For the 24th time, Tikiphiles from around the world gathered under The Hukilau banner for a long weekend of Polynesian Pop revelry on June 3-7. For the past six years, the event has been headquartered at the picturesque Beachcomber Resort, located right on the ocean in Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale.
More below: Reviews, tributes to top event cocktails
• We tasted 44 drinks; see the sweet 16
Bonus recipes: Coral Reef Cooler (Tiki Tiki Bang Bang) | Endless Summer (Tiki Tatsu-Ya) | Sunken Pearl (Boca Island Tiki Lounge)
In addition to the tropical environment of the beachfront hotel, The Hukilau’s anchor and nerve center since moving to South Florida in 2003 has been the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. The 2.7-acre Tiki temple is a destination unto itself, attracting fans for its vintage mid-century experience that was taken to the next level by a $20+ million restoration completed in late 2024.
Check out our previous story for photos, video and a full recap of all the activities that took place at the Mai-Kai, including an exclusive presentation by retro pop culture expert Charles Phoenix. That story also includes reviews and ratings of the special cocktails served at the Mai-Kai.
We previously published an extensive collection of social media posts, including photos and video plus our annual playlist spotlighting the performing bands. Mahalo to everyone who contributed!
This story will cover the events at the Beachcomber, pulling together the best photos and our key memories, plus contributions from Hukilau villagers. As a bonus, you’ll also find our cocktail ratings and reviews of the tasty libations we sampled all weekend, plus three bonus recipes.
We hope all this coverage gives you a taste of the event and inspires you to join us in 2027, when the Mai-Kai celebrates its 70th anniversary and The Hukilau hosts its 25th weekender.
The Hukilau 2026 – June 3-7 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music, special guests, symposiums and classes, 20 guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
More Hukilau 2026 recaps
At the Mai-Kai: The Hukilau honors a legend, welcomes Charles Phoenix
Photos, video: Live coverage from social media
A limited number of official event mugs, created by John Mulder and Eeekum Bookum, are still available for purchase online via the official website. This is a second edition, limited to 100 mugs with a new color scheme, released after The Hukilau. The mug pays homage to The Hukilau’s original event logo tiki by Kevin Kidney. [Previous coverage]
Wednesday
Before many guests arrived at the resort, an intimate group of villagers participated in the second “Build Your Own Bar” symposium series hosted by one of The Hukilau’s organizers, Rodney Ray of HeadHunter Props and Fabrication. He was joined by a full faculty of experts: Billy Crud (designer and artist),Ignacio “Notch” Gonzalez of Top Notch Customs (carver and designer), Frank (Tiki Rancher) Simotics (artist and builder), Bill “The Doktor” Lynn of Fez Monkey Studios (artist and builder), Tom Fowner (Mai-Kai staff artist and carver), Ethan Barnes (animatronics and effects), Richard Barnes (lighting and photography), and Devon “Kitty” Lopez of Bar Tiki (mixology and bar management).
Wednesday’s classes covered how to create a vision for your bar, turn your space into a Tiki destination, and choosing the right materials and construction methods. Five hours of workshops were held in one of the Beachcomber’s scenic outdoor spaces overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean, creating a warm and welcoming environment for creating your own home paradise.
The evening activites moved to the Mai-Kai for a pre-party in the Molokai Bar and welcome dinner for guest bartenders. As advertised, this was the “Calm Before the Storm” as staff and guests prepared for a long weekend of revelry, day and night.
Thursday
Eager students were back in class bright and early for the second day of the BYOB symposium panel series. Five more hours of sessions covered everything from how to set up your cocktail program, to lighting and finishing touches to the decor, to how to efficiently operate your Tiki bar like a pro. The experts were gracious in sharing their knowledge and giving attendees the personal information that you just can’t find in books and YouTube videos.
By midday, registration and The Hukilau merchandise store opened in the Beachcomber Resort lobby. Lopez finished the BYOB classes in time to join her Bar Tiki brother Tanner in a nearby booth to serve their welcome cocktail along with tastings by sponsor Flor de Cana Rum. It was a busy weekend for Lopez, who also served cocktails poolside Friday, hosted a symposium Saturday, and wrapped up with a Saturday night bungalow party and two more cocktails. [Check out our ratings below]
“Hukilau will forever hold a very special place in my heart,” Lopez wrote on her Facebook page the day after the event. “This was my introduction to Tiki and Ohana almost 5 years ago, and I am forever grateful for the connections I have made over the years. Thank you to everyone who sipped with us, laughed with us, and created memories with us. Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, bands, and bar team for making this event run smoothly and for continuing the magic. I am so appreciative for the opportunities and the support from everyone, it makes me teary eyed just thinking about it.”
