A new source for indoor entertainment has reached Hawaii Island with the recent opening of the Hilo Axe Lounge.
Andrew Hammond and Erik Allard have opened the Hilo Axe Lounge on the corner of Keawe and Kalakaua Streets, the first axe-throwing lounge in the county.
The lounge is as a version of axe throwing entertainment, a national trend that has grown popular in recent years.
While the trend has taken over cities on the mainland, Hawaii previously was home to only one axe-throwing lounge, Blade and Timber in Honolulu.
The Hilo lounge can allow up to 25 people at a time and has two stalls in the front where two separate parties can throw axes together for 15- or 30-minute intervals. A back room has two more stalls for larger parties to spend up to 1 or 2 hours.
Anyone interested also can rent out the venue for the day.
“We’ve already scheduled parties and people seem really excited,” Hammond said. “We’re so ready to see this come to fruition since we’ve spent so much time getting it together.”
The idea came to Hammond and Allard when they realized they wanted to open a laid back lounge with fun activities available to patrons — like axe throwing.
“I was just thinking—why should Honolulu be the only place that has fun things to do?” Allard said. “There is a need for more entertainment downtown and I think this is a great thing to introduce.”
The multi-purpose lounge will offer more than just axe throwing.
After 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the axe throwing will stop and dart boards and music will come out.
“On the weekends, we want this to be a place for people to hang out, play darts and other games, and listen to live music together,” Hammond said. “I think that is something that’s needed downtown.”
The lounge currently has a bring-your-own beer, wine and food policy and plans to partner with their neighbors at Hilo Town Tavern to offer meals through its kitchen.
While the lounge opened officially on June 1, the location may be temporary.
Before constructing the lounge a few months ago, Hammond ran into the building’s owner who offered to lease him the vacant spot for about 10 months.
According to Hammond, after the 10-month stint as an axe lounge, the building owner will tear down the building.
“We hope to use this time to get our name out there, so that when we move, people will already know who we are,” Hammond said. “It’s sad that we’ll eventually lose the place, but we want to have fun while we still can.”
Axe throwing will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, while the lounge will be open from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
For more information on prices and reservations, visit the website at https://hiloaxelounge.com/.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.