Anna O’Brien’s, the longtime Irish pub in Moiliili near the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is under new management and set for a soft opening on Friday, July 10. Local musician Tavana McMoore, who performs as Tavana, is taking over the venue and says he will crank up the focus on live music upstairs while keeping the downstairs bar comfortably familiar for regulars.
New Manager, Familiar Corner
Upstairs is getting rebranded as Tavana’s at Anna’s and reworked into a listening room with a new stage and a green room for bands. Downstairs, fans can expect the same old hangout, with pool tables, darts and an outdoor patio still in the mix. “I spent my whole career here in Honolulu and have been given so much,” Tavana told the paper, adding that he hopes the space can become “a hub where people can come and curate their artistry and perfect it.”
The pub just marked its 57th birthday on July 7, and the soft-opening show is set to feature Nick Danger, Ronnie V’s and Local Mojo, starting at 7:30 p.m. with a $20 cover, according to Aloha State Daily.
From Local Act to Running the Room
Tavana has built a decades-long career on Oʻahu as a one-man band and recording artist, collaborating with John Cruz and others and releasing music online, according to Maui News. His multi-instrument live setup with guitar, lap steel, ukulele and foot-triggered percussion is tailored for the kind of focused listening-room shows he plans to host upstairs.
Why This Comeback Matters
The management change follows a spring listing that placed the Anna O’Brien’s property among restaurant spaces available for lease, a sign the previous owners were ready to move on, according to Pacific Business News. Tavana has framed his takeover as an effort to keep the decades-old corner spot alive for both musicians and neighborhood regulars, and this weekend’s soft opening will be the first public test of that plan, as reported by Aloha State Daily.
How to Keep Up With the New Lineup
For the latest lineups and tickets, follow Tavana’s at Anna’s on Instagram at @tavanasatannas, where the venue will post updates on open mics, comedy nights and special performances. Some nights are expected to be ticketed listening-room shows upstairs, while others will remain casual pub nights downstairs. This weekend’s soft opening will be the first look at how those two sides of the bar share the spotlight under the new management.
