I need to come out of the closet about something. I like mai tais, no, I love mai tais. Okay, so there, I said it. I like them sweet and syrupy, and if you can give them to me in a silly glass with lots and lots frou-frou garnish, I am happy, really happy!
So when I am in Hawaii, I am in heaven. I slurp up mai tais all over the islands. Let me tell you one tradition that I never miss. That is to savor the most perfect mai tai in the world at the Beach Bar at the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki. I wouldn't think of being in Honolulu and not stopping by the Beach Bar in the Banyan Court for at least one awesome mai tai.
Actually, my love of the Banyan Bar goes a lot deeper than just having one of their tropical potions. The location of sitting under a magnificent banyan tree on Waikiki Beach with a perfect view of Diamond Head is enough to knock your socks off! I have seen some of my favorite sunsets from the tables at this bar.
But besides all that, there is a sense of history here. The hotel was build was 1901, and shortly after that in 1904, this tree was planted in the courtyard. Both our dads remember sitting under this very banyan tree in WW II, when the hotel was a US Army R&R center. This tree has seen it all, from wars, to statehood, to beach movies and the explosion of tourism that has changed the face of Waikiki forever. I wonder how many honeymooners have shared a mai tai under her branches? There is sense of dynasty here. Today, the tree is 75 feet high and 150 feet across. We may pass through this place, but the tree stays and grows and will continue to see the island evolve.
Okay, enough philosophy! Back to the mai tais! They do indeed make the perfect one here. The bar is open from 10:30am until 12:30am each day. There is no cover, and you can usually find a good table right on the beach. We had a rendezvous with friends here on this trip, and it was the perfect place to catch up, sip great drinks, and watch the sunset in the Pacific Ocean. They serve appetizers as well. There is also live Hawaiian music playing most of the time, with a hula dancer slowly dancing the hula. It's all too perfect!
A trip to Oahu wouldn't be complete without a stop at the The Beach Bar. I have been coming here for so long, she feels like an old friend. I hope to see her many more times in my future and hope my kids will do the same!