Oahu’s Favorite Pau Hana Place
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Mai Tai Bar is the people’s choice for an uncomplicated good time. Raising a glass is general manager Francine Cekada, surrounded by security men (from left) Pako Toomalatai, Maka Tuakoi,Tony Finau and Walt Saole. Here’s to the Mai Tai Bar, which for a decade has earned a reputation as Oahu’s favorite go-to place for an uncomplicated good time. Cheers, and happy 10th anniversary!
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the food.”
Good food, live music and no cover charge have been consistent at Mai Tai.
“We don’t have a cover charge and we never will,” says Cekada. “I think it shows that we appreciate our guests, they should never have to pay cover.”
During the early years, live music was daily from 1 to 4 p.m., which in 2003 moved to 4-7 p.m. to be in sync with the newly added Hang Ten Happy Hour, and at just about that time, live music from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. was added. Longtime musicians include Kimo Opiana, Kawao, Koauka and Bamboo Crew.
The success of this formula translated into the opening of two more Mai Tai Bar locations, one in Daytona Beach and another in Long Beach. Our Oahu location also spawned the popular local music competition Mai Tai Rumble in 2001, which has since been added to all three Mai Tai bar locations. The Rumble is a friendly competition where bands duke it out for the chance to win cash, prizes, but most of all the opportunity to get their music heard.
“While it’s the nighttime happy hour that has put us on the charts, one of the biggest events here is the Mai Tai Rumble,” says Cekada. “It’s so awesome. People will start calling us in August for an application when it doesn’t start until October. It’s so huge, and it’s one of the things that I’m so proud of. We give a lot of bands the opportunity to get up on stage. The Rumble by far has exceeded all of our expectations.”
Each Tuesday night between October and December bands take their place on stage, which means a packed house cheering on their favorites. The scene resembles the bar’s usual Friday and Saturday night crowd.
“Fridays and Saturdays are definitely our busiest, and we really try to make sure that there are awesome bands playing, but it really seems that we are just part of people’s weekend,” says Cekada. “It’s amazing how many people we see here on the weekend. We are totally just in people’s habits.”
To give thanks to the patrons who have made it a successful 10 years, Mai Tai has punched up its live music and happy hour throughout the month of June.
Every Monday in June it’s Happy Hour all day long. And from 10 p.m. to closing, the always hilarious Mento Mele of Island Rhythm 98.5 will be on site with prize giveaways and entertaining along with some of Hawaii’s best bands. Coming up June 22 is Ooklah The Moc, and wrapping up the monthlong celebration June 29 with Mai Tai’s Anniversary Concert is Natural Vibrations.
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