17 Hawaii Happy Hours Where You Can Eat For Under $25

I've lived on Oahu for more than three decades, and here's what I know – eating out in Hawaii doesn't have to drain your wallet if you know when to show up. Happy hour (or as we say locally, pau hana) has saved me thousands of dollars over the years while still letting me enjoy incredible food with ocean views. Let me share the spots where I actually go when I want to eat well for under $25.

The Secret Most Tourists Miss

Here's the thing about Hawaii dining that nobody tells you until you've lived here a while. That $40 entree at sunset? It's probably $15 during happy hour. Same kitchen. Same chef. Same sunset (if you time it right). The only difference is you're smart enough to arrive between 3 pm and 6 pm instead of the dinner rush.

I learned this the hard way when I first moved here in the early '90s. My first month's restaurant bills nearly bankrupted me. Then a bartender at a Waikiki spot pulled me aside and said, “Brah, you gotta hit pau hana.” That conversation changed everything.

Signature Prime Steak & Seafood Makes You Feel Rich

The 36th floor of the Ala Moana Hotel houses what locals consider the best happy hour deal in the entire state. I'm talking about Signature Prime, where you can get a 12-ounce ribeye or New York steak for $27 during happy hour. In Waikiki, that's basically stealing.

​But here's the catch (there's always a catch). You need to be in line by 4:00 pm – preferably 4:15 pm at the absolute latest. The locals know this spot, and they'll be waiting at the elevator bank before happy hour even starts at 4:30 pm. I've seen people get turned away because they showed up at 4:35 pm and all the seats were gone.

​The view from up there stretches across Waikiki, the ocean glittering like someone scattered diamonds across blue silk. Live piano music floats through the space while you're cutting into that perfectly cooked steak. The shrimp-stuffed mushrooms run about $11, and the lobster mac and cheese is worth every penny.

​Pro tip: Order your steak the second you sit down. They sell out within 10 minutes of happy hour starting, and the waiters aren't kidding when they say that.

​Monkeypod Kitchen Serves Paradise on a Plate

Every time friends visit from the mainland, I book Monkeypod Kitchen at the Outrigger Reef weeks in advance. The newest Waikiki location sits so close to the ocean that you can practically reach out and touch the sea turtles bobbing in the waves.

​Their happy hour runs from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm daily, which feels criminally short, but what they pack into that 90 minutes is magic. Half-off appetizers (except seafood items), $14 wood-fired pizzas, and their famous Monkeypod Mai Tai with honey-lilikoi foam for $4 off.

​The Kalua pork and pineapple pizza has this incredible smoky-sweet thing happening that reminds me of backyard luaus. The garlic truffle fries disappear so fast you'd think they evaporate. And that mai tai – hands down my favorite in all of Waikiki. The foam on top tastes like sunshine and passion fruit had a baby.

​I remember bringing my sister here last summer. She'd been complaining about Hawaii prices since she landed. We ordered the roasted chicken wings, truffle fries, and two pizzas during happy hour. With drinks, our bill came to $62 for two people. She stopped complaining after that.

​Local knowledge: You can sit anywhere in the restaurant for happy hour prices, not just the bar area. Grab that oceanfront table and watch for honu while you eat.

​Chart House Pulls Double Duty

Most happy hours happen once. Chart House in Waikiki said “why not twice?” and runs specials from 3:30 pm to 6 pm AND again from 9 pm to midnight. That late-night happy hour has saved many nights when jet lag hit my visitors hard and they wanted dinner at 10 pm.

​Everything on their happy hour menu costs $8. Everything. Fish tacos, truffle fries, garlic chicken, wagyu sliders, coconut shrimp, even escargot and baby back ribs. You can build an entire feast for under $25 per person and still have room for their poke sampler.

​The garlic chicken became legendary in my friend group after one particularly memorable night. We'd spent the day hiking Diamond Head, and by pau hana time, we were ravenous. Six plates of garlic chicken later (at $8 each), we'd found our new favorite.

​Tommy Bahama's Rooftop Stays Chill

The rooftop location at Tommy Bahama overlooks Kalakaua Avenue from above the trees, giving you that bird's-eye view of Waikiki without the tourist crush below. Daily happy hour from 2 pm to 5 pm means you've got options.

Their burger sliders with American cheese and onion jam cost $7, the same price as the pork belly sliders with sriracha mustard. The blackened mahi mahi tacos run $8, and all starters get $5 knocked off the regular price. The guacamole and salsa starter becomes $11 instead of $16, and suddenly you're eating fresh, island-style food without the tourist-trap pricing.

The atmosphere feels more relaxed than some of the fancier spots. People actually talk to each other here instead of just taking Instagram photos (though yeah, I've taken plenty of those too).

Yard House Treats Night Owls Right

Here's something wild – Yard House runs happy hour from 2 pm to 5:30 pm on weekdays, but then they do it AGAIN from 10:30 pm to 1 am Sunday through Wednesday. That late-night window became my saving grace when I worked evening shifts and got off around 10 pm.

