Photo: Melissa Chang

People somehow knew about 430 Pkwy’s opening without any fanfare, and even more incredibly, they were able to find the place without signs or directions.

The staff swears the new cocktail lounge is not supposed to be a speakeasy, and they didn’t deliberately try to be hard to find, but it’s quite a feat to get there on your first try. Located on the second floor at 430 Pi‘ikoi St. (thus the name), you’ll be lucky to find a stall in the building’s small lot, shared by neighboring tenants Hangang, Tempura Ichika, Sushi Gyoshin and massage places. The only sign you’ve arrived at 430 Pkwy is a welcome mat. But you’ll know you’re in the right place if you hear chatter and laughter behind the unmarked door.

Photo: Melissa Chang

Once inside, you enter another world. The lounge furniture is casual, comfortable and mismatched, yet somehow offer a cohesive vibe. There are kitschy retro accents, old-school games (playing cards, Uno, etc.) and books to make you feel like you’ve gone back in time and are relaxing in someone’s home.

Photo: Melissa Chang

Jacob Cedeno, previously with Nature Waikīkī, created the handcrafted cocktail menu, and my favorites were the Discovery Bae ($23), reminiscent of Hawaiian Punch, but smoother; and Blue Hawai‘i ($18), which is nothing like the touristy drinks in Waikīkī. This one is a clarified milk punch and super clean and balanced.

The food menu is interesting: The (mostly) shared appetizers, prepped and assembled at the far end of the bar, are fancy takes on familiar flavors, reflective of chef/owner Chris Kajioka’s and chef Daysen Masuda’s work at Miro Kaimukī and Agaru.

Photo: Melissa Chang

My favorite was the crab dynamite with rice, prepared by chef Daysen Masuda, and fresh nori ($28), which is filling and easy to share with companions. The dynamite sauce, with spicy mayonnaise, was creamy, spicy, sweet and savory, and super comforting.

Photo: Melissa Chang

The shrimp toasts ($24) on shokupan with spicy Kewpie mayo, shiso and kabayaki sauce were fun to eat and showcased upscale Asian flavors. It was great paired with the Blue Hawai‘i.

Photo: Melissa Chang

I also liked the black truffle Island Sausage chicken “hot dog” ($20). While it’s not made for sharing, we managed to cut it up into sharable pieces. Another “not-for-sharing” dish is the hamachi tostada ($24) on a Raiz tortilla. The chile crunch on the fatty hamachi was a great combination, but note that it is hard to eat gracefully, so not something to have on a date.

Photo: Melissa Chang

The tuna and smoked oyster on brioche ($14) is similar to the toast served at Miro, but here, the tuna is diced. Again, not meant for sharing, but the diced tuna can be split up if needed. I chose not to share because I loved it! Another sharable option: Newsome country ham ($22) with hazelnuts and olive oil.

Photo: Melissa Chang

If you’re feeling spendy, don’t miss the decadent monaka ($32), the Japanese wafer clamshell filled with vanilla ice cream and a generous dollop of caviar. The combination is a luxurious umami bomb.

The seating at 430 Pkwy is on a first-come, first-served basis, and depending how busy it is, a wait list is available. I’d recommend going really early or really late to get parking and beat the crowd.

Open Tuesday through Saturday 5:30 p.m. to midnight, 430 Pi‘ikoi St., (808) 490-5492, @430_pkwy

Photo: Cody Kawamoto

Maybe it’s the eye-catching green color, reminiscent of kryptonite from the Christopher Reeve Superman movies I watched on repeat on VHS. Or maybe it’s the childhood wonder of standing in line, mesmerized by the clear plastic drink dispenser, watching the bright green liquid swirl and slosh around. Of course, it’s also the memory of the first ice-cold sip of lemon-lime sugary goodness that just hits the spot, especially on a hot day. Whatever it is, Green River has a way of transporting me back to small-kid time in Hawai‘i.

It reminds me of the ice cakes (in the small Dixie cups) I used to buy after school for a quarter, or stopping by a local drive-in for a plate lunch and Green River. It was also the go-to syrup for ice shave (ice shave—yes, that’s a Hilo thing). So many people love it because in Hawai‘i, food and drinks have a magical way of bringing back memories.

