Dance floors around the globe owe a bit of gratitude to the progressive mind of Paul van Dyk for pushing EDM’s reach to where it is today. The German icon helped shape trance in the early ’90s by putting a heavy focus on artistic vision.
Once deeply entrenched in the local house music movement, DJ Dawn now tailors her sound to today’s party crowds without sacrificing her integrity. “Lately it’s been tracks with vocals and melodies that have a great vibe to it,” she says.
As a DJ, producer and remixer, Mike D’s talents range from creating crowd uproar at every hot spot in town to expanding his music collaborations across the nation. He admits that his creative fuel is a direct product of winning feeling a whole lot better than losing.
Music connoisseur, avid vinyl collector, journalist, skater and DJ Roger Bong, aka Aloha Got Soul, is a man of many hats. Perpetuating the lost and forgotten aspects of local music culture is a direct testament to his passion.
Bitten by the EDM bug way before it became a trend, DJ Shift’s sense of purpose is derived from an understanding that settling for synthetic dance tunes can only take a nightclub experience so far. Shift believes that further exploration can lead to greater rewards.
His friends call him Fu. Add the letters “n” and “k,” and you begin to understand the mantra that gives DJ Fumanchu his mana.
As sneaker-heads from around the island search for rare gems for the sole at DunkXchange, Jack Da Ripper will bring his brand of beat brilliance to rouse up the inner soul. The celebrated East Coast party-starter is the official DJ for DXC, the planet’s premier kick-culture tradeshow, which returns to Hawaii for the second year in a row.
Oftentimes, the collaborative efforts of Aly Amr Fathalah and Fadi Wassef Naguib–better known as esteemed trance duo Aly and Fila–seem larger than life. Together, they are the cream of the crop and in high demand, also thanks to their producing and remixing for the likes of Gareth Emery, Any Mohr and the incomparable Ferry Corsten.
The musical depth of U.K.-bred, Berlin-based DJ/producer Ewan Pearson includes all things disco, clubby or rave. His signature sonic touch is what sets him apart from the rest–call it a special case of EDM ingenuity at its best.
Filthy electro house of the infectious, feel-good variety infiltrates The Republik this Friday night, specially delivered by the eclectic rising star known as Tommy Trash. The mojo behind the moniker comes from a perfectly blended crossbreed of electro and tribal house that has become his signature sound.
Dutch producer Sandro Silva will appear at the third annual Digital Wonderland, continuing the successful string of talent at this growing spring break massive. The 23-year-old is considered a prodigy for his quick rise to relevance in only three years.
Trancemaster Andy Moor, the Grammy-nominated music stalwart, will cannonball into the spring-break themed Livewire Beach Party 2013 spotlight this weekend. Despite the many trends and subgenres of EDM, Moor has helped it forge ahead.
Just two years into the game and DJ Midori is closing in on the apex of her career. Last month, the spinstress floored spectators at Mai Tai Bar’s Hot Island DJ Spin-Off by placing third amongst members of a talented, eager field.
With all the quick-tempo thumps and neon laser lights associated with electronic music today, Andy Stott steps on the breaks with a down-tempo blend of quirk and rhythm. Lauded for his slowed down, organic dub and techno offerings, Stott has quickly established himself among electronica contemporaries by putting out a polished, futuristic sound folks can dance to as well as appreciate standing still.
Justin Martin, whose parents reside on the Valley Isle, will come back to Honolulu for what has become an annual aggressive dance floor awakening. Representing his native Bay Area roots to the fullest, Martin’s Feather Fight EP, put out by Hypercolour, has hit solidly on Beatport since its release last month.
“I don’t get stressed. I focus on my music and what I like, but I always try to please everybody,” says Lopazz, the German genius who will release his latest EP this Friday night at Sunset Room.
“The vibe hasn’t changed for me through the years,” says hip-hop vet and wax loyalist Oliver Twist. “I’m always excited to see what flows through me.
Four Color Zack, Red Bull’s 2012 Thre3Style World Champion, will return to the Islands for one crazy night at M Nightclub’s weekly party, The Manor. Though currently touring the country as a judge for this year’s Thre3Style battles, Zack will take a break to throw down for the Aloha State faithful this Friday.
In the cutthroat, uber competitive community of Hawaii DJs trying to accumulate gigs and fans, DJ Raf has raised the pulses of hard dance loyalists by staying true to the aggressive hard bass genre. Raf, an under-the-radar talent, patiently waits for scenesters to pick up on his flecks of originality amidst all the carbon-copy sounds and cookie-cutter styles, and insists there is still a lot of work to be done.
