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LET’S HAVE A (WAI)KIKI: WELCOME TO THE GAYBORHOOD
4
MARCH 2015
Volume 6 Issue 8
8 WANG CHUNG’S
President
Gaysian Chic
14 Chitty bang
Jade Le
Advertising & Marketing
William Fernandez: (ph) 808-281-4084
The Big She-Bang
Production
Linda Giang
20 tapas
Graphic design
HTL Marketing
video & multi-media Lisa Baxter PJ Delanoza
Making It Work in Waikiki
26 Bacchus
Contributors
Mickey Weems PJ Delanoza
The New Kid On the Block
Copy Editor Mickey Weems
Legal & Research
Glenn Honda, Esq.
Public relations
Lisa Baxter PJ Delanoza
eXpression808.com to Entire contents copyrighted 2008–2015 eXpression! Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. eXpression! Magazine is published monthly in Hawai‘i and welcomes manuscripts, original works and various forms of expression for publication. eXpression! Magazine reserves publication rights to submitted materials. eXpression! Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials unless otherwise pre-agreed in writing. eXpression! Magazine does not take any financial or libel obligation to the content of its columnists. All materials submitted are consent to be original. All views and opinions are those of the writer and bear no implications on the opinions of eXpression! Magazine. Registered trademarks used within are hereby acknowledged, images and contents released and permitted. No implication regarding sexual orientation or preference is made in connection with any person, contributor, and or advertiser appearing in this publication.
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To inspire Hawai‘i’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community by featuring people contributing to society.
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WELCOME TO THE This issue of eXpression! is dedicated to that part of Hawai‘i, however small and scattered, that is ours because we made it so.
We spoke with the owners of three establishments: Dan Chang of Wang Chung’s, David Barker and John Blatt of Bacchus, and John Ing of Tapa’s. All three businesses are situated in the thick of the Waikiki gayborhood, and each employs a different strategy to attract customers.
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COVER
GAYBORHOOD: WAIKIKI We also reached out to Yooey Kim of Chitty Bang, the once-a-month women’s party that is not in the gayborhood, most likely because the crowd that Chitty Bang attracts is too big for the venues we do have there. But we could find no lesbian bars for us to feature this month, either within or outside of Waikiki. As Kim told us, “We need a women’s space, but we cannot have one until our women are willing to support it.” With rare exceptions such as Maui Sunseeker Resort in Kihei and the Kalani Retreat on the Big Island, running a full-time gay establishment in Hawai‘i appears to be only possible in Honolulu, and even then only in Waikiki,
home to the greatest concentration of LGBT bars in the islands. The proximity of these places to each other in the highrent, parking-poor neighborhood between Kapahulu on the Diamond Head side (Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand) and just east of the Kalakaua/Kuhio split on the Ewa side (Bacchus Waikiki) cannot be accidental - these businesses are clustered in a way to be mutually beneficial. With the addition of the LGBT Center, the neighborhood now has something more to offer the gay community than just bars and dining.
