Nightlife & Entertainment in Big Island

A barefoot-friendly, open-air lounge built right over the water in Kailua-Kona, where the tide laps beneath the tables as the sun goes down. Expect live island music most evenings, tropical cocktails, and a laid-back crowd mixing visitors with locals grabbing pupus after work. The adjacent sand floor bar area gets lively on weekends, and the sunset hour is the busiest stretch, so arriving early nets the best seating. It is more mellow lounge than dance club, geared toward conversation and ocean views rather than late-night partying. Live acoustic and slack-key sets are common, and the drink menu leans on fresh local fruit. A relaxed dress code and no cover charge make it an easy stop to fold into an evening stroll along Alii Drive.

Tucked near Kawaihae Harbor, this quirky roadhouse-style venue pairs a full cantina menu with a genuinely eclectic live music calendar spanning jazz, reggae, blues, and singer-songwriter nights. The interior mixes local art, string lights, and a small stage, giving it more character than a typical resort bar. It draws a mixed crowd of North Kohala residents, ranch hands, and visitors staying near Waikoloa or Hawi looking for something with actual atmosphere after dark. Tables fill quickly on show nights, so calling ahead is wise even though reservations are not strictly required. The bar pours a solid selection of Hawaii-brewed beer and tropical cocktails. It is one of the few spots on this coast where live music runs late, making it a good anchor for an evening out away from the main resort strip.

The flagship brewpub behind one of Hawaii's best-known beer labels sits just off Alii Drive, pouring flagship ales alongside small-batch and taproom-only releases you will not find bottled. The open-air patio gets a steady evening crowd of surfers, off-duty boat crews, and travelers comparing notes over a flight of Big Island-brewed beer. Pizza and pupus keep the mood casual rather than club-like, and there is occasional live music on weekend nights. It is a dependable, unpretentious place to end a beach day, with reliably good service and no cover charge. Happy hour pricing draws a bigger after-work crowd, so early evening is the liveliest window. Families and solo travelers alike tend to feel equally comfortable here, which keeps the energy easygoing rather than rowdy.

A shaded, open-sided kava bar in the Kona Marketplace where the drink of choice is a coconut shell of traditional Hawaiian awa (kava) rather than beer or cocktails. The atmosphere is communal and unhurried, with low tables, cushions on the ground, and regulars who are happy to explain kava etiquette to first-timers. It is an unusual and distinctly local alternative to a typical bar scene, offering a mellow, almost meditative buzz instead of a boisterous night out. Simple Hawaiian plates and smoothies round out the menu for anyone who wants food alongside the kava. Evenings bring a mix of local musicians, artists, and travelers trading stories under string lights. It closes earlier than most bars, so this is best treated as a sunset-to-early-evening stop rather than a late-night destination.

Held on Wednesday nights in the Puna district near Kalapana, this open-air night market and kava club is one of the most authentically local late-night gatherings on the island. Food trucks, craft vendors, and a stage with live reggae and Hawaiian music keep the grounds busy well past sunset, with the crowd skewing toward island residents rather than tourists. The setting near the lava-formed coastline gives it a raw, off-the-grid feel that resort nightlife cannot match. Kava is poured alongside plate-lunch style food, and the vibe stays friendly and unhurried throughout the night. It is a weekly tradition rather than a nightly option, so timing a visit for a Wednesday is essential. Cash is generally the easiest way to pay vendors on-site.