StarBulletin.com

Upscale SKYLiNE ends 5-year run at Hanohano Room


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POSTED: Friday, January 16, 2009

AFTER five years of catering to the Beautiful People at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hanohano Room, promoters Flash Hansen and Matty Hazelgrove say goodbye to SKYLiNE this weekend.

;”;It is a very emotional announcement for us,”; Hansen admitted last week via e-mail. “;SKYLiNE was ground zero, the impetus for everything that is the FM brand today.”;

When Hansen and Hazelgrove partnered with the late Komo Low on TWiLiGHT in January 2004, local residents had Wonderlounge at the former W Honolulu and the Piranha Room at the old Ocean Club among their only options for an upscale atmosphere.

By September, Low had moved on and the party switched names. It also went from a monthly event to a first and third Saturday schedule that regularly packed the restaurant and brought a number of celebrities out to mingle with local residents.

Over the next four years, SKYLiNE redefined Honolulu standards for service and decor, often making the Hanohano feel more “;ultra lounge”; than venues that contained those words in their names. Hansen and Hazelgrove also raised the bar for nightclub entertainment, hiring world-class DJs to spin and dedicating enough resources to offer VIP bottle service the way it's meant to be done.

“;We are saddened that SKYLiNE is ending but are extremely excited and anxious for what lies ahead,”; Hansen said. “;No other promoters will be doing events at the Hanohano Room, and we may be back at some point ... to do a one-off (party).”;

Doors for the final SKYLiNE open at 9 p.m. Saturday, with a $15 cover all night and Star 101.9 afternoon jock Maleko handling hosting duties. DJs Eskae, KSM and mrbRown will be on the turntables, with free massages and pupus available and complimentary parking with validation.

While I'm a little sad to see the party go, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Hansen and Hazelgrove will be up to next on Saturday nights ...

CLUB NEWS: It doesn't appear that the W Honolulu's change to The Lotus at Diamond Head will affect the hotel's entertainment. I'm told weekly club nights on Fridays and Saturdays will continue, and Diamond Head Grill will offer live jazz from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, with half-priced pupu and drinks from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ... The closure of Cirque Hawaii has resulted in an interesting development at Pipeline Cafe. James Coles will move Fire Fridays there starting Jan. 23, bringing an 18-and-over weekly back to a venue I was told didn't want to host those kinds of parties anymore ... Club kids now have another after-hours option in Honolulu. The new Asylum Afterhours on Queen Street caters to a 21-and-over crowd with two rooms of music by resident DJs Zane, Willis Haltom, Cryptik, Ernie K, Fathom, Rayne and Loic Tambay. Head Ewa on Queen from Ward Avenue after midnight on Saturday or Sunday and you'll (hopefully) stumble across this new underground party option ...

AS MORE PEOPLE discover microblogging Web site Twitter.com, a growing list of celebrities are signing up to connect with fans.

I use my Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/sonecessary) to follow 140-character snapshots from the lives of people like NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, The Roots' Questlove and rapper Q-Tip. Twitter also tipped me off about Lance Armstrong's recent Big Island visit, and Olivia Munn (co-host of “;Attack of the Show”; on cable network G4) posted a few times while in Hawaii for Christmas.

Locally, a number of media types are on Twitter, including KITV's Mahealani Richardson, former KHNL anchor Angela Keen and Star-Bulletin columnists Erika Engle and Nadine Kam. Local comedian Andy Bumatai even uses Twitter to take questions for his relaunched talk show on KFVE ...

WEEKEND PICKS: Head downtown for improv comedy at Laughtrack Theater, a 60-seat venue dedicated to the art form. Therapy, IYFI and Aftermath perform at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, followed by the debut of Belligerent at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10; call 384-3362 ... On Saturday, Fiji, J. Boog, Rebel Souljahz, Nesian N.I.N.E. and special guests will be at the Waikiki Shell for “;Throw the Shaka,”; starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $30 at the gate; call 296-1003 ... After helping say goodbye to SKYLiNE, DJ Eskae hosts Go Hard, a new Sunday weekly at the V Lounge that aims to capture some of the same vibe as his popular Soul Clap monthly at thirtyninehotel. Next weekend, Eskae will help get people ready for an upcoming appearance by DJ Nick Catchdubs in Chinatown. He gets on the decks at 10 p.m. on Sundays, with no cover charge all night ...

 

Check out Jason Genegabus' blog: www.sonecessary.tv