The first evening at the Beachcomber started with a poolside welcome party featuring live music by “supernatural surf” band The Mermers from Gainesville, Fla. The group was breaking in a new member, but you wouldn’t know if from the tight and energetic set on the main stage.
More complimentary cocktails started to flow with poolside pop-up bars manned by guest mixologists from The Port of Call (Mystic, Conn.) and Joyface (New York City). As the pool party wrapped up, the action moved to the outdoor courtyard, where Andrew Martins of Oyster Club (a sister venue to The Port of Call) got into the spirit of The Hukilau by serving the Cafe Tropical cocktail.
Surrounding the courtyard and its large tent are around a dozen one- and two-bedroom villas that The Hukilau dubs “bungalows” since they’re small buildings that resemble quaint beachside accommodations. During the event, a half-dozen of these spaces were transformed into themed “bungalow parties” hosted by many of the guest bartenders on three different nights.
Similar to what many events call “room crawls,” these parties were open from 9 p.m. to midnight (or later) and were available for all guests to visit to their heart’s content. Lines were rarely very long, giving villagers the chance to see all the rooms, taste all the drinks, and meet the bartenders.
On the first night, we enjoyed drinks from former Mai-Kai bar manger Michael DeMahy of the nearby Boca Island Tiki Lounge, plus the teams from Aku Aku Tiki Bar in Orlando and Black Jack’s Rum Bar & Grille, a new Caribbean-inspired bar and eatery with locations in Davie and Fort Lauderdale.
The immersive decor in the bungalows, designed and implemented by The Hukilau’s Rodney Ray and his team, has to be seen in person to be appreciated. But we got an inside peek behind the scenes from Richard Barnes, the Massachusetts-based photographer who joined Ray on the Build Your Own Tiki Bar faculty. Barnes shared before-and-after photos on Facebook, along with some remembrances of his experience.
“From Asian temples holding giant stone carvings of monkey gods, to a voodoo bayou of skulls being taken over by angry spirit vines, to an early 1900s British expedition bar, we were determined not to let the Florida heat keep us from creating some great places for the many villagers to seek refreshment,” Barnes wrote. “The themed bars could only stay in existence for a few days, but hopefully the memories of the hundreds of visitors that enjoyed them last for many years.”
Friday
The Hukilau’s first full day got started early with workshops and symposiums beginning at 10 a.m. In the air-conditioned comfort of the Beachcomber’s lobby lounge, Tom Fowner showed his students how to create a light-up fish float pendant to take home as a fun and functional souvenir. He was followed by another South Florida artist, Todd Ashbaugh (aka Captain Cowfish), who led a class in making commemorative Tiki display pieces. Classes were well attended with villagers gladly paying the small fees for supplies.
Under the main tent in the courtyard, Crazy Al Evans hosted a large group for hands-on instruction on the popular topic of black velvet Tiki painting. Evans, a longtime Tiki carver and multi-talented artist, filled in admirably for Tiki Tony Murphy, a fellow Californian who couldn’t return to teach his popular class due to a busy schedule back on the west coast. Both Evans and his students seemed to have a fun time painting their own dramatic Tiki scenes using layered color pencil and paint techniques.
South Florida artist LuRu followed Evans with a unique painting class, teaching students a traditional style of art from the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea. Using stencils, villagers didn’t need any art experience to create their own replica of a wooden war and dance shield. LuRu, a longtime Hukilau supporter and participant, later showed off and sold her own black velvet paintings and other unique items in Saturday’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar marketplace.
Fowner taught a second class later that day under the beachfront thatched palapa that was also used for seminars. He led students in creating one of his signature items, the always popular wearable tropical hat made from palm fronds. These distinctive hats were visible everywhere, often sported in photos online, for the rest of the weekend.
The Hukilau seminars were free for all multi-day passholders, held all day at multiple outdoor locations across the resort. Under the palapa, the day’s first educational presentation was hosted by Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of the new biography Searching for Don the Beachcomber. Via stories, historic photos and creative use of animation, the Tennessee-based author took villagers on an entertaining exploration of the life of the godfather of Tiki culture.
In “Donn Beach: The Man, the Myth and the Legend,” Glazner sought to separate facts from fiction after years of research into the often embellished (and outright fabricated) tales told by the master showman. After creating what we know today as the Tiki bar in Hollywood, Beach served in World War II, then spent the rest of his life in the South Pacific promoting authentic Polynesian culture.