Christopher Edward Martin–aka DJ Premier–has made an undeniable impact on hip-hop lore. With master emcee Guru rapping and Premier providing the beats, Gang Starr became one of the most unstoppable hip-hop duos in the ‘90s.
The underground masses around the world never fully recover when Donald Glaude–the creator, the producer, the ultimate party fuse–is at the helm of the party ship. Glaude’s emphatic fist pumps and facial expressions during his performances are an equal mix of joy and intensity.
DJs / Young, fresh and soaked in swag: DJ Lean Rock is a multi-talented DJ also known as an ad and fashion model and b-boy crewmember. As part of the world-renowned Floorlords b-boy crew, Lean Rock has subsequently traveled dance floors abroad with his devotion in pursuit of originality, but don’t think for a second that just because he can dance he’s a wannabe DJ.
The music, the mojo and the unwavering desire to take the scene beyond even the most optimistic expectations made DJ Soundsex the optimal choice for Honolulu Weekly Spin Zone DJ of the Year. Soundsex is wickedly good at pushing even the most frenzied crowd into overdrive.
DJs / His real name is Asaf Borgeer, but you can call him the Rated R superstar of dubstep, or simply by his DJ-producer alter-super ego: Borgore. Addicted to bass-heavy bangers, touring and worldly women, the Israeli wild child and his escapades have been closely documented, thanks to social media.
Get ready to dance your life away with a wide array of music offerings at Chinatown’s End of the World Block Party (see Web Exclusive[dead-or-alive]), specifically progressive house and techno marvel Alex Zelenka. As the head honcho of the Invisibles record label, Zelenka has a roster of more than 20 DJs and producers under his wings who have aided him in his quest to infect the world with thump music.
For this year’s Food + Drink issue, we compiled 100-plus memories of the fantastic bites we’ve taken, the culinary experiences we’ve undergone and other tasteful moments of absolutely loving what Hawaii’s food scene has to offer. The result is a mixed plate of the Weekly ‘ohana’s favorite dishes, libations, produce, places and some lesser-known joys.
Respect Your Veg At long last, vegetables are being recognized as culinary stars. The following dishes have two things in common: They’re veggie-centric, if not strictly vegetarian, and best eaten on the spot.
Paitan Broth: Kyoto Ramen Yotekko-Ya If you’re a ramen lover, you know the most important element of the bowl is the broth. At Kyoto Ramen Yotekko-Ya, the paitan broth ($9.95 for paitan chashu ramen) is deeply savory.
Naan: Cafe Maharani “The dough is just special,” says owner Chris Rahman of Cafe Maharani. The naan ($2.99) is made to order and handled very delicately.
Asian: Green Door Cafe Enter into Green Door Cafe to find a whole ‘nother world. Owner Betty Peng is a one-woman show (don’t start with her, or else) and cooks all of her Singaporean dishes to order.
Byron’s Drive-in The vacant, former Byron’s Drive-in building still stands near the airport since closing its doors in February. “We’d always go [to Byron’s] late at night,” says Sabrina Thompson, a Tripler Hospital nurse.
Shinsato Pork: Guava Smoked Scott Shibuya of Guava Smoked made a splash in the farmers’ market scene with his finger-licking good, guava wood-smoked Shinsato Pork. “I really wanted to be my own boss,” he says.
Cheese: Surfing Goat Dairy Owners Thomas and Eva Kafsack moved from Germany to Maui and found that they missed receiving fresh goat cheese from their neighbors’ backyards. A few goats from the Big Island (and a huge investment) later, Surfing Goat Dairy was born.
Decadent Fries: Home Bar and Grill These aren’t ordinary fried potatoes. Chef Neil Nakasone’s Parmesan truffle fries ($8) are an elite class of spuds.
Rotations: Taste Some might say Chef Mark “Gooch” Noguchi and partner Amanda Corby, with the help of another power couple, Poni and Brandon Askew of StreetGrindz, fleshed out the pop-up trend with Taste. But: “Actually, Adam is Taste,” Gooch explains, referring to Taste’s general manager, Adam Lock.
Healthy Food Truck: Beet Box Cafe The Beet Box Cafe is a sit-down eatery located in Haleiwa Town, but their bright yellow lunch wagon is also worth following. The lunchtruck serves organic, vegetarian burritos ($7-10), a special of the day made with farm-to-table ingredients ($10-12), smoothies ($7.50), kombucha ($5) and snacks such as baked goods and dried fruits ($3).
A Cook’s Catch When it comes to fish, freshness really matters, so eating local from our Hawaiian waters is always in the best of taste. Health and sustainability also count.
Whole Foods & Down To Earth Down to Earth offers strictly vegetarian delights such as Bombay spinach, eggplant parmesan, stuffed shells, Thai curry and vegetable korma ($9.59/pound). The tofu and eggplant are always sourced from local producers.