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One reason for locating a gay business in Waikiki is the large number of LGBT residents. “Waikiki certainly has a lot of LGBT people living and working there,” said John Blatt of Bacchus. “In fact, I suspect the hotel industry as well as much of the retail and service market would come to a screeching halt if all the ‘community’ members disappeared. Despite that, Waikiki remains a very diverse place. The LGBT community has an important place in the overall area, but by no means is it the only or even the largest part of the Waikiki district.” This is true with any of the ethnic neighborhoods, such as Koreatown or the Haoleville (Kailua or Hawai‘i Kai, take your pick). Those areas do have significant numbers of residents and businesses of their respective demographics, but they are mixed with a generous helping of other groups. The only exception is portions of Chinatown, which is by no means exclusively Chinese. Our Waikiki gayborhood (the “Kiki District”?) is true to the tendency of Hawai‘i people to mix things up, a reflection of our love of diversity. A gay business is often seen as a niche business, and it is not easy to keep a niche business going, or any small business for that matter. “All small businesses in Hawai‘i have more challenges due to a slower economy and being dependent only on one thing primarily: tourism,” observed John Ing, owner of Tapa’s. “Small businesses are over-regulated and over-taxed. Real estate, being a finite asset, costs people more money to live. Being dependent on shipping by barge also increases prices and creates oligopolies. The government takes advantage of this vulnerability.” This is especially true in Waikiki, which is why LGBT businesses do not open their doors on high-volume, insanely expensive
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Kalakaua Avenue. Keeping off the main drag may be advantageous for financial reasons, but there are downsides: less visibility, less foot traffic, and less police presence. Many LGBT businesses are not simply on less-traveled streets - they are also tucked away or up on a second floor. There is one advantage to less visibility: less chances of having to deal with homophobic tourists and military personnel. Nevertheless, many of us may not feel comfortable walking hand-in-hand in our own gayborhood after dark. Things may not improve soon in this regard. “It might take at least two generations of consciously re-socializing children,” said Ing, “before the prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation is all but eliminated.” That may change more rapidly than we think. David Barker of Bacchus has noticed the gayborhood getting stronger: “We see that more and more, and not just in gay bars but also with gay flag football players, paddle clubs, and the bear community. We encourage that and try to be a part of making these fun in any way we can.” We may also see a bolder approach from LGBT businesses in the future. “These days, things have been changing so rapidly and dramatically that locating businesses in out-of-sight places is no longer necessary and is, in fact, probably counter-productive,” said Blatt. “Younger people in particular do not have any hesitation about going to a bar that is ‘gay,’ irrespective of their own sexuality. The era of the strictly ‘gay’ bar is, with a few exceptions, fading. The bars are getting more mixed and diverse.”
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rex robinson
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B y: m i c k e y w e e m s / p h o t o s : j t l
gaysian chic “My Wang’s too small, and this is how I’m going to grow it.”
Dan Chang, owner of Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar, is much like the description he gave his establishment: “Asian pop influenced. Colorful, happy, and cheeky.” In his actual selfdescription, Chang said, “I’m an engineer by trade. My super-powers include giving out free Chinese bear hugs and washing lots of dishes.” Wang Chung’s started out small, too small in fact, so Chang upgraded Little Wang last year to Big Wang. All the talk about Little and Big Wangs may lead one to suspect that Chang is pushing a Fifty Shades of Grey Asian style theme. But no - the space’s interior is far from gray or pornographic, and the vibe is such that patrons bring their relatives, including their parents. Chang’s Wang has gaysian chic that is attractive to more than just gaysians. And it is a good thing it does attract a multicultural crowd because Chang missed the mark in his original assessment of who he figured his clientele would be: “When I first opened Little Wang’s,” Chang said, “I thought I was going to tap into a huge Japanese demographic. I was
surrounded by Japanese restaurants, and the Japanese stay at the hotels around my location. I hired all Japanese speaking bartenders, and when we opened, we got zero Japanese.” The gay community got Little Wang rocking, although nowadays, “We actually do have people from Japan who come see us.” With the increase in length and girth to Big Wang, Chang faced new challenges, some of which he discussed in this interview.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Wang
Dan Chang: We’re a destination bar. Tucked away down an alley [Little Wang’s] or hidden in the back of a hotel [Big Wang’s], you just don’t walk down the street and say, “Look, there’s a bar there!” and then go in. You have to know about us or read about us or hear about us. When people go online and read about us, they see we’re labeled as a gay bar on Yelp. People already judge the space before even stepping in.
