Came here after walking through Waikiki on a rainy afternoon passing by all sorts of food truck…read moreparks to get here. Place is in a hotel building on Lewers between Kuhio and Kalakaua. When I got there a guy was at the bar who just told me to walk into a room and start singing as it wasn't crowded at all so I got a room right away. They have both a Japanese setup with one device and also a Healsonic setup with a device to enter in the song codes but it is set for only the English catalog and no other languages. The setup was not bad apart from a few glitches in the very beginning. I just looked up songs on my own Healsonic app on my phone and entered them into their pad. Price was very reasonable - came during their happy hour so it was well worth it.

This place was great. Prices felt reasonable, the machines had most of the songs I wanted. They…read morewere surprised I wanted to sing in Japanese (I'm white) but it was good I told them, as only certain rooms have the Japanese set up-- but those rooms allow you to switch between two karaoke systems / softwares which was pretty cool. 日本語の歌もここに歌える。 The negative reviews I read were mainly for stupid reasons. If you read them you'll see, too. If you just want to do karaoke and have fun, this place is perfect. Also props to Brady who set me up, made my drink and checked me out at the end. Super nice. Hope to come back!

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.

A year late writing this review oops but had to come back to it because this bar was hands down one…read moreof my favorite memories from my Honolulu trip in Nov 2023! My friend and I had actually meant to go to The Dragon Upstairs which is the bar upstairs (yeah we missed that in the name... LOL) but we walked into Hanks instead. This place is THE definition of a local dive bar. There was a lovely entertainer singing some hilarious songs on the guitar, the most random, interesting, and hilarious group of locals seated at the bar, someone's dog sleeping in the corner, and of course a fantastic hot bartender that keeps you there and keeps everyone drinking!! We met so many interesting people that night and had a blast. Stayed there way longer than expected and definitely stayed through many more rounds of drinks than expected. But in true dive bar fashion, it didn't break our bank which we loved!! Accidentally stumbling upon Hanks was the best mistake we could have ever made and I can't wait to go back if I'm in Honolulu again! Truly a gem!

Would not return…read more During a recent visit, a bartender named Eli made a comment to me that was sexual in nature and made me extremely uncomfortable -- not the kind of interaction I expect from staff at any establishment. After that exchange, I noticed the service toward my group became noticeably colder for the rest of the night. We also had repeated issues getting correct change back on cash transactions at the bar. I raised both concerns with management afterward and received no response or acknowledgment. I've been there several times over the past year, and this experience was enough to end that. I can't speak to whether this is a pattern, but it's not an experience I'm willing to risk again, and I'd encourage other patrons -- especially women -- to be cautious. For a better night out, Dragon upstairs has better drinks, better prices, and a staff that treats customers well.

I was fortunate to get to attend the Kevin Hughes show last night....it was REALLY FUNNY!....you…read moreknow how I could tell?? I laughed...and so did my husband!..... Kevin is a very talented comedian who captures the essence of people and does a great job in relaying that to the audience....I was amazed at how much he could talk and talk and talk! If you enjoy looking at the humor of people, you'll enjoy Kevin. Had dinner at Chuck's Cellar next door at the Ohana East....it was all a perfect evening...park your car, have a nice dinner and then on to Kevin Hughes' show...I highly recommend it.!

I bought a Groupon for this show. I paid about $15 for 2 tickets. Bargain? We also had to buy a…read moredrink each. Well, the "host" came out and started the show. I felt bad for this woman. She was dressed like a homeless person and worse than that, she wasn't funny at all. She introduced I think 4 other comedians. 2 of the comedians were funny, one was Shawn Felipe and the other was a "Kramer" type comedian. One of them was a little funny and a comedian named Arthur Wayne was not funny at all. He was just creepy. The venue is small and the waitress comes to your table to take your drink order. The night we went, the room was not even half full. All in all, it was a night out.

Thursday night Salsamor at District was a fantastic experience. It was unpretentious, easy-going,…read moresuper friendly, and welcoming. I had such a blast in this diverse space, and looking forward to going back.

