🏮More obon dances, comedy shows, and dancing!

Hi friend!

Last night, I put together the events for this week as I listened to All My Exes’ Moms by Brooke Alexx on repeat (it’s CATCHY), together with the sound of Hilo rain pouring in the background.

And first thing this morning, I checked in with my dad. He lives on the other side of the island in Kealakekua, and was happy to share there was no rain for him, which is actually unusual as he’s experienced rain pretty regularly since moving there last year!

I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and comfortable today 🫶🏼✨

Looking for something to do this week? Here’s what’s happening on the Big Island — including Kona Hongwanji’s bon dance, Hilo Hooganji’s bon dance, an audition for Palace Theater’s fall musical, and Waimea Food Truck Friday!

This is by no means an all-encompassing list, but a few ideas of events happening on Hawaiʻi Island.

A little behind-the-scenes of this newsletter: every Tuesday night, I spend 60-90 mins browsing the Internet seeing what I can find happening this upcoming week.

Here’s what I found!

TONIGHT

• I’m finding some events are cancelled tonight, so instead of trying to figure out what’s still happening, my recommendation is to cuddle underneath a blanket and watch Liquor Store Dreams on PBS.

AUDITIONS

• Mon July 24 & Tues July 25: Fall Musical Auditions — Once on This Island, 5-9pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Keiki Auditions 5-6pm, Dance Auditions 6-7pm, Vocal Auditions 7-9pm. Show dates are first 3 weekends of October.

Music + Dancing

• Sat July 22: Punk Night, 7pm at Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kailua-Kona. Tix are $25 online or $30 at the door.
• Sat July 22: 80s Dance Party, 8-11pm at Soil to Soul in Downtown Hilo.
• Sat July 22: Drink in Pink, 9pm at My Bar in Kona.
• Mon July 24: Monday Night Jazz Jam, 6pm at Kukuau Studio in Hilo.

Community

• Fri July 21: Nature & Art as Therapy: Sun Prints, 10-12pm at Manukā Park, Ocean View. Turn the power of the sun into shapes from around you! Hosted by Root & Rise Hawaiʻi. Space is limited!
• Sat July 22: End Alzheimers Rummage Sale, 8am-2pm at Life Care Center of Hilo. Food trucks, booths, and a rummage sale supporting the Alzheimer’s Association.
• Sat July 22: Behind the Scenes of Sound, 10:30am-1:30pm at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu-Kona. Nobody knows what the sound designer does until they don’t do it. Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of theatre sound? Then join this 3 hour workshop!
• Sat July 22: Hilo Hooganji Bon Dance, 7:30pm at Hilo Hooganji.
• Sat July 22: Kona Hongwanji Bon Dance & Craft Fair, 6-10pm at Kona Hongwanji in Kealakekua.
• Sun July 23: July Drag Brunch with Palehua, 1pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. Tix are $10 plus an ala carte menu available!

Comedy + Entertainment

• Thurs July 20: East Side vs. West Side — Benefit Comedy Show for Nani Milimilianālani, 8pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. Tix are $10.
• Fri-Sun July 21-23: Asteroid City (2023), 7pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Follow a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.
• Fri-Sun July 21-23: Much Ado About Nothing, 7:30pm at Honokaʻa Sports Complex. Watch this classic comedy set in mid-1930’s California. Featuring live music by the Loose Fedoras.
• Sat July 22: Into the Woods by Hawaii Performing Arts, 7pm at Kahilu Theatre in Kamuela. Tix are $28-$48.
• Sun July 23: Into the Woods by Hawaii Performing Arts, 4pm at Kahilu Theatre in Kamuela. Tix are $28-$48.
• Mon July 24: Open Mic, 7:30pm at Hilo Town Tavern.
• Tues July 25: Tuesday Taco Comedy, 6:30-8:30pm at Kona Elk’s Lodge. 2 tacos are $8. Comedy from 7-8:30pm followed by an open mic.
• Tues July 25: Pineapples Comedy Open Mic, 9pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. 5 minute time slots for your music, comedy, and poetry!

Weekly Markets

• Thurs July 20: Volcano Thursday Market, 3-6pm at Cooper Center in Volcano.
• Fri July 21: Waimea Family Food Truck Friday, 4-8pm. WM Keck Observatory Headquarters in Kamuela.
• Fri July 21: Food Truck Friday, 4-8pm at Target parking lot in Kailua-Kona.
• Fri July 21: Hilo Town Market, 5-9pm in Downtown Hilo. Food vendors, food trucks, live music, and crafts!
• Sat July 22: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8-12pm in Keauhou-Kona. Find locally-raised & grown produce, flowers, honey, coffee, eggs, and more!
• Sat July 22: Waimea Town Market, 9:30-2pm in Waimea. Food, music, jams, and chocolate!
• Sun July 23: Makuʻu Farmers Market, 7am-12pm in Puna.
• Sun July 23: Volcano Farmers Market, 6-10am at Cooper Center in Volcano.
• Sun July 23: Pure Kona Green Market, 9-2pm across from Manago Hotel in Captain Cook.
• Tues July 25: Hakalau Farmers Market, 3-5pm at Hakalau Veterans Park. Home grown produce and products.

FYI — Free clothing swap in Kona next week. Mark your calendars for July 26 at 3-6:30pm!

What did I miss? And, what else do you want to know about the Big Island?

Krista