From Little to Big
Wang Chung’s moved into the new location on September 1, 2014. It’s only three buildings away from the old location - about a one-minute walk - on the same street. We’ve always needed a little more space as the old location hit capacity pretty quickly and it always saddened us that people couldn’t come in anymore. Besides, King’s Village and the surrounding apartments will be razed and
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they’re building a new condominium in that area. The new Wang Chung’s, like the old one, has taken a lot of inspiration from Japanese and Asian pop culture. It’s an homage to the old location, with multi-colored Japanese lanterns, maneki-neko [beckoning cats] done Andy Warhol style, along with popular Japanese cartoon characters such as Astroboy, Hello Kitty and Domo-kun. We had local gay artists that did our décor. The otafuku [smiling Japanese lady’s face], Andy Warhol maneki-nekos, the giant mural with Godzilla, and the kanji for kampai were all done by Scott Daimaru. Astroboy, the Wonder Woman themed canvases, and the Marvel superheroes taking a shower in the restroom were done by Ikaika Ho. We’re also working on a Mao propaganda theme for the backroom, which will be done by Cheyne Gallarde, a local photographer.
Shake Your Groove Wang
We just try to do things to challenge the status quo. We’re not afraid of hard work - because we find that to be a pleasure. Our karaoke song search is all done online on our webpage. Customers look up their songs from their phones - we don’t have karaoke songbooks. We make all our syrups from scratch in house: pomegranate-hibiscus grenadine, cucumber mint syrup, fresh strawberry puree, house-made ginger beer with local organic ginger from Kaua‘i, lime cordial, and fresh sour mix. We package our T-shirts in VHS containers and Chinese take out boxes. We encourage people to use Instagram to take pictures and post their pictures to our karaoke screens with the #wangchungs hashtag.
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So Much in One Package Many of our bartenders are multilingual. I have a really talented team. Rex [Haole born in Okinawa] speaks and sings in Japanese; Allen [Haole/ Native American] speaks Mandarin and German; Cory [local Japanese] sings in Japanese, and also is a songwriter; Brian [local hapa] sings beautiful Hawaiian falsetto; and Kris was a former professional wrestler. Our business cards are actually trading cards that feature a story and stats of each bartender. Also, Mexican Randy makes our lamps from empty liquor bottles, and Cheyne Gallarde does the costume, theme, and photoshoot for us.
Gratitude for Wang Workers
I’ve always believed in doing the right thing and taking care of the people that work for you. When I first started, other business owners would advise me to keep the staff as contractors or make sure I don’t work them over 20 hours a week for four consecutive weeks to avoid paying benefits. Funny, I always seem to do the opposite of what people advise me. All of my employees have full benefits [medical, dental, vision, prescriptions].
Showing It to Relatives
I’ve been able to meet so many parents because my patrons are so excited to show them this special place. One great story is a few years back: my grandma came to visit along with my auntie, brother and cousins. They brought her to the bar and she sat in the corner. Once our patrons heard that she was my grandma, they
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walked up to her, talked to her, smiled, danced with her, and serenaded her. She had the biggest smile the whole night. She told me, “Child, this is perfect. Don’t get bigger.” And she also told my mom to stop worrying.
Size Matters
What I found is that what worked in the old space doesn’t necessarily work in the new, bigger space. So we’ve been adjusting and growing into the new space. I like keeping it a very personable space, but that’s been a challenge at times with it being so much bigger. Sometimes, it almost feels like we’re starting a new business. And now we have the kitchen, which we didn’t have before at Little Wang’s. I found the most memorable things when I visit a restaurant is when the owner or the chef comes out and talks to you. Once you feel that connection and sincerity, your thoughts about the food and the experience are more memorable. And I wholeheartedly believe in good customer service. That comfort you feel when you walk into a place and they remember your name, your drink, your peculiarities is priceless.
