March 08, 2020:
Indian Ink: Mrs.Krishnan’s Party. Award winning New Zealand based Indian Ink Theatre Company returns to Honolulu with a production of “Mrs. Krishnan’s Party” and you’re invited! Step into the back room of Mrs. Krishnan’s dairy where garlands decorate the ceiling, music flows and Mrs. Krishnan is throwing a party like no other. Food simmers on the stove, laughter abounds and strangers become friends in this joyous celebration of life. events.leeward.hawaii.edu

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:
Classical Guitar Concert. Musician Aaron Cardenas will perform a concert showcasing a wide range of styles, from Hawaiian to Brazilian to Baroque. Aaron Cardenas is a classical guitarist born and raised in Kaneohe, Oahu. He received a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance from University of Hawaii, and a Masters of Music degree and a Masters of Musical Arts in guitar performance from Yale University. This free one-hour event is suitable for ages 11 and older.

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.

February 16, 2020:
Hoikeike Pili Kai: Papahanaumokuakea. Celebrate Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument’s 10th anniversary with ocean education and sustainability activities featuring these remote islands and atolls. Families will enjoy the large ocean inflatables from Storybook Theatre and ocean songs by Leon & Malia. Artist and special guest Patrick Ching will unveil a new downloadable coloring book. Event entrance is included with regular Aquarium admission. Funded in part by NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries and Hawaii Tourism, Community Enrichment Program. www.waikikiaquarium.org

February 16, 2020:
Silk & Bamboo – A Concert of Japanese Music. The East-West Center Arts Program presents: Silk & Bamboo – A Concert of Japanese Music featuring Satomi Fukami (koto & shamisen), Christopher Yohmei Blasdel (shakuhachi), and special guests. Orvis Auditorium, UH Manoa Sunday, February 16, 2020 4:00 p.m. A musical journey from Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868) to koto music by the famous early 20th-century composer Miyagi Michio, to compositions of the late 20th century. Featured are the shamisen (three-stringed lute), the koto (13-string zither), and the shakuhachi (vertical bamboo flute). Koto and shamisen strings are traditionally made from silk, and the shakuhachi is the signature bamboo flute of Japan—hence the concert title: Silk and Bamboo. This event is part of the 2020 celebration for the 100th birthday of Professor Emerita Barbara B. Smith. Tickets: $20 general $15 seniors 65+, EWC/UH faculty & staff, military $10 college students with ID, children 18 & under Tickets online: https://ewcarts.eventbrite.com Seating is general: first come, first served. Doors open 30 minutes before show time. Remaining tickets will be available at the door, one hour before show time. Please allow ample time for parking, which is managed by UH Manoa and usually free on Sundays. Co-sponsored by University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Department of Music.

February 15, 2020:
3rd Saturday Comedy Showcase at the Dragon Upstairs. Come see talented local comics every single month in Chinatown above Hank’s Cafe on Nuuanu Ave at the Dragon Upstairs every 3rd Saturday 7:30-9:30pm, Ian Shippen hosts the 2/15 show and talented local comics Erika Swartzkopf, Anthony Nigrelli, Joel Kop, Andrew Joyce, Riley Shea Glenn, Blue James and Annalissa Conception perform original standup comedy, come laugh with us! Please support comedy in Hawaii! Show is doors open 6:30pm $10. 21+

February 14, 2020:
Romance Under The Stars At Bishop Museum. Bishop Museum Gallery Lawns Sip, savor, and stargaze this Valentine’s Day. Stroll the night away with tastings from five of Honolulu’s best restaurants featuring: Flavors of Italy, Koko Head Café, La Vie, Pig and The Lady and 53 by The Sea, specialty chocolate tastings from Lonohana Hawaiian Estate, a wide selection of wines from Fujioka’s Wine Times, top mixologists handcrafting specialty cocktails and locally produced beers from Ola Brew. Stargaze under the night sky in the J. Watumull Observatory (weather permitting) and explore through Mai Kinohi Mai: Surfing in Hawaii exhibit in Castle Memorial Building while listening to the sweet sounds of local artist Shane Kainoa. All attendees will receive a complimentary Spiegelau wine glass to remember the evening. Come celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one, your friends, or even on your own! This is a 21 and over event. Registration is required as capacity is limited. Bishop Museum Members receive 10% off ticket prices! PRICE: $125/adult | $240/couple (2 adults).