THE NIGHT STUFF
Kapono rides 'Stairway,' other favorites for young, old

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Henry Kapono packs 'em in on Wednesdays and Fridays at his nightclub in the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

There was still a hint of sunset sky showing when my girlfriend and I walked into the restaurant-bar's large, outdoor seating area. Part-owner Henry Kapono was on the large pier-side stage, singing "Friends."

At the foot of a dramatically spot-lit Aloha Tower and with Honolulu Harbor providing an intriguing backdrop after dark, Kapono's benefits from a wonderfully easy-on-the-senses location. Palm trees and foliage in planters mark the perimeter, while a couple of large trees brush the roofline of the club's centerpiece open-air stage.

A four-sided bar accented with white and red lighting anchors Kapono's diamondhead side, while restroom and kitchen facilities take up the 'ewa end.

The restaurant's five dozen or so umbrella-topped tables were occupied, so we sat on the wall of a large planter near the stage. Service was quick and friendly despite our sideline seats and the size of the crowd.

The crowd was an even mix of tourists and pau-hana locals, diverse in ethnic background and age. There were even a few parents with their kids. The vibe was definitely laid-back and fun.

"I want to say hello to Marc Anthony," said Kapono, casually dressed in a blue cotton shirt and loose blue jeans, his acoustic guitar slung comfortably from his shoulder. "I heard that he was in the house."

Heads — including ours — immediately started scanning the audience for the popular Latin crooner, who already seemed to have left. Kapono could've been referring to some guy from 'Ewa named Mark Anthony, for all I knew.

"This is for him," said Kapono, before plucking the opening chords of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." A pair of girls — no more than 3 or 4 years old — began twirling near the front of the stage as Kapono sang the song's hushed opening verses.

The cheesy and overplayed rock classic showcased facets of Kapono's vocal range that, quite frankly, surprised me. The singer's accomplished delivery of "Stairway," backed by a tight foursome of musicians, had people walking by the open-air restaurant stopping to watch and listen. A fiftysomething guy next to us air-guitared like a teenager.

The performance set the tone for the rest of Kapono's lively multi-hour set.

Covers of Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle," Jimmy Buffett's "Volcano," Santana's "Smooth," and other songs from Kapono's CD collection often induced the crowd to fill a tight dance space in front of the stage. Not much of a conversationalist between songs, Kapono seemed to have most of his fun performing, smiling often as he surveyed the audience.

A handful of tourists grooving vigorously at their tables to a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover eventually settled down for a sweet Kapono vocal on Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl." The song was only mildly marred by a large tugboat chugging past, behind the singer.

And Dawn and I? We forgot about the week's missed deadlines and a sure-to-be-full-of-surprises workweek waiting on Monday and warbled the chorus of set-ender "Danny's Song" along with everybody else. Why? Because Kapono asked us to.

And after that night, he deserved to get a little something back.

Know a night spot or recurring club event we should be checking out? Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.

What: Henry Kapono at Kapono's

Where: Aloha Tower Marketplace, 536-2161, 537-9611 (entertainment hot line)

When: Open daily, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Cover: None

Under 21 OK?: Yes

Age of crowd: 3-year-olds to sixtysomethings

The dress code: Shirts and footwear

Attire we saw: Mostly casual for both sexes, with a scattering of dressier patrons

Our arrival/departure: 7:30 p.m./9:30 p.m. on a Friday

What we ate/drank: Kalua pig spring rolls, deep-fried calamari, whiskey sour, diet Coke, Skyy Blue ($27.89 total)

How crowded was it?: About 200 people

Queue?: No

Sample music: "Sweet Home Alabama," "Hotel California," "Goodnight and Good Morning," all performed live by Henry Kapono

Dancing?: Yes.

Tips: Kapono performs Wednesdays (5:30-8:30 p.m.) and Fridays 6 -9:30 p.m. Come early if you want a table.

You gotta see this: Kapono's blistering "Stairway to Heaven" cover

Overheard line of the night: "Whoa ... Kapono can rock!"