Feeling the Wang Love
It’s my happy place. I may be losing my hearing, but I’m doing something I love with people I love, and serving a community I love. When we put this much love into it, we put our mana in it, and it becomes more than the sum of us. It is the sum of every smile, every person and every happy moment that comes through these doors. This bar becomes a place where the mana of the people is infused and permeated in the atmosphere. It truly becomes something else. WangChungs.com
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chitty bang
The
Big
She-Bang B y: m i c k e y w e e m s / p h o t o s : j t l
What inspired you to start the party? Roxy Bunda, Candice Ho, and Yooey Kim knew that something had to be done. Women’s events and safe party spaces were (and still are) woefully few. “It turns out that we three had the same idea and goal in mind,” recalled Kim. “Hawai‘i is lacking any real safe party for women in the LGBT community and their allies.” So the three of them did something about the situation. They created Chitty Bang, a women’s party every first Thursday at the concert venue, The Republik. By utilizing the space once a month, they have sustained this event for nearly two years. Kim, bar supervisor at The Republik, talked with us about the party, the mission, and Lesbian House Rules.
Tell us about Yooey Kim. I’ve been with this bar since we’ve opened almost three years ago and in the bar industry for about 10-11 years, starting out as just a cocktail server. I’m originally from Korea, moved to LA, and settled in Hawai‘i. I just recently graduated from UH Manoa in Communications.
Give us a general description of Chitty Bang. We started Chitty Bang in July 2013. Going beyond just being a ladies’ party, we are trying to create a whole new culture. We feel it is important to make the party a safe environment for women to come and party but still be inclusive of everyone, gay or straight, as long as everyone is having fun.
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After the really successful DowneTowne party ended in Chinatown, there was a big void for girl parties. I would have a lot of LGBT customers from out of town that would ask me what there is to do on the island if you were a gay female. It was pretty shameful at the time that, aside from the gay bars in Waikiki and Bar 7 on Saturdays, there wasn’t anything for that group.
How did you get the name? We agreed that we just wanted a non-snobby, non-cliquey, all-inclusive girl dance party. In order to capture the feel of it, the name was really important. We agreed it had to be completely random. We would sit down for hours, just throwing out random catch phrases and silly words. Then Roxy just blurts out “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!” Very soon, people started calling it Chitty Bang after calling it things like “Titty Titty Bang Bang.”
Okay - now I’m gonna slip up and call it “Titty Bang,” thank you very much. You say that Chitty Bang draws a young crowd. What role does the venue play? We definitely cater to the younger, hip 21 plus crowd. From my perspective, the venue plays a huge role. It is a general concert venue and not a specific type of bar or club, so it acts as a neutral playing field. Right off the bat, the venue doesn’t come with a precursor of what type of vibe it’s going to be. Most of our crowd has come to the venue on a non-Chitty Bang night for some type of major
chitty bang
yooey Kim
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concert or show already, so they are familiar with it. The Republik brings down a lot of the coolest, new, hip national music artists to Hawai‘i. The venue itself is kind of like a cool brand among the younger demographic. They get to party where their favorite band got to play!
And having it on a Thursday night... We were concerned about it being on a Thursday, but when we said we wanted the younger demographic, we looked and even asked around about their lifestyle. Most of the 21-28 year olds are in school and most don’t have classes on Fridays. Also, most of these girls in this age group don’t have a set Monday-through-Friday, 9-to-5 work schedule. And since this group is more apt to go out more than one night a week, being on a Thursday doesn’t disrupt their weekend plans. Most older people with a regular schedule will have issues coming out on Thursday.
How do you keep cliquishness at bay? This is the main question my partners and I have had long discussions about. While we didn’t have a set formulated solution, we all agreed that it starts with us first. I’ve seen promoters being really snobby and too cool to mingle with the guests of their own party. While sometimes it’s a strategy in promotion, we all agreed that starts off the whole clique issue. I make sure the bar staff is always polite and warm. Then my partners and I make sure that, when we see repeat guests of the party, we befriend them. While I’m sometime stuck behind the bar, Roxy and Candace always makes sure to walk around and thank people for coming, do small chat, maybe even dance with them or drag them to the dance floor. If it’s someone’s birthday, Roxy always makes sure to do shout-outs on the mic. Honestly, we have such awesome DJs that I see most people don’t have time to be cliquey. They
are too busy drinking and dancing.