Glazner debunked Beach’s claim that he was born in Louisiana, instead tracing his family to a small rural town in Texas. Beach also often claimed her learned bootlegging and traveled to the Caribbean to learn about rum with his grandfather. But no such person existed, and Glazer revealed the true identity of Beach’s mysterious “Pappy.”
Other famous myths busted in the seminar included the opening date of Beach’s first bar in Hollywood, Calif., and the story behind the creation of his notorious Zombie cocktail. Glazner also shared a fascinating story about how future rival Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron likely swiped the concept for one of his signature cocktails from Don the Beachcomber during a visit to Hawaii in 1939.
Glazer signed and sold books and mugs after the seminar, then later greeted villagers who attended the Saturday marketplace. Keep an eye out for his upcoming appearances at Tiki Oasis and other events. We recommend you order the book directly from the author via his online store, which also includes the Donn Mascot Cannibal mug (created by John Mulder and Eekum Bookum), photos and stickers, plus Glazner’s previous book, Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant.
• Previous coverage: Countdown to Don the Beachcomber biography begins with fundraiser, early special edition
MeduSirena Marina was next in the palapa, sharing her life story in “Confessions of a Fire-Eating Mermaid.” Marina Anderson is most famous for reviving the vintage underwater swim shows viewable in the portholes of Fort Lauderdale’s Wreck Bar in the Yankee Clipper Hotel (now the B Ocean Resort). Her story was featured in the documentary Land of the Mermaids, which premiered on PBS on June 24, when the filmmakers, Anderson and others involved in the production gathered at the Mai-Kai for a watch party. [Photos, coverage]
Nowadays, Anderson is an accomplished photographer who this month was honored with her first photo gallery exhibition. She’s also a member of the Ronin Taiko and Samkoma theatrical drum groups, which are led by her husband, Roy Anderson.
Her deepest ties to Tiki culture lie at the Mai-Kai, which brought her to South Florida decades ago as a performer and Mystery Girl known as Malia (see photo). She shared photos and stories about her early days at the restaurant, where she always stayed in close contact, photographing the Polynesian palace often following the November 2024 reopening.
Anderson’s career came full circle a month after The Hukilau, when she was named official ambassador and metua vahine (aka den mother) for the Molokai Lounge. Drop by and say aloha, and follow Malia’s new exploits via photos and videos posted to the bar’s Instagram page.
Another South Florida female entrepreneur with an affinity for mid-century artistry hosted a seminar that put a spotlight on the area’s Art Deco and vintage architecture. Gallery 600 owner, artist and author Abby Laughlin presented a photo tour of Fort Lauderdale’s historic buildings, motels, and roadside landmarks that informed the region’s tropical aesthetic.
In the day’s final presentation, globetrotting bar owner, mixologist and author Daniele Dalla Pola of Miami’s Kaona Room shared his knowledge and multiple cocktails under the courtyard tent. Dalla Pola was joined by his son Billy, who you can find running their immersive Miami speakeasy and spearheading creative projects such as the Reef Rum Supply Co.
Along with their partners, they figured out how to sink small wooden barrels in the ocean off Miami, creating unique barrel-aged cocktails. At The Hukilau, we tasted perhaps the best version yet of The Seagroni, their Negroni riff that featured Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 in the latest batch. Dalla Pola also previewed his upcoming book, Cocktail Extravaganza, and another project that will spotlight tropical drinks from his many industry friends around the world.
At the hotel’s main pool, bands performed on the large stage facing the ocean throughout the day. We were treated to the dark but fun psychobilly of Jacksonville’s The Kreepy Tikis, high-energy surfabilly from The Patina Turners (Fort Myers) and the goth garage rock of Tampa’s Black Valley Moon.
Meanwhile, the guest bar teams kicked it into high gear with a full day of more than a dozen complimentary cocktails. Serving poolside during the live music were Bar Tiki, Adrift (Denver), Kahala Koa (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Tropic Thunder (Phoenix), and Tiki Underground (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio). There was also a Diplomatico Rum tasting.
Serving near the second pool and courtyard were Campfire (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Aku Aku. Villagers flocked to the Mai-Kai for happy hour and two dinner shows, The Hukilau’s traditional main event at the restaurant.
It was definitely a test of endurance (and our livers), but after six hours at the Mai-Kai, villagers returned in time for another round of bungalow parties and pop-up bars at the Beachcomber. With the late-night crowd in full force, two bars were set up under the main tent. We got our first taste of the soon-to-open Hula Kai (Fort Lauderdale), plus the return of Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Cincinnati).
