I'm so happy more cafe's that serve quality matcha drinks are opening up on the island! What brought me to Po'ai by Pono Potions was their lilikoi syrup and how they write out aloha with lilikoi honey on their cream top for the hapa matcha. Such a nice touch and I love how the design may be different each time depending on the barista. I highly recommend especially if you're visiting Hawaii as you get a taste of Hawaii in your matcha. I was obsessed from the first sip that I came back the next morning before my flight. The cold foam is delicious. You can taste the honey, lilikoi and pineapple. Staff were super welcoming and the ambiance is unmatched with the parasols hanging from the ceiling. They have an additional room with more seating on the right (once you walk in). There are 3 tables in the main area. They also sell local goods such as greeting cards, syrups, skincare and jewelry. read more

See all

Very cool space, parking was a bit challenging, but we lucked out. Such a cute place, workers were so helpful, pleasant and friendly. Who doesn't love a special little coffee place and more? There's a feel good feeling as soon as you walk in the door, acknowledged and immediately engaged in all the surroundings. A cute place for everyone. I was so distracted by wonderful surroundings, I almost forgot about the coffee. Very tasty and delicious. read more

I found Po'Ai by Pono Potions on TikTok while looking for things to do on Oahu. The shop is located in Chinatown, Honolulu. The ambiance felt very artisanal and apothecary-like, similar to a Le Labo or Kiehl's store. I didn't know this at the time, but Pono Potions specializes in syrups using natural flavors from around the island. It was a little busy when we went, but the wait was not too long.  The content creator specifically recommended the Hapa Honey and to substitute the coffee for matcha, so that was exactly what I did. The drink was topped with a pineapple foam and drizzled with a delicious honey lilikoi syrup. I am such a big fan of passionfruit and loved how well the lilikoi flavor blended with the honey and pineapple. I loved how the profile of this drink showcased the flavors of Hawai'i. And now that I know that you can buy their syrups online, I may grab a couple of bottles myself! My friends got the iced and hot Pauahi, a latte with caramelized macadamia nut syrup and topped with toasted macadamia nut. This drink was also really good! I totally recommend Po'Ai by Pono Potions. I love that they create their own syrups. The menu also felt very unique and showcased Hawaiian flavors. I would definitely come back if I ever had the opportunity to. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Drinks - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ok I may have gone 3x during my 2 week stay in Hawaii. The hapa matcha is unlike anything that I can get at home. Perfectly balanced matcha latte with a pineapple foam and lilikoi honey drizzle. So ono! read more

See all

Cute interior with nice decorations and decent amount of indoor seating. Service was friendly and quick. I ordered the Hapa Matcha. Definitely an interesting drink. On the sweeter side especially with the honey drizzle and macnut-pineapple cold foam. The macnut-pineapple cold foam was unique and I've never had anything like it before. Tried some of their other drinks like the vanilla latte, hapa honey latte, and cold brew but I liked my drink the best out of all of these. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

My wife and I stopped by Po'ai By Pono Potions for some coffee before lunch and the store was relatively empty. I ordered a flat white while my wife ordered an Alohamora, a matcha drink with coconut syrup, cocnut milk, matcha, liliko'i coconut foam, and lime zest. The espresso shot in the flat white was strong and the steamed milk on top was nice and foamy. I only tried a small sip of the Alohamora and liked that it wasn't overly sweet and the matcha wasn't too bitter. I was thinking about picking up a small bite from the pastry case but decided against it once I saw the pricing: a small coffee cake muffin was priced at $8. I understand that local businesses have to charge more to survive, but this was a new record high for me, especially given the size of the pastry. Outside of food and beverages, the space had plenty of seating -- with both a low table with 8 seats and tall table with 12 seats in the room adjacent to where you order and pickup your drinks. The cafe seems like a good place to get work down: the music isn't too loud, there's free WiFi, and there's a single bathroom left of the ordering counter. If you're in this part of town, I suspect you're probably here because of the pastries and baked goods at Mille Fête. If so, definitely head next door to try out a matcha drink from Po'ai. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

