Hukilau Lanai is known for its audacious menu, full of Hawaiian ingredients. “That’s what we are all about, local ingredients,” says bartender John Scott, adding that the owners of Hukilau Lanai search for every bit of local produce, not just
Hukilau Lanai is known for its audacious menu, full of Hawaiian ingredients.
“That’s what we are all about, local ingredients,” says bartender John Scott, adding that the owners of Hukilau Lanai search for every bit of local produce, not just on Kaua‘i but all over the state.
One of the restaurant’s newest creations is the “Citrus Buzz,” which uses honey collected by an employee who is a beekeeper.
The local honey mixed in with a zesty Italian Limoncello liqueur and guava is a treat you cannot pass up.
John has been working there from day one. “We’re constantly moving things around, depending on what ingredients we have,” he said.
The avid surfer — who also does stand up paddle surfing — keeps in shape by getting into the water as much as he can.
John was born in the Philippines but grew up in California and Hawai‘i. He has been surfing his whole life and is pretty much an outdoors guy, in tune with local cultural traditions such as hunting, fishing and gathering.
Hukilau Lanai is in Waipouli, behind Coconut Marketplace. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner. They stop seating at 9 p.m., but you can still get drinks at the bar — and probably one of their yummy desserts — until 10 p.m.
House-made honey syrup
1-1/4 ounce of Limoncello liqueur
Splash of guava juice
Lemon wedge
Wave riding spirit
Put a scoop of ice in a rocks glass and fill up about a quarterof it with the house- made honey syrup. Gently add the Limoncelloliqueur and the guava juice, creating a layer until it reaches thetop of the glass. Squeeze a lemon wedge on it. Now imagine yourselfon a longboard gliding down the face of a wave. Isn’t itrefreshing?