Meanwhile, three themed bungalows attracted guests for cocktails served by bar manager Chris DeFelice of Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, Texas), the team from Odd Birds (St. Augustine, Fla.), and the hard-working Dalla Pola of Kaona Room. With a full Saturday schedule awaiting, some much-needed shut-eye was welcomed by many.
Saturday
With no official Mai-Kai activities on The Hukilau schedule, Saturday was the day to fully enjoy the Beachcomber Resort. There were just a few symposiums, but they did not disappoint.
Early birds enjoyed a deep dive into history of the legendary Mutiny on the Bounty, from the actual historic event to the various films and remnants around the world. Film historian Mark McKinnon shared his years of research in an informative slideshow, which included movie clips, plus rare facts and insights.
For example: Even though Capt. William Bligh faced a court martial for losing the Bounty in 1789, he was acquitted and retired as a vice admiral in 1814. Of all the mutineers, only three ended up being brought to justice. None of the three is portrayed in any of the movies.
The 1984 movie was the most accurate, McKinnon said, but it was also a box office flop and lost $16 million. According to McKinnon, Marlon Brando’s “foppish, dandy” portrayal of lead mutineer Fletcher Christian was not well received by critics after the release of the 1962 film.
In 1969, a new owner spurred MGM to sell a large portion of its props and costumes, including many nautical pieces from Mutiny on the Bounty. This perfectly coincided with the Mai-Kai’s 1970 expansion, leading to the purchase and installation of many items in the expanded Molokai Bar.
During the 2022-2024 restoration, creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller worked the Bounty theme into the new Bora Bora Bar. See our past coverage for an inside look at the restored Molokai Bar.
Two afternoon seminars gave fans of Tiki bars and cocktails some first-person advice from three experts in the field. Devon “Kitty” Lopez of Bar Tiki and “Dr. Dizz” Fernandez of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Permanent Vacation told the “Story of the Cocktail,” specifically how storytelling, intention, and thematic design give a drink meaning beyond its ingredients. It was interesting to hear how the two bartenders tackle these topics in their respective bars.
Author and mixologist Tiki Lindy explored updated takes on foundational drinks in “Tiki Time Machine: Modern Riffs on Tiki Classics.” This is a topic right up her alley. Tiki Lindy’s latest book, Guide to Tropical Potions & Exotic Elixirs, unravels the mysteries of old-time mixology with meticulous detail and expert guidance.
Our favorite seminar of the day was a new version of a classic Hukilau event originated by rum ambassador Ian Burrell in 2019. This year’s hosts of the “$1,000 Rum Tasting were Joe Horstkamp and Myssi Davis, better known as the couple who explore the Caribbean (and elsewhere) in search of the best cane spirits as the Rum Traveler.
For just a $15 supply fee, villagers were able to taste samples with a total retail value of at least $1,000. We enjoyed a variety of premium rums from the Caribbean, Central America and the Philippines.
As usual, villagers could also queue up for cocktails all day at nine different pop-up bars, as well as samples from sponsor Tanduay Rum. Bartenders showing off their skills included those from the aforementioned Aku Aku, Black Jack’s, Boca Island Tiki Lounge, Hula Kai, Odd Birds, Tiki Tatsu-Ya, and Tiki Tiki Bang Bang. We also got our first taste of Murray’s Tavern (Austin, Texas) and VenTiki (Ventura, Calif.).
Some top bands from around Florida kept the party in high gear on the poolside stage. The Kreepy Tikis, The Mermers, and The Patina Turners all returned with more high-energy sets. It was great to see The Intoxicators hit The Hukilau stage for the 20th time since 2005, no worse for wear following their late-night set Friday at the Mai-Kai.
While the Tallahassee fearsome foursome ripped through their popular classics, MeduSirena Marina hosted a pod of mermaids nearby in the pool for photo ops with eager guests. In a classic moment, the mermaid pioneer joined Crazy Al Evans for some impromptu dance steps during one of the band’s more upbeat numbers. [See video]
The main attraction on Saturday was the vendor marketplace held under the huge courtyard tent and some surrounding areas. This year’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar featured 30 artists and crafts people selling Tiki mugs and collectibles, art, apparel, jewelry, and many more treasures. Check out our preview story for a full list of participants.
