Fat Tuesday Fun: 6 Ways to Celebrate Mardi Gras in Honolulu

From indulgent malassadas and great meals to a block party, this year’s guide takes you reveling in Mardi Gras on Feb. 13, the eve of Valentine’s Day.

February 9, 2018

Robbie Dingeman,

Photo: Courtesy of Square Barrels

This year’s calendar coincidence gives us a chance to revel in different kinds of excess this week, beginning with Fat Tuesday, the traditional last day to party before the sober pause of the Lenten season.

Mardi Gras Sunday!

Sunday, Feb. 11

Get a jump on celebrating on Sunday night. 12th Ave Grill is whipping up a Cajun seafood boil that includes Penn Cove mussels, clams, shrimp, Kahuku corn as well as fried okra, hush puppies and Mānoa Chocolate beignets for dessert. Let the good times drool! Call (808) 732-9469.

12th Ave Grill, 1120 12th Ave., Kaimukī

Chinatown Honolulu Block Party/Costume Contest

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Organizers promise a place to celebrate, indulge, dance and drink with the international flair of Mardi Gras with some themed food items and block party from 6 p.m. along Nu‘uanu Avenue. All ages welcome. From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., various clubs offer 21 and older diversions including entertainment, a costume contest with cash prizes, food vendors, beads and drinks.

6 to 10 p.m. For more information, contact Alma Latina Productions, nancy.almalatina@gmail.com.

Mardi Gras Whiskey Dinner

Tuesday, Feb. 13

If you’re ready for a fancier last night of decadence, downtown’s Square Barrels offers a fun way to spend $60-plus with seafood and sausage gumbo, roast beef po’boy and king cake as well as four pours of whiskey.

7:45 to 10 p.m., Square Barrels, 1001 Bishop St. Click here for tickets.

Fat Tuesday Funk and Zydeco

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Celebrate Fat Tuesday at Downbeat Lounge with live performances by Zydeco titans Bon Ton Roule featuring violin, accordion, guitar, bass, “and rocking New Orleans beats provided by drums and percussion featuring the Rub Board.” Also, check out soul funk noisemakers Good Foot: “a simmering cauldron of soul, afro beat and funk with driving bass and drums, dancing percussion and shimmering guitars.”

9 p.m., Downbeat Lounge, 42 N. Hotel St., Chinatown, facebook.com/BTRoule, goodfoothawaii.com

Get Your Malassadas Hot!

Feb. 13

Photo: Steve Czerniak

Thank the Portuguese workers back in plantation days for turning Fat or Shrove Tuesday into Malassada Day back in the 1800s. The tradition traces to eating up the last of the sweet, rich, fatty foods before the ritual limits of Lent, which begins on the following day of Ash Wednesday. We’re still mourning the recent closing of Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop in Kailua for the stellar malassada like vovo (grandma) used to make. But there are choices:

Brave the busiest day of the year at Leonard’s Bakery (933 Kapahulu Ave.) and pick up a pink box from this iconic eatery from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Try Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery, 3632 Wai‘alae Ave., for its new flavored-sugar twist, or head to Champion Bakery, 1926 S. Beretania St., for more classic doughy treats.

All day, various locations, leonardshawaii.com/locations/