Food & Drink The…read morebetter half of the world food tour duo had other plans, so I invited my sister-in-law to see Stanley Jordan. We chose a table on the upper level on the right side of the center section. This gave us good views of the stage and no one in front of us blocked our views. We ordered double Hendricks gin & tonics, a Caesar Salad, Portobello Arrabbiata, and the Jidori Coconut Basil Chicken. Interestingly, the pasta dish didn't have any portobello mushrooms; it featured pieces of Maitake mushrooms. Like before, the pasta was somewhat overcooked, but the spicy marinara sauce was fine. The chicken half came with what tasted like plain rice sitting in a coconut cream sauce. The rice was described as crispy cilantro lime rice ... I don't think so. Our biggest complaint about the chicken was that it was slightly overdone ... My leg was fine, but the breast meat was dry. We passed on dessert and I had a cup of black coffee. Food rating: 3+. The Concert I've followed Stanley Jordan for a long time and have many of his albums, starting with Magic Touch in 1985. That CD opened my ears to a different style of guitar playing. I thought I was a guitarist .... No, I'm a hack. Stanley, now 66, played his Vigier (a French guitar), another one whose name I couldn't see, and a grand piano during his 1.5-hour set. I wasn't able to check out his pedal setup. If you haven't heard him play, you are missing out on a virtuoso of improvisational jazz. Trained as a pianist, he plays with both hands, on one guitar or two. He played two songs seated at the piano and switched hands during each ... All while singing. His set included Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby, My Funny Valentine, and a couple of songs from his forthcoming album, Feather in the Wind. The Blue Note is perfectly suited for small scale / solo performances by artists like Stanley Jordan. Highly recommended! Concert rating: 5+.

Blue Note Hawaii was on fire for Mindy Smokestack's 10th Annual Amy Winehouse Tribute. The second…read moreyou walked in, you could feel that "this is gonna be a good one" energy -- and the performers delivered all night long Mindy Smokestack set the tone with a lineup that was stacked with talent. Kristina Bair came in with vocals that hit you right in the chest, Cardamom brought that warm, smoky vibe, and The Elevations kept the groove tight and clean. Every performer -- Kessa Armstrong, Kevin Brown, Ayano A McPeek‑Bailey, Tazra Gomes, Belen León -- added their own flavor, making the show feel like a full‑on celebration instead of a copycat tribute The crowd was locked in, the band was dialed, and the whole night felt like one of those "only in Hawaiʻi" experiences where the music, the room, and the people all sync up perfectly. And of course the food was fire

Always have a good time here, good shows. Midget wrestling, concerts, comedy, etc. Bar staff…read moreusually good too. Parking - eh. Usually hit mall but now you can park under Republik too for a fee. Tonight, boyyyyyy - bartender betch pissed me off!!! Nasty ass attitude. Won't open her betch mouth but want to use her hands and throw em up at my son to get my attention. Trick. But it explains why you're bartending here and won't last long. Middle finger to ya.

Good room for sound. Was a little heavy on security but it's the time we live in. Plenty of…read morefriendly bartenders so no real wait there. There was a "pit" where a security guy was posted up in the middle of it all, which I thought was strange- but as show progressed it was obvious they were there to help people who fell or were in need to be taken aside even if they didn't know it yet. I'd go again

I was lucky enough to attend a Lei Day event at Waikiki Shell featuring live music and hula, and…read morethe setting could not have felt more perfect for it. The venue immediately reminded me a little of the Hollywood Bowl, but on a much smaller and somehow even more charming scale. With Diamond Head rising in the background, the views are absolutely spectacular and give the whole experience a distinctly Hawaiian sense of place. I was also impressed by how good the acoustics were, especially in an outdoor venue. It's very easy to access from the main Waikiki hotel area, which makes getting there surprisingly convenient. Between the music, the atmosphere, and the scenery, it ended up being one of those memorable Honolulu evenings that really sticks with you.

Shelling out for an event…read more.. Honestly the last time that I've been back to the Waikiki Shell is my graduation o_O woah....though I could be wrong but sadly I don't get out very much but thanks to Nadine who asked if I was interested in a concert which I really was made me so happy to return and experience it all under the stars. Parking is always an issue but luckily we got there early...early enough to find one right away as it fills up quickly which you'll have to park at the next lot which can be a distance that we didn't want. What I wasn't prepared for was the wait as the time to enter was delayed by 30 minutes I did wished that I knew you could bring your own water just as long it's in a plastic bottle though there was lots of food options there it was spread out so far I wished there was just a single place to order but I was already exhausted from waiting that all I wanted to do was find our seats. Nadine selected great seats right in the center and close enough that we're able to see the concert well, bathrooms are at the front gate and I noticed there was another one on the opposite side as well, it's nice to have an open air atmosphere gave it a nice relaxing vibe. Thank you!

