Great View, Lazy List, Order the Mai Tai
Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-inspired and pan-Pacific fare with a classic tiki bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Don the Beachcomber Restaurant & Mai Tai Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into one of the most atmospheric tiki rooms in Hawaii — vintage decor, ocean out the window, live music warming up — and then you open the wine list and land back in a hotel banquet hall circa 2009. The wines here are an afterthought dressed up in a tropical shirt.
The list runs 20-35 bottles deep, which sounds respectable until you realize it's anchored entirely by grocery store stalwarts: Kendall-Jackson, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Cavit, Beringer White Zinfandel. California, New Zealand, and Australia get a nod, but there's no depth, no discovery, and nothing that suggests anyone spent more than 20 minutes putting this together. You won't find a single producer here that would make a wine-curious diner pause and lean in. It's the wine equivalent of putting a plastic orchid on every table — technically a flower, but nobody's impressed.
Six to ten options by the glass in the $12–$18 range, which is fine for Hawaii pricing — except the pours are from the same uninspiring roster as the bottle list. There's no rotation, no seasonal thinking, and no sense that anyone has auditioned a new wine for this program in recent memory.
La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast — $58
At a 132% markup, this is the least egregious bottle on the list. It's still a mass-market wine, but La Crema actually makes a decent Sonoma Coast Pinot — light, food-friendly, and it won't embarrass itself next to the kalua pork. Relative to everything else here, it's your best shot at a drinkable bottle without feeling completely robbed.
Ruffino Prosecco
At $36 it's still marked up, but in this setting — ocean breeze, tiki torches, tropical appetizers — a glass of Prosecco actually makes more sense than anything else on this list. It's light, low-commitment, and won't fight the flavors of the kitchen. Most people skip it for the mai tai, and honestly that's the right call too, but if you want wine, this is the one.
Beringer White Zinfandel
A 300% markup on a $8 retail bottle of White Zin. We rest our case. This wine has no business being on any list at any price, let alone $32 a bottle at a restaurant that wants to be taken seriously.
Ruffino Prosecco + Coconut Shrimp
The light bubbles and subtle sweetness of the Prosecco play well against the crispy coconut coating and any tropical dipping sauce the kitchen throws at it. It's not a profound pairing — nothing on this list is going to be — but it's refreshing and it works, especially in the heat.
The Bottom Line
Don the Beachcomber is a genuinely fun place to spend an evening in Kona, and the cocktail program absolutely earns its reputation — so get the mai tai and leave the wine list alone. If you insist on a bottle, grab the La Crema, accept your losses, and watch the sunset.
· Kailua-Kona · Pop-up Wine Bar / Events
Kona Wine Nights earns its Wild Card badge precisely because it defies the normal restaurant wine calculus — you're buying into an experience led by a sommelier, scored by local musicians, and framed by a Hawaiian sunset. We can't verify the specific bottles or pricing, so we're not going to pretend otherwise, but the concept is genuinely compelling for anyone who wants something more than a Caymus pour at a hotel bar. If you're in Kailua-Kona and want a wine night that feels like it was designed with intention, this is worth the ticket.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Tasting-Style
CanoeHouse is a beautiful place to drink wine — the setting, the seafood, and the overall experience justify the splurge on a special night. But the wine program itself appears to be resort-standard: solid, Champagne-and-Burgundy-leaning, and priced for the zip code rather than the quality in the glass. Come for the view and the lobster tempura; don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hilton Waikoloa Village · Kailua-Kona · Steak & Seafood
Kamuela Provision Company has a stunning setting and almost certainly a strong kitchen, but its documented wine program is barely a program at all. If you're here for the view and the fresh catch, order something off the cocktail menu instead — one Chardonnay at a 3x markup isn't worth building a dinner around.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · New American / Hawaiian
Magics Beach Grill earns its reputation on atmosphere, not its wine program — and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're walking into. If the sunset and the fresh fish are the draw, go for it; just don't expect the list to keep pace with the view. A happy hour window from 2–5 pm and again at 8 pm to close gives you a reason to order a glass without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Italian-Inspired / Casual
Kai is a great place to watch the sun drop into the Pacific with something cold in your hand — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you went. The program is serviceable for the setting, but with resort-level markups likely baked in, the cocktail menu might be a smarter play. If wine is your priority, lower your expectations before you sit down; if the view is your priority, you're exactly where you should be.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse
Huggo's is a reliable enough place to drink wine if you're already there for the view and the fresh fish — just don't come expecting value or discovery. The regional mix is competent, the setting is genuinely spectacular, and the list will get you through dinner without incident. If you're a wine-first traveler, this probably isn't your destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable stop if the ahi tuna is calling your name.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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