Post #567617 by msteeln on Sat, Dec 4, 2010 7:54 PM

The Bone is one of the few places I'll bother with these days as I'm no longer into the common stupidity bars can be, it's very mellow and kind of an open secret, it should be packed but never is. My friends play good Hawaiian w/Bobby Ingano on steel Tuesdays and usually to just me... Phillip, a little help! Closed Sun., mix bag the rest of the week, a band most nights but no junk music (WARNING - they can karaoke) and those nights they have a bit more crowd. The drinks are ok/standard but stiff, generous, and cheap-ish = $6 for a decent B-tea. Be a nice regular and they're real friendly with them, before 7pm get free pupu, so rare now! Nice local style, good sound system that they keep at a sensible level (thank you), TVs, with a rough but pretty cool decor and mini stage that Mark, the rhythm player designed/built as an old plantation lanai/front porch. Food can be good, with an interesting selection, the chop steak or fried salmon belly are ono. Management care and try, uncommon these days and it's much appreciated, kind of a Hawaiian Cheers, and they will pull a NORM! on you.

Imua Lounge (google map it) is notable for the rowdy but nice/fun crowd and high quality old style Hawaiian music on Wed. night til 10pm, played by Nani, a truly surreal spectacle of large mahus and friends that really hits high gear if Jeff Ah Hoy sits in on steel, but always superb non-the-less. Not to be missed (I hope they are still there...).

The flip-side is Waikiki's Outrigger hotel's Kani Kapila Grille http://www.alohaupdate.com/hawaii-directory/kani-ka-pila-grille/ with their new and beautiful outdoor dining area where slack key giant Cyril Pahinui w/Jeff Au Hoy and Jeff Teves play on Wed. evening, great stuff, with other quality performers thruout the week. The corporate Waikiki attitude is tempered here, fortunately. It's sweet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqVPJI29u54 Giving 'Aloha Bruce' credit for including the entire song in his mini Grille tour.