The Best Spots for Sunset Cocktails

Duke's Canoe Club, at the Outrigger Waikiki (Oahu): It's crowded in the evening, but who can resist Hawaiian music with Waikiki sand still on your feet? Come in from the beach or the street -- it's always a party at Duke's. Entertainment here is tops, reaching a crescendo at sunset.

House Without a Key, at the Halekulani (Oahu): Oahu's quintessential sunset oasis offers a view of Diamond Head, great hula and steel-guitar music, and the best mai tais on the island -- all under a century-old kiawe tree. Even jaded locals are unable to resist the lure.

Mai Tai Bar, at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Oahu): This bar without walls is perched a few feet from the sand, with pleasing views of the south shore and the Waianae Mountains. Surfers and paddlers ride the waves while Diamond Head acquires a golden sunset halo. Sip a mighty mai tai while Carmen and Keith Haugen serenade you.

Sunset Lanai Lounge, at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel (Oahu): The hau tree here shaded Robert Louis Stevenson as he wrote poems to Princess Kaiulani; today, it frames the ocean view from the Sunset Lanai Lounge. This lounge is the favorite watering hole of Diamond Head-area beachgoers, who love Sans Souci beach, the ocean view, the mai tais, and the live music during weekend sunset hours.

Jameson's by the Sea (Oahu): The mai tais here are dubbed the best in surf city, and the view, though not perfect, doesn't hurt either. Across the street from the harbor, this open-air roadside oasis is a happy stop for North Shore wave-watchers and sunset-savvy sightseers.

Huggo's on the Rocks (Big Island): Here's a thatched-bar fantasy that's really on the rocks. This mound of thatch, rock, and grassy-sandy ground right next to Huggo's restaurant is a sunset lover's nirvana. Sip a tropical drink while reclining on a chaise and nosh on island-style appetizers while the ocean laps at your feet.

Beach Tree Bar and Grill, at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Big Island): The bar on the beach seats only a handful, but the restaurant will accept the overflow. This is the finest sunset perch in North Kona, with consummate people-watching, tasty drinks, and the gorgeous ocean. The open-air restaurant, with Hawaiian music and hula dancing at sunset, also serves excellent fare.

Kimo's (Maui): An oceanfront dining room and deck, upstairs dining, and happy-hour drinks draw a fun-loving Lahaina crowd. Nibble on sashimi or nachos and take in the views of Lanai and Molokai.

Hula Grill (Maui): Sit outdoors at the Barefoot Bar, order drinks and macadamia nut/crab won tons, and marvel at the wonders of West Maui, where the sun sets slowly and Lanai looks like a giant whale offshore. It's simply magical.

• Big Island
• Kauai
• Maui
• Oahu