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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002

A handful of nightclubs offer good times that won't cost you a fortune

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Wave Waikiki plans a black-light, GLO-happy party to help ring in 2003. The Glo-ball New Year's Eve 2002 starts at 9 p.m., and admission will cost you $10 if you pay in advance.

Advertiser library photo

Perhaps it's the economy, stupid. Or maybe folks just want to stay home with the family and O.D. on sashimi, cheap champagne and illegal fireworks.

Whatever the reasons, 2002's New Year's Eve nightclub scene is looking downright somnambulant when compared with year's past. At press time, anyway.

World Café's Web site says it will be closed. Many clubs and bars that were staying open said the eve before 2003 would be "business as usual." Even the Hard Rock Cafe — which, in years past, had imported decent mid-level bands from the Mainland to perform — said it was taking another breather from official New Year's Eve festivities this year.

In truth, the quantity of New Year's Eve nightclub celebrations locally has really been in a funk since humankind turned the millennial clock over two years ago and found it had no reason to party away from home until the year 3000. Or maybe, again, it's just the economy, stupid.

But all is not lost, yet. Grumpy's, Maze and Zanzabar told us they were still mulling over specifics for their New Year's Eve plans. We were particularly intrigued by Grumpy's hopes of doing a "block-party-type" event in Kaka'ako. Virus Afterhours was planning a "New Year's Eve gig" with DJs spinning from 9 p.m. New Year's Eve to noon Jan. 1. That's right ... lunchtime!

The following, however, are our five New Year's Eve nightclub event picks that seemed to have the most potential for some serious revelry. They're unranked, by the way.

The Electric Piranha Room at The Ocean Club, Restaurant Row

  • 8 p.m.
  • $5 before 9 p.m./$10 after
  • 531-8444

Promotions manager Emi Tottori and the gang at Ocean's will have double the reason to celebrate the new year as they also celebrate Piranha Room's one-year anniversary. Expect Piranha's usual excess and surprises — this time out: singers, go-go dancers, an electric fish parade — as well as a line stretching to Circuit Court if you don't arrive early enough.

Glo-ball New Year's Eve 2002 at Wave Waikiki

  • 9 p.m.
  • $10 advance/$20 door
  • 941-0424

Wave Waikiki's promotions staff suggests you select fashions from your closet that glow in black light, as the club will be bathed in it until the wee hours of 2003. Don't have any fly threads that glow? Wave promises free GLO accessories for the first 200 party people who show up, and prizes from a cool list of sponsors throughout the night. DJs from Stone Groove Family will spin Wave's upstairs and downstairs.

Glitter New Year's Eve at W Honolulu

  • 9 p.m.
  • $20 (a discount at door with '80s wear)
  • 922-3734

Funny we should mention your closet. Dig a little deeper — like way back into the cardboard boxes — where the "Frankie Say Relax" tees, pastel suits, jellies and stonewashed jeans are. Burn them. Then head down to the W's Diamond Head Grill for a night of classy '80s excess and DJs spinning the greed decade's best modern rock, hip-hop and R&B classics. Thrown together by Wonderlounge's Komo Low and the Pussycat Lounge crew, this official Glitter & Glamour Experience bash should feature the best of both their worlds (including a line if you don't show up early enough). And yes, G&G's trademark free makeovers and massages also will be administered.

Dyn-O-Mite at Club Mist, 1946 S. King St./1939 Young St.

  • 9 p.m.
  • $15

If '80s music or anything in the way of electric fish and blacklight doesn't move you, Doorman Productions and Imaginary Friends turntablist PSI are expected to lay down a thumping melange of house, trance, hardcore, breaks and drum-n-bass at Dyn-O-Mite. An all-ages party (don't worry, there'll also be area for those legally allowed to imbibe), Dyn-O-Mite will have two dance floors and a load of DJs on hand including PSI, Spellbinder and Kause & Cloned Monkey w/ MC Enemy. Can y'all dig it?

Smoke On The Water, Fire In The Sky on the catamaran Ali'i Kai

  • 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (boarding begins 9 p.m. at Pier 5, Aloha Tower)
  • $10.59
  • 539-9400, ext. 5

We gotta be honest here. What really sold our cheap behinds on this one — besides its oh-so-Deep-Purplish moniker — was its $10.59 price for a three-hour cruise. A three-hour cruise! Hosted by The Big Kahuna 105.9 FM and Ali'i Kai Catamaran Cruises, this 2003 welcomer also promises live classic rock by Steel Toe for dancing, a costume contest, and the best view of whatever firework displays O'ahu's south shore gives up. Champagne, beer and food cost a bit extra, though.