This blue Hawaiian cocktail tastes like a vacation in a glass. With pineapple, coconut, and a splash of blue curaçao, it’s perfect for summer parties or serving at a luau.
Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
This blue Hawaiian cocktail is unapologetically blue, unapologetically tropical, and always a crowd-pleaser. It’s got the piña colada base of rum, coconut, and pineapple but then the blue curaçao steps in and takes over the look. The result is a cocktail that reminds you of the ocean, both in color and in energy. It isn’t shy. It isn’t subtle. It’s the drink people point to when it lands on the table.
Why I Love This Recipe
The blue Hawaiian is pure fun. It’s creamy without being heavy, fruity without being too sweet, and simple enough that you don’t need bartending skills to pull it off. It’s one of those cocktails that feels more impressive than it is. Just shake, pour, garnish, and suddenly you’ve made the drink that everyone else wants a picture of.
Blue Hawaii vs. Blue Hawaiian
People mix these up all the time, but they’re different drinks. A Blue Hawaii is made with vodka and sweet-and-sour mix. A Blue Hawaiian is made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice. Both are blue, both are tropical, but the Blue Hawaiian leans into that piña colada creaminess while the Blue Hawaii stays sharper and citrusy. If you want the coconut flavor and a drink that feels like a vacation, go Blue Hawaiian every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Rum – light rum is the classic choice.
- Blue curaçao – this orange-flavored liqueur is what gives the drink its electric blue color.
- Unsweetened pineapple juice – use fresh or canned, but skip the sugary blends.
- Cream of coconut – rich and sweet, it’s what makes the drink creamy. Coco Lopez is the go-to brand.
- Fresh lemon juice – balances out the sweetness and keeps the drink bright.
- Optional garnishes – pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, and a paper umbrella if you’re feeling tiki.
How To Make a Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
Find the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card below. Here’s the quick version:
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Add rum, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish with pineapple, cherry, and an umbrella.
Recipe Tips
- If it feels strong, add more pineapple juice to soften it.
- Blend with ice for a frozen version that tastes like a poolside slush.
- Don’t use coconut milk for cream of coconut — it won’t give you the creamy texture.
- Remember that blue curaçao is orange-flavored even though it’s blue, which is why it works so well with pineapple and coconut.
What to Make With Blue Curaçao
The most famous drink with blue curaçao is the Blue Hawaiian, but it also shows up in tropical riffs on margaritas, daiquiris, and lemonades. Any time you want a cocktail that looks like a postcard, this liqueur is what gets you there.
More Cocktail Recipes
- Spicy Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita – refreshingly bold pitcher recipe.
- Red Wine Slushie – frozen sangria vibes.
- Agave Margarita – three ingredients to perfect.
- Lemon Drp Martini – tart, sweet, and unapoligetically flashy.
- The Best Mojito – mint, lime, and the reason you bought a muddler in the first place.
- St. Germain Spritz – the absolute best summer vibe.
- Limoncello Lemonade – summer in a glass, bright and ice cold.
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Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker To shake up your cocktail.
- Blue Hawaiian Cocktail Glasses Make it authentic looking.
- Cocktail Umbrellas Just for Fun.
- jigger or measuring tool. For ingredient accuracy.
Ingredients
- ice
- 2 oz white rum, such as Bacardi
- 0.75 oz blue curaçao liqueur
- 0.75 oz cream of coconut
- 1.5 oz unsweetened pineapple juice fresh or store-bought
- 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Garnish: pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, cocktail umbrella
Instructions
- Fill half a cocktail shaker with ice.ice
- Add rum, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and lemon juice to the shaker.2 oz white rum, such as Bacardi, 0.75 oz blue curaçao liqueur , 0.75 oz cream of coconut, 1.5 oz unsweetened pineapple juice , 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Shake until well chilled.
- Fill a tall glass ¾ full with crushed ice, then strain and pour the cocktail over the ice.
- Garnish your blue Hawaiian with a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, and a cocktail umbrella if you have one.Garnish: pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, cocktail umbrella
Notes
- Use light rum for the classic flavor, or swap in coconut rum for extra sweetness.
- Cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez) is not the same as coconut milk.
- For a frozen Blue Hawaiian, blend all ingredients with ice until smooth.
- Garnish with pineapple, cherry, or even a paper umbrella for a tiki look.
- Add more pineapple juice if you prefer a lighter, less boozy drink.
Nutrition
Have you made this Blue Hawaiian Cocktail? I’d love to hear how it turned out — leave a comment below and let me know.
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Doris Layhe says
This is my new favorite cocktail! So pretty too!
Cathy says
Glad you love it!
wilhelmina says
I love it when a drink is a s pretty as it is refreshing! This one is fabulous!
Cathy says
Thank you, it is good!
Tina says
This drink made our night. Dreaming of Hawaii while sipping.
Cathy says
Love Hawaii!
Reece Bothel says
Served these for drinks on the patio last night. Hello delicious cocktail Felt like we were on vacation. So good.
Cathy says
Yep every sip is a vacation for sure.
Morey says
Such a delicious way to make us feel we were in Hawaii!
Cathy says
Sure is.
Gina says
This blue Hawaiian is most definitely vacation in a glass. We loved it.
Cathy says
I agree with this statement one hundred percent!
Sal says
We made these blue hawaiian cocktails for Hanukkah because they are blue!
Cathy says
Great idea.
Mali says
We are in Hawaii for the winter and are making this blue hawaiian cocktail every day. So good.
Keri says
Made this blue hawaiian to enjoy for a party and we loved it!!
Farley says
We really loved this Blue Hawaiian cocktail. It was so delish I had two!
Cason says
We were pretending it was summer and made these. Whoa, who knew a Blue Hawaiian was so fabulous!
Lena H says
This blue hawaiian drink makes me happy and tastes so good. Thanks for the recipe.
kelsey says
We loved this blue hawaiian so much, it was absolutely fabulous for our fun party night.
Celina says
Loved this blue hawaiian recipe. I have to admit we made a second round.
Jess says
Loved this blue hawaiian it was so delicious and refreshing and can’t wait to make again.
Jean says
These were so good! Loved how it tasted like vacation.
Georgia says
A blue hawaiian drink that I actually love. Perfectly balanced.
Deb says
So refreshing and a fun cocktail.
Karina says
Totally love your version of the Blue Hawaiian and the little history lesson about the drink.
Kerida says
This blue hawaiian made my night, was so delicious.
Phil says
OMG we loved this so much.
Phelps says
Made these for easter and were a big hit..going to be our summer drink!
Gigi says
I want this every friday night all summer long. It was so good.
Sheila says
I mixed up a batch of Blue Hawaiians and they were such a fun throwback. Sweet, tropical, and that bright blue color gets me every time.
Rene says
Loved these. Served them by the pool. Cheersed the day away.