Category: Mai Tai

Our hotel provided coupons for two free Mai Tais (or a soft drink) at Mamahune’s Tiki Bar each day during our stay, so of course we made sure to put them to good use. The Welcome Mai Tai is an island version, different than the excellent Trader Vic’s Mai Tai that’s on their cocktail menu. Which is totally okay by me and it wasn’t bad at all.

I saw them batching these: two large cans of Pineapple Juice, one bottle of Trader Vic’s Orgeat, one bottle of Sweet & Sour, one bottle of Triple Sec. Pour over ice in a small cup and float with Whaler’s Dark Rum. They say to tip your bartender generously, and one of our free Mai Tais was served in a very large cup by a bartender who recognized us from previous visits.

Mamahune’s is an interesting location. It is definitely attached to the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, but does have some signage off the front parking lot and from the county beach parking slightly down the hill from the property. So it can be it’s own destination as well. It is also just steps down from the hotel’s main pool, so serves as a defacto pool bar. The hotel’s lobby restaurant is only open for breakfast and that venue’s bar is not operational the rest of the day, perhaps due to COVID. There is a Ahi Uila Fireshow that includes a buffet on Tuesday nights.

The other cocktails we had at Mamahune’s were pretty good, as was the food. Not really enclosed, and with a large lawn for tables and chairs, Mamahune’s is much more than a typical outdoor “tiki bar.” The covered section of the venue does have some well-done decor by Bamboo Ben, which looks really great a night. There are also bar seats on both sides, and we did see some groups using this as a hangout place. Music is played on some nights, which is a nice component as well. Sadly, the little volcano does not seem to erupt anymore.

Located in upscale Princeville, Tiki Iniki presents the most cohesive tiki bar experience on Kauai. While purists will bemoan the windows and the patio, there are large portions of the restaurant that are quite dark and in the bar where we sat the windows were small and underneath the roofline.

The poke and chicken plates we ordered for lunch were quite good, and the service from host and waiter Todd was exemplary. Tiki Iniki is owned by rock musician Todd Rundgren and his wife Michele, and there’s a great painting of the rocker that puts all other tiki bar owners to shame.

Cocktails were … okay. Based on recommendations I ordered the Vic’s Top Shelf Mai Tai with Martinique and Jamaican Rum. I found it to be quite tart, though it did improve a little after some dilution. I ordered a second just with the Denizen rum and “heavy orgeat” and it was better but still leaning on the tart side (they use Fee Brother’s Orgeat). Mrs. Mai Tai’s Iniki cocktail with citrus, rums, syrups, and Prosecco was better.

There’s a fairly large rum selection here, and decor from Bamboo Ben that impresses. There are some new Tiki Farm mugs that include Tiki Iniki branding and we took one to go, along with a little shot glass and a t-shirt. The restaurant has a bunch of little spaces for tables that include peacock chairs, and well-appointed artwork.

Mrs Mai Tai and I drove up to the north shore of Kauai (see posts under @kevincrossman), and we stopped on the way back in Hanalei for some shopping and a visit to Tahiti Nui. They open at 3:00 for Happy Hour and we arrived about 15 mins early, and there was a growing crowd waiting. Luckily, when they open you can sit immediately if you’re at the bar.

Happy Hour Mai Tais are only $10 and this Island style Mai Tai was pretty good.

Tahiti Nui seems like a fun locals bar that became famous and is overrun by tourists (like us…) yet still conveys many of its original charms. Service was prompt and friendly even amidst the chaos of opening.

Mamahune’s is located out back behind the Hilton Garden Inn we’re staying at on Kaui’i. It is an outdoor tiki bar with a good number of covered seats and some tables beyond on the lawn.

The Trader Vic’s Mai Tai is an excellent 1944 made with Appleton 8 and Smith and Cross Jamaican rum. It’s really great (apart from the cubed rather than crushed ice). Served in a cup that can be taken over to the pool or to your room.

There are some nice decorative elements here including a nod to Bob and Leroy from Oceanic Arts. Looks like Tiki Tony’s handiwork and I know Bamboo Ben did most of the heavy lifting putting it in place. Very nice.