I found this place as I was looking for Salsa places in Oahu on Yelp, and I really wanted to dance…read moreat least once while I'm on vacation. They have Salsa on Thursday nights so I walked from my hotel to this place which ended about 15-17 minutes which is not that bad. I had to walk through a sketchy area while following my navigation on my phone. When I left the place, I walked through the Ala Moana Center which I felt safer. $15 cover charge which includes a ticket for a free drink which I used to get a bottle water. Small bottle of water, but still nice. I got there during the middle of the lesson in which I stood back and just watch. It was the super basic steps in which I already know so I didn't want to partake, plus I saw that there was not an uneven number of dudes so there's no need for me to jump in. Haha... I made it a goal for that night that if I danced 5xs then I will be happy to leave as I was not feeling the best. I did dance 5xs, and then I left. I'm glad that I got to salsa danced in Hawaii, but it's definitely not as fun as salsa dancing back home in California. Lol.. Not much people there. Mostly couples who are complete newbs. Lol also the floor is pretty sticky, which is kinda gross. The bathrooms are clean and nice though!

Honestly, my favorite place to watch live comedy. I would probably say the best comedy club on the…read moreisland. It's affordable! Only $10 and $7 for military/students! The guys who run it are very nice and hospitable. They'll escort you to a seat. Tip: If you enter your phone number, you can get a free drink token after a third visit! Normally you wouldn't expect Hawaii out of all places to be a stand-up comedy capital, but you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out that a lot of comedic talent resides here. Some big names have even dropped by for a surprise set (Hannibal Buress, Iliza Shlesinger). Comedy U also makes sure to change up the shows at least several times a year. They'll have roast battles and comedy competitions to name a few. After a show, you can even sign up for an open mic if you want to try your hand at comedy. The promoters and the comedians are very supportive and will gladly give you advice if you ask. And who knows? Maybe one day you'll be performing here too.

Attended Comedy U show for the first time, my second live comedy show ever. The reception was very…read morewelcoming. My partner and I arrived just before show started, so most of the tables were taken, so I was pleasantly surprised when we were guided to a single table for two, near the front. There was a lineup of comedians before the special guest comedian, followed by a lineup of open mic comedians. Aside from the comedy, I felt so inspired by the bravery of these people to get up on stage and bare their soul, while hoping to spread joy to others. The show started at 7:30, and we were there until 11:30. The time flew by, and we were shocked. My partner later was inspired to possible take the stage in the future, which was such a surprise to me. I'm hoping to go back, and see my partner take the stage.

We had such a wonderful experience at Rock-A-Hula! We came to celebrate my mother-in-law's…read morebirthday, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. We did the backstage tour before the luau and absolutely loved it. We enjoyed champagne and charcuterie while getting to know some of the other ladies on the tour, then learned about the instruments, props, and traditions used in hula. It made the experience feel much more personal and gave us a greater appreciation for the show that followed. Dinner included traditional hula performances, and the show afterward took us through the history of Hawaiian music and hula, including the Western influences that helped shape it over the years. What stood out most to me, though, was how accommodating and kind everyone was to my mother-in-law, who uses a walker. Of all the places we visited during our trip, this was by far the most handicap-accessible and accommodating. Our tour guide was incredibly patient and helpful, and one of the hula dancers even helped me get my mother-in-law's meal for her. Those little acts of kindness make such a difference when traveling with someone who has mobility challenges. She was able to enjoy the entire experience without ever feeling like an inconvenience. It was a wonderful way to celebrate her birthday and one of those experiences we'll remember long after our trip is over. Highly recommend Rock-A-Hula!

I've been to about half a dozen luaus on Oahu over the past few years, and Rock-A-Hula is now my…read morefavorite by far! Unlike the others, this is one I'll remember for a long time. The buffet was surprisingly delicious. My favorites were the tofu salad, mac salad, stir-fried noodles, fish, and the pork. Everything was packed with flavor. I'm usually not a dessert person, but the coconut jelly was absolutely amazing. As for the drinks, one Mai Tai had me feeling relaxed, and two had me feeling really good! The highlight of the night was definitely the theater show. It was 90 minutes of nonstop entertainment with incredible live singing, Hawaiian dancing, and amazing performances. It's basically a Las Vegas show! Elvis absolutely stole the show. I was ready to jump out of my seat and start dancing in my slippers! Michael Jackson's Thriller and Billie Jean performances were also incredible. From the outstanding performers to the friendly staff and how well everything was organized, Rock-A-Hula delivered an unforgettable experience. If you're trying to decide which luau to see in Waikiki, this would be my top recommendation!

hands down best latin night club in hawaii, relaxed dress…read morecode, amazing drinks and good latin music

Literally got harassed for telling the dj to change the music. Stopped after we were told the first…read moretime and got dragged out by the security guards. We were targeted the entire time for no reason. My arms are sore from being manhandled. I was touched in inappropriate ways that a girl should never go through. These guys deserve to be arrested.