Tell us about your DJs. Without our DJs, we can’t have the success we do now. We have four rotating resident all-girl line up, and they are all really accomplished independent girls, which is perfect for the image of what we want a “Chitty Banger� to be. DJ Anit - She is a resident DJ at Addiction, and the baddest female scratch DJ on the island. She even had the honor to perform with Pharell at the BET Awards. SuperCW - She is the hardest working woman in the industry. She spins mostly indie dance music and house, always so much fun, her energy behind the decks is amazing. She also is the main player of Pow!Wow! urban artist movement. Thanks to her, we have beautiful murals in Kaka‘ako from artists all over the world. TittahByte - I call her the bass queen. She spins mostly hip hop, top 40, trap and 90s dance tracks. She is seriously the new age renaissance woman. She DJs all over the busiest party circuit, and has started an artist movement of her own called GreenLeaf Check. DJ Ace - She was the resident DJ for years at Bar 7 during Saturday gay nights. She’s been working with the drag queens there for years and has been spinning to the gay scene forever. She spins mostly top 40 and EDM.
Who is welcome to the party? Everyone! Okay, that’s not true. We don’t welcome “Debbie Downers� and trouble makers. If you just came to pick a fight with an ex, you are not welcomed. If you came just to perv on other party
OR
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TEST DRIVE THE 2015 LEGACY TODAY
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guests and make them uncomfortable, you are not welcomed. That goes for everyone, gay or straight, female or males. I will easily kick out an unruly female as I would a male if they are making trouble. Sometimes I feel like girls forget that just because we are girls, it is still not okay to sexually harass other females. I don’t see why straight guys can’t be invited to a good fun party. They shouldn’t be shunned because of their orientation. Just because I didn’t feel welcomed at a straight club, doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t welcome straight people to a gay club.
What kinds of men attend a Chitty Bang party? Our friends! Actually we get a fair amount of gay and straight men. Mostly gay men, but still quite a few straight men that are also friends with the girls. And a lot of club industry men because it’s on a Thursday. Most of them have to work on weekends.
YOOEY’S LESBIAN HOUSE RULES One of the appeals of Chitty Bang is the ambience, a welcoming and safe space for women that is part of the lesbian community’s DNA. The vibe for this party-for-all is possible because of Lesbian House Rules.
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Clueless Straight Men With Pick-Up Lines:
1.
Don’t even try your game at Chitty Bang.
2.
Straight Girls:
If you bring your boyfriend, make sure he’s house-trained.
3.
Evolved Straight Guys:
This is the place for you!
4
. Women Who Love Women:
Check your ex-girlfriend drama at the door because you will probably see her. Also, not everyone is checking out your girlfriend.
We Welcome Our Trans Brothers and Sisters:
5.
If anyone gives you a problem, we’ll squash it.
6.
