March 07, 2020:
Lei Court Selection Event (92nd Annual). The first Lei Day was in 1927 and celebrated in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing lei.  From that it grew and more and more people began to wear lei on May 1.  We are told that the first celebration and exhibit of lei was at the Bank of Hawaii.  In 1928, the first lei queen was Nina Bowman.  Mayor Charles Arnold crowned Lei Queen Nina Bowman here in Honolulu.
Each year, the lei court is selected from one of the four rotating groups:

18-30 years             Nā Opio (The Youth)

31-45 years              Nā Mākua (The Adults)

46-60 years             Na Makua Oo (The Elders in Training)

61 and over              Na Kupuna (The Elders)

This year (2020) is the year of Na Makua.  One lei king or queen and up to two lei princes and/or princesses will be selected.

Each contestant vying for top honors will be scored on:

·  Kumuhana o ka lei (lei making skills – they have one hour to make a lei wili on site);

·  Kūlana Lei (poise and personality);

·  Olelo Pelekane and Olelo Hawaii (speaking in both English and Hawaiian); and,

· Hula Auana (modern hula).

The schedule for the day is as follows (times approximate and subject to change):

·  9:00 a.m., Opening/Welcome

·  9:30 a.m., Kumuhana o ka Lei (lei making)

·  10:45 a.m., Kulana Lei (poise, personality, speaking in English and Hawaiian)

·  Noon, break for lunch on your own

·  1:45 p.m., Hula Auana

·  3:30 p.m., Announcement of 2019 Lei Court.

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information about the 92nd Annual Lei Court Selection Event and the 93rd Annual Lei Day Celebration, you may visit www.honolulu.gov or call (808) 768-3041.

March 07, 2020:
Theo Von – Dark Arts. Castle Theater; 7:30 pm Theo Von is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, TV personality, host, and actor. His podcast, “This Past Weekend,” is one of the top comedy podcasts, garnering five million listens a month on audio alone. Theo has appeared numerous times on Joe Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” regularly on Joey Diaz’s “The Church of What’s Happening Now,” and was voted guest of the year on “The Fighter and the Kid” by TFATK listeners in both 2017 and 2018. Von was the host of TBS’s hidden camera show “Deal With It,” which ran for three seasons. His 2015 Netflix special is titled “No Offense,” and he also hosted Yahoo’s popular daily recap show, “Primetime in No Time,” one of the most-watched shows on the web with nearly one million views per day. Tickets: $29, $35 (plus applicable fees; prices increase on day of show)

March 06, 2020 – March 27, 2020:
Big Island Woodturners 22th Annual Exhibit. Wailoa Center will host this year’s Big Island Woodturners Club 22nd Annual Exhibit displays over 100 turnings by local Hawai’i Island artists. Wood turners will be on site to answer questions. Exhibit and Saturday demonstrations throughout March are free and open to the public. A Reception for the artist will be held on Friday, March 6 from 5 to 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Wood turning demonstration will happen Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Free. Local and exotic woods are used in turnings. Visitor information available. Wailoa Center is a Division of Hawaii State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resource and is free and open to the public. 

March 06, 2020:
Bryn Quick Acoustic Guitar. Paniolo Santa Maria Style Bbq Proudly Presents Bryn Quick Acoustic Guitar Friday Evening 6:30 to 9:00. Paniolo A Great Place To Come Relax And Enjoy A Beautiful Kauai Evening. www.paniolobbqkauai.com

March 05, 2020 – March 08, 2020:
KCP Presents “She Kills Monsters”. A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister. A unique show, filled with fantasy and fun! Don’t miss this special show! Directed by Jenna Cedusky February 21st – March 8th Thursday-Saturday at 7 PM & Sundays at 4 PM Tickets online: kauaicommunityplayers.org.

March 06, 2020 – March 08, 2020:
Honolulu Festival (26th Annual). The Honolulu Festival is Hawaii’s premier cultural event, promoting mutual understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim region. Each year, the Festival attracts thousands of new and returning spectators who are looking for an experience unique to Hawaii. Through educational programs and activities sponsored by the Honolulu Festival Foundation, the Festival has been successful in showcasing the rich and vibrant blend of Asia, Pacific and Hawaiian cultures to the rest of the world. The Festival culminates with a spectacular parade down Kalakaua Avenue, the main street in Waikiki. Events and activities of the Honolulu Festival take place close to the city center, making them great outings for locals and tourists alike. Admission to all the events is free, ensuring that everyone can take part in the Festival. www.honolulufestival.com

March 06, 2020 – March 07, 2020:
Carol Burnett, award-winning actress and best-selling author, is widely recognized by the public and her peers for her work on stage and screen, most notably The Carol Burnett Show. Named in 2007 by TIME magazine as one of “100 Best Television Shows of All Time,” The Carol Burnett Show ran for 11 years, averaged 30 million viewers per week, and received 25 Emmy Awards, making it one of the most honored shows in television history. But it is Ms. Burnett’s artistic brilliance, her respect and appreciation of her fans, and her graciousness, integrity, warmth, and humor on and off screen that have made her one of the most beloved performers in entertainment and one of the most admired women in America. During “An Evening of Laughter and Reflection,” Burnett will take questions from the audience, show video clips from her shows in a format that harkens back to the legendary openings of The Carol Burnett Show where her studio audience had an unfiltered opportunity to engage Carol with questions and receive spontaneous answers. “I love the spontaneity of these evenings,” said Carol. “I never know what anyone is going to ask, or say, or do, so it keeps me on my toes!” www.ticketmaster.com

March 04, 2020 – May 17, 2020:
Exhibition: “Musical Instruments: Sounds of the Asia Pacific”. This exhibition features Asia Pacific musical instruments from the Ethno musicology Instrument Collection at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. The collection has been acquired over the past 70 years, initially established by Professor Barbara B. Smith, and continues today under the supervision of Professor Ricardo D. Trimillos. This collection is an invaluable resource for the community because the instruments are meant to be utilized rather than to be displayed as museum pieces. Many of the instruments in the collection are used in the various musical ensembles at the university including Indonesian gamelan (traditional ensemble comprised primarily of metallophones and gongs) and Japanese gagaku (ancient court music), as well as Hawaiian and Tahitian dance, koto (Japanese zither), Chinese, Korean, Okinawan, and Philippine ensembles. The collection is comprised of nearly 2,500 instruments from across the globe. This exhibition is dedicated to Professor Barbara B. Smith as part of the year-long celebration of her 100th birthday. Gallery hours are weekdays from 8am-5pm and Sundays from 12pm-4pm. Gallery Admission is free. Gallery closed on Saturdays and February 16, 17, and April 12. Parking is normally free and ample on Sundays. Free school & group tours available arts.eastwestcenter.org.

March 06, 2020:
Indian Ink Theatre – “Mrs. Krishnan’s Party”. Friday, March 6, 2020; Castle Theater; 7:30 pm You’re invited! “Mrs. Krishnan’s Party” is an utterly disarming comedy that seats the audience around the dining table and at the kitchen bench in the back room of an Indian-run convenience store. Now that her son is grown up, Mrs. Krishnan is thinking of selling the shop. It’s Onam, a time to celebrate life, death, and rebirth and Mrs. Krishnan has to throw the party of her life. Over one joyous evening, Mrs. Krishnan’s Party magically transforms strangers into friends through laughter, tears, good music, and great food. Note: space to attend the party is limited! Tickets: $65, $50, $45, 10% discount for MACC Members (plus applicable fees)