THE NIGHT STUFF
Duke's thrives on good food, sunsets, Island music

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Lani Bee Nakoa and Momi Bee Kahawaiola'a of the Lilikoi Sisters are among the musicians who provide Island music at Duke's Canoe Club at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Island entertainer Puanani Howell encourages visitor Steven Feltenberger of Beaufort, S.C., to play on at Duke's.

DUKE'S CANOE CLUB Where: 2335 Kalakaua Ave., beachfront, Outrigger Waikiki Hotel Hours: 7 a.m.-1 a.m. daily Age of crowd: 20s-70s What to wear: Casual is best; beachwear also works. Best seats: At a beachside lanai table, evening around sunset, on a clear day Nightly entertainment: 4-6 p.m. Maunalua (Fridays), Kapena (Saturdays), Henry Kapono (Sundays), Jonah Cummings (Mondays-Thursdays) 7-9:30 p.m. Lilikoi Sisters (all week) 10 p.m.-midnight Haumea Warrington (Thursdays-Sundays), Jonah Cummings (Mondays-Wednesdays)

With three sets of live Hawaiian music each night and a satisfying food and drink menu priced reasonably, it's a unique, laid back and wildly popular oasis on real estate crowded by far pricier offerings.

If you arrive between 4 p.m. and whatever time of day the sun is setting, be prepared to grab a drink and stand around for a bit. When Duke's first set of live music (Maunalua, Kapena and Henry Kapono are regulars) kicks off on the beachside lanai, tables and seats around the bars fill up fast.

I was lucky enough to score a beachside table from a departing beachwear-clad twentysomething couple, moved, I believe, by my forlorn gazing at the ocean. A clear enough view of Maunalua, the beach, the ocean beyond and a rapidly approaching sunset was suddenly all mine.

Duke's comfortably casual indoor environs — all about dark varnished wood, surf and beachboy memorabilia and palm frond accents — were also busy with a mix of twenty- to seventy-somethings. Out-of-town visitors outnumbered 'em, but an impressive number of locals were chilling with pau hana Friday drinks and food.

Service was quick and attentive; the bar menu compact and uncomplicated. An order each of Waikiki hot wings and mac nut & crab wontons (each $7.95) easily sated Bill and Bev Morello — a Kansas couple who politely asked if they could sit at the table "just for the sunset" — and me.

Bill held Bev's hand tightly and pecked her cheek as Maunalua opened "Brown Eyed Girl."

"Happy anniversary, hon," he said. Bev smiled.

"The best way to describe the atmosphere here is '30s and '40s Hawai'i, when the Islands were emerging as a destination," said general manager Ross Anderson. "Duke's tries to kind of bring back that era when Duke Kahanamoku was the man — the Olympian, the surfer, the swimmer, the ambassador of aloha."

Live local music has also always been a large part of Duke's appeal. The late Moe Keale was a beachside lanai fixture early on, as was Brother Noland.

"Makana literally grew up here," said Anderson. "He started playing here when he was 14. He's grown up and gone away, but whenever he's in town and has some dates open, he always comes down and plays."

Duke's most popular regulars are the Lilikoi Sisters, who stroll through, strumming guitars and 'ukulele nightly, and Kapono, who plays Sunday evenings.

The sunset (sans green flash) brought with it a palpable hush from the crowd. Maunalua had long finished playing. And the Morellos thanked me for their first-ever Hawaiian sunset.

Couldn't have done it without a little help from Duke's.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.

NIGHTSPOTTING ...

NEO NIGHT

Ah, to be young and courted as a Honolulu patron of the arts. ARTafterDARK monthlies return to the Honolulu Academy of Arts tonight with "NeoNite — Encounters at the Edge." Love Parade collective founder DJ Dr. Motte (Berlin) spins tech house and progressive beats, while staff offer tours of the museum's exhibit of works by German contemporary artist Neo Rauch. German beer and food will be on sale. From 6 to 9 p.m. today. Entry is free for museum members, $7 for nonmembers. 532-6091.

LAWNCHAIR LOVE

Peter Christianson — half of Seattle-based DJ duo Lawnchair Generals — drops by Nitelite's Blend weekly at Kai's tonight with a cooler full of deep house tracks to share. Would've been swell if co-conspirator Carlos Mendoza made the trip for some tandem work, but why quibble? Show up for this one and there might be a next time for that. Nitelite residents Reid, Eugene and Kawika hold it down early on. From 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 1427 Makaloa St. (in the makai shadow of Wal-Mart/Sam's Club). Ages 21 and older. More information at 944-1555.

FATLIP, THE PUSSYCAT & YOU

His days with South Central hip-hop jokesters The Pharcyde are long gone. It's been a while since I heard "What's Up, Fatlip?" in a club. But a solo set by Derrick "Fatlip" Stewart at Tuesday's Pussycat Lounge for just $8? Better dig out my copy of "Bizarre Ride II" for the car! Jennifer Johns and Omni & Moleman open. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Wave Waikiki. Tix at www.groovetickets.com.