It's a Hawaiian tradition. Days spend at the beach are followed with an evening of dancing at the clubs. This is hardly New York, mind you. Honolulu's club scene is much more laid-back. The dress codes are more relaxed, the people far less intense and the doormen and managers usually know who's coming in the door. There is little point in arriving before midnight. It is possible to beat the weekend rush of people coming from the just-closed bars and pubs by arriving just prior to 1 a.m. Otherwise, the entrance line provides the opportunity to win over a few new party friends before going inside. The clubs are located a few blocks inland from the beach. It's best to take a quick 5-minute taxi ride from the major hotels to get there. Only 10 minutes from Waikiki, the Ocean Club is located in the heart of downtown Honolulu in Restaurant Row at 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Come and unwind with us each Tuesday thru Friday beginning at 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays beginning at 7 pm. Choose from our award winning pupu menu, an out of this world drink selection and dance to the biggest hits on Honolulu's hottest dance floor until 4 a.m.
Wave Waikiki
Address 1877 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu
Hawaii, HI
Phone 808-941-0424
Diamond Head isn't the only landmark in Honolulu. For nightclubs, it's The Wave, as much of a local ritual as tanning, as big a legend as The Duke. The Wave is a long-standing Honolulu tradition. It's been here seemingly forever, entertaining locals for years. Those wondering where all those tanned beach vendors, bar employees and others serving Waikiki tourists go at night need to look no further than The Wave. A non-pretentious dance club, The Wave has a large gathering spot in front of a dance floor and a stage with live bands on weekends. It's a bit quieter upstairs where people can mingle privately with those they met downstairs. There aren't many rules at The Wave. Girls who feel they have attractive bodies are invited to prove it on the stage (much to the delight of the crowd). This place is about as wild as Honolulu gets. The Wave is at its highest peak on weekends, but Tuesdays is "Club Night," when employees from other bars get cheap drinks. Mondays, the Wave features dollar drinks.
Pipeline Cafe
Address 805 Pohukaina Street, Honolulu
Hawaii, HI
Phone 808-589-1999
Keeping with the surf theme, at least in name, is Pipeline. Honolulu's newest dance spot, Pipeline is about twice the size of The Wave and has a huge video screen behind the deejay. It has two "VIP" rooms, but gaining entrance is as simple as walking up the stairs (this isn't exactly the Foundation Room at the House of Blues in L.A.). The room by the dance floor is fairly posh with couches and a low-lit bar while the one by the entrance is more like a sports pub. The crowd is a tad younger than at The Wave and a bit more club-dressy. The one downside to Pipeline – and it's an easy deal-with-it situation – is that it is swarmed with flashlight-waving security guards keeping the walkways clear. Fortunately, they are concentrated around the entrance and are not pushy by any means, so it's best to be in other parts of the club.
Zanzabar Night Club
Address 2255 Kuhio Ave. Honolulu
Hawaii, HI
Phone 808-924-3939
With a six million restoration and an extensive collection of Egyptian art, Zanzabar has created the interior extraordinaire. With a dance floor that can hold more than 100 and with room for more than 800 people, Zanzabar has been, until recently, the place to be, to see and to be seen. Yet, despite the facelift, its popularity has varied from month to month, with a crowd of clubbers and tourists one weekend and empty the next. Mr. DJ regulates the crowd’s mood at the only dance floor playing Hip-Hop, Top 40, and forceful house with a late hour transition, 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., into hard techno. Zanzabar invites their 18+ audience on Sundays and Mondays.
Blue Tropix on Kapiolani Blvd. is another hot spot that invites those under 21 Mondays through Saturdays. Also a restaurant that converts into a nightclub, this one is a more genuine R’n’B and soul club with live monkeys in a glass tank behind the bar. A huge dance floor takes up most of the space and often gets packed as the night rolls on. The line is split into two sections, one for those under 21 and one for those over 21. Be there early or expect to wait in line for at least 30 minutes.
Rumours Nightclub
Address 410 Atkison Dr., Hawaii, HI
Phone 808-955-4811
Come dance the night away at Rumours, Honolulu's hottest nightclub, featuring a state-of-the-art electronic disco system. Rumours is also the perfect setting for private parties, including birthdays, promotional kick-offs, incentive drives, fashion shows, retirements, holidays, fundraisers, and bachelorette parties.
Venus Nightclub
Address 1349 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu
Hawaii, HI
Phone 808-951-8671
