SOUTH MAUI - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 324

NO DANCING!
If you want to shake a leg and get your dance on while staying on the island's south
side, the best place for doing so is in the Kihei Kalama Village, otherwise known as
the Triangle. When it comes to drinking and dancing, Maui is a very strange place.
How so? In many of Maui's evening establishments, believe it or not, dancing
is illegal. In order for an establishment to legally permit dancing, there needs to be
a designated area which is either roped off or separated in some way from the des-
ignated drinking area. There are to be no drinks on the dance floor, and randomly
choosing to shake your rump while waiting in line at the bar is heavily verboten and
can get you thrown out.
So why the strict rules? When it comes to the law, the dancers themselves won't
get in trouble, but rather the licensed establishment can potentially lose its liquor
license. The strangest part in all of this is that there is no legal definition for what
constitutes dancing. Consequently, anything which involves rhythmic or purposeful
movement from a shoulder shake to a toe tap can be construed as illicit, danger-
ous, and legally unacceptable. Unless, of course, you put down your drink and make
your way to the designated dance floor.
Local dance advocate groups have been recommending bills to the state legis-
lature for years in an effort to change the law (or at least define dancing), but for
reasons which continue to defy common logic, dancing remains an often forbidden
pursuit.
For a completely different and more sophisticated scene Ambrosia (1913 S. Kihei Rd.,
808/891-1011, www.ambrosiamaui.com , open until 2am) is a small martini bar that spe-
cializes in “upscale drinking,” which basically means that you'll swap your draft beer for
some cutting-edge mixology. DJs spin on many nights of the week here, and the vibe is
decidedly classier and more refined than at some of the neighboring venues.
One of less refined venues is Kahale's Beach Club (36 Keala Pl., 808/875-7711, open
until 2am), a working-class dive bar that has live music, cheap drinks, and a legitimately
local atmosphere. This is your classic neighborhood hangout, and you won't find any grass
skirts, rented convertibles, or timeshare resales within a respectable radius.
Dog and Duck Irish Pub (1913 S. Kihei Rd., 808/875-9669,
www.theworldfamousdogandduck.com , open until 2am) offers a good old-fashioned touch