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Raise your glasses, Honolulu! Our 3rd Annual Bar Czar Invitational is back at Mahina & Sun’s on Sunday, September 28, 2025, and this year promises to be our most inspired celebration of cocktails, creativity, and community yet.

What began as a playful poolside showdown has grown into one of Honolulu’s most anticipated bar events. A gathering that celebrates not only the artistry of mixology but also the incredible bartending talent right here in our own backyard.

Led by Our Bar Czar, Chris Taibi

At the heart of this event is our very own Mahina & Sun’s Executive Bar Czar, Chris Taibi. A New York native with deep industry experience and a love for island life, Chris blends East Coast edge with Hawaiian soul. Under his direction, the Mahina & Sun’s bar program has become a hub for innovation. Where tiki traditions are reimagined, local ingredients are elevated, and cocktails become cultural storytelling.

Chris’s vision for the Invitational has always been to spotlight the best and brightest local bartenders while fostering a community that thrives on craft, creativity, and collaboration. That intention continues to guide the event today, plus energy that’s contagious. One sip at a time it’s shaping Honolulu’s cocktail culture.

This Year’s Cocktail Challenges

Competing bartenders will go head-to-head in two spirited categories designed to push boundaries and showcase fresh perspectives:

🌺 Taste of Hawai‘i
Trend-forward tiki cocktails highlighting island flavors, local ingredients, and artisanal spirits. Forget the standard pineapple juice, this is tiki redefined.

☕ Wake Up Waikīkī
Coffee-forward creations that build on the espresso martini craze and explore the future of caffeinated cocktails. Think bold, energizing, and unforgettable.

All crafted with the support of our incredible partners: Kōhana Rum, Waikulu Agave Spirit, Kupu Spirits: Kupu Whiskey, Kupu Gin, and Okolehao (Islanddistiliers). Their commitment to quality and creativity inspires the same ingenuity we see in Honolulu’s bar community.

Be There When It Happens

The Bar Czar Invitational isn’t just another cocktail competition. It is where Hawai‘i’s cocktail culture comes alive. Support local bar talent, discover your next favorite cocktail, and celebrate the creativity flowing through Honolulu’s hospitality scene. From 12–4 pm, join us in the Surfjack Swim Club for a DJ-spun poolside party with sunshine, bites from Mahina & Sun’s and of course, cocktails crafted by some of Honolulu’s most exciting bartenders.

Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 12–4 PM | The Surfjack Swim Club

Book your stay at The Surfjack now and party with us all weekend.

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We’ll be sharing throwbacks from past years and sneak peeks of this year’s lineup on our socials, so follow along, and don’t miss the chance to sip, savor, and celebrate alongside the city’s best. 

@ thesurfjack | @ mahinaandsuns

Check out the video below of our 2nd Annual Bar Czar Invitational and get ready to experience even more unforgettable moments this year.