Friendly hangout
not a typical dive

Tucked away on Waiwai Loop, just off Lagoon Drive and a stone's throw from Keehi Lagoon, the hotel is located in a relatively isolated industrial area that would have worked well for the NBC cop drama "Hawaii" before it was canceled. The three-story building that houses the guest rooms reminds me of gritty neighborhoods in Venice Beach and the Melrose area of Los Angeles that I used to pass through during my college years.

Even the Canoe Hut Lounge, the hotel's on-premises watering hole, looks like it could be featured on the small screen. It embodies the quintessential Honolulu dive bar, except it's much cleaner than some you might find in Chinatown or along South King and Keeaumoku streets.

Canoe Hut Lounge Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays Location: 2628 Waiwai Loop (Pacific Marina Inn) Phone: 836-1131

PULL OPEN the door just mauka of the hotel's lobby area, and you'll enter the single room that is the Canoe Hut Lounge.

Although it's not really noticeable from the street, the bar's A-frame ceiling makes it seem like there's a lot more space here than there actually is. The high beams provide management with an additional means to promote free karaoke on Saturday nights, while American and Hawaii state flags hang from the angled walls.

The floor plan is minimalist, yet versatile at the same time. A dozen tables were spread out to give customers a place to sit, with five padded booth-like seats along one wall.

Move the tables out of the way, and you've got an instant dance floor for the small stage that occupies the Diamond Head end of the lounge. Dim lighting, thatched wall coverings and strings of Christmas lights help with the overall vibe.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Looking for some free karaoke? The Canoe Hut Lounge, tucked inside the Pacific Marina Inn on Waiwai Loop, near the airport, offers wannabe singers free karaoke on Saturday nights.

AS WITH any dive bar, there is always a group of regulars that sit and talk story while downing a few drinks. It's no different at the Canoe Hut Lounge, except for a couple of tipsy tourists thrown into the mix.

Stop in around pau hana time and you'll find office workers from the nearby area seated next to construction company employees just finishing up their shifts. The age range was between 30 and 60 years old on the night I visited, easily making me the youngest customer in the lounge.

But I felt at ease immediately upon walking inside -- there were no sideways glances or funny looks from the regulars, and we were quickly (and courteously) served just moments after sitting down.

UNLESS SOMEONE tells you about this place, there's probably no way you would ever know it existed.

The Canoe Hut Lounge is an unassuming bar in a part of Honolulu that most people rarely frequent. At the same time, its close proximity to the airport and freeway make it someplace worth visiting more often.

Got some time to kill before a flight off this rock? Knock a few back here and the journey through airport security will be a breeze.

Carpooling home and don't want to fight rush hour traffic? Elect a designated driver and take a detour from Nimitz Highway to wait out the traffic with a cocktail and some karaoke.

Some of the best places to drink on this rock are these types of bars. Take the time to search them out, and you'll be surprised with some of the gems that you find.

How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly drank $3 bottles of Bud Light during his visit to the Canoe Hut Lounge.

Get things to do?
One television set hangs over the center of the bar here, with another three positioned throughout the lounge. These satellite TVs also service customers who want to sing karaoke. A pair of dart machines are plugged in near the stage.

What about the grinds?
There is no menu available at the Canoe Hut Lounge. Eat somewhere else before you stop by for drinks, or just bring dinner with you -- management does allow outside food in the lounge.

And the help?
There were no problems getting a beer during our visit, and the bartender was even nice enough to bring by some Chex mix after we had asked to see a pupu menu. Along with a cold beer, aloha is proudly served by the staff at the Canoe Hut Lounge.