Last Updated on May 12, 2024
Anyone who’s been to the Hawaiian Islands knows that food prices can be shocking. Dining out gets expensive fast, especially if you want to eat at the best restaurants, or those offering killer ocean views. We’re talking more than $50 per entrée to start.
On my trip to Hawaii’s Big Island in spring 2024, my family did a little extra advance planning and decided to check out the best restaurants for happy hour. We saved a ton of money by hitting up these venues during their happy hours, but never had to give up on the food quality. Not to mention, if you’re coming from mainland America, Hawaii’s time zone will have you hungry for dinner early anyhow.
Additionally, we got to try a lot more entrees versus just ordering one item. We all ended up having a ton of food, and somehow those aloha cocktails and delectable dishes tasted even better when the check came to the table!
Here are our favorite happy hour restaurants. Many of these selections feature “pupu,” which means “appetizer” in Hawaii.
Tommy Bahama Restaurant
This restaurant chain offers locations throughout the U.S., however, the menus vary from restaurant to restaurant.
Located in the picturesque Shops at Mauna Lani in Kamuela, Tommy Bahama offers an everyday happy hour in the bar from 3 to 5 pm. The restaurant interior is open and airy offering stunning sunset views from the lanai which you can also see from the spacious bar area.
Wines run $10 a glass, but these aren’t your cheap “house” wines, rather quality selections. Select drafts are $7, well drinks $9, cocktails $12 and martinis $13.
Shareables include six selections from $12 to $14 that feature Tommy Bahama’s World-Famous Coconut Shrimp and blackened mahi mahi tacos. Everything we had was amazing and you can’t beat the classy island-inspired setting.
Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill
On the day of our chasing waterfalls trip to the Hilo side of the island, we timed it perfectly to hit Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill for happy hour.
This restaurant has been a local favorite for years mostly because they excel in every detail from food and service to ambiance. Happy hour is served daily from 3 to 5 pm and the prices are some of the best you’ll find on the island.
Tropical drinks run $8, wine $6-$8 and draft beers $6. Pupu picks range from $6-$7 and include great selections such as coconut crusted brie, mac nut ahi tartare, Kalua pork quesadilla and crispy pork ribs. Surprisingly, there are even a few entrees included with happy hour, priced from $17-$18.
The Fish Hopper
You’ll have a great view across from the seawall in the town of Kona at this laid-back island-y eatery that specializes in fish (hence the name).
Happy Hour in the bar area features an impressive menu including both land and sea options. Coconut prawns, fish tacos and Kalua pork sliders are good options along with oysters on the half shell.
Food items range from $6 to $18 (high end if you choose the oysters). Draft beers run from $5-$6, house wines $5 and margaritas and mai tais $6-$8. If you’re looking for more exotic libations, those are offered at 25 percent off during happy hour.
Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
Roy Yamaguchi opened his first restaurant in Oahu in 1988 featuring Hawaiian fusion dishes. Since then, several other locations have opened throughout Hawaii, California and one in South Florida. But no matter where you dine, the food, quality and service at Roy’s is always impressive.
Surrounded by historic petroglyphs and lava fields, Roy’s Waikoloa offers an Aloha Hour in the bar area from 4:30-5:30 pm every day of the week. Beers cost $6, wines and cocktails $12. The only menu item is the Pupu Platter, but it includes Szechuan style baby back ribs, bacon Caesar Brussel sprouts, firecracker Ko Chu Jang chicken wings, tiger shrimp, truffled maitake mushrooms, creamy polenta and rainbow poke for only $11.
That deal’s hard to pass up!
Huggo’s On the Rocks
Happy Hour begins at 3 pm and ends at 5 pm at Huggo’s offering a selection of cocktails and pupus. The location is literally on the rocks overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Kailua-Kona.
You’ll find bottled beers and drafts at $5, Mai tais at $6, and well drinks and house wines at $5. Pupu specials include sliders, mini nachos and beef or fish tacos for $7. Even if you choose some extras from the all-day menu, you’re still walking away with a reasonably priced dining experience.
Don’s Mai Tai Bar
Located in the Royal Kona Resort in Kona, this place rocks during happy hour because the ocean views and drink specials are worth the visit. As the largest open-air bar on the island, Don’s boasts 10 different varieties of Mai tais and 14 craft beers- the majority coming from locally-owned breweries.
If you can’t decide on which drink to order, try a tropical flight offering a taste of four beverages from Mai Tais, Lava Flows, Mojitos or Mimosas. Pupus are also discounted during happy hour.
Big Kahuna Beach Grill
Another totally laid-back local hangout right on the waterfront in Kailua-Kona, Big Kahuna hosts happy hour from 3-5pm daily with $2 off drinks and pupus. Entrees are reasonably priced to begin with and you’re getting full pupu entrees in the deal.
Diners can choose from sauteed clams, loaded chili cheese fries, poke, beer cheese and pretzel bites, breaded bay shrimp, crab patties and a skinny-dippin’ option with fresh veggies, an edamame hummus dip with pita bread.
No matter where you choose to happy hour on the Big Island, you’ll enjoy the many different tastes of aloha available to diners.
Nothing can say it any better than Big Kahuna’s Beach Grill’s motto: “Picture this. You’re sipping on an island-fresh drink, twirling that little umbrella as you watch an epic sunset from our oceanfront restaurant. Your only worry is the tough choice between the Bommie Poke and the Ho Brah Beer Cheese. Pro tip: get both.”
