The collective · Est. 2025 · Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

We Are
Island Surge. built in honolulu. driven by aloha.

We don't throw parties. We build rooms. Rooms where the music hits different, where strangers become friends, and where the spirit of this island is felt by everyone in it.

1
Year Running
20+
Events Hosted
Free
Always · No cover ever
Oʻahu
Magic Island · Honolulu

How It Started

Island Surge started with a simple question: why does it cost money to have a good time? Brandon, Ethan, Igor and a small crew decided it shouldn't. They took a speaker, some friends, and a vision to Magic Island — and never looked back.

What started as a small gathering became a movement. Every two weeks, the community shows up — different faces, same energy. No velvet rope. No dress code. No cover. Just music, movement, and the magic of Honolulu.

"We build the room. You make it what it is."

The WhatsApp-only model isn't just a tactic — it's a philosophy. The location never goes public. The experience stays exclusive to those who want it. That's the surge.

Year one is just the beginning. The music is just the beginning. Island Surge is a platform — for artists, for experiences, for the culture of Hawaiʻi done on our own terms.

The Code

01
Curated Events
We throw events people talk about long after the music stops. Every Island Surge pop-up is built from the ground up — the sound, the energy, the setting. Nothing half-baked. Ever.
02
Malama ʻĀina
To care for the land. Magic Island isn't just a venue — it's a gift from Hawaiʻi. We leave it better than we found it, every single time. Respect for this place is non-negotiable.
03
The Music First
Every decision we make starts with sound. The right DJ, the right energy, the right moment. The music is the anchor — everything else is built around it.

The People Behind It

BW
Brandon Williams
Founder · DJ · Creative Director

Brandon is the engine. DJ, event producer, and the original vision behind Island Surge. He builds the room, curates the sound, and keeps the mission alive — all while pushing the culture forward.

IL
Igor Linik
Co-Founder · Decorations · DJ

Igor sets the scene. From decor to the decks, he transforms every space into something worth remembering. The Island Surge aesthetic runs through everything he touches.

EP
Ethan Pochop
Co-Founder · Equipment · DJ

Ethan keeps the wheels turning. From sound equipment to behind the decks, he makes sure every event runs smooth from setup to last song. The backbone of every pop-up.

PS
Phil Schlider
Video Production · DJ

Phil captures the moment. From live video production to behind the decks, he documents and amplifies every event. The visual story of Island Surge runs through him.

JM
Janice McLaughlin
Photographer

Janice is the eye behind the lens. She captures the real moments — the energy, the faces, the feeling of Magic Island in full swing. Every photo on this site has her fingerprints on it.

PP
Pamela Padilla
Management · Marketing

Pamela runs the strategy. From brand management to marketing, she shapes how Island Surge shows up in the world and keeps the operation growing.

CH
Chantelle
DJ

Chantelle is behind the decks and in the mix. Her sets carry the energy that keeps the dance floor moving from first song to last.

Year One

2025
The Idea

Brandon, Ethan, and Igor decide Honolulu deserves something different. A community-first event series rooted in music, movement, and aloha. No cover. No gate.

Oct 2 · 2025
Pop Up — Gatsby

The first Island Surge event. 814 Ilaniwai St. A hint of what was coming — a community that showed up and made it something more than a party.

Oct 10 · 2025
Escapism Fridays — Metamorphosis

The second event. Eve Ala Moana. The energy was undeniable. The community was growing. The vision was becoming real.

2026
Magic Island Becomes Home

Every two weeks. Same location. Different energy. Magic Island became the anchor — the place where the Island Surge community gathered, grew, and belonged.

Jul 4 · 2026
House of Arts & Entertainment Festival

Island Surge on a bigger stage. A celebration of Honolulu's creative community — music, culture, and the people who make this city what it is.

Jul 18 · 2026
Island Surge Birthday 🎂

Year one, celebrated the only way we know how. Magic Island. The whole community. Free. Open. Ours.

Magic
Island.
Oʻahu.

Ala Moana Beach Park's peninsula. Diamond Head in the background. The Pacific stretching out forever. There is no better stage on earth. We didn't choose Magic Island — Magic Island chose us.

Coordinates
21°17'15" N
157°50'48" W
Nearest landmark
Ala Moana Beach Park
Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Event cadence
Every two weeks
Location via WhatsApp only

Ready?

Be part of it.

Join the WhatsApp group and get the drop directly. No spam. No flyers. Just the location when it's time.

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