🏳️‍🌈 Kona Pride 2023, Disney in the Park, Mana for Maui

Celebrate Kona Pride 2023 all weekend!

Hi friend!

Starting this email off with a sad announcement: this will be my last email issue of Big Island Beat (for now!). It’s been fun writing little love notes to the community for six months — but I am answering an inner need to slow down and take a break 🫶🏼 (including listening to this playlist as I type this) — you can still find me on Instagram stories!

Looking for something to do this week?

In Kona, celebrate Kona Pride 2023 — with a Friday Kickoff Social, main event on Saturday, and Sunday tea party.

Other fun events — the Annual Home Expo Fair in Hilo (for future homebuyers and homeowners), community volunteer day in Keaukaha, and ROUND 3 of Hilo Idol!

Here’s what’s happening on the Big Island. This is by no means an all-encompassing list, but a few ideas of events happening on Hawaiʻi Island.

TONIGHT

  • Wed Sep 13: Theater Camp, 2:30 pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Explore what it’s like inside a theater camp in the extended screening of this hearty movie.
  • Wed Sep 13: Cougar County Market, 4-8pm at Kea’au High School’s Cougar Country Market. Support local vendors and enjoy a selection of delectable treats in this event.
  • Wed Sep 13: Wednesday Night Market, 4:30-7:30pm at Hilo Town Market. Explore a variety of vendors offering unique products and delicious treats.
  • Wed Sep 13: Round 3 of Hilo Idol, 8:30-10:30pm at Hilo Town Market. Witness a new set of contenders belt it out to be the next Hilo Idol.

Community

  • Fri Sep 15: Plant Care. Self Care, 10-12pm at Pāpā Forest, Miloliʻi, South Kona. Reconnect with yourself and your community — learn how to care for the land and work with native plants.
  • Fri Sep 16: New Moon Women’s Circle, 6-8pm at Big Island Zen Garden in Pāhoa. Ground this energy of the new moon, release what’s not serving you, and embrace your true self.
  • Sat Sep 16: Community Volunteer Day at Lokowaka Pond, 9-12pm at Loko Waka Pond in Keaukaha. Get your hards dirty for a good cause — the revitalization of our precious wetlands.
  • Sat Sep 16: Home Herbalist Workshop Part 2 – Body Care Basics with Heather Penfield, 9-11am at the Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus. Practice the art of herbal preparations in making herbal insect spray, pain relief oil, all-purpose human/pet salve, magnesium body butter, natural perfume/room freshener, and more.
  • Sat Sep 16: Mixed Media Papermaking with Mary Milelzcik, 10-2:30pm at the Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus. This workshop will introduce you to papermaking using recycled papers with local plant materials, dyes, and earth pigments, using a household blender.
  • Sat Sep 16: Exhibit: Walking Through Mist: Metaphors and Memories featuring Phan Barker, 2-4pm at the Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus. Catch the opening of Phan Nguyen Barker’s solo exhibit and witness the story of reaching her dreams through art.
  • Sat Sep 16: Old Hawaii On Horse Back, 10-1pm at Waikiʻi Ranch Polo Field. Old Hawaii on Horseback pageant features more than 100 riders in period costumes, including some of the most skilled riders and paniolo.
  • Sat Sep 16: Hawaii Island Realtors Annual Home Expo Fair, 11-3pm at Aunty Sallys Luau Hale in Hilo. A resource of home buying, selling, fixing, maintenance and building information for the public at this FREE event.
  • Sat Sep 16: Trek The Trail: A Health & Wellness ‘Ohana Fun Day, 10-2pm at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Gather your family and friends to spend a day to enjoy a nice walk and Trek the Trail at this FREE community event.
  • Sun Sep 17: Kokua Kailua Monthly Stroll, 1-6pm through Historic Kailua Village to Hualalai Road along Alii Drive. Kona’s Historic Kailua Village closes to vehicular traffic and becomes a festive, pedestrian-only outdoor marketplace that makes for a fun family-friendly day.
  • Sun Sep 17: Disney in the Park, 2-5pm at Kalakaua Park. This fun, free, family day features your favorite Disney characters singing, dancing and sharing their joy.
  • Sun Sep 17: Uplift Dance, 6-8pm at Inner Alignment Studios in Kailua-Kona. Yoga with Sarah Bergeron, music with DJ NTU, and sound bath with Pam Niel. Tix are $15 all-inclusive or $10 for the dance.

Music + Dancing

  • Fri Sep 15: Kona Pride Kickoff Social, 5-8pm at Puna Chocolate Co. — Kona Brewery Block in Kailua-Kona. Featuring DJ NTU.
  • Fri Sep 15: Hot Potaytahs, 7pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Dance to funky classics, rocking covers, and piping fresh originals with the Hot Potaytahs this Friday night.
  • Fri Sep 15: Let’s Glow Girls, 8:30pm at My Bar in Kailua-Kona. Celebrate Pride Month with good music, laughter, and the community.
  • Sat Sep 16: Kona Pride Festival, Starts at 1pm at King Kamehameha Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy the main event of the Pride celebration with popular international and local queer artists.
  • Sat Sep 16: Mana for Maui, 4-10pm at Hawaiian Sanctuary in Pāhoa. Benefit concert to support families in Lahaina.
  • Sat Sep 16: Brownchicken Browncow Stringband, 7pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Classic country tunes with this Appalachian classic band.
  • Sat Sep 16: Henry Kapono Celebrates The Songs of C&K, 7pm at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.
  • Sat Sep 16: Pride After Party. 8pm-2am at My Bar in Kailua-Kona.
  • Sun Sep 17: Last Chance Tea Dance. 4pm-8pm at My Bar Kona. Afternoon of dancing to conclude PRIDE weekend in Kona!

Comedy + Entertainment

  • Fri Sep 15: Standup Comedy at The HI Dive Bar, 6:30-10pm at The HI Dive Bar. Defuse your stress with heavy laughter as the week ends at The HI Dive Bar.
  • Sat Sep 16: LAUGHS AND LIPS SHOW with KITTY PINE & JASON COZMO, 7-9pm at PACIFIC 19 Kona. Laugh your heart out this Saturday with Kitty Pine and Jason Cozmo this Saturday night.
  • Sun Sep 17: THE PRIDE IS RIGHT DRAG BRUNCH – Buffet Included!, 10:30am at Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Join a drag brunch this Sunday and get a chance to win up to $3000 in prizes plus an epic drag show and full brunch buffet.
  • Sun Sep 17: CAT VIDEO FEST 2023, 2:30pm and 7pm at Palace Theater in Hilo. Catch a “cat-fever” as you witness a cute compilation of cat videos from their owners and help local charities in need.

Weekly Markets

As always, thank you so much for following along!

With love,

Krista