FRIDAY
First Friday artistry thrives in Chinatown
First Friday opened 14 years ago this month, turning Chinatown into a celebration of art and culture on the following 168 first Fridays of every month.
That’s a lot of art, food, music and partying, and there’s no reason to stop the madness now. So check out some of your favorite haunts today, beginning with the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, 250 S. Hotel St., and its newest exhibit, “Ho‘omau: The Perpetuation of Kapa.” You can also enjoy chamber music played by alumni of the Hawaii Youth Symphony. Entry is free, and the museum is open until 9 p.m.
Or wander over to Louis Pohl Gallery, pictured, 1142 Bethel St., one of the original instigators of First Friday, where outdoor artist Mark Brown will exhibit his work and talk about painting in Hawaii’s beautiful environment. Reception from 6 to 9 p.m.
At the Chinatown Artists Lofts, at the corner of Hotel and Smith streets, new and longtime residents display their work from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second floor.
Restaurants will be offering First Friday specials, and there will be plenty of barhopping to do, with DJs Debin, Technique, Ill Phil and emcee RoxyOTM spinning music at Bar 35, 35 N. Hotel St. The bar is encouraging folks to commemorate National Pride Month by celebrating whatever you are most proud of.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian/blues/rocker Tavana and reggae band the Urchinz appear at Downbeat Lounge, 42 N. Hotel St.
Where: Honolulu Arts District/Chinatown, various venues
When: Galleries usually 6-9 p.m. Friday
Info: firstfridayhawaii.com
SATURDAY
Annual Habilitat event features big-name local entertainment
Head up to Kualoa Ranch on Saturday and have a good time for a good cause at Habilitat’s annual fundraiser.
The event includes a day of top-flight local music and entertainment, kicked off by Roughrider members Henry Kapono and Brother Noland shortly after the 10 a.m. opening. They’ll be followed at 11:10 a.m. by the versatile Mike Love, making his debut for Habilitat, and award-winning Malu Productions providing a Polynesian show shortly after noon. Island reggae musician Peni Dean and falsetto and ukulele artist Kekoa Kane perform later in the day.
Come early to place a bid at the auction, billed as Hawaii’s largest live and silent auction. Hundreds of items will be on sale, ranging from artwork and jewelry to tools, vacation getaways and musical instruments. Check Habilitat.com for a list of items. The silent auction is 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and the live auction opens at 1:10 p.m.
Come hungry as well, since there’s an eight-course luau meal included with admission.
Habilitat is a comprehensive substance abuse treatment facility in Kaneohe.
Where: Kualoa Ranch
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $20-$40. Family packages for $100, and $325 luau tables for 10 are also available.
Info: Habilitat.com or 235-3691
SUNDAY
Isle filmmaker reflects on life in stage show
Jeannette Paulson Hereniko — filmmaker, world traveler, founder and first director of the Hawaii International Film Festival, pictured — is bringing her second one-woman show, “When Strangers Meet,” to the Kumu Kahua Theatre for three nights starting Sunday. The show is a sequel to her first, “Wild Wisdom,” which focused onher relationship with her mother and sister, and how their deaths from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease affected her life and career. “Wild Wisdom” also covered theresistance she encountered when she proposed that Hawaii have an international film festival.
“This one comes from a more mature viewpoint later in life, sharing how encounters with people with backgrounds different from my own have transformed myunderstanding and appreciation of life,” Paulson Hereniko said last weekend. “I talk a little bit about the start of the festival in this one, too, but it takes off most afterthat.”
It has been an eventful life. Paulson Hereniko founded the Hawaii International Film Festival in 1980 and served as its director for 15 years. Since stepping down asdirector of HIFF, she has produced films and served as a consultant to film industries in places as diverse as Iran, Mongolia and Vietnam. One of the projects closest toher heart was producing “The Land Has Eyes,” a feature film written by her husband, Pacific islander Vilsoni Hereniko, and set on his home island of Rotuma.
“Strangers can be family members, people at work or people from a different culture,” Paulson Hereniko said. “I hope people will come (to my show) with an idea that willinspire them to reflect on their own stories and share ’em, and that it will encourage people to shift their expectations and be open to possibilities.”
Where: Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant St.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Wednesday
Cost: $15
Info: 808ne.ws/1OZu0Du
— John Berger
TICKER: Reggae-jazz pianist Monty Alexander plays Blue Note Hawaii, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday-June 12. $21.85-$45. bluenotehawaii.com or 777-4890
