The HAT Weblog returned just lately to the Exhausting Rock Café Waikiki after a protracted three years. We’re comfortable to report that it stays one in all Waikiki’s “must-do” institutions. The meals is nice, the costs are affordable even for Waikiki, and the placement is central to just about all the pieces there’s to do throughout a keep in Waikiki. In fact, the rock and roll memorabilia on exhibit on the Exhausting Rock Café Waikiki is astounding. Elvis. The Beatles. Wow.
The Exhausting Rock’s historical past in Hawaii goes a lot farther again than its present location on Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki’s “most important drag”. The primary Hawaii franchise was opened means again in 1987, a mile or so north on the identical avenue. The property there was as soon as the house of the well-known and now long-gone Coco’s Restaurant. It’s now the house of the Honolulu Coffee Experience.
The outdated Exhausting Rock location featured reside music, both open air or on makeshift inside levels. The present Waikiki location, opened in 2010, has a devoted stage with concert-quality sound and lighting operated by a number of the greatest technicians in Hawaii. The stage has been largely quiet for 2 years due to the pandemic and its attendant necessities and restrictions. With these obstacles now eliminated, the Exhausting Rock is as soon as once more poised to change into one in all Honolulu’s premiere reside music venues. The Exhausting Rock has operated, responsibly, as permitted all through the pandemic and has made it by to the opposite aspect.
Earlier than this most up-to-date go to, I’d forgotten what a perfect place the Exhausting Rock Café Waikiki is for the straightforward pleasure of individuals watching. It’s an indoor, open-air area that permits for many motion and views of the rock and roll treasures on show. The lanai seems out onto the busiest customer boulevard in Hawaii.
Most individuals are harmlessly bizarre. It’s enjoyable to see toddlers toddle together with harried and closely laden mother and father and to witness youngsters stroll into streetlamps whereas TikTok-ing in broad daylight. I noticed a smiling and green-clad outdated man in the midst of the road get honked at by a tour bus shifting on the pace of gradual ooze. It was wonderful. At any fee, the Exhausting Rock nonetheless rocks.
And now, full disclosure: the go to to the Exhausting Rock Café Waikiki was not a coincidence. I used to be there to carry out with my band for Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2022 after the parade. It had been an everyday yearly gig till a few days earlier than Hawaii basically closed for customer and resident hospitality, eating, and leisure enterprise in March 2020 when Covid broke all the pieces.
It was fantastic to return. The odor and sizzle of scorching plates was chic. The sound was good. A number of dozen visiting teen choir members giggled and guffawed within the “Rock Store” and within the restaurant, fastidiously selecting souvenirs and selfies for members of the family and pals again house in Nevada or wherever. (Inexperienced Valley? Grass Valley? Rock and roll by no means forgets.) They wore shiny blue t-shirts accessorized with shining yellow flower lei. Some approached the band to share their musical aspirations between units, keen and ready to have interaction in store speak with working musicians.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a reside music gig, since Hawaii’s bands have had a spot to play. I verged on tears of gratitude. Hawaii’s lifting of most journey and gathering restrictions was nonetheless two days away, however I used to be within the mild on the finish of the tunnel. So was everybody else within the room, and everybody on Kalakaua Avenue beneath.
Oh, yeah. The resident and ample Saint Patrick’s Day Parade crowd was available and comfortable, too. Excellent.
You must know what to search for in a Hawaii trip. We’re on the bottom right here at Hawaii Aloha Journey, and we’re right here that will help you discover it.
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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