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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
The Hut is it for
karaoke loversYOUR tolerance for bad singing will determine whether or not you should check out Karaoke Hut in Kapahulu.
If you think people should be required to actually have an inkling of talent before they sing in public, this bar is definitely not for you.
Love to sing, no matter if it's in an enclosed space with a few friends or in public with complete strangers? Keep Karaoke Hut in mind when you feel like belting out a few tunes.
And if you're like me, not really the singing type but still enjoy cheap beers and hanging out with friends, then this joint is still worth a stop, as long as the sometimes laughingly bad singers don't drive you outside screaming for mercy.
Karaoke Hut
Hours: 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Location: 909 Kapahulu Ave.
Phone: 734-7771
OPEN SINCE 1990, Karaoke Hut is a regular stop for an interesting cross-section of people.
Boasting "10 exotic rooms to serve you," it's not unusual to spot tourists from Waikiki, college students in their early 20s and middle-aged co-workers singing anything from current pop hits and rock classics to traditional Hawaiian tunes and Japanese language drinking songs.
Don't feel like paying to rent a room? Hang a left once you walk in the front doors, and you'll enter the lounge side of this establishment. A pair of pool tables, dart machines and Megatouch games are available here, along with 10 barstools and another four booths to provide customers with a place to sit.
With lots of mirrored glass and neon lights, there's a Las Vegas-style vibe to the bar area. Some folks might compare it to a hostess bar atmosphere, but don't worry -- nobody's going to ask you to "buy me drinkee" here.
On the night I stopped by earlier this week, there were about 20 customers in the lounge, some playing pool and darts while the rest congregated near the bar itself.
Most of the music choices were of the rock variety, with songs by Guns N' Roses, Third Eye Blind and Evanescence interspersed with a few slow songs here and there. What I like about this place is that most singers don't take themselves too seriously, and the bar's policy is to keep the microphone moving. If you're not feeling somebody's song selections or the quality of their voice, just concentrate on your drink for a few minutes. Someone else will get the mic soon enough.
I'm also impressed by how well everyone gets along -- nobody flinched when the music went from a '70s classic to a hardcore rap track, and regulars of all ages made their rounds upon walking into the bar, shaking hands with just about every customer there regardless of how well they knew the person.
BESIDES THE recently opened On Stage Drinks and Grinds, there aren't many choices when it comes to drinking in Kapahulu. Wine buffs might head to Formaggio's, but the lack of any real competition is what keeps Karaoke Hut successful.
While a number of other bars might offer karaoke in addition to live entertainment and other distractions, this place is an excellent choice for the karaoke purist who wants to get out and sing the night away.
How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly drank $3 Bud Light bottles during his visit to Karaoke Hut earlier this week. Mixed drinks are also available, and Mondays are my new favorite night here -- shots of Jack Daniel's were on special for $3 each!Get things to do?
Unlike other karaoke bars that either force you to sit at the bar or hang out with friends in a private room, Karaoke Hut's lounge area is big enough to offer pool tables, dart machines and Megatouch games. A "Golden Tee" video game is also located near the front entrance.What about the grinds?
Unfortunately, there isn't any food served at Karaoke Hut. The good news, however, is that management will allow you to bring outside food into the bar. It's not uncommon for people renting out rooms here to bring an entire spread of grinds to eat while singing. Another plus for those private rooms: you can bring your own alcohol in there as well!And the help?
Of all the visits I've made, the only time I've had any trouble getting a drink here is when I'm standing in the corner of the lounge near the pool tables. As long as you're at the bar or one of the four booths in the room, you should have no problem getting another drink.
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.