The drinks are so special and unique. I love the aesthetics of the space and the drinks, so pretty and interesting. The lilikoi foam is delicious. The service is fast and the employees are very friendly and nice. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came here while walking around and it did not disappoint. I got the alohamora and it was really good. The service was friendly and fast. It is definitely a cute place to work or chat with friends. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - alohamora - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Visited for the first time and wondered what the hype was about. I had the Matcha Manako Li-hing mango syrup, whole milk and matcha. Hubby had a Flat White Espresso. He enjoyed his drink, and barista suggested Matcha Manako for me. Great tasting matcha, but I didn't care much for the combination. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Flat White and Matcha Manako Li-hing mango syrup, whole milk and matcha. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're looking for a trendy little cafe/coffee shop to do some work in, this is the place to stop by! We happened to try this place during the christmas season, and boy did they decorate! Its the cutest little hawaiian themed coffee shop that really takes the time to make their crafty cafe drinks. They have a good amount of seating area so they can hold quite the crowd. The line to order moved fairly quickly and the wait for our drinks was definitely reasonable. This coffee shop is located in chinatown. As you probably already know, parking in chinatown can be tricky. If youre lucky, you can snag a street parking close to this cafe. So you can stop in for a quick drink and an opportunity to check out what this place has to offer! From house decor/products, to locally made jewelry and fashion, they sport a wide variety of products that are central to Hawaii. Their menu changes from time to time to keep things spicey. You can stop in different times throughout the year to try different potions of drinks! Definitely worth a try if youre in the chinatown area! read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

The most unique and delicious matcha I've had. Ever. I've seen this place pop up on a lot of peoples' TikTok's and it can be hard to know what's hype or real. But I can easily say this place is the real deal. I had a delicious matcha made with coconut milk and a lilikoi cold foam on top. Even without the extra touches, you could tell the matcha was high quality with its perfect bright green coloring and rich taste. It was so good! I got my husband a drip coffee. They had three different kinds but we went with the house. After drinking coffee at different shops through out the week, he said that this one was his favorite. So delicious, carefully crafted drinks! read more

See all

Had to make a quick stop here on my last day in Oahu after seeing it go viral on tiktok and it was 100% worth the hype! The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between lively and cozy, with a steady buzz that still feels welcoming. The staff were kind and patient despite the rush, and even with a packed crowd, my drink was ready in under five minutes. Hapa Honey Matcha Latte: 5/5 Mixed with their local artisan honey lillikoi syrup, the Hapa Honey Matcha latte is topped with macadamia nut pineapple cold foam and drizzled generously with local hawaiian honey. The lilikoi and pineapple beautifully balanced the earthiness of the matcha with a bright tropical twist while the macadamia elevated the flavor profile with a creamy nuttiness. Every sip was perfectly sweet without overpowering the matcha's natural umami depth. I also loved the little "Aloha" written in honey on top of the foam - such a cute and thoughtful touch from the baristas! Poʻai absolutely lives up to the buzz with their creative island-inspired drinks! From the thoughtfully crafted flavors to the quick service even during a rush, everything felt intentional and well-executed. This cafe is the kind of spot that makes for a memorable last stop on a trip and is definitely my go-to matcha spot in Oahu. Highly recommend showing some love to this local gem! read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Hapa Honey Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The hapa matcha is sooooo good (if they make it right)! I went there the 2nd morning we arrived and ordered the Hapa Coffee, substituting the coffee for matcha (barista rec!) and it did not disappoint. It was creamy, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. You can taste the matcha and the Lilikoi- it balanced each other out perfectly! It was so good, we went back a second time but unfortunately, it wasn't as creamy this time around. Their mocktail spritz was also delicious if you're looking for something more refreshing! I still recommend trying this spot out if you're in the area. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Get the LiliKoi matcha with pineapple cold foam! This drink is super unique because it's matcha with a Hawaiian twist, and it was honestly really good. The lilikoi adds this bright, tangy sweetness and the pineapple cold foam makes it feel extra fun and dessert-y without being too heavy. The space is pretty large, and there's even a study room next to it, but since it blew up on Instagram it can get packed and the line can get pretty long. The whole place is really cute, and I'm pretty sure they sell jewelry too, which adds to the boutique-y vibe. A lot of people grab a drink and work here, so it definitely has that café/study energy. It's a popular spot and I can see why, I'd come back for the drinks. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Loved this cute cafe in Honolulu. I was craving matcha and stopped by to order some drinks. Our drinks were really good and I was quite surprised since I normally order basic matcha lattes. The staff was very personable and answered our questions about the drinks. They had a steady flow of customers and still prepared our order fast. read more

