Angelina's Bonus #3a-5a (#8-10): Hawaii

Here are the three new bars on Oahu. I didn't have pics at the bars, so I thought a pardise beach scene might be nice. Refer to Lan's posts for pics and a more detailed description, but I've made a few notes....

Duke's

2335 Kalakaua Ave., Ste 116

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 922.2268

Right on the beach in Waikiki. Your typical beachside bar, thus ordering a daquiri. And yes, we quickly added a 4th to our group with Scott from Florida by way of Georgia. Interesting, funny guy who had his loud, southern twang and incredibly drunk I thought he was going to fall over. But, he did buy us a round. (You can't take your drinks on the beach. You have to stay in their little sectioned area.)

Mai Tai

1450 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 3247

Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 947.2900

As Lan said, this place is a little weird since it's at the mall. However, that being said, the place was packed and it's actually a pretty cool spot with good music. And, it's free with no cover. You just have to wait in line for god knows how long.

Once you're in, it's a little tricky maneuvering through the crowd (mostly big guys, and of course the group of girls doing the white girl dance up front). One, the floor is crazy sticky. Don't wear flip-flops. Two, lots of big mens as Lan mentioned, each carrying and sipping from their own pitcher in hand...forget the pint glass. I mean, who serves a rum and coke in a pint glass? Guess I shouldn't be complaining.

Anyway, too bad I was tired. Lan and I found a nice comfy couch where we could observe all the drunk people. Some huge guy was passed out on the couch beside us. So big his friends couldn't carry him and his poor girlfriend was at a complete loss. After managing to get through our drinks, Lan and I took off and left Joyce and Binh to get their groove on.

On to the last bar of the island...

Da Big Kahuna

2299 Kuhio Ave

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 923.0033

Rain kept us in close proximity to the hotel for our last night. We're always ok when there are pool tables available and a dj (albeit at midnight).

We kept the drinks rolling and watched Joyce hustle. Made friends with a big black guy from the University who ended up being from LA. He was quite the dancer though. He tried to teach me how to step (the couple version, not stomping). Also, when we were dancing and he turned his back to me, it was a bit awkward because he was so big that his butt was at the boob level. Made for some interesting dancing. Fun guy though. Me, Binh and Chris got the dance foor going.

That's pretty much it...it's a restaurant turned bar in the evening. Lots of people walking in off the street so there is a mix of locals and tourists. Nothing grand, but not a bad way to end our 4 day escape to Hawaii.

BONUS! Lan's 7a, 8a, and 9a in Hawaii

Duke's Canoe Club Waikiki
At The Outrigger Waikiki Hotel
2335 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 116
Honolulu, Oahu, HI
(808) 922-2268

This establishment was right behind us while we were lying on the beach on our first day in Waikiki, so we figured we'd come back here after taking a shower for snacks and some drinks on the beach. We had hoped to sit on the beach patio, but some guys ahead of us swooped the last table, so we ended up on the deck, which was still outdoors and great. There was already a guy sort of sitting at our table, but we sat down anyway and he turned around and drunkenly started talking to us (Scott from Georgia on vacation with his parents). Live Hawaiian music on a warm night on the beach in Hawaii...not much to complain about! Scott bought our first round of daquiris (hey--drink the local drink!) and we ordered some salads, fries, vegetable stir fry, and pizza. In general, the food was alright and nothing to write home about but certainly edible.

I don't remember what my 2nd drink was, but there certainly was one. I forgot to take a picture here.

***

Mai Tai Bar
At the Ala Moana Shopping Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #3247
Honolulu, HI
(808) 947-2900

After a long day of eating our way around the island and lounging on the beach, we went to the Mai Tai bar, which friends had recommended to us. The very odd thing about this bar/club is that it is an open air venue AT THE MALL! It doesn't have its own bathroom, but you are very welcome to use Bubba Gump's bathroom. It appears to be a very college-y bar with some people REALLY dressed up and some people REALLY dressed down (me).

There was a live band, which I just found out today was none other than Kawao, the very band that we'd been wondering about. On our drive around the island, we kept hearing a song that we liked...and it turned out to be the band at Mai Tai, although we didn't realize it at the time.

People in Hawaii can be quite large. I refrain from saying "Hawaiian people are large" because this applies to all races. I would look at one guy and think, "That's the biggest guy I've ever seen!" As soon as I'd made this declaration, inevitably, someone bigger would show up. These people were so gigantic, that many of them were drinking beer from pitchers, which proportionally appeared as a funny shaped cup in their hands. Because of all these big people, I was a bit afraid for my flip-flop clad toes while walking around the crowded space. If Joyce's 115 lbs can cause my toenail to fall off, imagine what 300-400 lbs. would do to my feet!

The only other comment I have about this bar at the mall was that the drinks are quite sizeable: rum & cokes were served in pint glasses instead of the usual cocktail glass. I wonder if they'd make them in a pitcher for the giants?

I also forgot to take a picture at this one.

***

Da Big Kahuna
2299 Kuhio Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-0033

It was drizzling this evening, so we didn't venture very far. Luckily, our hotel is smack dab in the middle of all the action so all we had to do was take the elevator downstairs and walk one door over to Da Big Kahuna. This place smells like most other bars--years of the same wood countertop and carpet being continuously doused with beer and vomit.

There are plenty of tables here where they serve typical bar food with 2 pool tables and 2 automated dart boards in the back. We stayed here for quite a while and again, every time I thought I'd just seen the biggest person ever, someone even larger walked in.