Lotus Position

by Kai Andersen | Modern Luxury Hawai'i magazine | August 29, 2011

Perhaps it’s the sparkling dragon, as if suspended in mid-flight, that says it all. Inspired by a trip to Beijing, nightlife maven Paul Shih commissioned the emblematic figure for his new Chinatown establishment, Lotus Downtown (34 N. Hotel St., 888.3928, lotusdowntown.com). After three months of design, it took ten hours a day for ten days to meticulously hang 4,000 Swarovski crystals to bring the stunning figure to life. With that kind of attention to detail, Shih is in prime position to bring the downtown scene to the next level.

Shih, a former DJ, was the force behind Waikiki’s Lotus Soundbar, known around the scenester set for its jet set DJs. After closing the first Lotus’ doors, he knew it was time to head in a new direction. For this Chinatown reincarnation, the owner has taken a supper club approach, adding two dining areas and an outdoor patio. To create a distinctive menu of sushi and yakitori, Shih has brought on Chef Isamu Kubota of Kaiwa. For an intriguing accompaniment, he has opted for a shochu bar, importing seventy varieties of the robust Japanese spirit.

With a customized, hi-fi sound system in place, music is still essential to the Lotus concept. During dining hours, in-house DJs serve perfectly chilled beats, but it’s after hours when the party really gets going. Shih’s club roots come out with nights dedicated to the likes of deep house and dubstep, courtesy of local promoters like Pacific Jungle. Making the beat even better is his incoming lineup of internationally renowned spin doctors like Dimitri from Paris, Miguel Migs and Marques Wyatt.