See all

Cute and cozy place. My daughter is on the hunt for matcha drinks and stumbled on this coffee shop. Ordered the hapa honey matcha, puahi latte and iced coffee. Drinks were well prepared and tasted great. Service was quick and friendly. It has lots of seats and tables to enjoy your drink. Ample parking nearby. read more

See all

Came back again for the Matcha map and per usual the matcha here is delicious - umami, smooth, and unique. The lilikoi foam?? So good. Also love sitting inside with how beautiful and calming the space is beautiful. read more

See all

Love love love the atmosphere, drinks, and friendly barista's here! Located in the heart of Chinatown, Poaai has parking right out front, down the block, or municipal parking lots near by. Such a gem! There are both indoor and outdoor seating. Super spacious and cute place to catch up with friends or come during your break if you work nearby and need an afternoon caffeine fix. (They even allowed us to eat our breakfast here!) Thank you Poai for serving up such delicious drinks! I tried the Pauahi and it was absolutely scrumptious. Added an extra shot of espresso for $1, cause I'm a caffeine addict. read more

See all

Matcha was beautiful and they wrote on it with the Honey. It was good and I went there for my Matcha Map. They sell there homemade syrups, which is awesome!! Would definitely come back just to come buy some syrup as it is probably better for you than other syrups. They also had a little gift shop which was cute. Unfortunately did not take a picture of it, so go visit for yourself to see it. read more

See all

Possible By Pono Potions have been one of my local favorites for matcha lattes with bold, yet finely crafted syrups and fruit purees. It's my second time coming and I love that their menu changes to keep things exciting everytime. My friend and I ordered their Alohamora (4/5) and Matcha Manako (5/5), both very good for different qualities. The coconut milk in Alohamora with the sweet tartness of the lime foam works well together. Matcha Manako was my favorite because of its strong mango flavors. This place is amazing and if it was located a bit more conveniently for parking, I would frequent it weekly. Highly recommend for any matcha or latte fanatic! read more

See all

First time coming here and I love the decor. It reminds me of old Hawaii. I got the alohamora which is matcha with coconut milk, coconut syrup, lilikoi cold foam and lime zest. It sounded interesting and it didn't disappoint! Love the local flavors. My mom got the Palaka Plantion and love the Mac nut pineapple cold foam. Definitely unique flavors together! read more

See all

It was good to see a gay-owned business thriving in such an unexpected area, Honolulu's Chinatown, where Jamie W and I finally discovered there are shops and cafes that have nothing to with wok-fried noodles and BBQ pork. Owner Peter Hessler created a series of artisanal syrups by leveraging local ingredients to develop unique flavors, but he doesn't simply present the syrups on their own. Instead he wisely opened a cafe that serves refreshing beverages that mix in the syrups. It was perfect timing because we had just spent a couple of hours walking from Kalihi on a particularly humid day. We were quite parched as we reviewed the menu with interest since it spanned iced coffees and tropical mocktails (Photo 5). We ordered a couple of the $6.50 Kuleta Coladas. They were made with an espresso shot (ristretto), coconut water, a wedge of lime, and the Olena Pineapple + Coconut Syrup (Photo 10), a nice smash-up of iced coffee and a pina colada. We nursed them in the next room on a communal table surrounded by a variety of local handicrafts. The syrups were lined up on a shelf. We didn't buy any, but we'd definitely come back for another specialty libation. DRINKS - 4 stars...creative drinks with unique flavor enhancers AMBIANCE - 4 stars...cool, chill spot in Chinatown SERVICE - 4 stars...dutiful staff TOTAL - 4 stars...a nice way to showcase local syrups RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/fLo6aw7cor read more

