Pilina Bar Pre-Opening Reception Recap

Last night, we attended the Pre-Opening Reception for Pilina Lobby Bar, at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea. General Manager, Michael Pye, Director of Food & Beverage, Tom Houston, and Executive Chef, Michael Lafaro, welcomed both the new Pilina Bar & Restaurant and its new General Manager, Cameron Hall with a Hawaiian pule (blessing), champagne and greetings. As the public opening event is tonight, January 19th, 2024, we thought to share our favorites from the night.

Specialty cocktails were curated with local plants and agriculture in mind. A true supporter of the Maui-grown culture, one can find ingredients like Fly Hawaiian Wet Gin, Ohia Lehua Honey, Alii Kula Lavender, Waikulu Smoke Pepa Maui Agave Spirit, Ko Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum and Ko Hana Kokoleka as the baseline of Pilina libations. Other flavors that take the stage include Maui sourced calamansi, pineapple, lime, kukui & macadamia orgeat and Hawaiian black-lava sea-salt.

Abundant sushi, sashimi, venison carpaccio, and a tortilla bar with mushrooms, pork belly and shrimp watered the mouth from sundown till last call. Pineapple sauces, vinaigrettes, alaea salts, seaweeds and micro greens garnished self serve plates while renowned Nuff Seed Maui Band set a modern tropical lounge stye oasis.

For months, the Fairmont Kea Lani has been under construction, renovating the lobby into what is now, a contemporary-Pacific inspired masterpiece. Along with it, the previous balcony wings overlooking the resort grounds were re-designed to host open-air archways that bring in Mauiʻs outdoor into the wood-carvings and etched block-print fabrics of Pilinaʻs luxurious space. Dome-like ceiling curves, thatched-woven wall coverings, dark woods and neutral stones blanket the quarters of this regal dining experience. We are honored to have celebrated with our member, the Fairmont Kea Lani, and have no doubt Pilina will be raved about throughout 2024!

See more of Pilina at https://www.pilinamaui.com/.