On August 19, 2017, the Royal Kona Resort will host the Mai Tai Fest, a free event featuring various activities and a Mai Tai mix-off. The event, which lasts from 11 am to 7:30 pm, includes a competition between working bartenders to create the best Mai Tai, judged by a panel of chefs, industry experts, and enthusiasts. The event is open to all ages and includes Mai Tai for sale, a BBQ contest, live music, and local craftsmen and merchants offering their wares.
Don the Beachcomber: The Pioneer of Tiki Culture and Mai Tai Festivals
Hard to believe the tiki culture has survived this long—Don the Beachcomber’s original tiki bar “Don’s Beachcomber” opened in 1933. For those of you unaware, Donn Beach (his legal name, but not his birth name) is the founding father of tiki bars and the “Polynesian-ish” bars and restaurants that are still around today.
Donn ended up being a friendly rival to Trader Vic, who you read about it on the Part 1 of our Mai Tai series, with both men claiming the original Mai Tai as their own invention. Donn was also the originator of Waikiki’s International Marketplace, which he set up after losing legal control of his Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain to his ex-wife.
Today, a few bars and restaurants are using his name, including—you guessed it—at the Royal Kona Resort. The restaurant is exactly as kitschy as you’d expect, and serves amazing food and cocktails right on the Kona coastline. After the restaurant opened in 2005, it was only logical that the Mai Tai Festival would follow soon in 2008.
The Battle for the Best Mai Tai
At the heart of the festival was the highly anticipated Mai Tai mix-off. Renowned bartenders from across the globe gathered on this day, shaking and stirring their unique concoctions, all in hopes of being crowned the creator of the best Mai Tai. Each bartender brought their flair and flavor to the classic Mai Tai, introducing exotic ingredients and innovative techniques that pushed the boundaries of mixology. The competition was judged on the taste, creativity, and presentation of the Mai Tais, with the winning bartender receiving not only bragging rights but also a hefty cash prize and the honor of having their drink featured as the signature Mai Tai of the Royal Kona Resort for the following year.
The winner during the 2016 festival was Art Deakins from Bar Leather Apron in downtown Honolulu, who took home the $10,000 first-place prize as well as the title of “World’s Best Mai Tai.” Whoever wins this year, it’ll be a show to watch. As for myself, I’ll be flying out to the Big Island for the day just to attend and check out the winning Mai Tai.
Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming blog post on the 9th Annual Mai Tai Festival after I’m done sleeping off my hango- I mean processing all the photos I’ll be taking, of course. It’ll be an experience!
