It’s always fun to pay a return visit to a bar after an extended period of time — especially when it’s your job to share what you discover with others.

I may have been raised in Kailua, but I’ve been a card-carrying townie for nearly a decade. So once I had driven out to Aikahi a few times in 2004 to visit Pinky’s Pupu Bar & Grill for my old "Barfly" column in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, that was pretty much it for me. In all honesty, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been back since.

With the bar approaching its 10th anniversary next summer, I figured it was a good time to make the trek back out to the Windward side and check out the establishment named after the old Pinky’s Broiler, which once operated nearby. (Speaking of "the old" — remember when the space Pinky’s currently occupies used to be a Yum Yum Tree?) And what better reason to check out their daily happy-hour specials than a visit on a Monday afternoon for some NFL football?

Some people who work traditional 9-to-5 jobs might question the need for a happy hour that starts at 3 p.m. like Pinky’s. Never mind people who work at night or on weekends, or have schedules that afford a bit of free time on a Monday afternoon; the phrase that pays in this situation contains just two words: "late lunch."

MY BIGGEST gripe about this spot back in January 2004 was the fact the bar closed so early at the time (10 p.m.) and there was very little to do at the bar besides stare at the bartender on duty and listen to Music Choice on television. Those aren’t issues during happy hour, when there is plenty of time to knock a few back and the aforementioned sporting event is showing on flat screens positioned throughout the room.

With more than two dozen seats at the bar and even more tables available in the atrium-style lounge, Pinky’s does a pretty good job of accommodating crowds. There seem to be enough bartenders and servers on duty to take care of customers.

Another nice touch is the sound system here. You’d be surprised how many "sports bars" rely on their televisions’ built-in speakers to provide audio. Pinky’s does the right thing by connecting their in-house speaker system to the TV feed — a small detail, but appreciated nonetheless.

And as long as you’ve got a designated driver assigned and ready to rock, the beer options at Pinky’s during happy hour are well worth the trip to Aikahi. Coors Light and Miller Lite fans will make out the best, with 48-ounce pitchers half-off; my personal favorite, however, are the "schooners" of Blue Moon on special for $3.50 each. While I am a Blue Moon fan, what makes these so great are the 18-ounce goblets that the staff at Pinky’s toss into a freezer before use.

Get there early enough — once it gets too busy, the glasses get used too quickly — and your "schooner" arrives with a thick crust of ice that helps keep the beer inside cold just a little bit longer. It’s a small slice of beer drinker bliss.

While a full menu is available here, your options are limited if you’re trying to save money. Sure, there are a few affordable items on the menu, but plan to spend about $10 for a decent pupu and upward of $25 if you want to eat something more substantial. Definitely give the French Dip ($10.95) a try if you’re a sandwich fan; the Pinky’s Platter ($16.95) is another decent option, with enough coconut shrimp, ribs, garlic soybeans and Buffalo wings to share with friends.