By staying true to the mantra “;Good Music, Good People, Good Times,”; Kapahulu's OnStage Drinks & Grinds has been able to deal with two major challenges that could have easily closed down the bar.

“;I would say the top two that faced not only us, but the entire bar industry, was first, the smoking ban, and then the downturn in the economy,”; said co-owner Dave Young earlier this week. “;But when we got involved, our whole goal was a long-term thing.

“;I didn't really see anything out there that I really wanted to do besides running this kind of business.”;

Despite a brief drop in business when Honolulu's indoor-smoking ban was passed in 2006, Young said the reaction from regular customers has been nothing but favorable ever since. And even though some customers are spending less in the bar these days, an established presence by neighborhood college students has helped keep business relatively steady.

“;In Kapahulu your residents are a combination of families who have been in the neighborhood for a long time,”; Young said. “;And then you also have a combination of students because we're so close to the universities.

“;So, we get a nice mix of the neighborhood folks and the college kids. It's kind of like a 'Cheers' atmosphere, where everybody knows your name. It's a real friendly bar.”;

AS THE most visible of three partners, Young serves as the “;face”; of OnStage. On any given night, customers can find him slinging drinks or playing music onstage with his namesake band.

“;I've been a closet musician for years and years, writing my own songs,”; Young said. “;It was more of a hobby thing, but I figured I'd get some players together after we opened up for business.”;

Along with his own personal efforts, Young credits local musician John Cruz as an early driving force behind live entertainment at the bar. Cruz hosted Sundays at OnStage for nearly a year and was eventually replaced in the entertainment lineup by his brother, Guy Cruz, who now plays a weekly Wednesday showcase there.

Another group that got its start during OnStage's weekly open-mike night was Friends of Adam, which returns to Kapahulu this weekend to headline tomorrow's anniversary party. According to Young, he and lead singer Clayton Campania “;go way back”; together.

“;This was, like, his beginnings,”; Young said. “;He came up and did an open mike, and I could already see the potential he had.”;

To complement the live entertainment, Young plans to offer up a plethora of pupus to share with friends old and new. Prize giveaways are also planned to help thank loyal customers for six years of patronage.

“;We're not a large venue, so it's very difficult to try and make an extravagant event at any time,”; he said. “;We just want to say thank you to those who have supported us over the years.”;

”;Barfly”; appears every last Friday of the month in HILife. E-mail Jason Genegabus at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with suggestions of bars to visit.