Great Kava Bar! I forget the name of the gentleman who served us, but he did a phenomenal job. He was extremely knowledable about the kava and made reccomendations based off the vibes we were going for. Rather than doing a kava cocktail, we opted to do the actual thing just to get a baseline of what it tastes like. The kava we had was hands down one of the better ones we've tried. If you've never had it before, its earthy and herbally kind of like tea and leaves a numb/tingling sensation on your tongue. The bar is super laid back, very casual. We even had the pleasure of chatting with other customers and had a good time here. The inside also looks like their set up for live music. 10/10 would reccomend, great vibes overall. read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

This is a must try experience! Kai and Ames (the chef) were so friendly and welcoming which made for a great atmosphere. Kai was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of kava and the menu which was super helpful because I hadn't tried a kava bar prior to stopping in. The Kava cocktails themselves were certainly a new experience, but in all the best ways! There's a ton of variety on the menu and every drink we had was delicious. "I really liked it." - Otis (a top tier review from my boyfriend, a man of few words) read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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What a great experience, staff/bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable. The drinks were delicious and the vibes were great. I would recommend to others read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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The non-alcoholic bar with three thousand-year lateral-root drinks as alternative to make you relax. Very friendly and informative owner

Pain killer was so tasty and relaxing. Happy birthday Ames! . Thank you for a pleasant experience read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Pain killer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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Amazing Kava drinks!!! Ames, the kava tender made the best drinks and super friendly!!! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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Was hoping this would be a cocktail bar, but no alcohol served. All mocktails and kava drinks.

High quality kava and a very comfortable atmosphere. The staff+owner are super fun, kind, knowledgeable, cool. Everything on the menu is delicious. Currently my fav drink is "Missionaries Downfall." I always buy a kratom gummy too read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - zombie and fresh kava - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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The staff here and overall vibes are so so welcoming, especially as a tourist I felt so welcomed here. They are so knowledgeable and proud of their craft and it truly reflects in the drinks! read more

Great vibes , loved our bartender Kai , very knowledgeable and a great host thanks again!!! Strongly recommend read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Scorpion Bowl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

friendly staff and amazing kava drinks! Try their Mai Tai drink it's so delicious and truly made with love!

One of the better kava lounges I've been to, both in atmosphere and drink quality alike. We were exploring the area near our Airbnb and happened upon this bar by chance. Aumakua is located in the corner of a strip mall near downtown Paia, split between two lots-- a dance area, and a formal bar. Free dance classes are held in the evenings at the former. Our bartender was friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable. Though most kava varieties on their menu were out of stock for the night, we still had a good time exploring the drink menu. MISSIONARY'S DOWNFALL: This tastes like a healthy smoothie but smoother LOL. Something you would make for breakfast. In a good way. PUKULANI PUNCH: Heavier on kava flavor. Refreshing yet rich mix of fruity & floral. LILIKOI FISH BOWL: Our favorite of the three. Tasted like a standard juice-based cocktail, no kava bitterness at all. My bf and I had both been to a variety of kava lounges throughout college and afterwards-- none had drinks as well-made and vibrant. Though, the patrons can be a little disquieting. The bar side is small, impossible to ignore the gradual increase in interesting characters as the evening went on. Some were clearly stoned (smelled terrible) and multiple were burping so loudly you could hear across the bar. Several groups were discussing pretty concerning (or hilarious-- depends on your perspective) conspiracy theories. We were accosted by a regular who started talking to us about the "current ice age" and taking mushrooms. Could be a watering hole for white hippies. We left shortly afterwards. read more

