The buzz on kava

The man behind DHC

Marcus Marcos, the owner, manager and "smoothie schlep" of Diamond Head Cove Health Bar, gets whole kava root fresh, chops it himself, and then grinds it into pulp for the kava drink. He said his first experience with kava was when his friend, Ernie Cruz Jr. took him to the now-closed Hale Noa kava bar. "Screw alcohol," he said. "It was great."

Marcos takes great pride and passion in his work, and has been serving kava ever since his shop opened up in 2003.