Hi friend!
It’s Grad season, lychee trees are bearing endless supplies of fruit, and there’s lots happening on Hawaiʻi Island this week. Consider making the drive over to Honokaʻa — especially on Saturday — to check out the Western Week activities and parade!
Without further ado, here’s what’s happening on the Big Island this week. It’s never an all-encompassing list, but a list of things to do this week!
Honokaʻa Western Week
May 19-29 is the annual Honokaʻa Western Week! Celebrate Paniolo Heritage. This year, theyʻre bringing back the Paniolo Parade and Block Party — and you canʻt miss the Portuguese bean soup and smoke meat contests. Here are a few ideas of what’s happening, but check out Honoka’a Western Week on Facebook for more info.
- Fri May 19 at Honokaʻa Peoples’ Theatre. Cowboy movies at 5pm and line dancing from 7-9pm.
- Sat May 20: Western Week Block Party + Parade, 3pm-10pm at Mamane St. Parade begins at 4pm and is followed by the Western Week Block Party complete with food, street vendors, live music, a beer garden, and more!
- Sun May 21: Hāmākua Farm Fest, 9am-2pm at Hāmākua Harvest Grounds. Family friendly event with music, food and entertainment. Donʻt miss the Farmer Fashion Show at 1pm.
- Mon May 22: Cowboy Talk Story, 5:30pm at Honokaʻa Heritage Center. Hosted by Sheriff Larry Ignacio.
- Tues May 23: Portuguese Bean Soup Contest, 5-7pm at Ahualoa Family Farms Mac Nut Factory.
Community
- TONIGHT (Waikoloa): AfterHours with Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, 5-7pm at Waikoloa Marriott. A pau hana networking event hosted by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce.
- TONIGHT (Hilo): Wed May 17: E Huliāmahi!, 6:30pm at UH Hilo Performing Arts Center. An original Hawaiian play created by the Papa 11 of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. Tix are $5 for open seating.
- Fri May 19: Wāhine Wellness Fair, 12-7pm at HICHC Pavilion in Kailua-Kona. Workshops, fitness demonstrations, live music, vendors, keiki activities, and more!
- Fri May 19: Buddhi Black Out, 6-7:30pm at Yoga Love Hawaii in Kona Industrial. Yoga, buddhi, and beats by DJ NTU. Tix are $25 via Venmo. Limited spots available.
- Fri May 19: Waimea Family Food Truck Friday, 4-8pm at W.M. Keck Observatory Headquarters. Food, live entertainment, and family activities!
- Fri & Sat May 19-20: The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens, 7pm at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu-Kona. A play presented by Aloha Teen Theatre! Tix are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
- Sat May 20: Ola Brewʻs Summer Kick Off, 6:30pm at Ola Brew in Kailua-Kona. Tix are $30.
- Sat May 20: Coffee Talk at Kahuku: Anchialine Pools, Windows to Hidden Hawaiʻi, 9:30-11am at Kahuku unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (1 hr from Kīlauea Visitor Center).
- Sun May 21: May Drag Brunch, 1pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. Tix start at $10. 21+ event brunch experience with special guests!
Comedy + Storytelling
- Thurs May 18: Pineapples Comedy 2-Year Anniversary Party, 8pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. Standup, special guests, and more! Tix are $10.
- Sat May 20: Kona Standup Saturday with Nick Hoff, 7:30pm at Hualalai Theatre in Kona. Tix are $20.
Music
- Thurs May 18: Tom Petty Tribute by Kory Montgomery Band, 8pm at Lava Shack in Pāhoa.
- Fri May 19: Lucky 7 — Grateful Dead Tribute Concert, 7pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Tix are $35 or $50 for VIP.
- Fri & Sat May 19-20: Chris Murphy and Ms. Ellie Rollins, 7-8:30pm or 9-10:30pm at Gertrudeʻs Jazz Bar in Kailua-Kona. $10 cover.
- Sat May 20: Concert in the Park, 12-1 or 3-4pm at Lincoln Park in Hilo. Free outdoor concert titled THE MUSIC OF DISNEY, brought to you by East Hawaii Cultural Center and Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre (HEART).
- Sat May 20: School of Rock Nite, 6-9pm at Kukuau Studio in Hilo. Two local high school rock bands come together to make a debut performance playing covers from the 80s, 90s and 00s. Free!
- Sun May 21: POPS! Concert by Kamuela Philharmonic, 2pm at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. Songs that will have every generation saying, “I know that one!” Tix are $35 or $65.
Volunteer Alert
- Volunteers are needed for the Hamakua Harvest Farm Fest on Sun May 21 between 7-3pm. Click here to complete a volunteer form!’
What did I miss? And, what else do you want to know about the Big Island? Let me know what you think → aloha@bigislandbeat.com .
Krista