"Waikiki Nei," the big-budget production at Waikiki's Level 4 nightclub at the Royal Hawaiian Center, has again pushed back its opening, this time to Aug. 5.

It had planned to launch tonight, after internal flooding caused a previous delay, but technical problems are holding up the production.

Show producer Roy Tokujo said a major piece of equipment, an 8,900-pound movable "UFO," which hosts projected imagery, was not functioning properly. Replacement parts have been flown in and installed, and now producers are delaying to get the mechanism up and running smoothly.

"The UFO is the big piece of our show and is crucial to a number of scenes," Tokujo said. "It's high-tech."

A benefit performance of "Waikiki Nei" scheduled for Thursday has been postponed until Aug. 21.

The nightclub and ultra lounge at Level 4 are now open and will continue to operate Wednesdays through Saturdays.

"The nightclub does not require the use of the UFO," said Tokujo.

For more information about the "Waikiki Nei" production and Level 4, go to www.waikikinei.com or call 931-6100.