Where to Drink Kava, or ‘Awa, on O‘ahu

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

Kava, the beverage known as ‘awa in Hawai‘i, has been around the South Pacific for thousands of years, yet it’s not a mainstream pau hana drink. It’s consumed more as a cultural practice or to unwind and connect sans alcohol, and it’s the latter reason that’s recently brought attention to it nationwide.

With the steady rise in popularity of low- or no-ABV drinks, more places across the country have begun serving kava, particularly at hip sober bars. The drink, made from the root of the kava plant, is known to make you feel relaxed without all the downsides of alcohol. Some places sell it canned, sparkling or mixed with flavorings or supplements in wholly nontraditional forms that make it more palatable, but some believe that takes away from its cultural purpose and authenticity.

Though it’s growing in popularity elsewhere (there’s even an O‘ahu Kava Bar in Florida), many of the places where you could sit and drink it freshly prepared have closed: Hale Noa and Kava Kafé in Kapahulu, Uluwehi’s and Kava Roots on the North Shore, Smokey’s on University Avenue. But a few holdouts persist, with a new bar now in its soft opening phase in Waialua. Here’s where to go to find the drink on O‘ahu.

SEE ALSO: A Local’s Guide to an O‘ahu Road Trip: Honolulu to North Shore

Kava Queen

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

Kava Queen started selling powdered and prepared kava at Farm Lovers markets in 2021. In October, owner Ava Taesali opened her first kava bar at the Waialua Sugar Mill silos, open 4 to 8 p.m. every day (until 9 on weekends). Follow the signs to loop around behind North Shore Soap Factory, and you’ll see yellow painted silos with gravel and tables out front.

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

In the building that also houses Mele Mele Bakery, you’ll find Taesali pouring 8-, 16- and 32-ounce portions of traditional kava ($5, $10 and $20, respectively), along with a coconut mango version when available. Those more experienced with the drink can try shots of kava concentrate. Though she’s also working on some nonalcoholic mocktails featuring kava, including a kavarita ($10), she says she always leads with traditional kava and loves talking about its history.

We try some from Vanuatu before watching her make ‘awa from Pu‘u O Hoku Ranch on Moloka‘i, which comes frozen and is never dried. It’s distinctly less earthy, tastes more of the scent of fresh-cut grass and yields less than the dried powder but is worth trying for comparison.

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

Though in its soft opening phase, Kava Queen gave us exactly what we came for: community, culture and connection in a beautiful space to relax. You can also buy some powdered kava to go.

67-106 Kealohanui St., Waialua, @kavaqueenkavabar

Da Cove Health Bar & Café

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

The former Diamond Head Cove Health Bar isn’t focused solely on kava, but it does feature a chalkboard wall explaining the benefits of the drink and its active ingredients called kavalactones. Here you can get an ice-cold single ($6, 8 ounces), double ($12, 16 ounces) or an ‘awa coconut smoothie with coconut milk, maple syrup and banana ($11, 16 ounces).

3045 Monsarrat Ave., #5, dacove.com, @dacovehawaii

Fiji Kava

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

For 32 years, Daya Nand has been sharing kava from his tucked-away shop off Dillingham Boulevard. Parking is in the lot just past the sign when you’re driving from the ‘Ewa side (no left turns from the mauka lane), and you’ll have to walk around the building to find it, but once you do, Nand welcomes you in and gladly shares some of the history of the drink. He imports the pure powdered root from Fiji and sells it by the cup or bottle (so you can easily shake it once the sediment settles), or the bag if you want to prepare it yourself. You can find bags at various retailers, such as Rajah Dat Snack Shop in Waipahu.

$5 per cup, $40 all-you-can-drink on weekends, 1007 Dillingham Blvd., #107b, (808) 295-2450, @fijikava_hi