New participants we saw (and patronized) in the marketplace included Luru Studios (velvet portrait paintings), Miss Tiki Triathlete (Tiki lamp purses), Nimi Tiki (mugs from Nicholas Michelsen), Ohio Tiki Nuts ( mugs, décor, collectibles), Sean Collins (vintage barware, Tiki mugs), and Steven Bulinski (wall art, lamps).
We also picked up a print from The Hukilau’s official artist, Chris Warner, and a book from Richard Wickliffe, author of Tiki Drinks: A Beginner’s Guide to Rum, Ritual and Relaxation. You can order the book by Florida-based writer on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and Kindle formats. It features some of our tributes to Mai-Kai cocktails, including the Black Magic and Mystery Drink.
There were also many of our favorite returning vendors vying for our attention, including Captain Cowfish (décor, signs, necklaces), Eekum Bookum (custom Tiki mugs by John Mulder), Nice Work by Laz (Tiki carvings by Lazaro Ninou), The Green Tiki / Monkey Skull (paintings, carvings and mugs from Patrick Vassar), The Modern Historic (vintage clothing), Tikiphile (ceramics, mugs), Tiki Rancher (tikis and design from Frank Simotics), and Searching for Don the Beachcomber author Tim “Swanky” Glazner (books, mugs, syrups).
Here are more photos of some of the many Tiki Treasures Bazaar booths:
Amid all the activity, I made sure to seek out the ETI Radio broadcast booth and accept the generous offer to appear on the live show. I wrote about Tiki Brian and Exotic Tiki Island way back in 2011 (see story), and it’s been cool to see the streaming broadcasts evolve and continue to thrive.
I sat down with hosts Tikimon and MalibuBaby for a short interview that you can hear on the ExoticTikiIsland.com website. Mahalo for having me. Check out their regular and special programming and support Tiki music.
As day turned to night, the Beachcomber hosted a special dinner and show that makes this event unique. Not all Tiki weekenders feature an authentic Polynesian show, but The Hukilau had two. The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue is the oldest continually running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii). At the resort, we were treated to a smaller but no less authentic performance Saturday night.
A group of performers from Polynesian Fire – which hosts luaus in Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and Daytona Beach – entertained villagers during The Hukilauy’s evening luau, which included a huge buffet dinner featuring kalua pig and other traditional dishes. After pigging out, we gathered right on the beach just steps from the Atlantic Ocean to watch the show, which concluded with the thrilling fire-knife dance.
Following the hearty dinner, we were ready for one more round of pop-up bars and bungalow parties, plus a signature headlining band on the main stage. The Disasternauts first appeared at The Hukilau more than a decade ago, performing guerilla style at unannounced room parties and stages that could barely contain the band’s primal fury. Their identities and whereabouts were unknown, but it was clear that they were here to stay. [See photo and story from 2013]
The band has evolved into a headlining powerhouse, traditionally performing last on the final night to a revved-up crowd. The simian surf band lived up to its reputation this year, once again putting an exclamation point on the night’s festivities.
It was then time for closing-night cocktails, courtesy of some of the bars we enjoyed all weekend. Under the main tent, Trader Vince Polizzi from Adrift served up several potent potions, while mixologist Bruce Barton led his team from Kahala Koa with some complex creations in the Tiki tradition.
The bungalow parties beckoned with three outstanding options: Bar Tiki, Tiki Underground, and Tropic Thunder. At this point, it’s also worth complimenting the back-of-house bar staff that kept all the bars well-stocked and cocktails on point all weekend. The crew was led by Jacob Trevino of Palm Valley Cocktails and included bartenders from Campfire, Joyface, Majordomo (Los Angeles), Murray’s Tavern, Oyster Club, and The Port of Call.
In a tribute to their fortitude, after four straight days of squeezing fruit and slinging drinks, the team was back in the saddle Sunday morning to satisfy villagers looking for a cocktail to pair with their farewell brunch. The last shifts were pulled by Murray’s Tavern and Trevino himself representing Palm Valley Cocktails, a fitting end to a well-crafted weekend of libations. Continue reading to see our favorite drinks and some tribute recipes that should take you back to the Beachcomber and The Hukilau 2026.
Check out our previous story for a full recap of the Mai-Kai’s “Last Chance Sunday Party,” which featured a presentation by special guest Charles Phoenix, aka the King of Retro.
Rating the top cocktails from The Hukilau 2026
In what has become an annual ritual, we tried to taste and rate as many cocktails as we could during The Hukilau festivities over the course of all five days. There were 20 guests bars scheduled for pop-ups at the Beachcomber Resort this year, up from 15 in 2025, a daunting task.
