Boutique hotel Romer House Waikīkī made an exciting announcement on May Day this year—the day that Hawai‘i celebrates the tradition of lei—that it would be opening The Lei Stand Waikīkī. One of Honolulu’s favorite cocktail bars, The Lei Stand opened in 2022 by Ryan Tsuji and Tara Shimooka at its original location in Chinatown. Now it has found a new home at the island’s only adults-only hotel, where local character meets mid-century modern charm. Both brands are dedicated to preserving the culture and traditions of Old Hawai‘i in a fun, playful way. "The Lei Stand is more than just a bar; it’s a celebration of Hawai‘i’s rich traditions and vibrant future. While our story will always be connected to Chinatown, we are excited to embark on this next phase,” says Tsuji. 

Romer House Waikīkī’s hotel bar has been transformed with an arched doorway laden with lei in homage to Chinatown’s iconic lei stands, tropical florals inside, and lei made by local artisans sold right at the bar. Some of The Lei Stand’s original menu favorites have made the cut, including cocktails like Soup Soup—a coconut-clarified blend of tequila infused with pineapple, falernum and absinthe; Clifton’s Curse, a tiki drink made with local rum, amaro, cognac and sherry; and pupus such as house-made Chex Mix and the renowned edamame hummus served with taro chips and crack dip.  With live music and lei-making nights, The Lei Stand Waikīkī will continue to serve the best lei in town.

The Lei Stand at Romer House Waikīkī; 415 Nāhua Street, Waikīkī; (808) 922-1616; romerhotels.com/romer-house-waikiki/the-lei-stand-waikiki; Open Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.; Complimentary valet parking is available for non-hotel guests for three hours.