Do It: Cinco de Mayo festivities, Sea Life Park concert series, robotics fundraiser

FRIDAY

>> Cinco de Mayo festival has music, dance, eats, more

Hawaii’s Hispanic community celebrates its culture and history this weekend with Cinco de Mayo festivities in Chinatown.

On Friday, the intersection of Nuuanu Avenue and Hotel Street will be the focal point of a block party that brings music, dance, games, food and more fun to the streets.

Three stages will feature some of Hawaii’s favorite Latin DJs, including Da Lion of Judah, Rico and CocoMan. Brazilian dance troupe Honolulu Zouk and Zumba instructor Carolina Rivadeneyra-Enriquez will stroll the area performing with Natalina Monteiro’s dance company, and the Agua Dulce salsa band performs at Next Door starting 6:30-9 p.m.

Traffic in Chinatown will be closed off from Bethel to Smith streets and from Pauahi to King streets, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be vehicles to see, with Low Riders Pride Hawaii and the Latin Motorcycle Club putting their wheels on display. See how long you can last on Mek the Mechanical Bull, or heat yourself with a chili-pepper eating contest at 7 p.m. at Stage 2, at Hotel and Smith streets. Afterward, you might need to cool off with the cantina crawl. And whether you’ve competed in a contest or not, you can look like you have by getting a sugar skull painted on your face.

Note: Festivites continue Saturday in Wahiawa, with an all-day fiesta with music by Mariachi Los Toreros of California starting at 9 p.m. at Taqueria El Ranchero in the Wahiawa Shopping Center, 922 California Ave.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates an 1862 victory in the Battle of Puebla by the undermanned Mexican army over superior French forces.

FRIDAY-May 28

>> Play’s dinner reveals Muslim matters

TAG Hawaii on Friday opens a monthlong run of “Disgraced,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that addresses the Muslim experience in America.

New York playwright Ayad Akhtar’s drama tells the story of Amir (portrayed by Troy Apostal), a Pakistani-American lawyer who is trying to distance himself from his Muslim roots. He and his blond, Caucasian wife, played by Courtney Coston, hold a dinner party with non-Muslim friends at which issues of his Muslim ancestry are explored, sometimes with humor but also with anger and bitterness. He agrees with those who criticize the Koran and volunteers to extra security checks at airports — but, when pressed, expresses an element of cultural pride at the 9/11 attacks.

Akhtar has said the play examines aspects of being Muslim and of being American, including overlaps and contradictions.

“Disgraced” won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2013 Obie for play writing, and was nominated for a 2014 Tony Award for best play. TAG’s production is directed by Ron Heller and also stars Victoria Brown-Wilson, Max Holtz and Noah Faumuina.

SATURDAY

>> Anuhea, Kapena, Makaha Sons, Paula Fuga play Sea Life Park

A powerhouse of local pop and island-music musicians highlight the latest event in Sea Life Park’s popular Makapu‘u Twilight Concert Series on Saturday.

The concert, which starts at 5 p.m., features rootsy singer Paula Fuga, island-contemporary pioneers Kapena, premier band Makaha Sons and pop star Anuhea. All have won Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and enjoyed celebrated careers. Ticket holders also receive a half-day admission to Sea Life Park Hawaii and can enjoy attractions such as the shark tank, dolphin pool and penguin habitat.

The series concludes on July 15 with Grammy Award winner Kalani Pe‘a, joined by Hawaii’s sweetheart Raiatea Helm, country star Melveen Leed and the classic trio Maunalua.

Note: A package deal including tickets to these two final concerts is available for $70.

THURSDAY

>>Robotics team to present luau for fundraiser

Enjoy a feast and lend a hand to Waialua’s championship robotics team at its 10th annual luau fundraiser Thursday at Dole Plantation.

The Waialua High & Intermediate School team was Hawaii’s first robotics-related program developed under FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit that has been promoting youth science programs since 1989. Hawaii now has now more than 700 teams, but Waialua has continued to be a leader in youth robotics program in the state and around the world.

“We are the only school in Hawaii to be invited to the world championships every year since we started the program,” said lead coordinator Glenn Lee, a Waialua teacher and one of the founders of the program in 1999. At this year’s world championships, held in mid-April in St. Louis, Lee received the Woodie Flowers Award, in recognition of the teacher who best demonstrates teaching excellence in science, math and creative design. His team made it to the subdivision finals.

The luau will feature Hawaiian food, a silent auction and a performance by Na Hokuhanohano Award-winning musician Brother Noland. The team’s robots will be on display, and a short video of what they can be do will be screened.

The team hopes to raise funds for its development and travel program, which has taken it to Japan, Korea and Australia as well as mainland venues over the years. Team members are seen here preparing for the regional robotics competition held at the Stan Sheriff Center in March.