Posted on: Friday, December 31, 2004

Eateries prepare for soggy festivities

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

New Year's Eve is traditionally the biggest night at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, and general manager Joe Glarner hopes tonight will be no different.

The severe weather forecasts have prompted Gordon Biersch in the Aloha Tower Marketplace to arrange for temporary tenting for its outdoor seating, the first time they have done so in 10 New Year's Eves, he said.

"Of course, New Year's Eve at Aloha Tower is highlighted by fireworks, so tenting is a last-case scenario," Glarner said. "It would be definitely detrimental to us if it plays out the way it's forecast to. But of course, in the scope of world events, it's minimal.

"If it's hot and sunny, I will give sacrifice to gods of anyone's choice," he said with a laugh.

Heavy rain was falling on Kaua'i by 6 p.m. yesterday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an urban small streams flood advisory on that island, said forecaster Norman Hui. The storm was expected to hit O'ahu late last night or this morning.

Workers at Kapono's, another Aloha Tower restaurant and bar, are just hoping for the best. The venue is mostly outdoors.

"Right now we're just crossing our fingers," said Kim Taniyama, head server and administrative assistant. Kapono's has closed because of the weather a couple of times on "regular nights" but for a big event, such as New Year's Eve, "we're open rain or shine," she said.

Umbrellas covering about half of the area usually are taken down for large events, but they likely will stay up and can withstand the wind, she said.

"We're trying to be optimistic, but I think everybody knows in the back of their minds that the possibility is there, so we're just doing the best that we can to prepare," Taniyama said.

Workers at Outrigger properties removed light outdoor furniture and put up sandbags at beachfront hotels, said Barry Wallace, senior vice president of operations.

Christmas decorations outside of the hotels as well as in lobbies open to the wind also were taken down early, he said.

"We're prepared, but we're hoping that it doesn't become a big event for us in Waikiki," Wallace said. "This is one of those situations where no news is good news. But everybody's watching it carefully."

Hawaii Nautical had to cancel its catamaran tours out of Ko Olina until Jan. 2, including a fireworks show tour New Year's Eve, said owner-operator Doug Ewalt.

"We've lost all that business, basically," he said. "Although this year so far, it's a lot better than last year, so if we have one or two big storms, that's OK." Ewalt said last year he had to cancel about half of his scheduled tours in December and January because of the weather.

"It's frustrating because we were up and running at capacity three days in a row, (and) now you have to pull the plug," he said. But, he added, "a true sailor never complains about the weather because it could be worse."

For Kona Brewing Co. in Koko Marina Shopping Center, however, there wasn't much to do except conduct business as usual.

Patrons probably will just avoid the restaurant's outdoor seating, which is partially covered, said retail manager Danny Sam. But Sam is prepared to squeegee the restaurant's windows and floors, as he and others had to do in previous storms.

"It's anything goes at the Kona Brew," he said. "We like it that way.

"We hope it doesn't last long, that's for sure. But I don't know, as locals, we always gotta enjoy the rain."

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2470.