SEE ALSO: Where Time Stands Still: Kim Chee II

These days, you have to be on the lookout for Green River, as only select restaurants and locations still serve it. When I find it, it feels like stumbling on a hidden treasure. It’s been a conversation starter and a way of figuring out how long someone has lived here. And for those who’ve never had it, it’s a perfect introduction to local culture.

I still feel a thrill when someone asks, “What is that?” My response: Just try it. Love it or hate it, Green River is a local rite of passage. Like they say, if you know, you know. But if you don’t, find out. Cheers!

Photo: Diane Seo

Where to find Green River

• Forty Niner Restaurant
• Hamada General Store
• Hele Gas, Pālama and Wai‘anae locations
• Highway Inn
• Okata Bento
• Pancakes & Waffles Hawai‘i
• Richie’s Drive Inn
• Rainbow Drive Inn
• Sekiya’s Restaurant & Delicatessen
• Shiro’s Saimin Haven
• St. Louis Drive Inn
• Tanioka’s Seafood & Catering
• Utage
• Upscale Hawai‘i
• W&M Bar-B-Q Burger

Photo: Courtesy of The Row Kaka‘ako

Waterfront Plaza is home to restaurants, offices, Hawai‘i Pacific University classrooms—and as of Friday, March 7, the grand reopening of what was formerly known as Row Bar. Now under new ownership, The Row Kaka‘ako has been given some TLC with a new draft system and other updates.

First, the beer selection has shifted from the big boys to our local breweries. “We’ll be keeping the styles changing monthly, but the breweries will all be there. Some favorites are Hana Koa Brewing, Aloha Beer Co. and Howzit Brewing. If you make beer in Kaka‘ako, The Row Kaka‘ako will pour it,” says new co-owner Daniel Bruce. You’ll also find Maui Brewing, Lanikai Brewing, Koholā Brewery and others, plus Guinness on nitro year-round and a rotation of Belgian beers.

The new draft system has 14 taps. There’ll be live music weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m., and TV screens will show games.

SEE ALSO: Beer Lab Opens a Fun Bar and Lounge with Food at Puck’s Alley

I’ve always enjoyed this place as one of the few truly outdoor bars in the urban and governmental area of the city. The location is perfect for waiting out the after-work rush for a drink and fresh air. Talking story with Bruce, I learned that he worked at Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Waterfront Plaza and Row Bar’s predecessor, Bambu Martini Bar, more than 20 years ago. Business partner Jake Vela also co-owns TJ’s Sports Bar & Grill a few blocks away.

“I’ve always come here to pau hana with friends and coworkers after long nights at work,” Bruce says. “We’ve been taking care of the people who live and work in this area for so long, it felt like fate to take it over.”

While The Row Kaka‘ako won’t have a kitchen, you can bring in food from nearby eateries including Aloha Mamacita, Rainbow BBQ and Island Sausage. Bruce’s go-to pairing is Kainalu Poke’s smoke meat/spicy ‘ahi combo with a Westmalle Dubbel. Check out waterfrontplazahawaii.com for a full list of restaurants.

SEE ALSO: The Year in Beer: Who Opened, Who Closed and Best Beers of 2024

Monthly cigar events in partnership with Fujioka’s Wine Times are coming; watch for updates on The Row Kaka‘ako’s Instagram. The bar will validate parking in the complex for up to 3½ hours.

Says Bruce, “Jake and I are dedicated to creating a space in this community that everyone can come together and enjoy the things they love: Good beer. Good friends. Good vibes.”

Open daily 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., 500 Ala Moana Blvd., @therowkakaako

Photo: Alexander Gates

If your New Year’s resolution is to get healthier but you need moral support, try a run club—especially if you like craft beer. Run clubs around O‘ahu bring together regulars and newcomers for a run followed by a well-earned pau hana beer. They’re free, and you can join many just by showing up. All the run clubs offer friendly post-run social time at different local bars and restaurants.

Some groups run around town in funky colors and bright lights. Each has a different personality and focus: Some are more socially oriented, others focus on training for your next serious race. On a recent evening with a scarlet sunset, I showed up for Run. Drink. Run’s weekly Thursday meetup. Since it was the third Thursday of the month, Naomi Morita, coach and Lululemon Ambassador, led a friendly competition (these are usually trivia or balancing games) with Lululemon gift cards as prizes.

