THE NIGHT STUFF
Waikiki Beach Marriott's new club still evolving

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Osama Rahma of Waikiki and Malia Delapenia of Mililani take to the floor of the Maharaja Ultra Lounge, which occupies the large former ballroom space at the Waikiki Beach Marriott. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Lexie and Katie Brecke, sisters from Reno, Nev., share a table. Weekly resident DJs and monthly guest DJs from the Mainland provide the music.

Maharaja Ultra Lounge WHERE: Second floor, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 923-7252 WHEN: 10 p.m.-4 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays. COVER: Free before midnight, $10 thereafter MINIMUM AGE: 23 AGE OF CROWD: 20s-30s WHAT TO WEAR: You'll fit in going dressy or casually dressy. QUEUE: No. BATHROOM ATTENDANT HOLDING PAPER TOWELS HOSTAGE?: No. BEST SEATS: Pods of loungers looking out on Kalakaua Avenue and Waikiki Beach THE SOUNDTRACK: House (vocals and remixes), hip-hop, Top 40 RESIDENT DJS: Montez Brown, 10 p.m — 2 a.m.; G-Spot, 2 a.m.-4 a.m.; both nights

The Maharaja Ultra Lounge has large floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki Beach and the ocean beyond.

It has pods of extremely comfy mod beige and maroon loungers for lying back with friends and gazing out those windows. Its discreet amber lighting is mixed with ambient light from images and silhouettes projected onto walls and a couple of tables designed for dancing on. On the Friday and Saturday nights I was there, flair bartenders practiced their cocktail tricks at the bar, and service was attentive at all times.

The only thing the Maharaja Ultra Lounge didn't have was a packed house.

Owner Peter Maharaj isn't worried.

"I'm optimistic because I haven't really gone out and aggressively marketed," Maharaj said of the three-week-old club's slow build. "It allows me to kind of work out some of the kinks in the place."

Maharaj said the Ultra Lounge drew about 450 on Saturday, and 175 to 200 on Friday. Most arrived between 1:30 and 4 a.m.

Those aren't exactly big numbers for the large former ballroom space at the Waikiki Marriott that the club occupies. But Maharaj is more interested in giving his lounge its own identity before attempting any direct marketing.

For consistency, he won't be opening up nights for rotating promoters and DJs to set the scene and music. Instead, he'll stick to weekly resident DJs and monthly guest DJs from the Mainland.

Maharaj said he gathered ideas for Maharaja from ultra lounges like Bungalow 8 and Pangaea in New York, Light at Las Vegas' Bellagio and Taboo at the MGM Grand.

"An ultra lounge has to be big. Not huge, but where you can have your own space," said Maharaj. "It has to have couches you can actually lounge on. It should create an area where you don't have to go to the dance floor and dance, but can get up and dance where you're at."

Ideas for furnishings and table projection images came from Taboo. The setup of furniture in spacious, unconfining pods was inspired by Bungalow 8. Marriott's cavernous converted ballroom matched Taboo's large rectangular environment. The beach and ocean views lend it a unique vibe.

"It'll get its crowd soon enough," said Ian Horiuchi, of Kailua, who was at Ultra Lounge with friends on Saturday. "Till word gets out, we'll just have it to ourselves. I kind of like that."

With even more interior accents scheduled to arrive for the bar, entry way and dance floor, Maharaj insists he is in Ultra Lounge for the long haul.

"If people come to my establishment and I don't get to know them and they don't get to know me, well, I'm just another place where they go to drink," said Maharaj.

"I am not in a rush to pack this place with the wrong crowd. ... I know we'll do well. I'm very patient."

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

NIGHTSPOTTING ...

'LOVE' AND ...

No, nothing clinical or involving little blue pills here. Move In Love Project's Tsunami Relief, happening Saturday at the Mililani YMCA, is a mixed-media fund-raiser for victims of December's Indian Ocean tsunamis. There'll be acoustic performances, live art, and photography, fashion and art exhibits. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. The event is co-sponsored by the Mililani YMCA, KTUH-FM, New Hope Mililani and others. From 6 to 10 p.m., 95-1190 Hikikaulia St. Entry is $5. Call 358-4386 or 349-2485 for more information.

PUNK VIRGINS RETURN

Unity Crayons goes the abstinence route for an eighth Virgins Of Punk show at Coffee Talk. The Saturday show will feature The Crud, Pacifica, Your Accomplice, Youth In Asia, The Grave Robbers and Laissez Faire. Show starts at 8 p.m. and, as always, is open to all ages. Entry is $5; more information at 255-4662. On Sunday, the Crayon crew helps community arts nonprofit Ladyfest Hawaii with a Coffee Talk fund-raiser. Performing are touring Portland, Ore.-based indie rockers Mirah, The Blow and local acts The Shy Creatures Puppet Show, Megum Pie, The Equivocals and Space Catalog. Show starts at 7 p.m.; cover is $6. More information at 372-5735.