Love Festival Under the Stars

An annual music celebration draws fans from around the world.

Fans of house, techno, electronica and trance music are gearing up for this month’s Love Festival. Under the radar unless you’re a fan, it may be the biggest music festival on Oahu that you’ve never heard of. Yet the Love Festival is a dance music Mecca, attracting fans from all over the country to enjoy the music, as well as the outdoor ambiance at the event’s venue, Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park.

The festival is held in only three places in the U.S.: Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Oahu. It started in 1992 as an underground dance party; Oahu’s version debuted in 1998 when Love Fest creator DJ Reza teamed up with a local deejay, G-Spot, to bring the venue to the island. Greg Dehnert, also known as DJ G-Spot, is the head of a promotions company, Double O Spot (00Spot), on Oahu and is known for his show on KTUH, Underground Sounds, as well as a busy schedule of event appearances at area clubs.

While in some cities, the main draw for fans is getting to watch superstar deejays in action, Dehnert says at Oahu’s Love Fest, the event itself is the headliner, not the DJs. “Each city gives a different feel. Hawaii’s is outdoors in paradise, with a pool party (at the Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark), while L.A.’s is in a coliseum.”

Attendees dress comfortably so that they can dance all night long—the event runs from  8 p.m. to 4 a.m. There’s music on three stages, as well as a vendor village for shopping and browsing, and food and drink concessions.

“It’s perfect, just you and the music, under the stars,” says Jessica Nakashima, who has twice attended the festival.

This year’s festival will be held Saturday, July 23, and artists include electronic deejay and producer Diplo, and progressive house/electronic deejay Morgan Page.

Dehnert has just one goal for attendees: “I want them leaving knowing they can’t wait till next year.”