Tiare’s bar scores
TIARE'S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays -- Thursdays;
4 p.m. to 3 a.m. weekends
Location: 120 Hekili St.
(next to the Pali Lanes in Kailua)
Phone: 230-8911
KAILUA TOWN is home to a surprising amount of watering holes -- and each one seems to have a different vibe. The Barfly returned to his hometown earlier this week for a beer drinker's grand tour of the area before deciding to land at Tiare's Sports Bar & Grill for something to eat and a cold pitcher or two.
Tiare's Sports Bar & Grill shares a parking lot with the Pali Lanes, so parking isn't a problem if you decide to visit (there's lots of street parking, too). If you're entering the bar from the entrance near the bowling alley, make sure you take a left when walking in. One wrong turn and you'll end up in a time warp of sorts -- the bowling alley's bar is through the other doorway, and I didn't spot a single person under retirement age when I poked my head into the room.
Monday nights at Tiare's are dart nights, so there was already a pretty good crowd gathered when the Barfly assumed a position at the bar. All five dartboards were in use and players moved like a well-oiled machine; each person would take their throws and rotate to the back of their team's line with a silent nod of the head and a quick high five. Two ladies near the bar provided a soundtrack for the contest, belting out karaoke versions of songs from the '70s before being replaced by Tiare's jukebox. Music selections then ranged from the Commodores and Earth, Wind and Fire to Alanis Morrisette and Sir Mix-a-Lot.
While we munched on a plate of grilled New York steak with onions and mushrooms ($12.75) and some Lil' Smokies ($5.50) with fries ($2.50), the Barfly noticed it was actually getting pretty lively in the bar. At first the dart players made up the crowd, but a variety of locals and military personnel began to arrive and take up about half of the 20 tables at Tiare's. I was surprised to find so many people hanging out at 9 o'clock on a Monday night.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
On a relaxed and uncrowded Tuesday evening, Kim Young, left, and Tim Lyman enjoyed drinks, pupus and karaoke at Tiare's Sports Bar & Grill in Kailua. Young lives in Kaneohe; Lyman in Kailua.
Things began to make a bit more sense, however, after the Barfly's tab got cleared and we made our way outside. It's been three years since I lived out in Kailua, and I forgot how early people go to bed out there. Every restaurant in the immediate area that had been open when we arrived was now closed, and even a few other bars in the area appeared to have shut down for the night, too. Tiare's Sports Bar & Grill, on the other hand, stays open until 2 a.m. during the week (and 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), so keep this establishment in mind if you're looking for a place to unwind on the Windward side.
How much for a Bud Light?
Tiare's Sports Bar and Grill serves Bud Light, Sam Adams and Gordon Biersch Marzen on tap -- Bud Light will run you $5 a pitcher, while imports cost $7.50 a pitcher. Bottled beers and mixed drinks are also available.
Get things to do?
Five dart machines, a centrally located pool table and a couple of Megatouch Game Machines provide distractions to the half-dozen televisions scattered throughout the bar. A "Golden Tee" video game sits next to the jukebox at Tiare's as well.
What about the grinds?
There's a full menu at Tiare's, with items ranging from a grilled cheese sandwich ($2.50) and potstickers ($5) to the "Seafood Combo" ($16.50), a variety platter with poke, sashimi, oysters, fried fish and shrimp. It doesn't matter if you're going to pick at pupus or eat a complete meal -- Tiare's has something on the menu for every appetite.
And the help?
Being located out on the Windward side may have something to do with it, but both bartenders on duty earlier this week at Tiare's had a real laid-back style while staying on top of drink and pupu orders. We had no problems getting served at the bar, although you might have to get up and fetch your own drinks if you're sitting at one of the tables on the other side of the room.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