Mahalo to Emi and Yelp Hawaii for another unique and educational experience! My +1 and I had a…read morechance to go to the Oceanic VIP Music Hall to see Ka'imi Hanano'eau who is the lead singer and guitarist for the band, HiRiZ. We got free validated parking across the street at the Dole Cannery parking structure! We waited in the lobby of the Castle & Cooke Building where our Escort checked our names off the list and led us to the 4th Floor. Along the way, the walls were filled with portraits of previous performers such as Jim Brickman and Na Leo Pilimehana. Impressive! After walking around to what seemed to be the back of the building, we entered a large living room full of sofas, ottomans, barstools and tables. We were warmly greeted and invited to partake in refreshments of shrimp platter, croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit, pasta salad and bottled water. The Emcee, Kevin Jones of Star 101.9, kept things lively by introducing the band members, asking engaging questions , and adding interesting trivia. He really helped make this event a more comfortable and intimate one. My friends and I sat in the first row where we could check out the jewelry and shoes (and bare feet) of the band. We enjoyed watching them communicate through gestures and eye contact and how they pressed the buttons of the amplifiers with their feet! I truly enjoyed watching Ka'imi's fingers glide over the frets of his guitar so effortlessly. ..He's a very talented songwriter even though he sang songs from the Doobie Brothers, Prince, and the Pixies, too. I was also amused by his playfulness as he approached the electric fan which blew his long hair wildly around his face! We're grateful to be invited to the Oceanic VIP Music Hall. It's a very special place! Hope to get another chance to return!

Ah the Road Runner Music Hall, they renamed it, it's now called the Oceanic VIP Music Hall! Yeah…read moredifferent but i guess Road Runner wasn't fast enough. This has to be my FAVORITE part of Clear Channel! Posters on the wall from previous artists that have performed to the couches you can chill on, how can anyone not like it here? Sometimes it can get cold, it just depends. I don't know what else to say, if I had to pick watching an artist at the music hall or at a venue, I'd rather it be here. It's just cool like that.

Lovely anniversary evening here. Came for the live jazz music and they were stellar as usual. The…read moreambiance is lovely and service excellent Why I demoted them a star was the pretty cocktails I saw in Yelp are gone. There's no: "Moonglow" (Benny Goodman) or "That was my heart" (honor to Ella Fitzgerald), so I asked for my favorite aperitif, "Dubonnet" , no. But, they came up with my other favorite, sambuca Mist. I have to agree with another reviewer that the French baguette served with the charcuterie was hard as could be and inedible. I did not enjoy the choice of cheeses as they were both of the same hard boring tastes, unimaginative, mix it up. They olives should be pitted. The tiramisu dessert was very delicious, even though very small, but expected--after all its fine dining. I have no other way to tell new manager to up their game in the food and beverage department. Just wouldn't expect Halekulani to slip in these departments. Also, manager never came around or was seen checking in his or her patrons, not very 5 star there. Just being honest. The complimentary valet parking was exceptional. Thank you for a very enjoyable evening.

We came on a night when there was a special event with a singer I wasn't familiar with and the…read morecover charge was ridiculous. Service was amazing!!! Prices are on the higher side. I really liked the ambiance and vibes! Very intimate and dark. Make sure you're dressed up.

Drinks are expensive, I think that goes for all bars…read more It's pretty packed, especially first Saturdays so prepare yourself lol. The music is (sometimes) repetitive but it just depends on the DJ. Don't recommend parking or driving there unless you know a good parking spot. And never park at Ala Moana, they will tow after 1am:)

If you're looking for a real nightlife experience in Honolulu, The District Nightclub is easily one…read moreof the best spots to go out. The energy is unmatched. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into a mainland-style club, something you don't always get in Hawai'i. The space is huge, with multiple rooms and bars, so it never feels too cramped even when it's packed. What really stands out is the music. The DJs do a great job blending hip-hop, Top 40, and dance tracks, and the vibe naturally builds as the night goes on, starting chill and turning into a full-on party by late night.

We were just walking around and we saw the sign outside that said Happy Hour. We love a happy hour!…read moreAnd it said $5 for drinks. Say less. We got the chicken karaage and sliders. Omg the chicken karaage was so good!! It was nice and extra crispy on the outside, but so juicy and moist inside. Just how i like it! The sliders was nice too. I got a passion fruit margarita and he got his tequlia tonic. Both were great. It was such a nice and chill vibes. Had live music which is always a plus! The best part though was our bartender, Kama. He was extremely friendly and was prompt with everything. He even helped us by giving us some tips on places to go eat/explore while we are in town. He is the 5 star in this review!

We came here for happy hour ($5 drinks & $14 pupus) and there was almost nobody here on a Saturday!…read moreOur server was really nice but the hostess was a little cold. Our drinks were refilled constantly and the food came out really quick. Everything was delicious and the portions were perfect for the 6 of us to share! I'm surprised they weren't more busy since they validate parking and it's conveniently at IMP.

2026 Hawaii Rainbow Film Festival. Located in the heart of Honolulu, surrounded by the urban…read morerevival of Chinatown. 2nd floor bar and lounge area allows for drinks and food. Tons of parking in the surrounding public garages.

I was blessed enough to experience various shows at the Hawaii Theatre Center, the most recent…read morebeing a showing of Nosferatu (2024) for Halloween, which was a special experience with some friends who are also into horror flicks. The theater supports both movies as well as live shows, which makes it a unique cultural space. You're not supposed to eat in the theater itself, and if you want to drink you would need to buy a sippy cup-like container from the bar. I suppose it is meant to protect the theater from decay, all these protective measures. The bartender who served us wine was friendly enough. I loved seeing the art around the theater.