Let’s address the elephant in the brew pub first. Yes, craft beer purists bash on Kona Brewing Company for the fact that they are owned by Anheuser-Busch of Budweiser fame. They love to bring this fact up at pool parties and picnics whenever someone pulls a bottle of Pipeline Porter from the cooler. But in the end, the label pumps out some pretty darn good beer, and if you head over to Kona Brewing Company in Hawaii Kai you’ll actually get to enjoy special “Aloha Series” selections that are indeed brewed and sold exclusively in Hawaii. But what really shines is the location at Koko Marina Center. The bar and restaurant is large, well laid-out, vibrant and has the best patio view of all pubs on Oahu. The of Koko Marina is the kind of blue that Crayola inexplicably calls “Spiro Disco Ball” (Google it).

The food is also a cut above what you find at most others brew pubs on the island, and there is even a gift shop where you can take home branded tap handles, t-shirts, hoodies, sunglasses, and more.

Grab a souvenir from the Kona Brewing Co. gift shop on the way out