As part of Fairmont Kea Lani’s transformation, it recently celebrated the grand opening of Pilina, Maui’s newest bar and restaurant situated at the edge of its revamped lobby.
Pilina’s open-air space is dominated by a long, stylish bar facing a large view of the ocean. Additionally, table seating and ambient lighting make it feel like an intimate space where people gather for drinks, small plates and casual conversation.
“The opportunity to create a space that offers not only exceptional views and ambiance but showcases Hawaii’s local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, distillers, and brewers is a kuleana (responsibility) that I am grateful to accept,” said Cameron Hall, Pilina general manager, in a press release. “Our hope is for Pilina to provide more than just a culinary experience — a sensory escape to paradise, where every sip and bite is a celebration of the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us.”
A sushi bar and raw dishes on the menu include sashimi, oysters, a wagyu and lobster roll and a spicy kanpachi roll. One of the unique features is a hot rock bar, which enables diners to cook a protein, such as ahi, wagyu or mushroom, on a hot rock. Once cooked, it’s paired with sauce and a taro pancake.
The cocktails are extravagant and focus on island ingredients and diverse flavors. Three of its specialty drinks are tributes to the islands’ sense of place, called Mauka (toward the mountains), Aina (the land) and Makai (toward the ocean).
The Makai, which arrives in a uniquely shaped cocktail glass that garners as much attention as the drink, combines vodka, cucumber, lemon, furikake and sea asparagus. The drinks on the menu look carefully crafted and intentionally sourced from Maui’s bounty.