Photo: Alexander Gates

RDR’s main organizer gave me some background. “I started running and meeting people. These people became close friends, island-hopping partners and a community,” Scott Dillon says. “The club was already going when I took it over, but it grew during the pandemic.”

Attendance varies, but 50 to 100 people usually show up at RDR’s meeting spot at Howzit Brewing in Kaka‘ako. After a run of about 3 miles, this is also the ending point, and the place gets flooded with people wearing that post-run glow. “Those nights, we try to warn other customers it’s about to get really loud and busy,” manager Grant Mills says. “We have an assembly line of beers and get them out as quickly as we can.”

Photo: Alexander Gates

What styles of beer sell the best? “The Schwarzbier was really popular, and whenever we have a Pilsner on, it goes quickly. Not all the runners like [traditional] beer, but love the sours and slushies,” Miller says. Many runners also get in line for food—Howzit Brewing partners with food trucks, and the latest, DC Caterings, offers steak or ‘ahi nachos, chicken wings and healthier grilled options on run nights.

If run clubs sound like something you’d enjoy trying, check out the one that’s right for you!

SEE ALSO: Howzit, Honolulu’s Newest Brewery, Opens in Kaka‘ako

Run. Drink. Repeat.

When and where: Thursdays 6:15 p.m.; loops of around 3 miles start and end at Howzit Brewing in Kaka‘ako
Info: @run_drink_repeat

DoHo Run Club

When and where: Thursdays 5:30 p.m., 102 S. King St. at the Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox Statue
Pau hana: Currently at Black Shamrock Tavern; later this year also plans to celebrate at Forté Downtown, the new indoor pickleball facility in the former Fort Street Walmart
Info: @doho.runclub

Kaka‘ako Run Club

When and where: Tuesdays 5:30 p.m., Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park at Cooke and Ilalo streets
Pau hana: Village Bottle Shop, Aloha Beer, Howzit Brewing
Info: @kakaakorunclub

SEE ALSO: Aloha Beer and Waikīkī Brewing Trade Places, Honolulu Beerworks Is Moving and More Local Beer News

O‘ahu Run Club

When and where: Friday mornings at Koko Head, Saturday mornings at Ala Moana Beach Park
Pau hana: Join the private group on the free Strava app for specific times and locations
Info: @oahu.runclub

Honolulu Runners

When and where: Tuesdays 5:30 p.m., Runners Route Kapi‘olani store. Different 4- to 7-mile routes in Waikīkī, Ala Moana Beach Park and Downtown
Info: run808.com/pages/hr

North Shore Run Club

When and where: Wednesdays 5:15 p.m., ‘Āweoweo Beach Park in Hale‘iwa
Pau hana: Teddy’s Bigger Burgers or Maya’s Tapas & Wine
Info: @northshore.run.club

Runners at Mānoa / UHM Running Club

When and where: Various dates and places. Primarily University of Hawai‘i students—check out their social media for times and locations
Info: @runnersatmanoa

There are more clubs of various sizes across the islands, including Hapalua Run Club free coaching sessions and Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club with a focus on competitive races, so see if there’s one near you.

The Bird’s Nest offers breakfast burritos from Surf n Salsa and house-made pastries. Pictured here is its blueberry donuts alongside a single-origin espresso. Photo: Sarah Burchard

Rarely am I given a choice of origin when I order an espresso. So when it happens at The Bird’s Nest Coffee, I take notice. Co-owner Caleb Backus asks if I’d prefer a nutty, chocolatey Columbian-Ethiopian blend ($3.75) or a single-origin espresso ($4.75) from Ethiopia with higher acidity and strawberry notes. I choose the latter. Moments later, Backus hands me a china teacup filled with a perfectly pulled shot covered in thick, caramel-colored crema and asks if I’d like sparkling water on the side.

The Bird’s Nest Coffee opened in May in the center of Hale‘iwa town. A converted 1950s gas station with a yoga studio attached, this coffee-lover’s haven has become a neighborhood gathering place. 