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I got the blue Hawaii it was refreshing and tastes very good. The workers are very helpful and knowledgeable. read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - The blue Hawaii drink is super refreshing and tastes very good! Workers are very knowledgeable and helpful. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Super cool experience! Great customer service, great drinks, and the bartender was super knowledgeable :) read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Looking for a booze break but still want a bar vibe? Then this might just be the place to check out. I know nothing about Kava, but it's supposed to get you into that aloha state of mind. I mean if you're in Paia and you're not already there then this place will do it for you. Dasha is super knowledgeable about Kava and the benefits, and she's a great mix master - recreating many of the traditional tiki drinks but in this non alcoholic version. We started with the scorpion bowl, because a bowl drink at a tiki bar is always a must. Fire is included. The we moved on to the hurricane and a pomegranate mai tai. Both more on the fruity side which balances out the earthiness of the kava. Kava shots are also available if you want to dive straight into the deep end. Tiki drinks. Check. Chill vibes. Check. Cool bar tender and great music. Check check. The bar is light on the tiki decor - slightly more beachy than 1940/50s tiki decor you would expect and there's room to up the mug game. All in all totally worth it for a unique tiki bar experience read more

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My wife and I found this spot and wanted to give it a try. To be honest we had no idea what kava was until we got there. We were walked through the benefits of kava and what to expect and to be honest after a long day this is by far the best way to end it. We drove home listening to our jam "stick figure". 10/10 we will return when able. read more

The kava was awesome and so were the vibes. Super chill and the service was phenomenal. The entire experience was very educational and enjoyable. Our kava tender, Ames, was an absolute delight. She was literally the best. Thank you!! read more

Amazing experience! Love the service, vibe, and kava, would definitely recommend! :)

Special welcoming place tucked into the corner of a small strip mall where you can just chill and learn. I was introduced to the Somalian Kava ceremony with a traditional bowl. What an honor and unique experience. In the evenings they have entertainment, music, DJs, and events. This is a great place to meet like minded people and have a feel good alternative to alcohol. read more

Great environment and the bartender was great at explaining kava and the whole experience. I would definitely recommend!! read more

We didn't know what to expect when we walked in the door. The "chill" is cool and the bartender walked us thru the choices and guided us thru selecting our drinks. Fun experience!!!' read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

First time experiencing Kava. Definitely a different flavor because of the root nature. But the cocktails are beautiful and delicious. Absolutely incredible atmosphere and the bartender was knowledgeable, helpful, and respectful. Highly suggested! read more

24 Oct 2020 Pa'ia's best kept secret. Creative Tiki mocktails crafted with kava, an ancient Polynesian root extract. You won't miss the alcohol. I've been to a few kava bars on the mainland, and this one beats them all with its island vibes, friendly people, and delicious, inventive mocktails. If you've never tried kava before, you won't find a better first experience than Aumakua. Bula! For those who aren't familiar: in its raw form, it's a milky brown bitter tea made from kava root. It slightly numbs the lips and tongue and imparts an enjoyable subtle chill or energetic clarity depending on the varietal (Solomon = chill, Vanuatu = energetic). I've heard from others and noticed myself that I've become more sensitive to its effects over time, and I usually go for two drinks per evening. Straight up it's an acquired taste, but Aumakua's mocktails make it go down very smooth. By the numbers: Drinks 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Value 4/5 Zombie - Excellent. Citrus dominant with sweet notes and clove to balance the bitter kava. Vanuatu kava energizes. Hemingway - Excellent. Moderately sweet and 100% delicious. read more

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Why is this place so under rated? The lady that was helping us was so welcoming, especially as a tourist hehe. She recommended the Kava Affogato dessert, YOU WONT REGRET IT. The experience is one of a kind, very cool to look back on :) Everything is actually LOCAL, and the interior is phenomenal read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

I've been here a couple times now and love it! The bartender is friendly and informative, teaching us all about Kava (it was my first time trying it) The drinks are well thought out and implemented, with intriguing flavors & elixirs. We tried the Zombie, Pukalani Punch, and the Lilikoi fishbowl. All were delicious and left our tongue and mouth feeling delightfully tingly. The mermaids dream was a personal favorite, although it doesn't have kava in it, it's silky and smooth. We can't wait to go back and try more! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - The Mermaids Dream - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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Our first Kava experience and they did a great job - Great service, good mocktails - We'd recommend it.

