Adventures in Clubland: Hush Lounge [PICS]
Jason Genegabus photos
Last weekend, I visited two new of the newest additions to Clubland.
I’ve already shared my experience at Bonsai Restaurant + Lounge, and will have more about the new business in my column, “In the Mix,” on Friday. My colleague, Star-Bulletin business columnist Erika Engle, also has something about Bonsai in today’s paper.
But this post is about the second spot I visited on Saturday night. Hush Boutique Nightclub Lounge opened its doors a few weeks ago, and a grand opening party is set to take place tomorrow night.
Keep reading for some exclusive pictures of the new bar and lounge, plus an interview with Hush owner Raymond Ho, Sr.
If you’re familiar with the Waikiki area, all I should have to say is that this bar replaced On the Rocks and what used to be La Vien Rose (I think that’s the correct spelling) in the Hawaiian Monarch Hotel.
Don’t know where that is? Drive down Ala Wai Boulevard towards McCully and take a left at that turn that takes you towards Ala Moana.
The Hawaiian Monarch is on the right, before you hit Kalakaua. If you pass Cheeseburger Waikiki, you’ve gone too far.
Once you’ve found the building, look for the red curtains upstairs from King’s Pub:
The decor at Hush includes a bunch of hooks on the walls, with items like lingerie, high heels and feather boas hung on them:
Inside the first of two rooms that make up Hush, it’s apparent that a substantial amount of money has been spent remodeling the space. I remember On the Rocks being a bit run-down, with generic bar furniture and old carpeting.
Hush doesn’t look anything like On the Rocks used to:
The Hush logo covers tabletops and the DJ booth in the main room, with simple (yet elegant) furnishings and an upgraded sound system.
Brand new leather couches and red carpeting occupy parts of the room, lending an air of exlusivity to the intimate surroundings:
“I just made ‘em a little subtle, not get too wild,” Ho explained after my visit last weekend. “I want to create something that can attract a nice business crowd in the afternoons.”
According to Ho, the new lounge is targeted at professionals between 30 and 50 years old who are looking for a pau hana spot that’s off the beaten path. While his son, Raymond Ho, Jr., will help plan and promote late-night events on the weekends, the bulk of events here will be planned with a mature clientele in mind.
“I’ve had a passion for the nightclub industry for a long time,” said Ho, who has more than two decades of experience in Clubland. “It’s a tough time (right now) … even the high rollers aren’t rolling like they used to.”
Despite the drop in available dollars, he believes that by providing something new and fresh, customers will at least give him a chance to earn their business.
One perk that Hush offers are private VIP rooms, complete with custom-designed couches, personal flat screen TVs and bottle service. More red curtains affords guests even more privacy, if desired:
I spotted a few industry types at Hush, even though the lounge still hasn’t officially opened for business. One of these lovely ladies can hook you up with some crazy Primo Beer gear, or plan a solid rager with some quality live entertainment.
Can you guess which one?
When I visited Hush last Saturday, there was some sort of private party going on in the second room. I’m not even going to try and understand why there were “Sex and the City” DVD covers lined up above the complimentary pupu spread:
But the guests on this side of the lounge were definitely in a party mood.
I love it when good looking women order me to get a shot of them having fun:
The guy-to-girl ratio was within the acceptable range on this night. And the ladies in the building were dressed up – another plus for Hush:
Theresa Cho, center, was at Hush to celebrate her birthday with friends Gabby Gouveia and Toni Maehara.
They looked like they were having a lot of fun, so I didn’t want to be a buzzkill and ask if Theresa jacked that feather boa from one of the hooks on the wall:
Want to see what Hush has to offer? Head down to Waikiki tomorrow night for the grand opening party, hosted by local recording artist and entrepreneur Marlene Baldueza. DJ Galmiche will be on the decks, with former Hawaii resident DJ Frankie returning from Vegas to spin on Saturday.
Tomorrow’s party is invite-only from 7 to 10 p.m., but will be opened up to the general public afterward. According to Ho, parking will cost $5 for four hours in the hotel’s lot.
On Friday, Hush will debut “Reborn,” a new weekly party with a rotating lineup of resident DJs.
