Hallowbaloo

Bring back the Chinatown block party! Even though I prepaid for tickets online I guess I didn’t read the fine print… or maybe they didn’t even have instructions… but what the heck was up with having to go to Alakea & Hotel to get your wristband THEN go back to Chinatown to party at the bars, etc? Super lame set up this year. No block party. No beer stations on the street which meant you had to wait 1.5+ hours to get into one of the bars. Hallowbaloo just lost a longtime patron.

This was our 3^rd year attending Hallowbaloo. Since they changed it up this year and made it bigger I think that was a good thing. usually walking around between nuuanu/​hotel/​bethel areas always feels so crowded but with the shuttle to take you to the Hawaii state art museum where everything was, was nice. Of course you always have the usual annoying drunk ppl and it was really hot and humid which made for a not so fun night. I felt bad for ppl wearing heavy costumes, full face makeup, and animal costumes with fur. Kudos to you! I paid for the after hours club thing but after we walked back to Chinatown area it was super crowded and way too hot with all the bodies and long lines that I was over it. I really wanted to eat at downbeat but I’m sure it was gonna be an hour wait to get in. Other than that it was fun. But seeing as this is probably our last Halloween in Hawaii, I’m not gonna miss it. I’m ready to celebrate Halloween where I’m not sweating all night long. I think they should keep every Hallowbaloo like this though. I’m assuming since I heard tix sold out that it attracted a lot more ppl which is a good thing!

Went to the street festival and it was not what we were expecting. Maybe we got there too early or something (around 7). They have the streets blocked off and some entertainment, including ropes and bars hanging from trees and these amazingly strong people doing trapeze type stuff (not sure the name, but it was lovely), pole dancing (female AND male… Kind of weird), and some music (mostly very mellow, which surprised me). Other than that, you just stand or walk around and look at the crazy costumes, which was cool, but I guess because we weren’t drinking and everyone else was it felt like we were missing something or not really enjoying ourselves as much as we should have. They had food vendors and booze everywhere, and heavy police presence, and there sure was PLENTY of people, but still just wasn’t as great as they make it sound like it will be. Better music probably would have helped. I would have preferred to just see all the madness in Waikiki on kalakaua ace for free.

