Oahu bars can now stay open past 2 a.m. on special dates under a trial program — good for nightlife businesses, a question mark for neighbors.

• A pilot program lets bars that sign up serve until 4 a.m. on select dates like Halloween and Pride weekend, without needing a cabaret license.
• Rules are strict: no new entry after 2 a.m., last call at 3 a.m., and a plan to keep noise down.
• The first trial ran at a Waikiki venue this past weekend, with commission staff watching from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and calling it a success.
• Extended hours are not automatic — businesses must apply for a special license, and the public can object at hearings, in writing, or through neighborhood boards.
• Noise is the main worry for nearby residents, and bars that abuse the privilege risk losing it.

Outlook: More late nights are already scheduled around mid-October and Halloween, and how quietly those go will decide whether the program expands next year.