See all

I'm a bit of a matcha snob and have tried many different cafes that serve matcha here on island. There are only 2 that I absolutely love and frequent very often and Pōʻai by Pono Potions is one of them. The cafe is located in Chinatown and has an industrial, yet rustic, and artisanal ambiance that honor and highlight Hawaiian culture. I love that they use their own locally sourced syrups and that they have so many unique combinations you can do with coffee or matcha. With the many times I've come here and tried different flavors, my favorite will always be a hapa honey matcha latte with oat milk. The matcha manako is my second go to. The cafe also sell treats which I have yet to try and on top of that they sell local made art, jewelry, and more. There is a limited seating but they do have an attached room with more community seating and a few tables outdoors. No day trip in Chinatown or downtown is complete without stopping by this cafe! Personally one of my favs! read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This spot is such a gem, I went back twice! I've heard such good things about their matcha, so had to check it out while I was in Chinatown. I got the Hapa honey with matcha and it was my absolute favorite. The matcha wasn't gritty and had just enough sweetness from the honey, but the star was the lilikoi foam on top. It perfectly paired with the creamy, earthy matcha. I also tried the Alohamora, which was also good. Definitely on the more fruity side with the pineapple foam. The inside is also a whole vibe. There's seating and a place for people to work. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Alohamora - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

The location is a bit hidden in Downtown but they have street parking and a parking lot right next to it as well! The workers were nice and the shop is so cute with a decent amount of seating! The hapa honey matcha was good but not sure if i would go out of my way to get a matcha here read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Hapa Honey Matcha - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're thinking about coming here, stop thinking and just GO. The matcha here is SO. GOOD. There's a parking lot right next to the place which is extremely convenient. The interior is so nice, plenty of seating, and the staff are friendly! Our drinks came out fairly quickly. Got the matcha manako and it was life changing. The li hing mango syrup paired so perfectly with the matcha. The drink was so good that I had to see if they could go 2 for 2 and I doubled back and also got the hapa honey and subbed the espresso for matcha and it was JUST AS GOOD. You can not go wrong with any of the matcha drinks. Genuinely WOW. read more

See all

Drove from Waimalu to give it a try. I was not disappointed. I ordered the Hapa Matcha and my friend ordered the Alohamora Matcha. Both delicious!! Would definitely go back! read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Drink menu - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Stopped by for a midday pick-me-up and it was quite busy for the afternoon. I found some street parking a few blocks away with no issues. The workers are friendly and you can tell they enjoy working here. I ordered the lihing mango iced matcha and it was really good. Also, make sure to specify if you want matcha or coffee, because for one of my orders I assumed it was going to be a matcha, but ended up with a coffee latte... and taste wise it was sour and not my fav. I'd definitely go for their matchas here. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - lihing mango matcha - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Didn't know exactly where this place was at first but decided to find them because of their syrups! Some of the best syrups on island for drinks to make at home! They also have a wide variety of different drink options to try out. I've stuck to the different matcha drinks and have not been disappointed! Some of my favorite syrups include pikake lychee (seasonal), peppermint, vanilla, pineapple, and coconut! Everything is made with local products! Parking is a little difficult since they are in Chinatown but there is a small paid lot next to them and a small lot that has a couple stalls for pono potions. If not it's street parking. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Today was my first time at this place in Chinatown and I loved it so much. I parked in the parking lot next door (Pauahi St. parking lot). I came right before closing so it was definitely very busy, but service was so fast! I loved the interior decorations and seating area because it made me feel at home. I bought some of their syrups and it sounded delicious...on the bottle it has the coffee and alcohol pairings that the syrup would pair well with. I ordered the Alani Bang Matcha and the Matcha Manako, which were both very good. You could taste the orange bang with the matcha and it also tasted fizzy, which was great and unexpected. The Matcha Manako has mango and Lihing, which tasted sweet and refreshing. I recommend this place! The workers are so friendly, service is so fast, and the indoor area is beautiful. Definitely worth the trip to Chinatown! read more

