Happy Hour at Monkeypod- Honolulu

I’ll go out in a limb and claim that our trip to the Monkeypod was a smashing success (in more ways than one given how strong those MaiTais are).

We had somewhere between 25-30 of my newest friends in attendance and only one person didn’t like the famous MonkeyPod Maitai so that’s a score. Everyone else seemed to share in my obsession with that honey Liliko’i foam (iykyk). A little birdie (aka the bartender) told me a couple folks met the 5 maitai limit which makes me proud.

We were scattered around the restaurant because a group that size requires one check and I refuse to handle group money. One of my favorite squads onboard sat at the bar and pre-gamed happy hour like the professionals they are :). In addition there were several tables of 2-6 and I do believe we all managed to make new friends which was the whole point. Monkeypod sits right on Waikīkī beach with diamond head as a backdrop. What’s not to like about this place?

I didn’t get pics of everyone, but here are a few……

Special thanks to EVERYONE in attendance for being so appreciative. You make my heart smile. A big shout out to Carolee, Nick, Elizabeth, and Bruce for picking up my portion of the taxi ride there. Cruisers are overwhelmingly good eggs!

Quick story- After happy hour I left the group to do some shopping and planned to uber back on my own. I picked up a 12 pack of Coke Zero at one of the first stops (don’t judge, it’s a guilty pleasure and I still have 28 days left onboard).

Uber wanted $25 to get back to the ship from Hard Rock Cafe (less than 4 miles). Being the frugal gal I am, I started strolling toward the ship with my overfilled backpack and 12 pack of pop.

A 12 pack doesn’t seem awkward to carry until you try to hump it 2 miles thru downtown Waikiki. It’s awkward and the box that seemed so sturdy in the store actually crumbles. After a couple miles I checked uber again and the price jumped to $35! What the hey??

So I forged forward. Lugging my overstuffed backpack and the now fifty pound 12 pack of Coke Zero. Passing several longs drugs along the way where I could have bought the soda and avoided this fiasco. I really am a moron.

By this point I was seriously contemplating giving the 12 pack to a local homeless guy but I am nothing if not persistent. I was prepared to schlep that load all the way back to the ship if necessary, but I wasn’t paying $35 for a quick uber. As fate would have it, as soon as I crossed Ala wai canal into Honolulu the rate dropped to $12 and I was back onboard (coke zero in hand) in time to see the Hawaiian show.

Heres a photo. I have forbidden video I will upload to my Honolulu blog entry later

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Below is the original blog with all the deets on MonkeyPod

It's all about that Honey Lilikoi Foam!

UPDATE 11/21/25: There are currently 25 of us signed up (the more the merrier of course), but there is absolutely no way that monkeypod will give us a table that big and even if they did, they would insist on one tab for the group and I'm not up for sorting out cash. I'll ask for one of the larger tables, but basically you're on your own!! The place will be jam packed so the earlier you get there the better chance you'll have of getting a seat. Monkeypod is a low key bar on the ocean. It's not like we all need to sit together. Get up and mingle :-)

I was asked to put something together for Happy Hour at Monkeypod the day we are in Honolulu so here goes....

Where: MonkeyPod Restaurant (located inside the Wakikiki Outrigger hotel)

Why: The absolute BEST Mai-Tai in the Universe

When: Sunday, February 22nd (Honolulu).

Meet: Billboards at 2:15 p.m. for ridesharing (or just meet us at the Monkeypod).

Happy Hour starts at 3:30. Be there by 3:00 to get on waiting list for a seat!

First Name	Screen name (if applicable)	Meet in Billboard at 2:30 for Rideshare	Will just meet us at Restaurant
Cheryl	BermudaBound2014	Yes	X
Nick & Carolee	ChawkJewel	Yes	X
Al & Mary		X	YES
Ana		Yes	X
Bruce & Elizabeth	ZoomZoom	Yes	X
Kelly & Steve		Yes	X
Cathy & Steve	ChattyC	Yes	X
Debbie & Kurt	dmcfad2	no	Yes
Jocelyn		?	?
Jeanne + 3	Flamingogal	no	Yes
Jen & Ed	Buffy	no	Yes
DeDe & Jude		no	Yes

For those wanting to rideshare, meet in Billboards at 2:30. You can also just meet the group at the restaurant at 3:00. If you sign up for this event in the comments below, I'll try to get us a table that will accommodate the entire group but no guarantees.

Note about rideshare: Sometimes it's nice to find ride share before the day of the event. The easiest way to do this is at the BWHY pre-cruise party. Just write "monkeypod' on your nametag so others know you are looking to share a ride (note: please don't write on your nametag at Mimi's meet and greet onboard because the ship frowns upon self organized activities). For those who don't find rideshare before the date, meet in Billboard at 2:30 for prompt 2:35 walk off the ship. Worse case scenerio is you can't find someone to share the cost of a ride (unlikely), but uber/taxi is going to run less than $20 (dynamic pricing) so you are still way ahead of shore excursion pricing!

The distance from where the ship docks to Outrigger hotel (where the Monkeypod is located) is approximately 3 miles. Totally walkable or a $20 uber/lyft (prices for rideshare are dynamic).

Happy hour starts at 3:30 p.m. but you really need to get there by 3:00 to get a seat. I will ask for a table to accommodate the group (sign up in comments below and indicate if you want to ride share). It will be PACKED! The location is terrific too.

Located beachside in downtown Waikiki. Amazing sunsets from here if we make it that long

After Monkeypod Happy Hour:

Next-door to the Outrigger is the HaleKulani Hotel and "House Without a Key" restaurant. Last year, a group of folks met here at 5:00 for the live hula show and sunset. Note: The mai-tai at House without a Key was $36, so at $16 the Monkeypod Mai tai is a steal (and infinitely better). But, for those interested, you do get live entertainment and free hula show at "House without a Key" and the sunset from there was a bonus. If you want to go here after happy hour, just walk next door :).

Free Hula Show Next-Door

Here's last years blog entry with video of the hula dancer: https://www.awanderingdoc.com/post/honolulu

Monkeypod menus found here: https://www.monkeypodkitchen.com/dine_ka_waikiki

As of June, 2025 a Happy Hour Mai-Tai will be $16 ($20 normally)

If you Know, You Know............

Just a few of the accolades for this delicious treat.

This was taken from the Monkeypod in Wakiki last year~ good photo op of Diamondhead

IYKYK