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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
Up-tempo at
downtown barCHINATOWN and its surrounding areas have always been great places to go for drinks, as long as you're comfortable being in the neighborhood.
For years, some local residents have stayed away, thinking only criminals and drug dealers hang out in the area after the sun goes down.
At Hank's Cafe, however, this description couldn't be farther from the truth. Say the words "downtown bar," and most people conjure up images in their heads of a dark and dingy hole-in-the-wall type of place. Not here.
Sure, we did spot one drug addict mumbling on the sidewalk where I parked, but once you get through the door at Hank's Cafe, you'll find a joint that's well lit with a surprising amount of space. A simple L-shaped bar sits along the Ewa wall, with 10 bar stools available for customers to park themselves at. Another 15 seats are spread out along the other side of the room.
Hank's Cafe
Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Mondays,
3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Location: 1038 Nuuanu Ave.
(one-half block mauka of King Street)
Phone: 526-1410
WALKING INTO the bar around 11 p.m. earlier this week found the place deserted, except for a lone customer and Henry M. "Hank" Taufa'asau Jr., the man responsible for all the changes here since it was known as Doug's Place in the late '90s. This weekend marks the fifth year of business for the 1958 St. Louis graduate.
"I opened this for my art ... (but) from day one, the musicians have come and played," he says from behind the bar as he gestures towards a wall covered with photos of visitors to his establishment. Taufa'asau describes Hank's Place as a "jam bar," where live music is scheduled every night except Monday. And while he actually only hires one musician per evening, a full band is usually assembled and rocking out by the time last call rolls around. Among the local entertainers who have stopped by to kanikapila are Robert Cazimero, Barry Flanagan, Steve Freitas, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Pierre Grill and Danny Kaleikini.
Taufa'asau's paintings and lithographs also line most of the walls here; other interesting additions are an old stoplight, a fire hydrant and a Primo Beer sign that a longtime customer presented as a gift. And the bar itself was actually built out of Brazilian cherry wood by Taufa'asau with some help from his wife, Laura May.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Just about every night is open mike night as an ever changing line up of "pick-up" musicians entertain the regulars at Hank's Cafe on Nuuanu Avenue.
SPENDING TIME at Hank's Cafe helped to remind me that there are a lot of different reasons why local residents go out for drinks. For some, it's a place to pound a few and hit on the opposite sex. Others want to catch a game and relax with friends in a comfortable environment. This place takes its cue from the whole artistic vibe of the surrounding area, with its open-door policy towards musicians without somewhere to perform and Taufa'asau's artwork on display.
Today marks the second day of Hank's Cafe's fifth anniversary celebration. Taufa'asau says he's looking forward to seeing all of his friends and musicians who help make it so much fun to come to work. And even though he retired last year from his "real job" as a sales and marketing executive with Reader's Digest, don't expect Taufa'asau to slow down any time soon -- he's still in the bar around 7:30 a.m. every morning to get ready for the day's business.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
