The only bar in Waikiki where you can buy a fresh-strung lei out of a glass cooler, then sit down for a cocktail named after the founder's late father. Originally Chinatown 2022, reopened May 2025 in the adults-only Romer House.
The only bar in Waikiki where you can buy a fresh-strung lei out of a glass cooler, then sit down for a Clifton's Curse made with pear cognac and sherry. The Lei Stand started in Chinatown in 2022, built a serious local reputation, and reopened in May 2025 inside the new adults-only Romer House on Nahua. Founders are Hawaii-born, and the menu names drinks after specific people — your bartender will tell you why.
A cocktail bar that's also an actual working lei stand, with a flower cooler restocked weekly with couture lei from Island Boy. You can drink a Wow Lau Lau, eat pupus, and walk out with a fresh strung lei for an anniversary or a flight home. Founded by Hawaiian-born producer Ryan Kalei Tsuji and former Universal Music brand strategist Tara Kanani Shimooka, the program organizes drinks into four categories: Blooms (signatures), Bark (shot-and-a-beer), Hop Vine (brews), Grape Vine (wine). The menu honors specific people — Tsuji's late father (Clifton's Curse), waterman China Uemura (Uncle China).
The "Bark" shot-and-a-beer combo — best $-to-buzz ratio on the menu and an authentic local format.
Being a cocktail bar AND a real lei stand (fresh lei available for purchase from the cooler); locally-owned narrative cocktails.
Tuesday or Wednesday 6:00-8:00 PM — daylight still soft, menu attention from bartenders is best, lei cooler freshly stocked from Monday delivery.
They sell out — great gifts or airport souvenirs
It's an ode to co-founder Tsuji's late father — the staff loves telling it
Unusual for Waikiki — use it
If cocktail prices feel rich
Show up at 5 PM open for prime counter seats
Curated playlists; occasional DJ events tied to lei-day and Hawaiian holidays — check Instagram.
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.