PICS: Senor Frog’s celebrates three years in Waikiki
August 28, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Clubland Pics, Featured, Latest News, Nightlife, Picture Blogs
Photos by FL Morris / fmorris@staradvertiser.com
Mexican import Senor Frog’s celebrated its third anniversary in Waikiki with a casino-themed party at the Royal Hawaiian Center.
PICS: The Manifest one-year anniversary party
August 27, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Latest News, More from TGIF, Nightlife, Picture Blogs
Photos by FL Morris / fmorris@staradvertiser.com
The Manifest co-owner Brandon Reid, right, takes part in a lion dance by Au’s Shaolin Arts Society during the Chinatown coffee house/nightspot’s one-year anniversary party on Thursday. An invite-only VIP party took place early, followed by a public celebration that featured a prom theme.
PICS: Fusion Waikiki’s 21st anniversary party
August 9, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Clubland Pics, Featured, More from TGIF, Nightlife, Picture Blogs
Photos by FL Morris / fmorris@staradvertiser.com
Fusion Waikiki’s Pat and Kat Miller pose for a photo during the bar’s 21st anniversary party last weekend.
Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com
Gay nightclub Fusion Waikiki marked 21 years in business on Friday with a VIP party early in the evening, followed by a public celebration that featured performances by the Gender Bender Lip Gloss Revue and the Men of Fusion. Read more
PICS: The Hideaway Bar’s 8th anniversary
August 3, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured, More from TGIF, Nightlife, Picture Blogs
Photos by Malia Leinau / HNLNow.com
Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com
The Hideaway Bar, a Waikiki favorite amongst nightlife industry and graveyard shift employees and those opposed to over-commercialized watering holes elsewhere in the neighborhood, celebrated eight years in business last weekend with free food, a lion dance and drink specials.
Owner Jonny Hernaez and his staff was on hand to both pour drinks and hang out with regular customers. Read more
PICS: Apartment3 celebrates first year in business
August 2, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Clubland Pics, Featured, Nightlife, Picture Blogs
Photos by FL Morris / fmorris@staradvertiser.com
Star-Advertiser Staff
tgif@staradvertiser.com
Restaurant and lounge Apartment3 celebrated its first anniversary last weekend with a pair of parties on Saturday night.
The first was a VIP-only affair, with the doors opened to the general public later in the evening. Both events followed an all-black theme — which was strictly enforced.
(Word has it former NBA superstar Reggie Miller tried to get in with his friends that night, but weren’t dressed appropriately. According to a sources, they were turned away at Apartment3 and ended up at Pearl Ultralounge instead.)
“Apartment3 has exceeded our wildest dreams during its first year,” said co-owner Flash Hansen. “We have an amazing staff, friends, and guests and really couldn’t have gotten this far without everyone’s help.
“We look forward to making our second year an even greater one.”
DJs ESKAE and Bennie James were on hand to keep people moving until 2 a.m. The Bentos and Cherry Blossom Cabaret also entertained during the evening. Read more
HILife Cover Story: Linus’ 10th anniversary
April 9, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured
Rock ‘N’ revved
Cindy Ellen Russell / crussell@starbulletin.com
LINUS 10TH-ANNIVERSARY PARTY
with Black Square and Upstanding Youth
» Where: Anna Bannana’s, 2440 S. Beretania St.
» When: 9 p.m. tomorrow
» Cost: $5
» Call: 946-5190
» On the Net:
www.linustheband.com
www.myspace.com/linusthebanddotcom
www.myspace.com/junyoshimura
By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com
After a decade of existence, Linus is still an alternative rock band in transition – but now with a revitalized purpose, thanks to its current roster.
Joining original members David Neely and Nikolaus Daubert are two noteworthy musicians, making for Linus’ strongest lineup ever and producing a streamlined sound that remains true to the band’s roots. Drummer Jack Tawil solidified his reputation with other local bands, like the Malcognitas, the Hell Caminos and Painted Highways, and singer-keyboardist Jun Yoshimura is a Japanese national who was the lead singer for a band called Wino.
(Between 1995 and 2006, Wino put out six albums and, because of its heavily influenced Britpop sound, was dubbed the “Japanese Oasis.”)
