We're heading to Maui in a week (woo hoo!) and a coworker of mine is asking me to bring him back some of this special Hawaiian alcohol he saw on some t.v. show . . . apparently it's yellow, is kind of like tequila, and is made from some Hawaiian flower or plant. He can't remember what it's called and I googled and got nothing . . . does anyone know what he's talking about, or did he hallucinate this?

Hmmm, not macadamia nut liquor?? If it is from a flower or plant, he may be talking about awa (pronounced ah-vah), which is not alcohol. It looks like mud and tastes like......muddy water? It is also called kava.

http://starbulletin.com/2001/01/31/features/story1.html

I am not sure if this awa bar still exists.

Don't hunt too hard for it, though, just enjoy your vacation!

There's also a Winery on Maui out near Ulapalakua (say that three times fast!) No strange yellow liquor, but some nice wines and an interesting pineapple champagne.

Fun when mixed with hotel hot tub later same day!

I can't imagine what this might be. But there is an awa bar at Wowee Maui Cafe and Grill in Lahaina.

I believe they're looking for okolehao
[oh-koh-leh-HAH-oh]
An 80 PROOF Hawaiian liquor made from a mash of the TI plant. It's often substituted for rum and, like rum, comes in white (colorless) and golden versions. Mostly home-brewed, of course.

Hmmmmmm. :-?
I wonder how it got that name?

Mels, Mrs Kal hooks up an IV to her MacNut bottle!

Well Kal- that's probably because drinking enough of it knocks you on your a** (okole). Hao can mean (among other things...) to hit, beat or tap.

Maybe we should call it a "Melissatini"?

There is still, I think, a remarkably good pineapple wine produced - cannot find, and certainly cannot remember the name.
M

mikemo - the wine is from the Tedeschi Vineyards at the Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui. Maui Blanc is made from Pineapples. Maui Splash! is made from Pineapples and passion fruit. You can buy them on line from the vineyard:
http://www.mauiwine.com/

When I lived in Oahu in the 1950's (before it was a state), we called okolehao "Iron-bottom" because after one drink, you couldn't stand up and get out of your chair!

Oh ohhhhhh.
In that case, no way can we be renaming it the "melissatini". :-"

Thanks everyone! That's very helpful. If it's mostly home-brewed, does that mean I likely won't have much luck tracking it down in a store?

(Not that I'm going to spend much time looking -- if I happen across it, that's great, but if not, my coworker is out of luck.)

Kamahinaohoku,

Yes, many thanks.

You have a great "name". Does it have "meaning"?

M

Kal: heyheyHEY I resemble that remark!!!

Can you signmy bottles?

I'll come by and mix some tropical drinks for you and the missus!

Mikemo - thanks, I like the name too.
Kamahinaohoku can either mean the full moon of the heavens or the moon and the stars.

I think that yellow drink comes from Mexico or South America.