See all

Stopped by Po'ai by Pono Potions after our 6am Pilates class and it ended up being the perfect post-workout stop. I'm usually a little hesitant about going to Chinatown because parking can be such a hassle, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to find street parking right outside Hapa Coffee. There's also a parking lot nearby in case the meters are full, which makes it even more convenient. I ordered the 12oz Hapa Honey Matcha with whole milk and it was seriously so good. Smooth, perfectly balanced, and not overly sweet. Honestly, I wish I had ordered two because I finished it before I even got home. Service was quick and both of the staff working that morning were really friendly and welcoming. You can tell they care about the customer experience. Great drinks, easy parking, and kind service -- Po'ai By Pono Potions is definitely a spot I'll be coming back read more

See all

The coffee was good, but the syrup was excellent. I think the syrup made the coffee good. They offered a number of flavors which I always appreciate but also find it difficult to make a decision. I will definitely be going back to try the other syrups. You can also buy the syrups and take it home! read more

YUMMMMM!! This coffee shop is not only beautiful, but they have a large, unique menu with lots of local Hawaiian flavors. I left with two of their syrups to bring home. You can sub matcha for espresso in any drink for no upcharge, which I thought was cool. Street parking available. read more

See all

Went on a date by myself and decided to change matcha spot last minute. And, I enjoyed the time here. I got a hapa matcha, it was great and good sandwich. Atmosphere was great, spacious and clean. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Stumbled upon this local business on my hunt for a matcha latte while in Chinatown. Located on Smith St, it's half coffee shop half boutique. The vibe was trendy. The reason for 2 stars was because my experience with customer service wasn't the best. I approached the register ready to order and waited to be acknowledged. Nobody was ahead of me and a gal stood at the register. A simple "I can take your order if you're ready" would have been helpful. There were about 2 other people working behind the counter. No greetings or a simple "hello." I took a few steps closer, perhaps she didn't see me or think I was ready to order? As I approached, the gal who was standing at the register turned away for a second as if she was about to walk away. When she turned to finally acknowledge me I asked "is this where I order?" I ordered a small Maddie 4 Matcha and a slice of banana bread. Total came out to about $13. The banana bread was pretty good, moist & dense. The drink was nothing to write home about. The menu listed that is contains Alii lavender syrup, lemon zest, matcha and oat milk. I didn't taste any lavender syrup but it was heavy on the lemon zest. Probably not something I would spend $6.50 on again. Overall I probably wouldn't go out of my way to try this spot again, I'm probably not the target audience. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Maddie 4 Matcha - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Updating my review because I came back (with baby in the front pack again, he loves this cafe!!) and ordered the macadamia nut latte and it was so incredible. I managed to exercise some self control this time and an actually take a photo before diving into the latte and the presentation is so beautiful. I love how much detail and effort goes into their drinks and this was arguably the best flavored latte I've ever had. I know I'll be back again soon, specifically for this drink!! read more

See all

Cute spot in Chinatown with a variety of trinkets to purchase. Ordering and service was fast and friendly and the drinks were smooth and flavorful! read more

See all

Love love love all the drinks here, but especially the matchas and hojichas. The signature drink combinations are all so unique and done so well! My favorite order is probably the Alohamora (matcha with coconut milk and lilikoi cold foam), but the seasonal drink called 'Ulucha (hojicha with spiced ulu syrup and macnut pineapple foam) was also fun and delicious. Can't wait to come back to try all of the other drinks here. Note that there are also a few designated parking spots in the lot next to the cafe. read more

Po’ai By Pono Potions - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Got a couple of drinks here did you have some sparkling soda drinks without caffeine? Those are OK a bit on the tart side espresso latte drinks was fine. The Matcha drink I have is decent as well. It was tough because there wasn't a lot of parking so I'm not sure if I would actually come back just for drinks here. read more

Parking was aight. Metered parking wasn't available due to construction or something so I parked at a nearby lot. Paid $7. Ordered the matcha manako and it was decently priced considering the matcha prices in the area lol. This place is definitely very aesthetic and my friend and I even went for a nice stroll around the block. We only waited a few mins for our drinks. Overall one of the better matchas I have tried. It was very different from the one's I've had before though. A little bit salty? But in a good way? Definitely recommend. read more

See all