Barfly: Ghost Bar pops up at Ala Moana, Morimoto hosts ‘White Party’

Looking for a reason to dress in costume for Halloween — without waiting until the end of this month?

After a successful run with a Christmas-themed pop-up last year, Ala Moana Center is back with a new Halloween pop-up experience. The former Ninja Sushi location has been turned into a bar for the month, complete with fake blood on the tables and a ton of Instagram-worthy decor throughout the room.

Fans of the annual Haunted Plantation, which has freaked out thousands for more than a decade in Leeward Oahu, can vouch for Noa Laporga and Angelina Khan’s ability to create a truly hair-raising experience. The two are working with food industry veterans Riki Kobayashi and Masaki Sasada to bring the Ghost Bar concept to life.

But Laporga was also adamant that instilling fear into the hearts of customers wasn’t the No. 1 goal for their pop-up.

“Haunted Plantation is just one of the events we do,” he said. “I have a ton of friends who don’t come because it’s too scary … (so) I wanted to do something where I can get them to come out and enjoy what we do.

“It’s going to be chill. It’s not a haunted house. It’s just a theme.”

The Halloween theme applies to the drinks as well, which are priced in the $7 to $12 range for cocktails. Beer, wine and non- alcoholic options are available, and all ages are welcome to come in and check out the action.

And it’s not just the decor that’s shareable on social media. Drinks like the Killer Clown ($10) — a spiked “milkshake” made with Horchata rum liqueur, coconut rum and topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ube powder — tastes just as good as it looks.

Tiki fans (or those who like group experiences) will gravitate toward the Trick-or-Treat Bowl ($25), which is made with rum, gin, vodka, lilikoi syrup and a blend of fruit juices, and designed to be shared by two to four. Shochu-, gin- and vodka-based drinks are on the menu, too, plus “Syringe Shots” to help keep you “vaccinated” from any potential zombie attacks.

The Ghost Bar is open 2 p.m. to midnight daily through Oct. 31 in Ala Moana’s Ewa Wing, mall level next to Jamba Juice. Costumes are encouraged, but those who want to drink must remove their masks for ID checks. Follow the bar on Instagram and Facebook; call 372-9618.

IT’S NO secret Masaharu Mori­moto loves Hawaii. The former “Iron Chef” now runs a global restaurant empire, but the recent grand opening of his restaurants Morimoto Asia and Momosan at the new ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach has him spending more and more time in the islands.

If you were lucky enough to catch Morimoto at his old digs in the Modern Honolulu, you know how personable he can be, whether behind the sushi bar or mingling in the dining room with guests. It’s also no secret he’s a big karaoke fan, willing to break into song at a moment’s notice — especially when the drinks are flowing!

Morimoto will be on hand at Morimoto Asia from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 20 for his first White Party, an evening of karaoke, food and drinks that will also serve as an introduction to his newest creation, Easy Cup Sake.

Morimoto has partnered with Gekkeikan Sake Co. to sell the Yamada Nishiki junmai sake in a 210-millileter pop-top glass; no cork or twist-off cap here.

Find it not just in the restaurant but also in five-packs at Don Quijote and Whalers General Store locations, and on Maui at Mokapu Market, Morihara Store, Island Grocery Depot and Wine Corner. Visit ironchefmorimoto.com for info.

Admission to the White Party is $100 and includes four food tastings plus drinks, a photo booth, karaoke stage and free valet and self-parking with validation. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com or call 922-0022.

WAIKIKI IS also the call this weekend if you want to try the newest locally produced rum.

Mahina Hawaiian Rum comes from Hali‘imaile Distilling Co., the same folks on Maui who produce Pau Vodka. Oahu residents will get their first taste on Sunday at Mahina & Sun’s at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club during a release party from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Members of the Hali‘imaile team will be on hand to talk about the rum, which is made from molasses and additional, unnamed “island ingredients,” and is described by the distillery as offering “notes of nutmeg, vanilla, brown sugar and caramel.”

The launch party also will feature $8 cocktails made with Pau Vodka’s limited-edition pink bottles created in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mahina & Sun’s will donate a portion of the proceeds from all Pau Vodka cocktails sold this month to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Learn more about Mahina Rum at mahinarum.com; call 924-5810 for details about the Surfjack party.

AND IF you can make it to Waikiki before the end of the weekend, stop in and pay your final respects to Wailana Coffee House, which closes for good at 10 p.m. Sunday.

The former 24-hour establishment (management had to reduce operating hours last month due to a lack of staff and the plans to shut down), was originally supposed to call it quits at the end of September, but longtime customers were happy to discover they were still open this month.

While I’m really bummed about the loss of yet another iconic late-night dining option, I’m even more disappointed about the fact that we’re losing one more old-school watering hole.

Wailana’s cocktail lounge, tucked away in a small space next to the main dining room, was a staple for me when I moved home from college in 1999 and worked at a nearby radio station. “Wailana’s,” as it’s commonly known, was in regular rotation for me, along with the Wave Waikiki, the original Hideaway Bar and former Brew Moon. Now all that’s left from those years is the Irish Rose Saloon.

A visit to the cocktail lounge last week showed not much has changed in the nearly 20 years I’ve been drinking there. Most of the nine seats at the bar were occupied by customers Wailana bartenders lovingly refer to as “dinosaurs,” with a smattering of tourists and a handful of locals who looked like they were there, like me, to say goodbye.

Along with the homestyle comfort food at Wailana Coffee House, I know I’m going to miss the $5 mai tais, which are easily one of the best deals in all of Waikiki. It’s definitely the end of an era.

Jason Genegabus has written about the local bar and drink scenes since 2001. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram or email jason@staradvertiser.com.