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Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Hawaii Bartending Academy

We visited Regan Onikama at the Hawaii Bartending Academy to find out what it takes to make a good drink. It’s not as easy as it looks!


By Melissa Chang on January 18, 2011

When I was at UH — struggling to pay my own tuition, I might add — my dad suddenly turned to me one day and said, “Do you want to go to bartending school? I’ll pay your tuition.” I was totally appalled at his offer, wondering why he would send me to bartending school when I was already studying for my public relations career.

“Bartenders make a lot of money,” he explained. “And it’s a job that prevails in any economy. When the economy is good, people drink. When the economy is bad, people still drink.”

I declined my dad’s offer, but as usual, in retrospect the saying “father knows best” was true once again. It would have been a cool vocation to learn, at least for a side job or something to fall back on if I lost my job. (D’oh!)

So I visited with Regan Onikama at the Hawaii Bartending Academy, which offers a two-week bartending course, to see what it’s all about and practice creating a drink. It’s really not as easy as it looks!

If you want to see if I was able to replicate Regan’s drink, check out our extended video here, with a mystery judge. Also this week’s episode wraps up the events of the week, with shout outs to everyone from Flashee to the new Moms In Hawaii site, and laughing till we cry. Okay, well, till I cry.

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You can read all of Melissa’s blogs at www.nonstophonolulu.com/urbanmixplate. Follow Melissa on Twitter @Melissa808, on Foursquare as Melissa808, or email at Melissa@nonstophonolulu.com.

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NeilYamamoto 25 pts

wow, Regan is a natural on camera... and a nice guy too! Way to go Regan! and Melissa, if you make crappy drinks, that just means you gotta drink the crappy ones until you make the good ones! :o)

Melissa808 204 pts

NeilYamamoto I tell you! regs808 was probably one of the easiest hawaiiirl guests to work with. Definitely a natural on camera!

ParkRat 20 pts

Melissa808 NeilYamamoto regs808 hawaiiirl And he put up with all the antics too! Hahaha.

Melissa808 204 pts

ParkRat NeilYamamoto regs808 hawaiiirl put up with? Or created? hahaha

nathankam 37 pts

Our PRSA Hawaii chapter has had membership events at The Bartending Academy and I must say bartending is A LOT harder than it looks. Trying to mix a drink with fake alcohol has given me a whole new perspective on how efficient and talented real bartenders really are.

Melissa808 204 pts

nathankam yes! That's what gave me the idea for this. I remember how my drink came out crappy compared to the one the teacher made!

nonstopmari 189 pts

hey, make me a cosmo! u're a natural, i can tell.

Melissa808 204 pts

nonstopmari you likee my strong drinks, eh?

ParkRat 20 pts

nonstopmari She was a natural to give it that extra kick of alcohol!

ParkRat 20 pts

Is that considered a "shout out" to thedailydish by regs808 ? Hahahaha. I LOVE it!

Should have been followed with "You have your own blog?"

Melissa808 204 pts

ParkRat thedailydish regs808 LOL I get that all the time!

ParkRat 20 pts

Melissa808 thedailydish regs808 You wish....hahaha. NAH JUST KIDDING!!!

MikeSumida 29 pts

ParkRat Melissa808 thedailydish regs808 that was, by far, the most entertaining part of the video :D

Melissa808 204 pts

MikeSumida ParkRat thedailydish regs808 I would think there were more entertaining parts to the video! Oh, wait, did you see the long version?

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About Melissa Chang

Melissa has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and public relations. She is currently a freelance writer and independent marketing consultant, specializing in social media. 

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