October 26, 2001
Sure! If anyone is heading out here, feel free to send them my way.
I'd be glad to meet them at the clubs, introduce them around, and make
sure that they know the local spots to visit while they are on the island.
Edie just sent a couple from Chicago out here, and now they know everyone
in the scene ;)
Hawaii has a small salsa scene, but you can dance most nights of the week.
These are the spots:
Tuesday - Zanzabar, corner of Seaside and Kuhio. Cover $10.
This is one of the oldest and best salsa nights on the island. It's been
on the slide lately, probably because students are back in school and
they've been playing less salsa, but when it's hitting, this spot goes
off harder than any other. Beware tho - long sets of merengue, cha cha
and bachata can keep the salsa dancers sidelined. It all depends on who's
spinning. When the salsa sets come, they are fast and furious. This is
where you'll find more of the younger people and partyers.
Thursday - Rumors, in the Ala Moana Hotel. Cover $5. This is a
nice club, more relaxed and less of a scene. Nice to sit, have a drink,
and enjoy a dance. Starts early with free pupu's, so you can make an evening
of it. Dance floor is small, but you can usually find a spot. The music
is a mix of salsa, cha cha, and bachata, with a little more salsa in that
mix than zanzabar. Shaping up to be one of the better nights.
Friday - Cafe Sistina. Cover $5. A nice restaurant painted
inside to look like the Sistine Chapel, it coverts to a salsa spot after
the dining is done. Floor space is small, but the salsa is hot. One of
the only places that plays a majority of salsa, using a 4-2 format most
nights to keep the salseros and salseras happy. Portions of the floor
are tile, not wood, but it's danceable.
Friday, Saturday - Planet Hollywood, downtown Waikiki. Cover $5.
Another converted restaurant, this is one of the newest nights in Hawaii.
All the floor is tile, but it is danceable. Cozy atmosphere makes for
a fun night. The mix of cha cha / bachata / merengue could use a _little_
more salsa, but it's a fun night in the heart of downtown. If you want
to dance, then go walk on the beach to cool down afterwards, come dance
here.
Saturday - Pyramids. Cover $5. Ahua Street, by the Airport. Just
opened, it's going to be interesting to see how this club shapes up. Located
near base, a lot of the military crowd goes here, and because there are
many latinos stationed here with the military, military nights are usually
the best nights to get an authentic latin feel while in hawaii... there
is (was) another night on Pearl Harbor at the Banyans. That was a great
night. But with increased security, this night is practically closed to
civilians. If Pyramids can draw the old banyans crowd, this will be a
happening night indeed.
Like all scenes, there are also special events, ups and downs, and so
forth. So, if anyone is planning to come to the islands, have them call
me for the up to date report at 808.223.8610. Hope to see you guys soon!
Aloha, Rob
==========================
Robert Capili
R&R Productions
808.223.8610
hsc@hawaii.rr.com
gxd5@yahoo.com
June 26,
2001
Aloha my friends in Toronto!
It has
been almost 2 months since Anthony and I have moved to Honolulu. In
short, there is a vibrant Salsa scene here with most of the dancers
originating from Puerto Rico. The main teachers here are Roberto Vargas
(Salsa 101 Productions) who is Angel Ortiz' cousin and Alberto Gomez
of Son D'Hawaii.
The main
nights for Salsa here are Tuesday at Zanzabar, Thursdays at Rumours,
Fridays at Cafe Sistina (a lot like Babalu's), and Saturday at Banyans
at the Pearl Harbour base (Yes, salsa dancing on the navy base). Pearl
Harbour Banyan's is actually my favourite night because all the locals
come out and show their stuff.
This past
Sunday June 24, one of the DJ's Lady Margarita organized a Salsathon
for Dia De San Juan (a Puerto Rican celebration). All the local salseros/salseras
showed up to show their stuff. Also, a very good band called Salsa Hawaii
Orquestra played salsa, merengue and bachata (an awesome group). I have
enclosed some pics
of the event. Well that's it for now. If you see Maple my partner, give
her a hug for me. -- Arthur
June 6, 2001
For those who are coming here soon, the clubs that are hot here are
Zanzabar in Waikiki, Banyans at Pearl Harbour, and Rumours at the Ala
Moana Hotel. Send me an email if you are planning to visit. Mahalo Nui!!
-- Arthur
May 9, 2001
Salsa Update from Hawaii - Aloha Fellow Salseros and Salseras, here
is my first Salsa update from the middle of the Pacific. Our first week
here kept us very busy with getting our place in order. My apartment
is 2 blocks from the beach. Ahh, but the weather is really what is amazing.
It is consistently sunny and 85 degrees and the hookipa (windward breeze
off the ocean) keeps everything nice and comfortable. No need for air
conditioning here. This week I met 3 key people in the Salsa scene here,
Minnie Ruiz, Alberto Archilla (Instructor for Son D'Hawaii) and Robert
(Angel Ortiz's cousin). They welcomed us with open arms and their laid
back island attitude was evident (very refreshing). Alberto and his
troupe will be performing at the West Coast Salsa Congress in L.A. at
the end of the month. There is a strong L.A. influence here with most
dancing on the 1. However, Minnie originates from NYC and grew up there
with the likes of Angel of Razzmatazz (when they were still doing the
Latin Hustle) and Addie of Addie-Tude. She has been working hard to
introduce dancers in Hawaii to dAloha, Arthur
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