothie
Coffee
Shave Ice & Frozen
Explore More Hawaiian Cuisine
Great drinks deserve great food. Explore our complete guide collection for everything else you need to cook Hawaiian:
- The Complete Guide to Hawaiian Poke – Fresh, raw, and the perfect partner for a cold beer or sake
- Mastering Hawaiian Plate Lunch – The ultimate island comfort food
- Essential Hawaiian Ingredients Guide – Deep dive into every ingredient that makes Hawaiian food special
- Hawaiian Breakfast Guide – Start your day island style with loco moco, Portuguese sausage, and POG
- Hawaiian Desserts Guide – Haupia, malasadas, shave ice, and every sweet island treat
- Pupus & Snacks Guide – Perfect appetizers for any island-style gathering
And for the stories behind the culture—how tiki bars borrowed (and sometimes distorted) Hawaiian identity, or how a simple plate lunch became the islands’ most beloved meal—browse our Hawaiian food culture posts and bucket list guides.