As a newlywed with a delayed honeymoon, I am anticipating my trip to Hawaii with much excitement. So, on a recent night I created a dinner menu based on different Hawaiian flavors. And, of course, to accompany the dishes I wanted to serve a drink with a Hawaiian theme.

If you have read my articles about martinis, you might have noticed that I prefer my beverages to have a fruity base. So, I went with my first instinct of a pineapple and coconut combination.  I thought about making frozen pina coladas, but that sounded too heavy for a late dinner accompaniment.  I decided to keep the drink simple and use extra pineapple juice from a dinner recipe.

Served over ice, this drink was light, flavorful, and the perfect accent to a candlelit dinner for two.  While we dined to the soft hum of central air instead of Hawaiian breezes, it was a romantic evening nonetheless.

Hawaiian Honeymoon

4 ounces coconut rum

6 ounces pineapple juice

Diet or regular lemon-lime soda

Fill 2 highball glasses with ice.  Pour 2 ounces of rum and 3 ounces of pineapple juice into each glass.  Pour a splash of soda into each glass, and stir gently.