Da Kine

Choirs will gather for music festival

Nearly 400 singers from around Oahu will join forces Saturday at E Himeni Kakou, an annual music festival that brings together choirs for a series of workshops, rehearsals and a free public concert.

This year’s participants are the University of Hawaii at Manoa, under the direction of Miguel Felipe and Nola A. Nahulu; UH-West Oahu, Jon Magnussen; Leeward Community College, Andria Tupola; Kapiolani Community College, Martina Bingham; Hawaii Pacific University, Esther Yoo; and the Hurricane Singers from Kapolei High School, Justin Kaupu.

The free public concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Central Union Church. Event organizers said calabash donations will be accepted.

In addition to short sets performed by each choir, the singers will perform five works as a mass choir led by guest clinician Katherine FitzGibbon, director of choral activities at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. The program will feature works in a range of styles and conclude with the premiere of a mixed-voice arrangement of two Queen Liliu­oka­lani songs — "Queen’s Jubilee" and "Aloha ‘Oe" — as arranged by Kaupu.

FitzGibbon also will conduct two motets of Heinrich Schūtz at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at the Lutheran Church of Hono­lulu.

Avril Lavigne aids Easter Seals keiki

Easter Seals Hawaii is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Avril Lavigne Foundation, which supports efforts to help children and youths living with serious illnesses or disabilities.

The Hawaii branch provides 24 service programs across the state. According to Iwalani Dayton, vice president of development, some of the money was put to immediate use with a Valentine’s Day dance.

"We have other small outings planned, like the boys and girls having separate nights out at a local hotel and a weekend day camp at Sea Life Park. There are activities planned every month, and the grant money will go a long way through the end of the year," he said.

"To receive this money is exciting, particularly for this youth services program. We’re the only organization on Oahu to offer regular out-of-school activities for youths with disabilities. Without the foundation’s help, we would have to cut back some of those activities," Dayton said.

Obstacle course means muddy fun

Time to get good and dirty at the second annual Makahiki Challenge at Kualoa Ranch on Saturday. Participants will run a 5K obstacle course with challenges such as the Mud Crawl pit, Da Pig Pen and the 100-foot-long Suicide Slide.

It’s not exactly a traditional Hawaiian contest, but organizers call it a makahiki because "people are competing and showing off their athletic abilities, and they’re kind of celebrating at the same time," race director Kapu Gaison said.

The messy fun concludes with a party at a beer garden, with Ooklah The Moc providing music. Don’t worry about the mud in your eye, as race sponsors will provide showers for participants to clean off for the festivities.

"It should be muddy," Gaison said. "It’s always raining back there, so it should be nice. Last year it was really muddy."

Cost is $80. Heats run every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon, and several heats are already full. Visit makahikichallenge.com to register.