Edible Land: Permablitz Fruit trees flourish in Hawaii but sadly, much goes to waste. Permablitz aims to change that.
Foraging: Strawberry Guava at Waahila Ridge Strawberry guava is invasive to Hawaii, which is why I don’t feel an ounce of guilt picking the small, red fruits in (free!) handfuls whenever I hike up Waahila Ridge. When they’re a light red color, just pull them off the trees, check for bug-made holes and bite in.
Nutmeg and Cloves: Frankie’s Nursery Want to spice up your kitchen? Lynn Tsuruda of Frankie’s Nursery says they sell spices grown in Hawaii, by the plant or the fruit.
Filipino: Pacific Drive out to Central Oahu and find Pacific Supermarket, a haven for all things Southeast Asian. With the Leeward community’s large Filipino population, access to local favorites at Pacific is a big deal.
Korean Chew: Taegu Taegu, more properly pronounced as dae-goo, is either a variety of cod, sliced into strips and seasoned, or a seasoned side dish. There is some confusion, as I came to realize while asking my born-and-raised-in-Korea mom, because those side dishes are made with different fish.
Matcha Latte: Peace Cafe Peace Cafe, a second home for vegans, carries a matcha (green tea) latte with a secret. “The first sip is always the most important,” explains an employee.
Good For You: Kombucha A SCOBY is a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast integral to making kombucha. Kombucha, a fizzy tea, is full of promises to boost detoxification, immunity and digestion and joint health.
Free: Whole Foods Whole Foods Market Kahala offers free cooking classes at CookSpace in Ward Warehouse. “We just did a Health Starts Here cooking class,” says Whole Foods marketing supervisor Natalie Aczon.
Wine Tasting: Kalapawai Cafe Every second Sunday of the month at 3:30 p.m., Kalapawai Cafe holds a free wine tasting. “We [have] five wines.
Dear Friends, Readers, and Advertisers, I am sorry to say that this will be the last issue of the Weekly that we will print. I am sad about closing but I see no way that we can maintain our revenue stream and our fiscal health.
Native Hawaiians and preservationists have pledged to fight a law, signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on May 28, that will allow some construction projects to begin before the site has been fully inspected for ancient burials.
Imagine you’re walking through downtown Honolulu and, rather than bypassing an empty, blighted park, you’re drawn into an urban oasis–a forest of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. You could spend your lunch break chatting with friends in the shade of an ‘ulu tree–and, if you’re hungry, pick whatever’s in season.
Road Rule On May 20, Gov. Abercrombie signed Act 73, requiring all vehicle passengers to buckle up regardless of age or seating arrangement.
Tourists enjoying the Waikiki waterfront were treated to Hawaiian phrases such as “Aole, aole, aole GMO!” chanted by protesters in the March Against Monsanto on Sat., May 25. Translation: No GMOs, ever.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) made its proposed plan to redevelop the Kakaako district available to the community during an open house on Thu., May 23. HCDA Executive Director Tony Ching began with a presentation of the new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) plan before letting residents ask questions.
In 2011 the city Department of Transportation Services (DTS) was tasked by then-Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration to shave $10 million from its budget. Over the course of a year, several bus routes were cut and many more were shortened or reconfigured and the frequency of service decreased.
You mentioned in your May 29 GMO article (“Big Pharm Fallout”) that GMO bans were placed on taro and coffee in 2008 in Kohala County. However it was an islandwide ban in Hawaii County.
What a great quote: “I understand that it’s frustrating that we can’t get past the issue of homelessness . .
I know space is limited and you couldn’t put everything in one small article (“Art with HART,” May 29). Here is the rest of what I wanted to have said.
Have five or more contractors “compete” by tackling sections of roadway (“Road Repaving,” May 29). Criteria for competing are expenses, timeliness and a level of quality assurance standards.
Thanks for this article (“The Naked Truth,” May 22), I’m Mykel Hicks, grandson of Sharon Hicks, and I am so proud of my grandma for all she has done for herself, this family and specifically me. She is an amazing grandma who comes with a moving story I hope can help people around the world.
Please remind readers that the HCDA is not interested in providing housing for minimum wage individuals or families, but in providing property developers with profitable opportunities; that our ancient water and sewage lines were not designed to support the needs of thousands of condo and apartment dwellers, but no one is interested in replacing them because no one wants to pay the price (“Civix,” May 22). As a result, Kakaako’s streets are regularly flooded with no sidewalk retreat for pedestrians, wheelchairs, bicyclists, skateboarders, etc., and constantly excavated/repaired to accommodate one project after the other.
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