While this new edition of Linus has done the occasional one-off gig since February, you’ll be able to see the band in full flower – including special guests that played in earlier incarnations – at their 10th-anniversary party tomorrow at Anna Bannana’s.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
HILife Cover Story: Hawaiian Express Records
March 12, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured
Miller’s music mix spins on
FL Morris / fmorris@starbulletin.com
Longtime punk rock promoter, Jason Miller, in his home in Aiea with his family Erik, left, Tristan, Luke and wife Marina holding Riley.
HAWAIIAN EXPRESS RECORDS’ 15th-ANNIVERSARYwith the Vandals, Whiskey Avengers, 86List, Pimpbot and False Crack » Where: Anna Bannana’s, 2440 S. Beretania St. |
By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com
The combination of punk music and keeping a family intact seems contradictory, but longtime, underground promoter Jason Miller says the two have kept him happy and grounded.
As the owner of Hawaiian Express Rec ords, Miller’s behind-the-scenes work has kept the local scene and his small side business alive for 15 years, an anniversary that will be celebrated tomorrow during a special show featuring his favorite Southern California band, old-school vets the Vandals.
“Once I heard bands like that while growing up,” said Miller from his office space in the family’s Pearlridge home, “I said goodbye to my mom’s country music and dad’s Beatles.”
Along for the night’s ride will be San Francisco’s Whiskey Avengers and longtime local faves the 86 List, Pimpbot and False Crack.
“The scene here has never had a shortage of active bands,” Miller said, “and bands that haven’t been playing for some time are reforming. Exit 24 has been back since November, and the Pettyfords are practicing again, so it seems some bands don’t go away for long.”
Miller is surrounded by memorabilia of carefully filed photos, posters and fliers documenting his life’s work, along with some of the 120 or so recordings — some still in their original cassette format — that he’s released, all to help the many bands he’s worked with over the years.
“Hawaii’s scene is unique to a lot of the others I’ve seen on the mainland. It’s a lot more open and friendly here. When someone falls in a mosh pit, there’s always someone to pick him or her up. Sure, there’s some competition in some situations, that’s just human nature, but the bands here are supportive of their own.”
Punk music has always been a calling, not a career, for Miller. Originally from Campbell, Calif., he was a nationally recognized competitive swimmer when he came to the islands due to a swimming scholarship from the University of Hawaii. He furthered the local punk cause when he was promotions director at college station KTUH-FM for a number of years. During his stint he helped set up two summer mainland tours for Grapefruit and some supporting Hawaii bands, traveling by van through 26 states.
He returned to California in 1996 to play water polo for West Valley College in Sara toga, then moved back to Oahu to work for concert promoter Goldenvoice. It was then that he decided to make Hawaii his home and took it upon himself to help local punk bands find venues and merchandise their cassettes, CDs and T-shirts.
“I have a hard time being idle,” Miller admitted. “Even though I don’t play an instrument, I love to hang out and have fun with the punkers. I figured that since I’m already behind the scenes, I can help in some other creative way. It’s a win-win situation, and I want to help make their music available to anyone who wants it.”
The only thing missing right now is the option of downloading the Hawaiian Express catalog online, so Miller is on the lookout for either a computer “whiz kid” to help him out or purchase a relatively inexpensive program he could use to digitize the large collection.
HILife Cover Story: ‘Makaha Sons 34th Anniversary Celebration’
February 18, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured
The Makaha Sons: Song of survival
 Courtesy Makaha Sons ‘MAKAHA SONS 34TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION’» Where: Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts |
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com
As the Makaha Sons prepare to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the original Mahaka Sons of Ni‘ihau, Louis “Moon” Kauakahi said the only time he thought the group might have hit the end of the road was in 1993 when his brother-in-law, Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, abruptly quit few days before they were scheduled to headline the sixth annual “Makaha Bash” at the Waikiki Shell.
“At first I thought he was just upset about something, but when he decided to leave I really had my doubts (the group could survive),” Kauakahi recalled last Friday.
He and Kamakawiwo‘ole had been with the group from its early days jamming together on the Waianae coast; the other founders of the group were Israel’s older brother, Henry “Skippy” Kamakawiwo‘ole, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko.
Israel’s departure left Kauakahi scrambling to redo all their signature vocal arrangements from four parts to three and do them with one less instrument. Israel was also the emcee of the group.
