Harry Yee, the bartender credited with creating the Blue Hawaii cocktail, turns 100 years old in September, and the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is throwing several events in honor of the occasion.
Yee was born on Sept. 26, 1918. He began his bartending career in 1952 in Honolulu, and was the head bartender at Hilton Hawaiian Village for more than 30 years. In the late 1950's, a Bols Liqueur representative asked him to create a new drink using their Blue Curacao. Yee whipped up the Blue Hawaii with rum, sweet and sour, blue curacao, vodka and pineapple juice. Some of Yee's other original concoctions are the the Tropical Itch, Hawaiian Eye and Banana Daiquiri.
The Blue Hawaii cocktail was created by Harry Yee, who tended bar at the property for more than 30 years.
On Sept. 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., local bartenders will gather at the Tapa Bar at Hilton Hawaiian Village for a Blue Hawaii competition, where each mixologist will submit his or her own version of the drink. Yee will pick the winner himself.
Yee's official public birthday celebration will be on Sept. 29 from noon to 8 p.m., also at the Tapa Bar. There will be giveaways, drink specials and live entertainment by Kauai-born pop singer Shar Carillo.
Additionally, there will be specials on Blue Hawaiis at three of the resort's restaurants --Tropics Bar and Grill, Bali Steak and Seafood and the Tapa Bar -- through Oct. 15.
Hilton Hawaiian Village will also be hosting a private birthday party for Yee and his family, many of whom are flying in for the celebration.