• See our reviews, ratings and recipes from The Hukilau 2025
Last year, we tasted a total of 45 cocktails at both the Beachcomber and the Mai-Kai. You can find the Top 15, plus tribute recipes from three of them at the link above. This year, our total at the Beachcomber alone was 44. The pop-ups were spaced out nicely, usually clustered in small groups and running for three hours each. Villagers had an opportunity to indulge for roughly 30 hours spread over Thursday through Sunday at the resort.
We managed to sample drinks from all but one bar (sorry, Jacob Trevino). The leader of The Hukilau’s back-of-house bar team wisely scheduled himself for last, but we skipped the Sunday brunch and missed Palm Valley Cocktails. But we managed to taste at least one drink from every other bar at the resort.
Unlike last year, we’re not including the special cocktails from the Mai-Kai or the guest bars that popped up there on this list. It’s more of an apples-and-oranges comparison since the drinks at the restaurant were all served in full-sized glassware with garnish. They were also not complimentary, making them less accessible to everyone. You can find our reviews and ratings in our previous recap of The Hukilau at the Mai-Kai.
There were 11 first-timers this year, which made things interesting. Out of the top 16 cocktails, six were served by new guest bars and 10 by returnees. We’ve noted the newcomers below with asterisks. Also, FYI, under each rating category, the drinks are listed alphabetically. We also included tasting notes and ingredients for the top seven.
THE HUKILAU 2026: TOP 16 COCKTAILS
Rating: 3.8 out of 5
• Dead Reckoning from Boca Island Tiki Lounge** (Thursday bungalow party) – A flavor-packed monster that’s rich and perfectly balanced despite the plethora of ingredients: Planteray Xaymaca and O.F.T.D. rums, Tanduay aged rum, lime, orange, tropical oleo, coffee-infused PX sherry, spiced pomegranate, falernum. The key elements are the infused sherry and tropical oleo, featuring a host of fruits (mango, orange, lime, et al.). Big, bold and potent.
Rating: 3.7 out of 5
• Endless Summer from Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Saturday pool party) – Fruity and complex flavors, but not too complicated in its build. [See tribute recipe below]
• Sunken Pearl from Boca Island Tiki Lounge** (Saturday pool party) – A fruitier version of a Pearl Diver with an elevated gardenia mix featuring guava and passion fruit. [See tribute recipe below]
Rating: 3.6 out of 5
• My Hukilau Summer from Odd Birds (Saturday pool party) – Featuring Tanduay rum, elderflower liqueur, ginger turmeric, lime juice, cucumber, mint, and Angostura bitters. Very complex but also refreshing and light. The cucumber and ginger add a great counterpoint to the rum and bitters, elevated even further by the elderflower liqueur.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• Coral Reef Cooler from Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Saturday pool party) – Flavor-packed cachaca and gin cocktail that gets points for creativity. Refreshing and accessible but also featuring hints of complex flavors. [See tribute recipe below]
• Darkness Calls from Bar Tiki (Saturday bungalow party) – A very coffee-forward stirred Old Fashioned. One of the few of this style that was actually pulled off well at the event.
• Siren’s Kiss from Hula Kai** (Saturday pool party) – Featuring Santa Teresa rum, Aperol, house-made orgeat, lemon juice, and coconut cream, this was both creamy and refreshing. We enjoyed the house-made syrups and shaved coconut garnish. A creative use of ingredients while staying true to Tiki style.
Rating: 3.4 out of 5
• Driftwood Zombie from Boca Island Tiki Lounge** (Saturday pool party)
• The Seagroni from Kaona Room (Friday bungalow party)
• Westerlies from Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Friday courtyard tent)
• White Smoke from Kaona Room (Friday bungalow party)
Rating: 3.3 out of 5
• Buried Treasure from Kahala Koa (Friday pool party)
• Coco Emi from Bar Tiki (Thursday welcome drink)
• Lychee Zombie from Black Jack’s Rum Bar & Grille** (Thursday bungalow party)
• Pineapple Daiquiri from Murray’s Tavern** (Saturday pool party)
• Stranger Danger from Bar Tiki (Saturday bungalow party)
Notes on the results: Michael DeMahy of Boca Island Tiki Lounge knocked it out of the park with three of the top eight drinks. Though technically representing a new bar, DeMahy is a Huklau veteran with past appearances on the 2025 Mai-Kai and 2019 Death or Glory teams. We’re looking forward to tasting more from the true newbies from South Florida, Black Jack’s and Hula Kai.
