Relax and enjoy a refreshing Blue Hawaiian cocktail — a simple, tropical drink that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. With just a handful of ingredients, this drink delivers bright pineapple flavor, creamy coconut, and a striking aquamarine color that makes every sip feel like a mini vacation.
The Blue Hawaiian is an easy crowd-pleaser. Its vibrant color and tropical balance of sweet pineapple, smooth cream of coconut, and citrusy blue curaçao make it ideal for summer parties, pool days, or any time you want a taste of the islands.
History of the Blue Hawaiian
The Blue Hawaii was created in the 1950s by Harry Yee, a bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village who was challenged to make a cocktail featuring curaçao. The resulting drink quickly became popular throughout Hawaii and beyond, earning a permanent place in tropical cocktail culture. The Blue Hawaiian is a close relative of the Blue Hawaii, differing mainly by the addition of coconut.
Ingredients
This Blue Hawaiian recipe uses cream of coconut for a rich, creamy texture. For one serving you’ll need:
- Crushed ice — about 1 cup
- Pineapple juice — 3 ounces (100% pineapple juice preferred)
- Cream of coconut — 1 ounce (for that classic creamy Hawaiian flavor)
- White rum — 1 ounce
- Vodka — 1 ounce (plain vodka; optional but traditional in many recipes)
- Blue curaçao — 1 ounce (orange-flavored liqueur that gives the signature blue color)
- Garnish — fresh pineapple and maraschino cherries
Blue Hawaiian vs. Blue Hawaii
The terms are often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle distinction: a Blue Hawaii typically contains sweet-and-sour mix, while a Blue Hawaiian includes coconut (cream of coconut, coconut milk, or coconut rum). If your recipe lists coconut, you’re making a Blue Hawaiian.
Tips and Recipe Notes
- Lighter version: Substitute coconut milk for cream of coconut to cut calories and richness. The drink will be less creamy but still tropical and flavorful.
- Adjust sweetness: If the cocktail is too sweet, add a splash (about 1/2 ounce) of fresh lemon juice to balance the flavors.
- Color tips: If your cocktail leans green rather than aquamarine, the blue hue depends on ingredient ratios and the brand of blue curaçao. A drop or two of blue food coloring can correct the color without affecting flavor.
How to Make a Blue Hawaiian
You can blend, shake, or stir this cocktail. Blending produces a frosty, slushy texture that’s perfect for hot days. Total time: about 5 minutes.
- Combine 1 cup crushed ice, 3 ounces pineapple juice, 1 ounce cream of coconut, 1 ounce white rum, 1 ounce vodka, and 1 ounce blue curaçao in a blender. Pulse until smooth.
- Pour into a hurricane glass or other large glass.
- Garnish with a chunk of fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry on a skewer.
- Serve with a straw and enjoy.
If you prefer not to blend, add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake until chilled, and strain into a glass. For an even simpler option, pour ingredients over ice in a glass and stir.
This bright, tropical cocktail is perfect for entertaining. Multiply the ingredient amounts to make a batch of Blue Hawaiian punch for parties and summer gatherings.
Recipe (Single Serving)
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- Fresh pineapple and maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Place ice, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, rum, vodka, and blue curaçao into a blender and pulse until smooth.
- Pour into a hurricane glass.
- Garnish with fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry. Serve with a straw and enjoy.
- Notes: For a classic Blue Hawaii, replace the cream of coconut with sweet-and-sour mix. To serve more people, multiply ingredients by the number of servings needed.
Nutrition (approximate per serving)
Calories: 371 kcal | Carbohydrates: 38 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 5 g | Sugar: 32 g
Nutritional values are estimates and can vary based on exact ingredients and brands used.
Blue Hawaiian Drink