Photo: Sarah Burchard

Backus, a wedding videographer from Tennessee, had his coffee epiphany eight years ago when his college roommate convinced him to try a cup of single-origin Colombian coffee instead of his usual Folgers. “He’s like, ‘You should taste cotton candy notes in this.’ I was like, ‘Whatever,’” Backus says. “I took a sip, and I remember from that moment being like, ‘Whoa! What is this world?’”

SEE ALSO: Drip Studio Is a Coffee Nerd’s Retreat in Downtown Honolulu

From then, Backus has been on three pour-overs a day. In 2021, he came to O‘ahu for the ocean and never left. Two and a half years ago, wanting to replicate his coffee epiphany for others, he began looking for space to open a coffee shop. He was beginning to lose hope when he met Madelyn Ballew, a barista from Texas who worked at Surfer’s Coffee in Wahiawā and Wicked Hi Cafe in Waialua. Ballew’s passion for coffee matched his. The couple had been dating nine months when they started selling pour-overs and their signature Birdy Brew, a cold brew concentrate used for coffee drinks, at pop-ups out of Backus’ 1966 Ford Ecoline. 

“We saw this lack in the community of pretty much just high-quality, intentionally sourced coffee,” Backus says. “And so we’re like, let’s bring that to people.” 

Photo: Sarah Burchard

Six months later, Ballew spotted the former gas station on Kamehameha Highway; a month after that, there was a For Rent sign in the window. Now, Bird’s Nest Coffee is filled with colorful vintage rugs and flowers and a comfy brown leather sofa with free Wi-Fi and sunshine pouring in. For sale are locally made clothing, flowers, organic skincare and jewelry. A yellow and red Shell gas pump sits in the corner, a nod to the building’s past. 

Backus, who researches each roaster’s sourcing, price paid to farmers and those farmers’ growing and harvesting practices, carries lighter roasts for pour-overs and light to medium roasts for espresso. Lattes ($5.50 to $7) are Ballew’s forte. Every morning, she tinkers with different Pono Potions syrups, types of espresso and whatever else is on hand, offering tastes to customers for feedback and perfecting new latte foam art designs.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

Non-dairy milks are made in-house. There is also Uji matcha ($6.50) sourced from The Daily Whisk, unsweetened chai ($6.50) from Soul Chai in Portland and a turmeric latte ($6.50) made on Hawai‘i Island by ‘Āina Culture with locally grown turmeric, ginger, cacao and black pepper. Fresh-pressed juices include a green juice blend and one with carrots, oranges and turmeric ($9). 

On my way out, I notice Backus has walked around the counter to chat with a customer about a bag of coffee beans from Ecuador. He’s explaining to him the process of anaerobic wash.

“Our big focus is taking care of the regulars,” he says. They’ve been there from day one.”

Open daily except Thursday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 66-532 Kamehameha Hwy, thebirdsnestcoffee.com, @thebirdsnestcoffee

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

Editor’s Note: This roundup of holiday menus will continue to be updated as we learn of new offerings, so keep checking back.

We get it. You don’t have time or feel like cooking for New Year’s. You want to start your feasting year with a bang. That’s not a problem. We have lots of options here in Honolulu for take-out holiday meals. Click on the photos below to find out more about each.

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Happenings on O‘ahu

22 Kailua

Kailua

53 by the Sea

Kaka‘ako Makai

88 Fresh Fish

Chinatown

Akira Japanese Restaurant

Makiki

Ali‘i Fish Market

Mō‘ili‘ili

Aloha Table

Waikīkī

Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar

Waikīkī

Artizen By MW

Ward

Basalt Waikīkī

Waikīkī

Beyond Pastry Studio

Downtown

Big City Diner

Multiple locations

Big Island Candies

Ala Moana

Buho Cocina y Cantina

Waikīkī

Clubhouse Mililani

Mililani

Dean & DeLuca Hawai‘i

Waikīkī

Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery

Mō‘ili‘ili

Dixie Grill

‘Aiea

Donnie’s BarbeQue Smokehouse Soul Food Express

Waipahu

Eating House 1849

Waikīkī

Elena’s Filipino Restaurant

Waipahu

Foodland

Multiple locations

Fresh Bites

Mō‘ili‘ili

Fujiya Hawai‘i

McCully

Fusion Cafe + Wine

Kaimukī

Goen Dining + Bar

Kailua

Got’z Grindz

Kāne‘ohe

Gyotaku

Multiple locations

Hawaiian Pie Co.

