A Ko Olina Bar Tour

There are few things that go together better than friends, drinks and ocean views, am I right? So when a good friend asked my husband and me to join an impromptu bar crawl within Ko Olina Resort, I didn’t think twice! Kapolei can be a pretty far drive, but its variety of watering holes makes it worth the trip. Just make sure you’ve got a designated driver — or better yet, grab a hotel room.

Our first stop was Just Tacos, found at the first left turn inside the resort. Whenever I go into any Mexican establishment, my go-to is a margarita, and Just Tacos did not disappoint with its selection of tequila-based beverages. I went with a Frozen Strawberry Margarita with a li hing mui rim. It was very refreshing but wasn’t very strong. Considering we were going to multiple bars, I was OK with that, but would have requested a floating lime shot in my second drink had we stuck around.

Next, we ventured across the street to Monkeypod Kitchen, where there was live music and it was happy hour — score! Discounted drafts, half-off appetizers and cheap cocktails makes their happy hour a big Ko Olina win. I went with the Garlic Truffle Oil Fries and a Monkeypod Mai Tai (pictured) made with Old Lahaina light and dark rums, lime, macadamia nut orgeat and orange curaçao. I was blown away when the drink showed up wearing a fancy hat — and discovered that it’s the homemade honey-lilikoi foam. I went ahead and had two of those.

Our third and final stop was to Longboards at the Marriott. It’s the perfect spot to grab a seat on the water and watch the sunset. Sunsets on the west side do NOT disappoint, so if you go, make sure you time your trip to catch it! I had already started with liquor, so I ended the evening with a Haupia Pie Martini, made with 1800 coconut tequila, pina colada and graham crust. It was quite strong, and equally delicious. Sipping a coconut drink while watching the beautiful colors of the sunset reminded me exactly why I love Hawaii so much.