Beer in a jar
It’s pretty much a given that any local-centric watering hole will have its country music moment–the time when its signature song comes on the juke box, espousing ‘winners, losers, chain smokers and boozers,’ where the regulars sing along with complete sincerity, knowing that deep down the singer was thinking about their spot in particular, and not some juke joint in sticksville Oklahoma. The difference, however, is that few of these places actually serve their beer in mason jars, as the song suggests. But Bikini Cantina, located in the heart of the Aloha Tower Marketplace, takes the lyrics to heart.
Aloha Tower, you scoff. So what? They’ve found another quirk to exploit instead of big breasts and tight shirts or yuppified beer and food at the same kind of prices. But Bikini’s manages to transcend the reality of its surroundings. Obviously, being located inside a tourist Mecca, there’s the probability that the place will fall into the same, soulless tourist trappings, more concerned with selling memorabilia than drinks, and yet instead they’ve managed to become the spot for industry pros and locals who want to escape the spoon-fed tourism angle, all the while allowing for a scene and a view that makes you appreciate where we live, what with the open-air patio motif, where every seat has a view of the water as well as a breeze.
Ask Captain Martin, also known as The Pirate. ‘It’s sort of like a local bar,’ he says, ‘except it’s right where all the tourists come to. You get the best of both.’ He stops to take a drink and then muses, mostly to himself, ‘It’s the sensible place to be.’
One of the reasons it’s such a local hot spot is the hospitality they give back to hospitality workers. Utilizing two happy hours, the first running from 3 to 7pm, the second from 10pm until 2am, pau hana workers from both shifts have a spot to get back some of the love that they’re contractionally obligated to give all day. And the regulars take advantage, staking claim to a seat with a view, watching sitcoms with the captions on, squinting over the glare of the sun slowly setting over the Matson shipyard horizon, fitting in a drink or two (or three).
Tuesday brings about a practically required visit with their $2 tacos, served all day and all night. Featuring kalua pork, chicken or veggie tacos, worth twice their price in weight alone and shoved full of goodies, it’s easy to forget that the Japanese and European tourists aren’t tipping. Coming from a background where I normally like my meat served with a side of meat and then wrapped in bacon, we were skeptical when bartender Gregorso Rider suggested the veggie tacos. But we acquiesced and frankly, were amazed at how good something could be without killing something.
Operating most nights with no cover and charging only with the occasional event featuring live music (while still emphatically explaining to promoters that Tower employees and regulars don’t get charged) and operating a service industry night on Sunday where everything except super premiums are $3 from 10pm until midnight for card holders, Bikini Cantina is the perfect place for those who want to get away from the toils of the industry while remaining in the thick of it.
But truth is, you had us with the mason jars.
Bikini Cantina
Aloha Tower Marketplace, 2nd floor
Getting in: Open 11:30am-2am; 21+ after 10pm.
Dress Code: Dress for the
season
Sightings: Local-style reggae stars, random tour groups
Soundtrack: Everything from The Time, to the Grease soundtrack, to ‘Money (that’s what I want)’
Signature Drink: Margarita, how you like it