Half-price appetizers include poke nachos, chicken lettuce wraps, brussels sprouts, and all their pizzas. We're talking massive portions that could feed two people for $6 to $8. The half-yard beers (basically three regular beers) cost around $9 during happy hour.

The first time I tried their blackened ahi sashimi during happy hour, I couldn't believe it was half off. The fish tasted butter-soft and fresh, probably caught that morning. At regular price it's $18, but during pau hana you're paying $9 for appetizer-sized sashimi that's better than some full-priced entrees.

Moku Kitchen Does It Family-Style

Located in Kaka'ako (just outside Waikiki), Moku Kitchen runs happy hour from 2 pm to 5:30 pm with a simple formula – 50% off all small plates and $12 pizzas. Their mushroom pizza with truffle oil makes people swoon.

The portions at Moku are generous. What they call “small plates” could easily be someone's entire meal. When you're cutting those prices in half, suddenly you're eating farm-to-table Hawaiian cuisine for less than you'd spend at a mainland chain restaurant.

Pro tip: The $12 pizzas are the real MVP here. They're full-sized, wood-fired, and enough for two people if you order an appetizer or two to share.

Doraku Sushi Serves Two Happy Hours Daily

Sushi during happy hour sounds too good to be true until you hit Doraku in Waikiki. They run specials from 4 pm to 6 pm and then again from 9 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday. California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, spicy salmon rolls, and shrimp tempura rolls all cost $7.

The garlic chili wings ($8), ahi poke ($8), and beef tataki ($8) round out a menu where you can eat like royalty for under $25. I've brought my poke-obsessed cousin here three times, and each visit she orders the ahi poke and acts surprised when it's still delicious.

The shooters are an interesting touch – oyster, scallop, uni, ikura, or pork belly shooters all for $7. It's like doing sake bombs but with actual food involved.

SKY Waikiki Elevates Your Evening

Nineteen floors above Waikiki, SKY offers one of the shortest happy hours (just 4 pm to 5 pm), but what an hour it is. Oysters cost $2 each, and various poke dishes run $14. The view stretches from Diamond Head across the Pacific, with the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's pink walls glowing in the afternoon light.

The spicy margarita became my go-to drink here after my usual mai tai experimentation. Something about the sweet mango cutting through the tequila heat just works when you're watching the sunset from 19 stories up.

Insider tip: About half the happy hour tables sit in full sun during that 4-5 pm window. If you burn easily like me, aim for the shaded side or bring sunscreen.

Deck Gives You Diamond Head Views

Most tourists obsess over ocean views (guilty as charged), but sometimes the best view in Waikiki is Diamond Head. Deck, on the 3rd floor of the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, delivers exactly that. Their happy hour runs from 2 pm to 6 pm for drinks and from 4 pm to 6 pm for food.

The beef sliders ($15) taste juicy and come with fries. Braised short ribs ($29) push the budget, but split between two people during happy hour, and you're still under $25 per person with drinks. The truffle fries ($9) have that addictive quality where you keep reaching for “just one more”.

The atmosphere feels more local, less touristy. You'll see residents here catching up after work, which always signals good value to me.

Lulu's Waikiki Keeps It Casual

Right on the beach with a super casual vibe, Lulu's runs weekday happy hour from 2 pm to 4 pm. Their beachboy nachos come in veggie, chicken, kalua pork, beef, or steak versions, ranging from $9 to $11. The quesadillas follow the same protein options for $8 to $12.

Garlic fries or Cajun fries cost just $5, chips and guac run $7, and you can build an entire Mexican-Hawaiian fusion feast for under $20 per person. The ahi poke (both regular and spicy) costs $18, which pushes the budget solo but splits perfectly.

The sand-between-your-toes atmosphere means you can show up in board shorts and a tank top. No judgment. Just good food and cold drinks with your feet practically in the ocean.

Basalt Restaurant Serves Comfort Food

Inside the Prince Waikiki Hotel, Basalt runs a happy hour from 2 pm to 5 pm daily. Their Basalt Bar Burger costs just $9 and comes loaded (add mushrooms, bacon, avocado, or egg for $3 each). The chef poke runs $7, and you can make it a bowl by adding rice for $2.

French fries cost $4. Four dollars! In Waikiki! For fresh-cut fries from a hotel restaurant! The cheese pizza ($9) and pepperoni pizza ($11) both qualify as legitimate meals, not appetizers pretending to be food.

When the weather turns rainy (yes, it happens), Basalt's indoor seating with harbor views provides the perfect refuge while you wait out the shower.

Hideout Gets Creative

This spot runs happy hour from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm daily with a menu that mixes local and mainland flavors. The kalua egg rolls ($12) stuff traditional kalua pork inside crispy wrappers – fusion done right. Crispy pork belly and brussels sprouts ($14) might push the budget alone, but split it and add the hideout fries ($9) and you're golden.

Their “Hawaiian Style” mai tai costs $14, which isn't exactly happy hour pricing, but the pour is generous enough to understand why. Well drinks run $9, and the local draft beers sit at $7, keeping your total bill reasonable.

