The recipe
for your table
Shake all the ingredients briefly with plenty of ice.
Pour into a hurricane or tiki glass filled with fresh ice.
Check the color: bright turquoise blue.
Garnish with pineapple, a cherry, and—mandatory for this drink—a cocktail umbrella.
The story
In 1957, Harry Yee, head bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, was asked by drinks company Bols to “do something” with their blue curaçao. Yee—the man reportedly also responsible for introducing the cocktail umbrella—mixed it with rum, vodka, and pineapple, and named the result after the film of the same name that put Hawaii on the map. When Elvis sang on the beach in Blue Hawaii four years later, the cocktail became truly immortal. Not to be confused with the creamy Blue Hawaiian—which includes coconut cream.
The right glass
The Blue Hawaii is a showstopper and calls for a glass with the same presence: a 44 to 47 cl hurricane glass in which the turquoise color sparkles from top to bottom. The tall, curved shape makes the color even deeper. A tall tiki glass or pineapple glass also suits the Waikiki vibe—as long as it is large, tropical, and just a little over the top. For a true tiki glass with wood carving, visit our tiki glasses.
Royal Leerdam Hurricane Cocktail Glass on Stem 44 cl (6 pieces)
Arcoroc Plain Can Cocktail Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets — €64.90 together, free shipping from €50.
Variations & twists
A splash of coconut cream turns it into the creamy Blue Hawaiian—try both and choose your beach. Adding vodka (the original version by Harry Yee) makes it stronger. And as a mocktail with blue curaçao syrup, it is the undisputed star at children's parties. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all 80 cocktail recipes.
Servingtip
A splash of coconut cream turns it into the creamy Blue Hawaiian—try both and choose your favorite. The blue color stands out best against a white background, so keep your napkins in mind when serving.
Blue Hawaii or Blue Hawaiian
Two names that differ by only one letter, yet produce a different drink. Blue Hawaii is the clear version: white rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and lemon, turquoise and translucent. Blue Hawaiian adds 3 cl of coconut cream, making it opaque, pastel blue, and much creamier—somewhere between this cocktail and a Piña Colada. If you want the creamy version, reduce the lemon juice to 1 cl, because coconut cream and a lot of acidity clash. If you order it at a bar, explicitly say which of the two you mean.
Which rum and which blue curaçao
Choose a neutral white rum of around 40% ABV; a heavy Jamaican bottle clashes with the pineapple juice and shifts the color toward green. With the blue curaçao, pay particular attention to the alcohol content. Classic Bols Blue is around 21% ABV and fairly sweet, while drier varieties from Giffard or Senior Curaçao let more orange peel come through; the latter is the original, made with laraha peel. Stick to 2 cl: more makes the cocktail dark blue and sticky, while less allows the turquoise to disappear behind the yellow of the pineapple juice.
As a mocktail for a children's party
Without alcohol, it works surprisingly well, and the color is half the fun for children. Replace the rum and curaçao with 4 cl blue orange-based syrup, or with 2 cl non-alcoholic blue curaçao syrup topped up with 2 cl water. Keep 8 cl pineapple juice and 2 cl lemon juice, shake with ice, and pour over fresh ice. The little umbrella and pineapple wedge are not optional here. Do watch the dosage, though, because non-alcoholic blue syrups are often considerably sweeter than the liqueur they replace.
In a pitcher for a group
For eight glasses, mix 32 cl white rum, 16 cl blue curaçao, 64 cl pineapple juice, and 16 cl lemon juice in a pitcher. Chill it for at least an hour and do not add ice, as the melting water dilutes the color just as much as the flavor. Stir again before serving, as the pineapple juice settles. Then fill the glasses with fresh ice and pour the mixture over it. Cut the pineapple into wedges in advance and have the cherries and little umbrellas ready in bowls, so serving goes smoothly in one go.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Blue Hawaii?
A Blue Hawaii consists of 4 cl white rum, 2 cl blue curaçao, 8 cl pineapple juice, and 2 cl fresh lemon juice or sweet and sour, shaken with plenty of ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, a cherry, and a little umbrella. The blue curaçao provides the turquoise color.
What is the difference between a Blue Hawaii and a Blue Hawaiian?
Coconut cream. A Blue Hawaiian contains a splash of coconut cream, making it creamy and opaque, while a Blue Hawaii remains clear, turquoise, and refreshing. The other ingredients are the same. Try both and choose which beach you mean: bright and refreshing, or smooth and tropical.
Who invented the Blue Hawaii?
Harry Yee, head bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, mixed it in 1957 at the request of Bols, which wanted to create something with its blue curaçao. He named the cocktail after the film of the same name; when Elvis sang Blue Hawaii four years later, the drink became immortal.
Which glass do you use for a Blue Hawaii?
A 44 to 47 cl hurricane glass lets the turquoise color shine from top to bottom. Its tall, curved shape makes the color even richer; a tall tiki glass or pineapple glass works too, as long as it is large and tropical. See our hurricane glasses.
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