As evidence of how popular DeMahy’s drinks were, he ran out of all three before the end of his time slots. Saturday’s pool party was a banger with seven of the sweet 16. In addition to DeMahy, Hukilau veteran Devon “Kitty” Lopez was a “three peat” on this list, including two served in Saturday night’s award-winning Bar Tiki bungalow party.
It’s not surprising to see other perennial favorites – Kahala Koa, Kaona Room, Tiki Tatsu-Ya, Tiki Tiki Bang Bang – on the list. We’ve enjoyed their cocktails often in the past. It was also nice to see Odd Birds return with a bang after a long absence.
Bonus cocktail recipes
The pop-up bars at The Hukilau, like many events, provide ingredient lists where most cocktails are served. This can give us a great start in creating tribute recipes, but we still need to figure out the correct proportions. We hope the three below are on target.
CORAL REEF COOLER
As served by Tiki Tiki Bang Bang during The Hukilau 2026
Tribute by The Atomic Grog (June 2026)
• 3/4 ounce cachaca
• 3/4 ounce gin
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/4 ounce grenadine
• 1/4 ounce falernum
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 3-4 drops absinthe
Shake or pulse blend for 5-8 seconds with 1 cup of crushed ice. Pour unstrained into a 10-ounce cocktail glass pre-loaded with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. Garnish with a mint spring and dried citrus wheel.
Tasting notes: Sweet, tart and very accessible. Great balance of exotic and approachable ingredients. The lime, grenadine and falernum shine through, with hits of the spirits, bitters and anise.
Ingredient notes: Besides Angostura, no particular brands are specified in this recipe, so feel free to use your favorites in each category. We used Pernod instead of absinthe. Fresh juice and homemade syrups are preferred, as usual.
ENDLESS SUMMER
As served by Tiki Tatsu-Ya during The Hukilau 2026
Tribute by The Atomic Grog (June 2026)
• 1 1/4 ounces Santa Teresa rum
• 3/4 ounce Smith & Cross Jamaican rum
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 3/4 ounce pineapple juice
• 3/4 ounce orgeat
• 1/2 ounce peach liqueur
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Shake or pulse blend for 5-8 seconds with 1 cup of crushed ice. Pour unstrained into a 12-ounce double old fashioned glass pre-loaded with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. Garnish with an orchid.
Tasting notes: Rich, rummy and pineapple forward with orgeat and bitters adding some layers of complexity. Lots of depth, but still accessible. Not too light or sweet. A nice savory summer drink.
Ingredient notes: Santa Teresa, a venerable Venezuelan brand, was a sponsor of The Hukilau. The Gran Reserva Anejo is a great budget rum, but you could also sub any quality Spanish-style rum from Central America (Diplomatico, et al.) or Brugal from the Dominican Republic. Smith & Cross is a distinctive and funky 114-proof blend that can be a secret weapon in many cocktails and is worth seeking out. There are a few other brands that will work, such as Hamilton and Doctor Bird.
Besides fresh juices and syrups, our other recommendation is Giffard Crème de Pêche de Vigne, which bartender Chris DeFelice also employed in his Peach Emoji at The Hukilau 2025. Other peach liqueurs are acceptable in a pinch.
SUNKEN PEARL
As served during The Hukilau 2026 and at Boca Island Tiki Lounge by Michael DeMahy
Tribute by The Atomic Grog (June 2026)
• 1 1/2 (or 2) ounces Santa Teresa 1796 rum
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce orange juice
• 1/4 ounce falernum
• 1/2 ounce Donn’s Gardenia Mix
• 1/4 ounce passion fruit syrup
• 1/4 ounce guava puree or syrup
Flash blend with 1 heaping cup of crushed ice for 10-12 seconds. Pour unstrained into a Pearl Diver Glass from Beachbum Berry and Cocktail Kingdom (or other 10-ounce specialty glass), adding more ice if necessary. Garnish with a citrus peel and hanging lantern. The version at The Hukilau called for mint, an orange slice, and an orchid.
Tasting notes: A sweet, creamy and slightly spicy flavor bomb much like DeMahy’s version. It’s a more complex take on the classic Pearl Diver, created by Don the Beachcomber in the 1930s. DeMahy’s gardenia mix, which incorporates the guava and passion fruit flavors, is a great upgrade. The version served at The Hukilau was mild, but he recommends adding an extra 1/2 ounce of rum for extra kick.
Recipe notes
DeMahy graciously shared his recipe as we tasted the drink a week after The Hukilau at Boca Island Tiki Lounge. We found it to be addictive and delicious, a creamy and rich Pearl Diver taken to the next level by exotic tart and sweet fruit notes. Be sure to visit him and check out the new menu that will soon be available featuring the Sunken Pearl and Dead Reckoning, a more traditional Zombie, plus lots more.