Iwilei

Herringbone

Waikīkī

Hideout at The Laylow

Waikīkī

Hometown BBQ

‘Ewa Beach

Hy’s Steakhouse

Waikīkī

Ige’s Lunchwagon & Catering

‘Aiea

I-naba

McCully and Hawai‘i Kai

Island Craves

Online

Kaimukī Shokudo

Kaimukī

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawai‘i

Mō‘ili‘ili

Kamukura Surf + Dine

Waikīkī

Kansai Yamato

Mō‘ili‘ili

Ki Club

Kapi‘olani

Koko Head Café

Kaimukī

M.A.C. 24/7

Waikīkī

Mahina and Sun’s

Waikīkī

Mai Musubi

Kaka‘ako

Mara

Kapi‘olani

Marukai

Kalihi

Mitsu-ken Okazu and Catering

Kalihi

Moku Kitchen

Kaka‘ako

Nature Waikīkī

Waikīkī

Nico’s Pier 38

Iwilei

Obento Rinka

McCully

Okazuma

Iwilei

Onkee Korean Grill House

Kaka‘ako

Over Easy

Kailua

Pagoda Restaurant

Pāwa‘a

Pai Honolulu

Downtown

Penny’s Waikīkī Malasadas

Waikīkī

Podmore

Downtown

Poke Stop

Mililani

Queensbreak

Waikīkī

Rinka

Kaka‘ako

Roti-Si

Farmers markets

Scoop Scoops

Mō‘ili‘ili

Senia

Chinatown

Shaka Bowls Hawai‘i

West Loch

Shay’s Filipino Café

Waipahu

Sky Waikīkī

Waikīkī

Slice by HB Baking

Kapahulu

Stage Restaurant

Kaka‘ako

Sushi Ginza Onodera

Kapahulu

Sweet Creams Hawai‘i

Ala Moana

Tango Contemporary Café

Kaka‘ako

The Boardroom

Kailua

Threadfin Bistro

Kapahulu

Tiano’s

Kunia

Tiki’s Grill

Waikīkī

Umi by Vikram Garg

Waikīkī

Vein

Kaka‘ako

Vintage Books

Kaimukī

Wai Kai

‘Ewa Beach

Waikīkī Shokudo

Waikīkī

Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar

Waikīkī

Yohei Sushi Kāhala

Kāhala

Zigu

Waikīkī

Zippy’s

Multiple locations

The holiday season is officially here, and what better way to embrace the festive spirit than by checking out some Christmas pop-up bars around town? With twinkling lights, photo ops and special holiday drinks, each bar offers a unique twist on holiday cheer. Whether you’re craving a cozy place to sip on spiked eggnog or a merry, bustling spot to gather with friends, grab your (light) scarves and ugly sweaters, round up your crew, and get ready to make some memories.

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Happenings on O‘ahu

The Christmas Bar at Tiki’s Grill & Bar

Get ready for a floor-to-ceiling festive experience at The Christmas Bar inside Tiki’s Grill & Bar! Every year, the team—led by Bill Tobin, Albert Ake, and Michael Miller—creates an over-the-top winter wonderland with crazy holiday decorations and seasonal drinks like the sweet Butter Beer or the Hot Snowflake Mint Mocha, paired with delicious charcuterie plates and desserts. With free valet parking, you won’t have to worry about finding a spot in Waikīkī. Just note: this is one of the busiest pop-ups, so be prepared for a wait, especially on weekends.

Nov. 29 to Dec. 24 from 2 to 11:30 p.m. weekdays and noon to 11:30 p.m. weekends; no reservations; keiki welcome during earlier hours; Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Twin Fin Hotel (formerly Aston Waikīkī Beach Hotel), 2570 Kalākaua Ave., christmasbarhawaii.com, @thechristmasbarhawaii

Yule’s Truly at AC Hotel Honolulu

Throughout December, the cozy tiki speakeasy inside AC Hotel’s posh retro cocktail lounge transforms into a secret holiday getaway featuring five festive specialty cocktails priced at $17 and up. Outside, the main bar offers craft cocktails, punch bowls, beer and wine.

