Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand

I don't like this place at all. It's the worst in Honolulu for nightlife. First you need to book a reservation 2 days in advance. Or more on weekends. Once you get there, they inform you that per state regulations, 30% of your check must be food. Which I understand isn't under their control but anyway its very inconvenient for me as a costumer. I ate before getting there at 7:30, so I'm not hungry to eat a lot maybe an entree but no more than that. I was going there to drink. Again it's the city, no the bar decision but everyone should know that. The music is ridiculous. It sounds like a little radio, you can hear everyone conversations, even the people's seating far from you. They gave me the table all the way back by the bathroom. No open air like other tables. Which is nice. Only a fan over there and smelling to urine all night, because bathroom vent is right on your head.nWe stay there for only 30 minutes, after that I was ready to go. My hotel room is way better than being there paying to drink with no music and 30% of your money going to nowhere, because the nachos that i order, was left everything there. So. After this, if you ready to go, you good. But if want to have fun and spend your money in a smart way and spend on with real fun, that's not the place. I'll check this reviews remains up and isn't deleted by anyone. Thanks.

Drinks with a view! The staff is great and welcoming! Make a reservation during peak times. If you don’t have one, they will do their best to get you a table and move you to a better spot when available. Thanks Jonny and Justin!

Nice view of the ocean and park area. If you're lucky, Lee will be your server. She's no-nonsense and honest. Years can pass and she'll still remember you and your favorite drink. She truly makes this place feel like .. home

Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand has had a long history as one of the more convivial and ‘friendly’ night spots In Waikiki. It’s been serving great cocktails and drinks, as well as more recently a delightful and delicious pupus (comestibles) for decades (maybe since the 70s or even earlier). But what makes it truly gratifying nowadays is the way that a diverse panorama of men and women ( aged 21-99), who may be gay or straight (actually LGBTQ), a MultiEthnic rainbow in skin colors, multicultural in ethnic origin, and regardless of socioeconomic level or religious persuasion, can all enjoy a night spent in this special drinking establishment.nnHula’s is just around the corner from the main street, Kalākaua Ave, that runs through the heart of Waikiki and also a two-step distance from Lemon Road, where three hostels are located and why I found this second floor bar with a balcony facing Waikiki Zoo. Leaving the hostel to find a place to eat and drink, I discovered a small crowd of people visible above me at the Waiki Grand Hotel on Kapahulu Ave and made my way upstairs to 2nd floor Hula’s Bar. It looked like a fun place to chat with the locals and with my fellow American and international tourists --- and Surprise, Surprise, Surprise (as Goober on the Andy Griffith Show just to say), it turned out to be that AND much more. Read below to find out what and why.nnAbout the bars, drinks and food selection.... There are the tried-and-true draft beers, cocktails, and wine selections, of course. I choose the mango margarita, and happily was recommended to make it a pitcher. Being more than enough to share, I rapidly made friends with those I was sitting with at the bar. The surprise about Hula’s is that don’t actually sell leis anymore, but it does have a fairly complete food menu. I selected two quesadilla items: the braised duck and goat cheese, and also another quesadilla made from Kailua pork, so that I could share with my newly-made bar mates.nnI understand from reports of the people who come here often (whom I met that night in early January 2020) that the clientele changes throughout the week and even is more varied depending on the time of day, and night— which is totally normal. While I was there, a ‘boatload’ of customers, literally, arrived around 5 pm as they had just returned from a 90-minute catamaran cruise off Waikiki Beach, sponsored weekly by Hula’s. Evidently, there are different events held during the week, but I don't suppose their is an amateur drag show night like the ones my college dorm mates and friends used to put on during the early 70's.nnWhile the bar clientele are generally middle-aged men, mostly gay men or gay couples but plenty of straights, the type of clientele who patronize the bar completely changes during the course of an afternoon into early evening, which is what I observed when I was there. As darkness approached, there were suddenly more trendy and fashion-conscious male-female couples, and also younger mixed groups.nnUpdate:. December 22, 2020nnDuring the COVID lockdown in Honolulu, they only way to enjoy Hula's was to arrive with a pre-booked reservation and to eat and drink only with your table partners, thus making the experience pretty boring since you are essentially locked out of any human interaction when you eat by yourself, as was my situation at Hula's Bar and Grill this evening. The food and pitcher of Margaritas were great, but even the typically very friendly, almost flirtatious wait staff were definitely not as attentive as they normally are. They were definitely not working (very hard) for tips. This I have downgraded my review overall experience to a 4. Perhaps the next will again be an improved customer service and rapport that will earn Hula’s the 5 rating it deserves.

Don't forget to make your reservations , the tables fill up quickly! the staff is fantastic and very personable and the Mezza platter is my go to for sharing