And of Course, Bisexuals:
We want you too! Out of everyone in the LGBT (and Allies), you have the least hang-ups. JoinTheRepublik.com/weekly/chitty-chitty-bang-bang
chitty bang
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Making It Work in Waikiki
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tapa’s
John Ing has owned businesses in Waikiki for 17 years. From café to catering, from bar to restaurant, Ing has managed to keep going through boom and bust in some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Currently, he owns Tapa’s, a bar into which he recently consolidated his other business, Kala Ena Bistro. Running a café, restaurant, or bar was not his first calling, however. “Professionally, I have been an attorney in private practice for 32 years, concentrating in estate planning and real estate,” he said, and his training as an attorney shows in his demeanor and his speech. Ing is candid, nononsense, and not at all about blowing smoke up anyone’s butt. Despite his training, or perhaps because of it, Ing would rather be in the service industry. And he has one good reason for becoming a restaurateur: he can cook. Keeping afloat has not been easy. Ing feels that a major hurdle for gay businesses in Honolulu is lack of support from the LGBT community. “In other cities, like San Francisco, New York, LA, Chicago - gay people patronize gay businesses, searching out gay physicians, CPAs, attorneys, real estate agents. This also holds true patronizing gay restaurants, retail stores, even churches.” Ing’s business has evolved - he has taken steps to make sure that non-LGBT people feel welcome. This shift is reflected in a change of the Tapa’s décor: “One wall on the front lanai had the stripes of the gay flag painted on it. It was very prominent from the street. We also have a cloth gay flag hanging from a pole in the corner. And we have painted the rainbow flag colors under each step in the back stairway entrance. After we consolidated Kala Ena Bistro [his restaurant] with Tapa’s, I personally painted over the flag on the front lanai wall because I wanted to convey the message that Tapa’s is not an exclusively ‘gay restaurant’ or ‘gay bar.’”
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“I just do my
own thing, for what my customers want.” john ing
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Ing called Tapa’s “not exclusively gay” rather than a “gay” establishment. “I will admit that I am not an authority in this area,” he began, refreshingly modest for a man with his significant experience serving the LGBT community. He then continued: “To me, a gay bar is primarily devoted to gay customers, including how the bar is staffed, decorated, what kind of music is played, what events are celebrated, and even what drinks are on the menu. A gay friendly bar is open to the general public, but welcomes gay customers. A bar which is not exclusively gay is patronized primarily by gay customers, but welcomes all members of the general public.” He sees this trend becoming the norm as LGBT and non-LGBT businesses open up to each other’s demographics. “I believe it is a good thing that the distinctions between the three are becoming more and more blurred.” Ultimately, it comes down to evolving with the times:
“The primary reason is economic. For a bar to survive, it cannot exclude anyone because of what he or she is.” Another factor is the location of Tapa’s, away from the major thoroughfares as are many of
the LGBT businesses in Waikiki. “The biggest plusses are that we, as a friendly neighborhood bar, have developed a regular clientele of Waikiki residents and we are more readily accessible to tourists. Parking in Waikiki is always an issue. Most who live or are staying in Waikiki walk or catch a bus or taxicab to and from Tapa’s, reducing DUI. The biggest minus is just the opposite reason - people who do not live in Waikiki view it as for tourists, too congested with traffic, and too expensive. These are misperceptions, I feel.” Ing has a policy of inclusion that goes beyond the staff to his customers. Nobody at Tapa’s should be made to feel unwelcome by their fellow revelers, and overall, negativity has not been an issue. “Fortunately, there is no challenge here. Most of our customers have been very welcoming and have gone out of their way to make other customers comfortable. Otherwise, they are politely asked to leave.” Ultimately, the staff sets the pace. “The bartenders are the key. They must be friendly, professional, honest, and not show favoritism. Secondly, most of the customers are outgoing and fun.” Tapa’s is first and foremost a neighborhood bar. “Other Waikiki bars and restaurants try to cater to the tourists, which is their primary demographic,” he observed. He is more concerned with keeping his fiercely loyal customers happy. “I just do my own thing, for what the customers want.”
