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Waikiki, Hawaii · American

Blue Hawaii (Rum, Blue Curaçao & Pineapple)

The postcard-blue tiki cooler: rum and vodka with blue curaçao, pineapple and sweet-and-sour, over crushed ice. Bright, tropical and unapologetically fun — the 1957 Waikiki original (not to be confused with the Blue Hawaiian).

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published July 11, 2026

A vivid blue Blue Hawaii cocktail in a tall glass over crushed ice with a pineapple wedge, cherry and paper umbrella, bright sunny light.

The Blue Hawaii was invented in 1957 by Harry Yee, head bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, when a sales rep asked him to create a drink featuring the then-new blue curaçao. Its electric-blue colour made it an instant icon of mid-century tropical glamour — the drink that launched a thousand vacation photos. Don't confuse it with the Blue Hawaiian, a creamier, coconut-cream cousin; the original Blue Hawaii is bright and clear.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
4 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 4 min
Difficulty
Easy

The Blue Hawaii is the postcard-blue tiki cooler: rum and vodka with blue curaçao, pineapple and fresh citrus over crushed ice. Bright, tropical and unapologetically fun — invented in 1957 by Harry Yee at Waikiki’s Hilton Hawaiian Village to show off the then-new blue curaçao.

Blue = orange, dyed

Blue curaçao is just an orange liqueur with colour, so it adds an orange note that loves pineapple. That’s the secret to why this looks wild but tastes balanced.

Not the Blue Hawaiian

The clear, bright original is the Blue Hawaii. Add cream of coconut and blend it and you’ve made the creamy Blue Hawaiian — a blue piña colada. Both are in the recipe above.

One of the tiki family

It shares the pineapple-and-rum heart of the Piña Colada and Painkiller in the tiki family — just a lot bluer.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 45 ml (1 1/2 oz) white rum
  • 22 ml (3/4 oz) vodka The original uses both rum and vodka; leave the vodka out for a rum-only version.
  • 30 ml (1 oz) blue curaçao This is what makes it blue — and adds an orange note.
  • 60 ml (2 oz) fresh pineapple juice
  • 22 ml (3/4 oz) fresh lemon or lime juice
  • 15 ml (1/2 oz) rich simple syrup Adjust to taste; the classic uses a sweet-and-sour mix, but fresh citrus plus syrup is better.
  • pineapple wedge and a cherry, to garnish; paper umbrella optional
  • crushed ice

Method

Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.

  1. Shake the rum, vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, citrus and syrup with ice for 10–15 seconds.

    Why: Shaking chills and froths the pineapple and blends the blue curaçao evenly for a vivid, uniform colour.

  2. Pour over crushed ice in a tall glass or tiki mug.

    Why: Crushed ice keeps it icy and shows off the electric-blue colour.

  3. Garnish lavishly with a pineapple wedge, a cherry and a paper umbrella if you have one.

    Why: The Blue Hawaii is a drink that's meant to look like a holiday — go all in on the garnish.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Blue Hawaiian

    Add 30 ml (1 oz) cream of coconut and blend with ice for the creamier, piña-colada-like cousin.

  • Frozen

    Blend everything with a cup of ice for a slushy frozen Blue Hawaii.

  • The tiki family

    It shares the pineapple-and-rum base of the Piña Colada and Painkiller — just bluer.

Serving & Storage

The ultimate poolside and party drink. Bright, sweet and photogenic — serve very cold.

Pairs with: Coconut shrimp, Kalua pork, Grilled pineapple, Spam musubi.

Storage: Make to order; the froth and colour are freshest right away.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 drink (~240 ml))

Calories
285
Protein
0 g
Carbs
34 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
30 g
Sodium
5 mg

Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Blue Hawaii and a Blue Hawaiian?

The Blue Hawaii (1957) is a bright, clear drink of rum, vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple and citrus. The Blue Hawaiian adds cream of coconut and is usually blended, making it creamy and opaque — essentially a blue piña colada. Same colour, different texture.

What does blue curaçao taste like?

It's an orange liqueur — the same flavour as triple sec — dyed blue. So it adds a bright orange note along with the colour. That's why it works so well with pineapple and citrus.

Do I need the vodka?

The original includes both rum and vodka, but many people make it with rum alone for a more traditional tiki profile. Either is fine — the vodka just adds a bit of neutral strength.

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Further reading