The indefatigable Henry Kapono, who already wears several hats, has been donning a new one and is ready for a formal launch on New Year’s Eve.
Kapono, easily Hawaii’s most prolific working entertainer, already is involved with his Henry Kapono Foundation. But his new gig, Kapono’s at The Lounge in partnership with Island Sound Studios on the waterfront at the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center in East Oahu, could be his pinnacle. He envisions it as a cultural, work and social space.
“It’s amazing to see life come full circle,” said Kapono in a statement. “Twenty years after closing Kapono’s at Aloha Tower, we’re opening a new space that celebrates what Hawaii’s music is all about — connection, creativity, and community.”
“For decades, Island Sound Studios has been a creative home for chart-topping and Grammy-winning artists,” said Bryan and Kyle Spicer, co-owners of Island Sound and partners in the endeavor. “Kapono’s at The Lounge expands that legacy into a live venue and creative hub for Hawai‘i’s music community.”
Among the plans ahead:
Aloha Fridays – A pau hana event featuring live local music, pupu service, and signature cocktails. The resource of performing talent will be from the Henry Kapono Foundation‘s On The Rise artists, which staged regular gigs on Manoa Valley Theatre’s dark nights. Aloha Fridays will be open to the public with no cover.
Saturday Night Live Concert Series – A ticketed, up-close concert experience showcasing Hawaii’s top talent alongside select national artists.
Sunday Brunch by the Water – A lively island brunch featuring food, live music, and community connection.
Additional Experiences — Various events are planned throughout 2026 at The Lounge, from livestream performances, to private events, from open mic nights, to special artist collaborations — designed as a place and space for creativity and connection, uniting artists and audiences, in celebration of Hawai‘i’s music culture.
The stars have aligned
The studio had been a creative hub where the likes of Beyoncé, John Legend, and Eminem have laid down tracks. Its private, quiet demeanor had been an attraction for “name” talent.
Part of the upstairs venue, in a makai wing of the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, where Longs Drugs is located, previously was the site of Dolly Parton’s failed on-the-marina restaurant.
When it bows on New Year’s Eve, Kapono is turning the pages to elevate the recording studio as part of a three-pronged facility: headquarters for his Henry Kapono Foundation, redubbing a night life format as Kapono’s at the Lounge, and Island Sound Studios.
“This partnership is more than a venue launch,” said Lezlee Kaʻaihue, executive director of the Henry Kapono Foundation, and spouse of the entertainer. “It’s about creating a true home for Hawai‘i’s music — a place where artists and audiences can come together to celebrate, uplift, and inspire.”
The presence of a music and cultural venue in a Hawaii Kai shopping center is a rare breed of a merchant, in a community that has been struggling to welcome and retain new tenants. This particular shopping destination boasts a trio of popular destinations, Longs Drugs, Safeway and McDonald’s, and if nothing else, the musical activities surely will lure a younger audience and patrons after dark.
Costco, located across the marina, is located in the Hawaii Kai Towne Center, which also is home to Ross, Roy’s Restaurant, and City Mill. The Koko Marina Shopping Center, the area’s longest existing shopping center, lost its movie theater a few years ago, but has welcomed Heavenly, a popular restaurant, and its Zippy’s is only doing take-outs, since it shut down its dining room perhaps two years ago,
The dynamics of live music in a real night club coupled with a recording studio could fetch curious folks young and old. And Kapono, a Hawaii Kai resident, is a popular, visionary entertainer who is community-savvy,
All about Eve – New Year’s outlook:
- The Lounge (downstairs) — An intimate, 50-seat waterfront venue with two open lanais, the sunset precedes two gourmet dinners and performances with Grammy-nominated, multi–Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Henry Kapono & His All-Star Band (5:00–7:30 p.m. and 8:00–10:30 p.m.); culminates with a Party Set T with Alx Kawakami and The Marksmen, carrying guests into the final moments before midnight.
- The Velvet Monkey (upstairs) — A hidden, artfully designed speakeasy with just 17 seats and a private waterfront lanai, crafted by Hollywood set designers for a vintage-meets-chic atmosphere. Opening night features two exclusive performances by powerhouse musician Tavana (5 to 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.), paired with a gourmet dinner and a curated speakeasy experience.
- Studio B (upstairs) — A rare opportunity to celebrate inside the same recording room that has welcomed global icons including Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys. Normally reserved for professional sessions, this storied studio opens only for select, extraordinary occasions. For New Year’s Eve, Studio B comes alive from 10:30 p.m. to midnight with electrifying jazz saxophonist Ambrose and his three-piece band in a rare after-hours experience found nowhere else in Hawaii.
- VIP Party— 10:30 p.m. till closing. Secure an all-access pass to roam in The Lounge, The Velvet Monkey, and Studio B; with live bands, dancing, cocktails, and all the midnight magic. Tickets limited but necessary; details and reservations at www.KaponosAtTheLounge.com
And that’s Show Biz…