ShoreFyre Delivers Island Flavors

Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, ShoreFyre offers a menu heavy on Hawaiian preparations. The hibachi chicken or Mauna Kea nachos cost $11 each. Fresh ahi tuna tataki, hibachi steak, tropical shrimp ceviche, or popcorn shrimp all run $12.50.

Here's a deal – pick any four items from their happy hour menu for $38 total. Bring three friends, order the sampler, and everyone's eating for under $10. That's mainland fast-food pricing for fresh Hawaii seafood and quality preparations.

The Hawaiian mai tai ($11) or coconut mojito ($11) pair perfectly with the tropical shrimp ceviche. That combination tastes like vacation feels.

Fire Grill Offers European Flair

Daily happy hour from 3 pm to 6 pm at Fire Grill brings a different flavor profile to Waikiki. The prime rib tacos (two for $10), shrimp ajillo ($10), and burrata with prosciutto ($11) read more Mediterranean than Pacific.

The truffle mashed potatoes cost $11 and could honestly be someone's entire meal. Baby octopus ($11), beef marrow bones ($17), and grilled herb squid ($17) push into adventurous territory, but if you're going to try octopus anywhere, try it during happy hour when the price doesn't hurt as much.

Empire Steak House Shows Off Views

The top floor of the iconic Ilikai Hotel hosts Empire Steak House with 360-degree views from mauka to makai. Their happy hour runs from 3 pm to 6 pm daily (bar area only). The hamburger sliders with fries cost $12 – an actual meal with an incredible view for twelve bucks.

Draft beers run $6, house wines $9, and classic cocktails, including martinis, cost $9. The Friday night fireworks look different from up here, like you're floating among the explosions instead of watching from below.

I go between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm to beat the dinner rush. They're good about expanding the “bar area” to nearby tables when happy hour gets crowded, but arriving early guarantees your spot.

Maui Brewing Co. Keeps It Simple

Both their afternoon happy hour (Monday-Friday 3:30 pm-4:30 pm) and late-night version (Sunday-Thursday 9:30 pm-10:30 pm) offer the same deal – 50% off select appetizers and $12 pizzas. All beers drop $2, and cocktails come down $3.

The pizza quality here surprises people. These aren't frozen discs reheated in a conveyor oven. They're legitimate wood-fired pizzas with local ingredients and creative toppings that happen to cost $12 during happy hour.

Big Island Bonus Spots

If you're island hopping, Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill on the Big Island runs a daily happy hour from 3 pm to 5 pm with $6-7 pupus, $8 tropical drinks, and $6 draft beers. Their coconut-crusted brie ($6) and mac nut ahi tartare ($7) punch way above their price point.

Huggo's On the Rocks in Kailua-Kona offers $5 bottled beers and drafts, $6 mai tais, and $7 sliders or tacos from 3 pm to 5 pm. The location literally sits on the rocks overlooking the Pacific – you can't get more “on the beach” than that.

The Math That Changes Everything

Let me break down what I mean by eating for under $25. At Signature Prime, your steak costs $27 (okay, slightly over budget, but stay with me). Split an appetizer for $11 with a friend, add a $9 cocktail, and you're at $47 total – $23.50 each.

At Chart House, order three items at $8 each ($24) and you're done. Add a $8 drink special and you hit $32 total for enough food for two people.

Yard House's half-price appetizers mean you can order two apps (normally $16-18 each, so $8-9 during happy hour) plus a half-yard beer ($9) and land right around $25.

The pattern holds everywhere. Share appetizers. Time your arrival right. Skip the fancy cocktails when beer costs $5. Suddenly, Hawaii dining becomes affordable instead of bankrupting.

Timing Is Everything

Most happy hours run from 3 pm to 6 pm, which works perfectly if you're dealing with jet lag anyway. Mainland visitors usually want dinner around 4 pm Hawaii time because their bodies think it's 7 pm or later.

That weird 9 pm-midnight happy hour at Chart House catches people on their second wind after an early dinner. The 10:30 pm-1 am window at Yard House serves the night owl crowd.

Book reservations when possible. Signature Prime requires a line strategy. Monkeypod Kitchen fills fast. Tommy Bahama takes reservations for its rooftop.

Walk-ins work fine at more casual spots like Lulu's, Basalt, or Yard House.

The Real Hawaii Experience

Here's what nobody puts in the guidebooks. Happy hour in Hawaii isn't just about saving money (though that's nice). It's about experiencing pau hana culture – that collective exhale when work ends and life begins.

You'll sit next to locals still in their work clothes, tourist families planning tomorrow's adventures, couples on their honeymoon, and solo travelers making friends at the bar. The aloha spirit flows more easily when everyone's guard drops a little, when the prices aren't intimidating, when you're all just humans enjoying good food and cold drinks.

That's the real value. Not just the $12 pizza or the $7 sushi roll. It's the moment when Hawaii stops feeling like a vacation destination and starts feeling like a place where you belong – even if only for an hour during pau hana.