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Big Island's Cool Bars

Magical sunsets and hula moons set the mood. Mix that together with the variety of cool bars and lounges found on Hawaii's Big Island and you have the makings of a perfect end to a perfect day.

Melodic Hawaiian music keeps you entertained and you can always talk story with friendly bartenders who know the ins and outs of this island paradise.

Beach bars on Hawaii's Big Island couldn't get any cooler. Situated on the sandy edge of Kailua Bay, Huggo's on the Rocks is as close to the blue water of the Kona coast as one could get without getting wet. Order "The Kilauea," a concoction for two that comes to your table in a kitschy bowl spouting a pool of fire and enjoy this volcanic explosion from two-foot straws.

Tickle your toes in the sand at The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii's Ocean Bar. This popular thatch-roofed bar with its sand-covered floor is a perfect toast to a Kohala Coast sunset. Honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) frequently come ashore to rest in the afternoon along the shoreline fronting Ocean Bar. What to order? Insiders give the nod to their "Kohala Sunset" cocktail and a delicious assortment of pupu (appetizer).

Bartenders at Waikoloa Beach Marriott's Clipper Lounge are ready to blend a large dose of aloha spirit and humor with their favorite drinks including the popular Clippertini. Appointed with the popular Hawaiian art and decor of the '40s and '50s, swaying hula girl lamps and oversize bamboo chairs invite you to stay awhile and listen to live Hawaiian music.

Jim Jung, bartender at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel's Gazebo Bar, collected a multitude of short stories and one-liners over his tenure as a beach bartender and authored a book appropriately entitled "My Life Behind Bars." Visitors can find Jim entertaining the crowd with anecdotes most evenings.

A few bars on Hawaii's Big Island have a story all their own. Take Kona Village's Shipwreck Bar. The resort set anchor in 1966 on the shores of the Kona Coast, five years after Johnno Jackson and his wife Helen arrived at what was left of a long-abandoned Hawaiian fishing village. As the resort took shape with thatched roof hale (bungalows) and the completion of the first of two swimming pools, a bar was needed. The hull of Jackson's "New Moon," which had sunk just offshore in Kahuwai Bay, was perfect. The bar's location was determined by the strength of the workers hauling it ashore. They got just so far and with muscles aching said, "perfect!" Today, guests enjoy refreshing tropical concoctions poolside from a true shipwreck bar!

Hilton Waikoloa Village's recently opened Malolo Lounge rekindles a bygone era reminiscent of yesteryear. The inspiration for this new lounge was the historical SS MALOLO steamship that made its maiden voyage from San Francisco to Hawaii in 1927, signaling the birth of Hawaii tourism. Hawaiian art depicts the lush landscapes, volcanic scenery and colorful tropical images of the steamship era. All artwork is original, created by artists from the Big Island.

Another cool bar that can take some heat is Uncle George's Lounge at the historic Volcano House. This quaint bar sets on the edge of Halemaumau crater offering panoramic views. "Pele's Fire," a flaming coffee and Amaretto drink, is named after the goddess of the volcano. No better way to cap off a day spent exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Rounding out the cool collection of bars and lounges found on Hawaii's Big Island is Kalanikai Bar at the Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort. Kalanikai is located on the shore of Kahaluu Beach, where resident honu, Hawaiian sea turtles, make their home and some of the island's most colorful fish await a snorkel's discovery. Kalanikai invites visitors to recreate their signature Hula Girl cocktail at home and recall wonderful memories created on Hawaii's Big Island.

Hula Girl
1 ounce Malibu Rum
1 ounce Jack Daniels
2 ounces Passion Fruit
2 ounces Mango Puree
1 ounce Coconut Syrup
Blended with a strawberry swirl. Garnish with a pineapple and cherry.

Edited by Dave Shultz

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