Revels With a Cause

Don’t just ring in 2012; bring it in with a resounding boom with this hot list of New Year’s Eve happenings in Honolulu. Whether you’re up for dining decadence high atop the city or at one brand-new setting or down for dancing all night long, revelry is rearing its exuberant head during these festive occasions.

Brasserie du Vin NYE Dinner
Chinatown’s Brasserie du Vin restaurant celebrates the New Year with a decadent four-course dinner paired with wine, just a few blocks away from the Aloha Tower fireworks. With mouthwatering offerings like shrimp voulevant with lemongrass mornay, steak tartare with spicy balsamic reduction, braised pork tenderloin with red cabbage and chocolate ganache torte with a strawberry and Champagne compote and vanilla bean gelato for dessert, you’ll be sure to go into 2012 with your stomach and your taste buds happy. Cocktails, wine and Champagne will be on special, and after 10PM, DJ Silvana sets the mood with chill, sophisticated Euro-lounge music. First seating starts at 5PM, $70 with wine pairing; $50 without, brasserieduvin.com

The Modern Experience, New Year’s Eve 2012
The Modern Hotel in Waikiki does its first New Year’s big, with an extravaganza that includes seven of its bar, lounge and entertainment areas: The Modern Honolulu Ballroom, Lobby Bar, Addiction Nightclub, Pool Decks, Lounge, the VIP Sun Suite and Morimoto Waikiki. The party includes specialty cocktails, complimentary goodies in the Lobby Bar, a reservation-only dinner and Champagne toast hosted by chef Morimoto at his namesake restaurant and a line-up of world-class DJs, including Vegas DJ Roctakon, Jay-Z and Adidas’ DJ Neil Armstrong, LA party rock DJ and LMFAO producer DJ Audiobot, L.A. and Vegas DJ and producer Lucky Lou, the infamous Richard Cheese and Honolulu DJs Anit, Compose, Delve, Eskae, Jami and XL. 7PM, $75 general admission presale, $125 VIP presale; $100 general at the door, $150 VIP at the door, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., themodernhonolulu.com

NYE Black & White Masquerade at Sarento’s
Combining an extravagant five-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Maka Kwon with a Venetian masquerade party, live DJs and a stunning view of the Waikiki skyline and fireworks, Sarento’s at the top of the Ilikai gives you all the ingredients for a great New Year’s Eve. First seating 5-7PM, $100; second seating 8-10PM, $125; bar seating (includes tapas and sparkling wine) $40, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd., sarentoswaikiki.com

Ignite 2012: End of the World Party at RumFire
Now in its fourth year, the Sheraton Waikiki’s New Year’s Eve party, hosted by RumFire and The Edge of Waikiki, celebrates with an explosive party that includes a meteor ball dropped from the top of the Sheraton, a Red Bull Base Jumper, also launching himself from the top of the hotel, a beachfront view of the fireworks and DJs Betty and Revise spinning the hottest dance tunes. 8PM-2:30AM, $65 presale; $75 at the door, 2255 Kalakaua Ave., rumfirewaikiki.com

Party of the Year at Aloha Tower Marketplace
For the second year in a row, businesses and clubs at Aloha Tower team up with some of the biggest promoters on the island to throw a giant, block party-style New Year’s Eve celebration with 10 stages and over 30 DJs and bands of all genres performing at Gordon Biersch, The Waterfront, The Lanai (formerly Don Ho's), Hooter’s, Bikini Cantina, The Villa, Center Stage, and all around Aloha Tower Marketplace. There’s something for every music lover at this party, whether you’re a fan of classic rock, reggae, electro, house or hip-hop. 7PM-2AM, $20 general; $75 VIP, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, nyehawaii.com