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REGGAE fans now have a place to get lifted -- 45 stories high, to be exact -- and kick back without worrying about Honolulu's finest showing up to crash the party. On Sunday, take a trip to Waikiki and check out "Rub-A-Dub: Reggae on the Roof" at the Ohana Hobron Hotel. Sunday sundown high
Reggae fans parlay hot views, chill vibes
and cold beer into a party 45 flights up
By Jason Genegabus
jgenegabus@starbulletin.comForget getting dressed up to sit inside some high-priced restaurant just to enjoy the view, or worrying about being chased from your favorite scenic spot for trespassing. Located on the edge of Waikiki near the Discovery Bay Shopping Center, the Ohana Hobron provides breathtaking atmosphere to go along with the chill vibe and cheap beer.
Earlier attempts at bringing a party to the rooftop have failed, usually due to noise complaints from the hotel's Waikiki neighbors. "Reggae on the Roof" promoters Fire and Empire Sound seem to have solved this problem, shifting the party's start time to the early afternoon and cutting things off at 10 p.m.
The 4 p.m. start is actually a good idea, allowing for fantastic sunset views and free admission before 5 p.m. Everyone in attendance at this 21-and-over party also receives a complimentary glass of champagne to enjoy with the sunset.
Once the sun goes down, settle in with a $2 draft and take in the city lights while DJs Loriel, Mr. Mention and others lay down reggae and dancehall beats on wax. Loriel, a graduate student at the University of Hawaii, is also host of "Friday Afternoon Bashment" on the student radio station KTUH. He's even been holding it down lately at "Dubwize Fridays" at Auntie Pasto's.
"I think it has a lot of potential," said Loriel of the new rooftop venue after his first visit last weekend. "With this kind of vibe and the view, it works."
Loriel laughed when it was noted that a lot of the music played on the roof wasn't the normal commercial radio fare. "The dancehall we play is what's getting play in Jamaica," he said. "It's a combination of 'back to the roots' and what's going on over there."
Where: Ohana Hobron Hotel, 343 Hobron Lane 'Reggae on the Roof'
When: 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $5; free before 5 p.m.
Call: 942-7777Joining Loriel on the wheels of steel last week were DJ Gonzales and DJ Mikey Dread, who surprised a few people by spinning 45s during their respective sets. Referring to the record size many of us haven't seen since childhood, "most of the current dancehall out of Jamaica will come out on a 45," Loriel said. "It's the preferred method out there right now."
Members of the Invisible Sound Crew also floated around the rooftop, taking turns to relieve the deejay on duty. If it weren't for the million-dollar views at every turn, the atmosphere at "Reggae on the Roof" last week felt more like a backyard hibachi than anything else.
Also on hand to provide entertainment were a number of hotel guests who had spotted fliers for the rooftop party in other parts of the hotel. Some didn't make it past the cover charge at the entrance, and those who stayed seemed to be primarily interested in the view and $2 drafts.
After a weekend of parties, Sunday nights atop the Ohana Hobron could be this summer's chill spot to unwind and enjoy the beauty of Oahu from on high. Don't worry about parking, either: Validation is available at the door ($1 for three hours). And for those who don't have to work on Monday, "Reggae on the Roof" is a perfect pre-game stopping point to get lubricated for another late night in paradise.
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