Beach Villas blog
Mai tais and happy hour at Monkeypod Kitchen, Ko Olina
Ask anyone who has spent a week at Ko Olina where to go for a drink, and Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman is usually the first answer. It's a few minutes from Beach Villas at Ko Olina Station. It's known for its mai tai, its daily happy hour and live music three times a day.
The mai tai
Monkeypod's mai tai has silver and dark rums from Kula, macadamia-nut orgeat, orange curaçao and fresh lime. It's finished with its signature honey-lilikoʻi (passion fruit) foam on top. The foam is the part people photograph and come back for: sweet, tart and floating on the dark rum.
When happy hour runs
Monkeypod Ko Olina's menu lists happy hour daily from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. When we checked in October 2026, the deals included:
- half off appetizers (seafood excluded);
- pizzas at a set happy-hour price;
- a few dollars off draft beer, wine by the glass and cocktails, including the mai tai.
Menus and times change, so check Monkeypod's own site before you go. Happy hour is popular, so arrive early for a table, especially at weekends.
Live music
Monkeypod has live music daily, with sets around 12:30, 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. A late-afternoon visit catches the 3:30 set during happy hour.
Getting there from Beach Villas
Monkeypod is at Ko Olina Station (92-1048 Olani Street), the resort's small dining and shopping center near the entrance. From Beach Villas it's a short drive, or a longer walk if you'd like the exercise. If you're having more than one mai tai, get a ride or walk home, and enjoy it.
Make it an afternoon
- Spend the morning at the lagoon.
- Head to Monkeypod for a 2:30 happy hour, with pupus and a mai tai or two.
- Catch the 3:30 music set.
- Back to Beach Villas in time for sunset at the beach bar, or on your lanai if you're on the sunset side.
More at Ko Olina Station
Ko Olina Station also has other restaurants and bars (including 808 Craft House, with live music several evenings a week), plus a market for groceries and essentials. It's a handy stop on the way back to the villa.
Stay a few minutes away
See open dates for every villa at Beach Villas, or check this week's specials.
Monkeypod Kitchen is an independent restaurant; prices and hours are set by the restaurant and may change.