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tapa’s
Evolution of a Waikiki Business John Ing: I opened Tapa’s as Tryst Restaurant in May 2003. At that time, it was a restaurant with a full menu that served alcohol. I had a full kitchen and wait staff, with one bartender. A few years later, I changed the name and the concept to Tapa’s Restaurant & Lanai Bar, a bar that served local-style tapas [pupus], bar food, and a few entrees. As more and more customers came into the bar and did not order food, Tapa’s evolved into a bar that served only Sunday brunch and provided food for special events and parties. During that time, my Internet café on Kalakaua Avenue, which I opened in 1998, ceased providing Internet services with the prevalence of laptops and Wi-Fi, and started serving lunch to the businesses and residents in the area. Lunch there steadily grew in popularity and we developed a loyal, regular customer base. After operating as a bar in the evenings as Tapa’s II, leasing the space out a few times to a fusion cuisine restaurant and even an Indian restaurant, I started serving dinner and changed the name there to “Kala Ena Bistro.” I sold the bistro commercial space in November 2014 and then combined both operations at Tapa’s. So, since December 2014, Tapa’s has evolved again into a bar that serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. We still do the parties and special events. We have reduced our “tapas” menu, and are serving what worked at Kala Ena Bistro American bistro food and pasta. To fully utilize the dining room at Tapa’s, we had the pool table and black leather lounge sofas removed and replaced with the Kala Ena Bistro dining chairs and tables. We cut a hole in the wall behind the bottle shelves in the bar, so customers can see that this is a bar when they enter the dining room from the front entrance. The flip side of that feature is that bar patrons can look into the 24 | m a r c h 2 0 1 5 - E X P RESSION 808. COM
“The bartenders
are the key. They must be friendly, professional, honest, and not show favoritism.” dining room and kitchen. Also, our inventory is displayed from both rooms. We repainted and redecorated. We upgraded the air conditioning and cut another opening in the kitchen for better ventilation and visibility. Customers can now lunch or dine in the dining room, at the
two tables on the front lanai, the two tables and three high tops in the bar area, or at the bar itself. We still have karaoke after dinner service is done [free karaoke with drink purchase on Tone-Deaf Tuesdays]. TapasWaikiki.com
tapa’s
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bacchus
new kid
the block on
B y: m i c k e y w e e m s / p h o t o s : j t l
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Every major city has bars with themes taken from somewhere else. In Honolulu, we have Bacchus, an addition to the Waikiki gayborhood that opened four years ago. Bacchus has a vibe taken from men’s spaces in San Francisco’s gayborhood, the notorious Castro District. The (relatively) new kid on the block has three daddies: David Barker, John Blatt, and Gordon Boe. “The three of us who opened Bacchus have been in the hospitality industry our entire careers,” said Barker. “We were excited by the prospect of opening a new venue in Honolulu.” “Bacchus has something of a San Francisco feel to it, sharing some qualities with 440 Castro, which is owned by Bacchus partner Gordon Boe,” said Blatt. “We built Bacchus Waikiki on the bones of a unique wine bar called Pane and Vino. We wanted a name that would incorporate some of the good feelings that Pane and Vino had built up - thus Bacchus, named after the Roman god of wine and revelry.” The name also makes for some great Greco-Roman themes for Pride parades.
bacch us
“We had been looking for a new venue in Honolulu for a few years when we found the space at 408 Lewers,” said Barker. “We all loved that space the minute we saw it: simple and intimate. It’s the lanai that really makes the place, though - a place to relax with a beverage and enjoy the beautiful weather we have here.” The lanai is white with blue umbrellas, and sits overlooking Lewers Street, with tiny white lights giving the exterior of the upstairs bar a festive air at night. Red lights adorn the dark furnishings of interior, giving it an air of cruisy masculinity. Bacchus stays true to its butch Castro roots as a gay man’s space, but it is not exclusively for men. “Sure, we are a gay bar, but our staff makes it clear that everyone is welcome,” Barker stated categorically. Like Chitty Bang’s women-safe-space focus, and Wang Chung’s Asian theme, having a target demographic or ethnic motif does not mean a rejection of all other demographics. And as with Tapa’s, Chitty Bang, and Wang Chung’s, customer service is also a major priority.