IMHO– people really need to know more about the event before going for sure. If you just stumble into this — you may be woefully unprepared.
It is very different from the stuff at Lahina or Waikiki where basically all ages are present– but here in Downtown it is almost only for 21+ over.
Chinatown basically shuts down after work lets out at 5 or 6 pm and there were not that many places that one could go bathroom to begin with– let alone so many places being closed. SO — go to the bathroom before attending and plan not! to have go to the bathroom until you go home or drive somewhere like a McD. There are bortopoties — but remember HPD does not do sweeps of the homeless down there — and not to mention those people that just decide to pee anywhere they feel like it.
I bring this up — because so people may think of it as a bubble.
The Hallowbaloo wristband provides access to the Hallowbaloo Street Festival and all participating Club Hallowbaloo venues usually between $ 5 ‘ $ 80 depending on which kind of ticket you buy– I have no idea what the VIP is like but I can’t imagine it is anything better than what the $ 5 is — except to quicker lines at the after hours bars — but not during the real event.
Parking is a pain in the butt– take the bus, especially if you plan to drink too much.
Most of the activates are going down at the Hawaii Art Museum.
HiSAM HALLOWBALOO BALL — 5:30PM-9:30PM timeframe.
FREE TROLLEY SERVICE — 8:00PM — 11:00PM– it is an open air bus– just watch for many drunks that could — you know lose what they were drinking when the bus moves suddenly.
CLUB HALLOWBALOO ‘TIL 2AM — Honolulu’s Chinatown Arts District — tons of people just walking around in circles to show off their un– original costumes and talk on their cell phones to try to find their lost friends.
10,000+ Halloween Revelers — is what is billed– I don’t know if it was that many people but there were plenty of HPD on duty to handle the crowds if there were really that many people.
4 Outdoor Stages– in a loose sense yes– at least 4 bands were playing but as a music kind of guy, they really weren’t organized bands but just musicians that were playing together as if it is a jam session or practice session– the music gets to be more background than a reason people come out to listen.
Ono Food Booths — there were some of the normal trucks that one often sees at events like «EAT THE STREET.» Again– I suggest eating before hand instead of standing in large long lines when there are other better things to do.
Costume Contests– Some people go all out and make us want to take selfies with them — even those of us that don’t tweet everything one does. There are tons of generic Batmans and cops and robbers but then there are some day of the dead/​zombies/​or something cool.
Featuring Booker T on the main stage this year. They had a merch table but the selection was so drab– I did not see anyone interested in what they were selling. I did not think the band should have been the feature show– it wasn’t IMHO a good enough band to headline that would ‘draw a crowd’ — I want to hear songs that have enough pull and excitement that makes a crowd react positively, instead of acting like background. Just saying, I went to the event specifically for 2 reasons — people watching and seeing great costumes and THE BANDS!
Here is some of the types of entertainment acts– Jones, Taimane, Mike Love, Kalalea, Ron Artis II Thunderstorm, Samadhi Hawaii, DJ Mr. Nick, Tubby Love, YumYum Beast, RootHub, Pretty Peacock Productions Dead Sexy Cabaret, Discord & Rye, PoleArity Studio and other stuff.
One of the side shows that I thought was really great was the woman dong Mallakhamba– the Indian rope style strength dance up in the air. Yes– they have pole dancers and women doing hula-​hoops. But, She does a wonderful act– even though we couldn’t hear any specific music or sound because the main stage music was loud. It is something that I wouldn’t be able to see were it not for an event like this.
Club Hallowbaloo Venues: Bar 35, Nextdoor, Downbeat Lounge, Manifest, Fresh Café, The Arts at Marks Garage, Scarlet Honolulu, Square Barrels– double check at the info booth near HISAM or another info official booth and they will tell you more updated info about what bars let you in for free cover with wristbands.
Why it is not a 5 star event– it is kinda not as fun as some of the other Unilocal events that Unilocal has promoted. It’s crowded even though it was outside and the venues that are the afterparties had such long lines to get into that it becomes less fun. Would I go again?- yes– to see more live bands. Til then — my recommendation — go as a group and wear themed costumes– you’ll have a blast.

I had a wonderful time last night. I definitely agree that more details need to be put out prior to the event. Naturally Chinatown gets crowded and the event festival got pretty crowded also.
We hung around for a little bit, but decided to take advantage of the free entrances into the club. Lots of places were packed, like JJ Dolans, so we bar hopped and finally ended up at Fresh café. At the beginning of the night we were the only ones there, but once we started the dance party, the place started getting wild. (We were the group in the middle dancing with everyone and doing awesome dance moves on the dance floor.)
The costumes were great. I love how people of all ages can celebrate Halloween together. I personally believe there is patriotism and brotherhood/​sisterhood in it.
But I had a great time and would definitely do it again next year. Thanks for the HPD, Hallowballoo organizers and Unilocal community for making it a fun safe event.

Nothing was fun about event except the crowd in the costumes. Performance at the streets was boring and uninteresting. They charged $ 20 for free access to the clubs but the thing is that it took about 40 minutes to get in each clubs, lines are super long… Plus music in those clubs was horrible. Drinks at the streets are boring and overpriced! Worth going only for free to see people’s costumes. Waste of my money and time. P. s. Bouncers were taking bribes to let the people in without standing in line, which made waiting even longer. Horrible and unorganized. Never going there again

While Halloween is a great excuse to play dress up, having block parties like these allows those people who cosplay for life to exercise and display their skills. When you’re like me and you have so many costumes, so much so that I call them outfits, additional costume parties means that I can wear more than one a year without committing that Halloween faux pas of wearing the same costume more than once. Those things are expensive!
Hallowbaloo is a fun block party to go to. If you really want to make the most out of your experience then 1) catch a cab, parking will take too much of your time unless you plan to arrive early, 2) drink, 3) dance. It’s a one time cover fee for a bunch of places so why pay that price if you’re not going into a club?

Great time! Lots of costumes, people and booths! If you’re missing this year be sure to check it out next time!