Under the famous 1885 banyan tree at the Moana Surfrider — Waikiki's first hotel (1901). Toes-near-sand seating, nightly ukulele under the canopy, the Moana Sunset Mai Tai in a souvenir glass.
Pull up a chair beneath the Moana Surfrider's massive 1885 banyan tree, listen to a ukulele player work through Hawaiian standards as the Pacific glows ten paces away, and sip a Kuleana-rum mai tai out of a souvenir glass you'll take home. It's quieter than the Royal Hawaiian, more storied than the Hilton, and feels like 1925 in the best possible way. The "First Lady of Waikiki" earns the name here.
The Moana Surfrider is the "First Lady of Waikiki" (opened 1901), and the Beach Bar is the courtyard at its heart — a wide flagstone patio fanned out beneath a 100+ year-old Indian banyan tree planted in 1885. Tables sit so close to the sand you can hear it crunch under chairs being scooted around. The vibe is dressier and quieter than the Royal Hawaiian's Mai Tai Bar next door — older couples, anniversary dinners, sundress crowds, hotel guests in pressed linen. Live music plays nightly, traditionally a solo musician with ukulele or guitar working through Hawaiian standards and the occasional acoustic Top-40 cover.
The Moana Sunset Mai Tai at happy hour pricing. You keep the souvenir glass, the photo is unbeatable under the banyan, and the build is genuinely good (Kuleana is a quality local rum, not well rail).
The 140-year-old banyan tree, nightly ukulele under the canopy, and being the most photographed beach bar in Waikiki after the Royal Hawaiian.
5:00-6:00 PM seating for sunset under the banyan, music starts shortly after. Weekday is calmer than weekend.
Not against the wall — the canopy is the show
Only the adjacent Beachhouse takes them — arrive 30+ minutes before sunset
They don't always offer it
Plan ahead
Kalakaua-side metered parking or rideshare is faster
Live Hawaiian music nightly — typically ukulele, guitar, and vocals (Hawaiian standards to acoustic rock).
Pulled from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, and local Hawaii blogs. We don't sugar-coat.
Curated highlights from each section, last checked 2026-05-20. Prices and items change frequently — always verify with the venue before you go.
Bookmark this page. Show up. Have a night you'll text people about tomorrow.