Tourism bureau introduces mobile app for isle events

Keep track of your favorite farmers markets, festivals and cultural events with a free mobile app launched by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The Festivals of Hawaii app provides details on more than 100 events throughout the islands and is available for download on iTunes for iPhone, iPod and iPad devices.

Users can search by island, "near me" and category, which includes Hawaiian, Cuisine, Sports, Nature/Eco-Tourism and Arts & Music. Selecting "directions" will pull up Google maps showing the location.

The tourism agency said that while the first phase of the mobile app development features festivals and events sponsored by the HTA, the next phase will widen the searchable database to include other events.

Modern Taiwan is subject of City Hall photo exhibit

More than 120 photographs displaying the landscapes, people and culture of modern Taiwan are on display through Aug. 18 at Honolulu Hale.

The exhibit is meant to "send aloha from Taiwan and to make a connection to the people here," said Emily Wu, one of the organizers.

It comprises two sections: a display by two of Taiwan’s top professional photographers, Chen Chi-hsiung and Huang Ting-shen, and a contest for amateur and professional photographers.

Chen and Huang were featured in "Taiwan Sublime," an exhibit promoted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office that has been shown around the world. Chen is known for his use of contour and texture in revealing how people can transform the landscape. Huang has focused on religious rituals in Taiwan, especially sacred practices that are rarely photographed.

The contest portion of the show received praise from Ed Yee, photography instructor at the Kaimuki Adult School, who is judging the contest.

"I look at it as the spirit of Taiwan, how these people built this country up after being pushed out of the Chinese mainland and how they’ve worked to create another country," he said. "Some of this stuff is absolutely beautiful."

The exhibit can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Tickets go on sale for music festival

Concert tickets and club wristbands are now on sale for Hallowbaloo, a three-day music and street festival taking place Oct. 28 to 30.

The Hallowbaloo kickoff concert Oct. 28 at the Aloha Tower Marketplace’s waterfront venue will feature the Los Angeles indie band Warpaint.

Colorado dance music soloist Paper Diamond and Honolulu’s own Clones of the Queen will open the show.

The Oct. 29 downtown street festival and club crawl will bring together more than 35 bands, deejays and theatrical dance groups.

Confirmed national acts include the soul/funk band New Mastersounds and dub/electronica soloist Gaudi, and an experimental band from Philadelphia, Man Man.

Hawaii-based acts that will be part of the free downtown festivities include Kings of Spade, All the Apparatus, Kalalea Fire, FreeRadicals Projekt, DJ Packo, the Deadbeats, the Jumpoffs and ESKAE.

Confirmed clubs participating in the 21-and-over crawl include SoHo Mixed Media Bar, Bar 35, Venue, NextDoor, Manifest, Lotus, Loft Gallery & Lounge and Mercury Bar.

Oct. 30 will be a wind-down day at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki, starting at 3 p.m. with a free, all-ages kanikapila featuring Guy Cruz, Medicine for the People and special guests.

To buy tickets and wristbands, go to hallowbaloo2011.eventbrite.com.

Restaurants to aid Meals on Wheels

More than 50 dining establishments, including Alan Wong’s, Cafe Laufer, Ola at Turtle Bay, Vino, 3660 on the Rise, Roy’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Zippy’s and Orchids at Halekulani, are creating feasts for pre-purchased tables in their restaurants for the Good Table fundraiser at 6 p.m. Oct. 6.

The event is a benefit for Lanakila Meals on Wheels, Hawaii’s largest and only islandwide meal provider to homebound kupuna.

Tables of six range in price from $900 to $2,500; tables of four cost $200 to $500.

For those who prefer takeout, Lanakila Kitchen is preparing Garden Gourmet Picnic Table packages that serve four and include everything from a tablecloth, napkins and a keepsake picnic basket. Each $300 basket will help Lanakila Meals on Wheels deliver 34 meals, according to organizers.

Tables and baskets can be purchased through Sept. 23. For information or a list of participating restaurants, visit www.thegoodtablehawaii.org or call 531-0555. The Good Table fundraiser is presented by the Hawaii Government Employees Association and Island Insurance Cos.