Wednesday and Thursday 5 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight, 1111 Bishop St., yourstrulyhawaii.com, @yourstrulyhnl

Photo: Courtesy of Noa Laporga

Christmas Lodge at Pearlridge Center

This new project by 17A Productions takes over the former Chili’s Restaurant at Pearlridge Center with cozy and chill holiday decor presided over by a soon-to-be iconic moose head. Keep an eye out for the fun photo ops this crew is known for. Take a peek inside in this reel.

21+, Dec. 1–28, 5 p.m. to midnight daily, 98-130 Pali Momi St., ‘Aiea, @christmaslodgehawaii

Photo: Tracy Chan

Winter Wonderland Bar at Ala Moana Center

Step into a dazzling escape at the Winter Wonderland Bar, brought to you by the elves at 17A Productions. This Christmas-themed pop-up is packed with decorations, twinkling lights and shimmering tinsel, with custom cocktails. Whether you’re looking for the perfect photo op or a holiday-inspired drink, you get the full seasonal experience. Just be prepared for a wait, especially on weekends, as this pop-up is on lots of people’s must-go list.

Dec. 1–28, 5 p.m. to midnight daily, 21+, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Space 1310 (former Surfer’s Bakery), winterwonderlandhonolulu.com, @winterwonderlandhonolulu

Photo: Courtesy of Prince Waikīkī

Sippin’ Santa at Prince Waikīkī

This festive spot combines custom crafted tiki drinks and over-the-top decor with a holiday garden theme this year. It’s the 10th anniversary of Miracle and Sippin’ Santa locations worldwide, so don’t miss out on the collectible mugs and photo ops. Preview the bar in this reel.

Prince Waikīkī, a stop on the Holly Jolly Waikīkī Trolley’s holiday lights tour, is hosting other events like the Aloha Maker’s Market (Fridays), special performances by Ballet Hawai‘i and hula dancers, and Holidaze Workshops where you can create your own treasures.

Nov. 29 to Dec. 30, Monday to Thursday 5 to 9:30 p.m., Friday to Sunday 5 to 10 p.m., 100 Holomoana St., @sippinsantaprincewaikiki

SEE ALSO: Can’t-Miss Local Holiday Markets and Craft Fairs on O‘ahu

Photo: Tracy Chan

Secret Santa Pop-up at The Underground Lounge

This underground Chinatown pop-up bar returns with crafted cocktails, a menu of holiday treats and fun photo ops in a space filled with holiday decor on Hotel Street.

Dec. 1–30, Wednesday and Thursday 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., 42 N. Hotel St., @secretsantahi

12 Bars of Christmas Chinatown Bar Crawl

The locally organized and produced event, a partnership by the same Chinatown bars that brought you Halloween’s Crawl of the Undead, gives you lots of participating bars to jingle and mingle at for just one wristband. Plus, a portion of ticket sales is earmarked for a local nonprofit supporting families in need this holiday season.

Participating venues:

• Proof Social Club
• Red Bar
• NextDoor
• Secret Santa
• The Dragon Upstairs
• The Manifest
• Royal Arcade
• Hank’s Cafe
• Nighthawk
• Bar 35
• J. Dolan’s
• Black Shamrock
• The Otherside Diner
• The Lei Stand

BUY TICKETS

21+, $20 presale (pick up 6 to 10 p.m. at Proof, Redbar, Nextdoor, Secret Santa and Dragon), $30 at the door, Saturday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., @12barshnl

Photo: Andrea Lee

When I worked on Cooke Street, I brought home lunch to save money but treated myself to one meal out a week. More often than not, that treat came from Cooke Street Market. The spicy mayo poke bowl was the highlight of my week.

That was several years ago. “We used to be a poke store, but now, we’re more of a matcha store,” says owner Andrew Ishikawa. With fewer office workers in the area after the pandemic, he says, they had to shift gears. Now, Cooke Street Market is best known for its strawberry matcha latte, an Instagram winner with its brightly hued layers.