Castro Versus Waikiki
When asked about the differences between the Castro District in San Francisco and the little LGBT businesses clustered in Waikiki, Blatt pointed out that a successful, triple-G district carries the seeds of its own demise. “The Castro became gentrified in the first place because it became ‘gayified.’ There is a tendency for this to happen nationwide, followed almost inevitably by an influx of reasonably well-to-do people who do not necessarily self-identify as LGBT. I think in the past this was simply a matter of LGBT people tending to move into run-down areas that no one else wanted. These neighborhoods then blossomed under the care of their LGBT occupants as homes were renovated, businesses started, and creative arts flourished. This made them attractive places to live and the gentrification escalated as non-LGBT people started to move in. The Castro is a classic example.” Waikiki is another matter for Blatt. “Waikiki, on the other hand, has a much broader demographic base. Although a few square blocks were called the Gay Ghetto [Kuhio District] in the past due to the number of gay bars and businesses located there, it has never been predominantly a gay area, either business-wise or by the percentage of LGBT residents.” He attributes the difference to the high volume of visitors, especially in Waikiki. “The tourist industry draws people from all groups. In fact, I think Hawai‘i is missing out on a huge opportunity in not marketing more to the LGBT traveller.” EXP RESSION808.COM - m a r c h 2015 | 27
bacch us
Wedding Bells, BacheloretteZillas
Bacchus has also seen a rise in business since marriage equality was legalized in Hawai‘i. “So many couples want to come to Hawai‘i to get married and enjoy a honeymoon,” said Barker. “Gay couples are so eager to enjoy that experience now and we love hosting wedding receptions here.”
John Blatt saw it as a matter of custom and venue size: “We have always made Bacchus available for charitable functions and parties. Birthdays and anniversaries are probably the most popular parties we have, but a number of people have chosen to use Bacchus for wedding receptions since marriage equality became the law. I would guess that the relative sizes of the bars may have some impact on why Bacchus might be picked. Some of the bars may be too small for a group while some may be too large.” One trend in the mainland has created some controversy: straight women’s bachelorette parties held in gay bars - sometimes the ladies are a bit much for the regulars. Blatt did not see these as a problem, perhaps because Bacchus has not had any requests for one. “I understand that some places on the mainland have had issues, but Hawai‘i is a much less polarized place and there is a lot more inclusion of varying demographics here than there is in some areas. Honolulu bars tend to be mixed rather than strictly men’s versus women’s.”
Sisters
Waikiki’s LGBT businesses profit from their nearness to each other, said Blatt. “Much as furniture stores and auto dealers tend to group themselves in close proximity. LGBT businesses benefit from the same 28 | m a r c h 2 0 1 5 - E X P RESSION 808. COM
thing. Would you rather visit one place then have to get in your car and drive a few miles to the next and so on? It is much easier if you can walk from one bar or restaurant to another. There is a synergy that develops simply due to being close together.” For Bacchus, that synergy is especially strong with one other bar. Just a few yards away from Bacchus is In Between, a small karaoke bar that Blatt has owned for about 15 years. “Many of our guests will spend time in one and then walk down the street to the other for a little variety. Although there is no legal business connection between them, Bacchus and In Between are very much ‘sister bars’ in the minds of the customers and of the staff and owners.”
Welcome to the Gayborhood!
Although Blatt recognizes that many gay bars in Waikiki cater to nonLGBT clientele, he does not feel that gay bars are passé. “There is still a strong demand for spaces that belong to the LGBT community. Many guests enjoy being surrounded by members of their own group. This is changing, but it’s still a major factor in our marketing goals and efforts. We advertise in places that are LGBT in nature, and we depend on word of mouth from that demographic as well. We support the LGBT community in our business and charitable activities. We also welcome any other folks who want to join us as long as they respect who and what we are.” David Barker attributes Bacchus’ success to support from other businesses in the Waikiki gayborhood. “Other LGBT business owners have been so helpful to us from the minute we opened the doors. We really couldn’t have done it without them. They have been so welcoming and very generous with help and advice.” Bacchus-Waikiki.com
bacch us
“There is still a
strong demand for spaces that belong to the LGBT community. Many guests enjoy being surrounded by members of their own group.�
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