Lei Lani

Name: Lei Lani
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Tiki
Ingredients: 1.25 oz dark rum (Coruba or Myer’s); 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice; 0.5 oz pineapple juice; 0.5 oz papaya juice; 1 oz fresh orange juice; 1 dash [grenadine](/library/grenadine); 2 oz chilled soda water; Orange wheel, brandied cherry, fresh pineapple wedge (garnish)

tropical fruity citrus

A mid-century Hawaiian rum cooler with a distinctive fingerprint—fresh papaya juice, where most tropical highballs of the era stopped at pineapple, orange, and lime. Lighter and more refreshing than its volcano-bowl sibling.

A Lei Lani—dark rum, papaya, pineapple, orange, lime, grenadine, and soda over cubed ice in a tall highball with a fruit flag

The History

‘Leilani’ means ‘heavenly lei’ or ‘royal child’ in Hawaiian. The Lei Lani is a documented mid-century Hawaiian rum cooler whose distinguishing ingredient is fresh papaya juice—a rare move for the era. The drink is commonly attributed to Don the Beachcomber, but no primary source backs that up online; the most authoritative reference for tracing it would be Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Safari, which we haven’t verified directly. Exact provenance remains hazy. The Disney Polynesian Village Resort’s Lei Lani Volcano variant came later and is a distinct drink.

Servings

Ingredients

1.25 oz dark rum (Coruba or Myer’s)
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz pineapple juice
0.5 oz papaya juice
1 oz fresh orange juice
1 dash grenadine
2 oz chilled soda water
Orange wheel, brandied cherry, fresh pineapple wedge (garnish)

Directions

Build over fresh ice cubes in a highball glass.

Add the dash of grenadine and stir well to integrate.

Top with chilled soda water.

Garnish with a fruit flag—orange wheel and brandied cherry on a pick, plus a fresh pineapple wedge.

Sibling

For the Disney Polynesian Village Resort variant—coconut rum, guava nectar, crushed ice, tropical excess on top, no flame despite the name—see the Lei Lani Volcano.