SEE ALSO: Sweet Treats: Where to Find Hawai‘i’s Only Snowthies

I happen to be a fan of Japanese tea drinks. And while I may not work in Kaka‘ako anymore, I now live there. Here’s what I recommend at Cooke Street Market:

Photos: Andrea Lee

Spicy Mayo Poke Bowl

$17.50, may change depending on fish market price

The poke bowl is more expensive than it used to be (what isn’t these days?), but it’s still worth it with close to half a pound of fish. You can choose from ‘ahi, salmon or any other fish, or a mix of all of the above. I usually get salmon or ‘ahi.

The poke chunks are so big, they’re almost sashimi-sized. Normally, big chunks might be too fishy, but these just melt in the mouth. Though the spicy mayo could be spicier—I have a high spice tolerance—it’s a decent amount of heat and tasty. Crunchy pickles of shichimi cabbage and cucumber brighten the bowl and refresh my palate between bites of velvety poke. And the balanced rice ratio means there’s just enough to eat with all of the poke, not too much.

Photo: Andrea Lee

Aburi Salmon Plate

$21

My new favorite. A sizable hunk of Atlantic salmon is seared, sliced, placed on a bed of salad and topped with wasabi relish, green onions and sesame seeds. Yuzu ponzu sauce comes on the side, and rice and pickled vegetables complete the plate.

Trust me and drench the salmon in the yuzu ponzu sauce—its zest complements the fatty fish along with the wasabi relish. This salmon likewise melts in my mouth, the charred exterior adding a smoky dimension. The plate is surprisingly filling, giving me leftover salmon to enjoy later.

Photos: Andrea Lee

Strawberry Matcha Latte

$8

Lots of places offer strawberry matcha lattes, so what makes this one stand out? Cooke Street Market gets its matcha from Nagata Chaen, a tea maker in Kyoto, Japan (you can buy the tea at the shop, $5 for six 5-gram powder packets); and it makes the strawberry syrup from scratch.

Mix those beautiful layers and sip, and you’ll get why people come here just for the strawberry matcha latte. It’s creamy and smooth, tangy-sweet from the strawberry, and retains the signature matcha taste without bitterness.

There’s also a strawberry hojicha latte. You can swap out the dairy for oat milk for 50 cents more.

Hojicha Frappé

$7

Super smooth and refreshing, this drink is made with Nagata Chaen’s hoji roasted matcha. A drizzle of caramel sauce on the sides of the cup sweetens it considerably (non-sweet tooths can ask for no caramel). The hojicha frappé is huge and lasts me all day.

SEE ALSO: Sweet Treats: Don’t Sleep on the Hojicha Frappé at Matcha Café Maiko

If I can drag myself away from my favorites, I’ll try the hoedeopbap (a bibimbap with raw fish) and the miso dynamite salmon plate.

Photo: Andrea Lee

Cooke Street Market is in the Imperial Plaza building (parking entrance on Kawaiaha‘o Street) and will validate for two hours of free parking with any purchase. There is also plenty of metered and free parking on nearby streets. Keep in mind that the kitchen is only open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but drinks are served all day.

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., kitchen open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 725 Kapi‘olani Blvd. C122, csmhawaii.com, @cookestreetmarket

Photo: Tev Media

After building a successful business selling crystal clear ice cubes for cocktails, bartender Tyler Yafuso continues to elevate the home bar experience with a collection of sustainably inclined drink mixers that use citrus and excess produce from local farms such as Mahi Pono on Maui.

The Pau Hana Co. debuted three premium drink mixers at this summer’s Made in Hawai‘i Festival, each blended to pair up with liquors and spirits. There’s li hing lemon, a versatile base with just three ingredients and a strong lemon overtone that works best with vodka or tequila. The kick of the liliko‘i lime and Hawaiian chile pepper mix is a perfect match for smoky mezcal, while the sweetness in the pineapple lemongrass lime lends a comforting base for Scotch whisky and plays well with grassy white rum or the botanicals of gin.

Since the $15 mixers have no alcohol themselves, they’re also great starting points for mocktails. Each bottle makes three to four drinks.

drinkpauhana.com, @thepauhana.co

SEE ALSO: Holiday Sips: Festive Mocktail Recipes to Toast the Season