Post #637423 by pablus on Tue, May 22, 2012 11:46 AM

I still don't think it has gotten near a "crest" yet, commercially or in popularity.
For me, it has always started and ended with Hawaiiana, but commercially - it's always been about the drinks.

Now that places like Smuggler's Cove, Forbidden Island, Lani Kai, Painkiller and others are becoming the "go to" places for cocktail connoisseurs, that's leading a whole new generation into the amber lights, the statues and general vibe.

For instance, my daughter is 27. She's a professional-athlete-dating-fashion-industry-executive-on-the-way-up.
She always mocked me and my luaus with playfully mild disdain. Then about 4 years ago, she started trying more sophisticated drinks rather than DUH-VOKAREBULL-DUH and such swill. I remember her talking about how great this bar was that took 15 minutes to make your drink with fresh ingredients and things like absinthe, etc.

Then she went to the Mai Kai during this past Hukilau. Now, she wants to tell all her sophisticate pals in Miami about this "great old place" in Ft. Lauderdale with the most awesome cocktails.

Also, the bartender's guilds and cocktail clubs are really drawn to rum as a great vehicle that has more history than craft made gins served in goat hooves or vodka made from glaciers and served in a glass skull.

Once that door opens to the cocktails - the rest catches their eye and then we'll see who shakes out and who sticks around.
It's only beginning, in my opinion. The SpongeBob generation is now coming of age and they're thirsty, they like tapa, tikis, uke and goofiness and don't mind a little sunshine cast into their lives as opposed to the mostly dark and somber thoughts of the kids of the 90s.

As long as there's a place for me at the bar, I'm fine with that.