Great service and a great first experience trying kava! I ordered the Zombie. I was pleasantly surprised by the mildly sweet taste, expecting a much more earthy flavor based on what I had read about kava in advance. Fun vibes as well! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Kava - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Cute little kava bar nestled in Paia. If you've never tried kava, it's worth trying once at least. The feeling is interesting for sure. Service was great, bar tender was very nice and explained everything for us since it was our first time. Good sources of entertainment as well. There was a tv with football and a few books on the bar for those who would rather read. We did stop by on a Friday around 5ish so there was live music in a few spots, as well as walking distance restaurants. Awesome spot! read more

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im from new york and living there is rough with the busy city life always in affect. coming to Maui has been life changing, I was recommended to come here by some local fellas. immediately when I entered the atmosphere was very wonder and the workers AMES and KAI were some of the most kind hearted, hardworking, loving, free spirited people I've ever met. the workers made this experience 100x better. this is easily one of the best staff and environments I've ever come across. Please come to this kava bar!!! I pray ames and Kai are your servers! 100000000/10 read more

Good kava, nice people. The mocktails are, frankly, 100% tastier than straight kava, and not as strong which is a good thing.

This was a great and memorable part of our Maui experience! If you wanna try kava, you gotta do it at this 1930's tiki hut vibe with the gods and mermaids decor, coconut shell cups, and classic cocktails with a kava twist. If I lived in Maui, I would so be a regular! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Such an amazing little place in the corner of Paia. The vibe is very chill and serene with beautiful decor and an ambiance that will have you wanting to stay for hours. The Kava is excellent and cocktails are a deliciously unique twist on the traditional Polynesian drink. Adesh has created a beautiful environment where you will want to come back time and time again. The kava and the ambiance were the perfect remedy for the headache and tension I was experiencing earlier in the night. I'll be back very soon! read more

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I'm so happy I came in for Kava drink. My wife and I enjoyed the experience and I enjoyed it so much we went back for more. It's got a great cultural history and great medicinal qualities and benefits. The service and ambiance were top notch. read more

We stopped by after a day driving the Road to Hana, not realizing that this was a kava bar rather than a traditional cocktail bar. But Adesh was very helpful in explaining how kava works and making drink recommendations based on the flavor profiles we gave her. The drinks were great and I was feeling blissed out and tingly-lipped in no time! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Pukalani Punch (left) and the Zombie (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

If the little mermaid gave up her fins and decided to enchant sailors and madams with equal allure, she would be the beauty in maiden form serving kava at this enchanting hide away. The kava drinks here posses rich layered flavors that could win the top chef prize, exquisite and rare to fit a queens pallet and strong enough to knock a pirate off his feet. I have found myself warming the seats of many kava lounges across the pacific, this one is in a league of its own. Go there, your Maui adventure would be incomplete otherwise! read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Almost too pretty to drink, so delicious it leaves you craving more, so satisfying your loyalty will be guaranteed... you have been warned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

It is a small space, but the vibes are great. The bartender is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They make you feel welcome and right at home. I have been to many Kava bars all over the country, and this one ranks up there. Definitely the best Kava bar on Maui no question. read more

It's a very small place but it was very nice. The bartender was very friendly and made me feel right at home. The drinks were great! It's a nice place to stop by for a kava at the end of the day. read more

Cutest hole in the wall you'll ever find. Not only are the tiki variations on traditional kava delicious but the owner/bartender is THE sweetest. Go in an try it for yourself!! read more

Really cool place, very niche which I absolutely love! The attention to detail is awesome, great tasting drinks. I got the Zombie which I highly recommend. Great happy hour too. read more

Aumakua Kava Lounge - Zombie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

It's a nice spot to chill with your girlfriend or wife and have a fruity non alcoholic drink. In my opinion (and I might be wrong), kava itself is very watery. It would take about $70-80 investment for me to feel the kava wave. read more