What art the best places to drink in Waikiki or downtown Honolulu? I'm looking for more of a bar atmosphere and less nightclub and dancing. Thanks!

There aren't many of those old time bars in Waikiki.The one we drove by looked creepy to me! Duke's Canoe Club is very popular.It is on the beach.It does have music on the outdoor patio. I wouldn't describe it as "nightclub" like though.I didn't see dancing except at one disco like place down towards the Shorebird.

Tom, we weren't too impressed with the bar scene in Honolulu either. We stayed at the Marriott, and the pool bar was quiet during the day and non-existant at nite. It was nice though to look from the 2nd floor across the street and check out the scene. Duke's was packed on a Sat nite. Most of that was for people waiting for dinner tables, and not much of a bar scene. Perhaps the Hyatt, Westin or Hilton might have more of what your looking for. Now Kauai on the other hand...

For a younger crowd, try Restaurant Row or the Mai Tai Bar in Ala Moana Center. Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab on Nimitz has a bar area in the back that's not bad. Also, John Dominis has a pretty good bar area (until it turns into the Spy Bar later at night). After work, my friends like to go to Sidestreet Inn, near Ala Moana Center. THIS place is IMPOSSIBLE to get into on a Friday night if you have no reservations (and forget about making reservations a measly day in advance). It's just a bar, not a club.

At Ward Centre, you can try Scoozee's, which has vodka infusions, or Ryan's Grill, which has yummy food. Both are restaurants with bar areas. DON'T go to Brew Moon--the place has gone severely downhill since the new owners took over.

I think the Halekulani is supposed to have a nice bar with live music.

NOT that I know so much about bar-hopping, mind you!! ;-)

Any ideas for bars on Kauai, Big Island, or Maui? The crew I am going with would like to know. Thanks

Thanks everyone.

The W has a very nice urbane bar.

Take Ala Moana Blvd. from Waikiki to downtown Honolulu [5 minutes]. Trun right on BETHEL STREET. The first cross street is MERCHANT STREET. To the left you'll find two great bars: "Murphy's" was the favorite watering hole of Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, and King David Kalakaua.
Across the Street, "O'Tooles" is a favorite for its Boston atmosphere and Cheers-like ambience. Both places look just as they did 100 years ago, and are as popular today as ever.

Hi Lizzie, if you go to Kauai, you have to go to Margarita's in kapaa and try the passion fruit margarita, yum!! They also have live music sometimes on weekends. In hanalai is the Tahiti Nui, an old, classic Hawaii sort of bar, also have music sometimes (local kind).

I went to Don Ho's last night....This place is in Aloha Tower, and it is definitely a 50/50 mix of tourists & locals. It's pretty groovy, kind of kitschy, the food is good and they have a wide variety of drinks. A local band was playing, but my friend started chanting, in fun, "We want Don! We want Don!" So imagine our surprise to see The Don himself actually was making his rounds in the place! And as he passed, he accidentally bumped my seat. He apologized profusely, adding, in his trademark relaxed manner of speaking, "It's my big okole."

Pretty funny. That's my long-winded story on a fun bar experience that you can tell your friends about, whether local or tourist!