March Madness is one of those sports events that's better with a crowd. The upsets, the buzzer beaters, the bracket chaos — all of it hits harder when you're watching with other people who care. If you're in Waikiki during the NCAA tournament, Skybox Taphouse is where you want to be. Every game, 20+ screens, and a time zone that actually works in your favor.
Every Game on 20+ Screens
During the tournament, Skybox dedicates its 20+ TVs to March Madness coverage. In the early rounds, when there are four games running simultaneously, you can see all of them at once from almost any seat in the venue. The 275-seat layout across indoor and outdoor areas means there's plenty of room to settle in for a full day of games without fighting for a barstool.
Sound is on for the biggest matchups — upsets in progress, Final Four games, and the championship. For the rest, the screens are running with the energy coming from the crowd. On a day when a 15-seed is taking down a 2-seed, Skybox is the place to be in Waikiki.
The Hawaii Time Zone Advantage
This is where March Madness in Hawaii gets interesting. The tournament's noon Eastern tipoffs start at 7 AM in Waikiki. The afternoon games hit around 11 AM. The evening session — which runs until nearly midnight on the mainland — wraps up by 6 or 7 PM here. That means you can watch an entire day of tournament basketball and still have your evening free.
Skybox opens early during major sporting events, so those first-round morning tipoffs are covered. Pair it with the breakfast menu and you've got a proper tournament day setup from the first game.
Food and Drink for a Full Day of Games
If you're parking it at Skybox for multiple games, you're going to eat. The full kitchen menu is running all day — hand-crafted pizzas, Upper-Cut jumbo wings, Triple Play nachos for the table, All-Star fish tacos, cheese curds, and more. For a group watching games together, the shareable plates are the way to go.
On the drink side, if your marathon viewing session falls during happy hour (Monday through Friday, 3-6 PM), you're looking at $5 domestic pints, $7 local drafts, and $11 signature cocktails. Weekday tournament games during happy hour are one of the best deals in Waikiki — tournament basketball and cheap drinks at the same time.
Pitchers and towers keep the group supplied without constant trips to the bar. Domestic towers at $37 and local towers at $41 are the efficient play for a table of four watching a string of games.
Brackets and Watch Parties
March Madness is inherently social — brackets, trash talk, upset picks. Skybox leans into this with the kind of atmosphere that makes tournament watching a group experience. Whether you're with a crew of friends, coworkers on a long lunch, or solo at the bar getting invested in a game you didn't expect to care about, the energy during the tournament is real.
For larger groups or corporate watch parties, Skybox offers private event packages with custom setups. If your office bracket pool deserves a proper venue, this is it.
From the First Four to the Final
Skybox covers the entire tournament — First Four, first and second rounds, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the national championship. The atmosphere builds as the field narrows, and by the Final Four weekend the bar has genuine championship game energy.
The championship game itself typically tips off in the early afternoon Hawaii time, making it a daytime event rather than a late night. Grab a seat, order food and drinks, and watch the title game with a crowd that's into it.
Getting There
Skybox Taphouse is at 2330 Kalakaua Ave #302, third floor of International Market Place in Waikiki. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM, with early opens during tournament weekends. Walk-ins welcome, or save a table if you're coming with a group for the bigger games. Check the events page for the tournament schedule and any specials.