His recipe calls for 1 ounce of his signature “Passion Guava Gardenia Mix,” but we broke it down into the component parts to make this version more accessible. We also wanted to keep DeMahy’s mix a secret. Since the exact mix isn’t used, we consider this to be a tribute recipe. But the proportions of the ingredients are roughly the same, so the result should be a close approximation.
Ingredient notes
If you don’t have Santa Teresa 1796, you’ll want to use a high quality, blended and aged rum from the Caribbean, preferably one finished using the traditional Spanish Solera method. Fresh juices and a quality falernum are essential. DeMahy makes his own falernum syrup, which we’ve tasted. We recommended a non-alcoholic version with bold flavors, such as B.G. Reynolds or Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 Formula from Orgeat Works.
DeMahy revealed that the “Passion Guava Gardenia” includes fresh passion and guava, plus most of the components of Don the Beachcomber’s Gardenia Mix (honey, butter, allspice, cinnamon). His mix is unique, created using clarified butter to avoid the clumpy bits that often plague the traditional recipe. For our tribute, we simply made the traditional Donn’s Gardenia Mix without the vanilla syrup, then separately added our homemade passion fruit syrup, plus Real Guava puree. Use your preferred method to make the finicky honey-butter mix, whether it’s the quick but clunky method linked above, or the advanced technique popularized by California bartender Shelley Bowers and featured on Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour. Her method prevents separation by using honey as natural emulsifier. Guava seems to dominate DeMahy’s mix, so you could adjust if making a larger batch to add more guava than passion fruit. We were happy with a 3:2 blend of guava and passion fruit.
Okole maluna!
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive events guide
Check the calendar for all of the major happenings around the world, from Tiki weekenders to rum festivals to marketplaces and music fests.
THE HUKILAU 2026: PREVIOUS COVERAGE
Mai-Kai news & events: Updated Polynesian show, historic cocktails at The Hukilau in June
The historic Polynesian restaurant kicked off the summer with hundreds of Tikiphiles from around the world, followed by a constant stream of special events that continues in July with some unique offerings.
Event recap: The Hukilau honors a legend, welcomes Charles Phoenix
Reviews, ratings: Classic cocktails return, new food debuts
The Hukilau 2026: Live coverage, photos and video from the Beachcomber Resort and Mai-Kai
See all the action from five days of nonstop entertainment, education, cocktails and camaraderie at the 24th annual Tiki weekender in South Florida.
Direct links to highlights: Photo & video recaps | Pool parties & bands | Mai-Kai events | Friday’s luau | Tiki Treasures Bazaar | Daily highlights
HUKILAU PAST COVERAGE
2025
The Hukilau 2025: Live coverage, photos and video from the Beachcomber Resort and Mai-Kai
Take a look back and all the fun and festivities at the 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida.
Photos, video: Mai-Kai unveils two large tiki carvings during The Hukilau 2025
Guests are now greeted by two towering tikis in the restaurant’s reimagined entry area, one created locally by a familiar artist, the other in Arizona by a veteran carver.
• The Hukilau returns to the Mai-Kai for five days of Tiki festivities
• Mai-Kai welcomes The Hukilau guest bartenders with exclusive dinner
• Beverage director reunites with old friends at The Hukilau finale
2024
The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from 2024 Tiki weekender
Check out The Atomic Grog’s deep dive into all the fun at the Beachcomber Resort and sneak peek at the Mai-Kai, including our favorite moments from throughout the four-day Tiki weekender.
• Live coverage, photos and video from social media
• Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
2023
The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from Tiki weekender
The 21st annual event featured four days of nonstop music, cocktails and education on modern and historic Polynesian Pop at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in South Florida.
• The Hukilau 2023 live coverage, photos and video from social media
2022
The Hukilau 2022: Daily recap, photos and video
The 20th Tiki weekender featured four days of live music, educational seminars, cocktails and rum tastings, plus lots more.
• The Mai-Kai’s new owner reveals renovation plans during The Hukilau
PREVIOUS YEARS
• 2021: Daily recap, photos and video | Zombie party is final challenge | Full coverage
• 2020: Virtual events honor The Hukilau, help those in need
• 2019: 10 highlights and photos | Social media recap | Full coverage
• 2018 social media recap | More highlights
• 2017 daily recaps, news, photos and video | More highlights
• More recaps: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2002-2008
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