SATURDAY

>> Poly’s Finest Fest features the island’s finest musicians

Polynesian reggae and island contemporary music take center stage on Saturday at the Poly’s Finest Fest.

The Waikiki Shell concert is part of an effort by Hawaii’s Finest Clothing to support island music in Hawaii. In 2012, the brand started a Revive the Live campaign, beginning concerts at the Shell two years later. Poly’s Finest is an expansion and continuation of the effort.

Fiji, pictured, Sammy J, Aaradhna, Finn, Maoli, Sammielz, Josh “Wawa” White, Tenelle, Samu and others will take the stage.

Concert headliner Fiji has been a major figure in the Hawaii music scene since the release of his first album, “Evolution,” in 1994, and the success of his early hits, “Smokin’ Session” and “Laie Boy.” Fiji made history in 1998 when he received the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Favorite Entertainer of the Year. He made history again with his multi-cultural arrangement of “He Aloha Mele” for Saleva‘a Atisanoe’s album, “Simply Sale, in 2002.

Adding to the Poly’s Finest theme will be Polynesian vendors selling food and other wares.

SUNDAY-JULY 15

>> Film festival for children will have an interactive animated film

Treat the family to some summer movie fun with the 12th annual Kids First! Film Festival, a free series starting Sunday at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Art Building Auditorium.

Kids First! presents an international array of films, from shorts to features — free of condescension, race, gender or religious bias, or gratuitous violence. Entry includes interactive activities and door prizes.

The festival opens Sunday, with episodes from Disney Junior’s “Molang” television series, which started as a Korean series and stars a plump bunny and his shy pal Piu Piu.

Animated/live-action film “Shimajiro and the Rainbow Oasis,” a Japanese film conceived as a child’s first time experiencing a movie in a theater, also screens. A custom for filmgoers is to yell and cheer on characters in the film. Children will be supplied with cardboard megaphones to enhance the experience.

Screening next week as part of a package of shorts is “Mogu and Perol,” pictured, which tells a story about two critters quarreling over food. Screenings continue on Sundays through July 15.

The July 15 session features “The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island,” based on Gertrude Chandler Warner’s best-selling book franchise. Filmmaker Dan Chuba will be on hand for a Q&A, and “Boxcar Children” book sets will be available as door prizes.

SUNDAY

>> Melissa Manchester returns to Waikiki

Grammy Award-winner pop and jazz vocalist Melissa Manchester returns to the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room for a “hana hou” after thrilling fans last year with an evening of classic hits and newly recorded standards-to-be. She appears on Sunday with her 20-piece Blue Note Orchestra.

When Manchester was here last year, her newest album — “The Fellas” — wasn’t out yet, though advance copies were available that night. Those few autographed advance copies are now rare mementos of the evening, but the complete official version of“The Fellas” came out in September.

“The Fellas” is the latest chapter in a career that began when Manchester was growing up in New York and got a job singing commercial jingles while she was attending the Manhattan High School of Performing Arts. It was through singing jingles that shemet Barry Manilow, who then introduced her to Bette Midler. Manchester became one of Midler’s original backing singers — the Harlettes — and then left Midler to tour with Manilow when his career took off.

Manchester scored her first Billboard Top 10 hit as a solo artist with “Midnight Blue,” in 1975. She earned a Grammy nomination for her recording of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” in 1979, and four years later won the Grammy for Best Pop Female Vocal Performancefor “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.” All three should be highlights of the show on Sunday.

Manchester reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1989 with a remake of Dionne Warwick’s 1964 hit “Walk on By.” It came from an album aptly titled “Tribute” recorded to honor female singers whose work meant the most toManchester.

With “The Fellas,” Manchester is paying tribute to her favorite male vocalists; Manilow took part as a special guest.

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Hawaii foundation and its programs to eradicate breast cancer.

— John Berger, Star-Advertiser

TUESDAY

>> Jaden Smith brings royal beats to Hawaii

Jaden Smith has been kicking up a storm since his appearance in the 2010 reboot of “The Karate Kid.”

The son of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith joined Justin Bieber to rap the theme song of the movie, “Never Say Never,” which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, then went on to produce some well-received mixtapes.

He also co-foundedthe collective MSFTSRep (Misfits Republic), describing it as “a creative work force dedicated to supporting and waking up the population of planet earth, through attaining knowledge and personal growth,” while offering the disclaimer that “MSFTSrep is moreof an expression rather than an explanation.” The collective produces music and clothing.

In 2017, after three years of work, he released his debut album “Syre.” It’s a concept album – the first four songs are named “B,” “L,” “U” and “E” and are about a breakup – and mostly consists of down-tempo tunes with lyrics that range from gentle to roughwhile the protagonist tells a coming-of-age story.

“It’s really just become a legacy of this guy, this kid, who chases the sunset,” Smith told Billboard.com, “And then one day, it chases him back and he can’t get away.”

The album reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts, with its top single “Icon,” reaching No. 3 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under 100 chart. Though it took three years to produce his first album, Smith has said that he will release his second album “Erys”(“Syre” spelled backwards) sometime this year.