“When he left, a huge chunk of Makaha Sons left,” Kauakahi said.
Israel went public with allegations that the group’s manager was “double dipping,” and although he later conceded that the charges were without merit, the damage was irreparable. The name, Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau, was retired and the remaining trio — Kauakahi, Jerome Koko, and Jerome’s brother John — continued as the Makaha Sons.
“Working with (only) three voices was more difficult, but I decided to go on,” Kauakahi said. “I told the guys we’d each have to carry a third of the load … I felt something was missing but I had to keep working on it, concentrating on the music, improving the quality of the voices and the pronunciation.”
They talked about recruiting a fourth member for the group but never went beyond that.
Maybe it was all for the best. The new Makaha Sons’ first album, “Ke Alaula,” won five Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including Group of the Year, in 1995.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Inside HILife: Barfly
January 29, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Barfly, Featured
OnStage Drinks & Grinds marks 6 years
FL Morris / fmorris@starbulletin.com
ONSTAGE DRINKS & GRINDS SIXTH ANNIVERSARYwith the Dave Young Band and Friends of Adam » Where: OnStage Drinks & Grinds, 802 Kapahulu Ave. |
By Jason Genegabus
jason@starbulletin.com
By staying true to the mantra “Good Music, Good People, Good Times,” Kapa hulu’s OnStage Drinks & Grinds has been able to deal with two major challenges that could have easily closed down the bar.
“I would say the top two that faced not only us, but the entire bar industry, was first, the smoking ban, and then the downturn in the economy,” said co-owner Dave Young earlier this week. “But when we got involved, our whole goal was a long-term thing.
“I didn’t really see anything out there that I really wanted to do besides running this kind of business.”
Despite a brief drop in business when Hono lulu’s indoor-smoking ban was passed in 2006, Young said the reaction from regular customers has been nothing but favorable ever since. And even though some customers are spending less in the bar these days, an established presence by neighborhood college students has helped keep business relatively steady.
“In Kapahulu your residents are a combination of families who have been in the neighborhood for a long time,” Young said. “And then you also have a combination of students because we’re so close to the universities.
“So, we get a nice mix of the neighborhood folks and the college kids. It’s kind of like a ‘Cheers’ atmosphere, where everybody knows your name. It’s a real friendly bar.”
Pick up a copy of HILife in Friday’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin to read the rest of this story.
Inside HILife: In the Mix
December 3, 2009 by Jason Genegabus
Filed under Featured, In the Mix
Pipeline Cafe throws itself a party
Star-Bulletin / 2004
Concertgoers line the barricade fronting the stage at Pipeline Cafe. The club celebrates its 10th anniversary Friday.
Exactly 10 years to the day after opening its doors to the public for the first time, Kakaako nightclub Pipeline Cafe will celebrate with an anniversary party of epic proportions.
“There’s no other place that can do the type of shows that we do,” general manager Jed Roa said earlier this week. “We’re also the number two concert club venue in the world now, according to Pollstar.”
Roa would know — he was part of the original hui that opened the club a decade ago. When Charles “Chip” Jewitt sold Pipeline to current owner Greg Azus in 2008, Roa stayed behind to manage the day-to-day dealings of the new operation. The biggest change over the years, he said, was a shift from weekly club nights to a more focused approach toward concert promotion.
“We do a lot more shows now than we used to,” said Roa. “Right now, we’re also known for doing a lot of fundraisers … (and) as we get into the summer, we’ll do a lot of grad parties — at least 20 per year.”
Looking ahead to 2010, Roa said the focus at Pipeline will continue to be live events. He also mentioned updating the food menu at the club to attract more of a dinner crowd.
Tonight’s anniversary party, however, will be strictly a club banger, with three rooms of DJs and former “Foreplay Fridaze” host Rick Rock reprising his role. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 18-and-over crowd; cover is $15, with limited $25 VIP tickets available.
Among the DJs confirmed to attend are G-Spot, Wu-Chang, Jimmy Taco, Sovern-T, Rude Dogg, Audissey, Paul Brandon, Mikie D. and Wizard. But Roa made it clear that another group deserves to get just as much shine as those on stage.
“A lot of the staff has been here since the beginning,” he said. “That’s the thing that’s kept us alive. If they weren’t here, no way would we still be around” …
Click here to read the rest of this week’s column.
