Friday, Sept. 5
Visit the Capitol Modern: First Friday. Starting at 5 p.m., enjoy access to the galleries and sculpture garden plus meet local muralists. The event will serve as the official launch for Hawaiʻi Walls, an annual festival that brings muralists together to create public works of art. As part of the event, muralists will be painting in the sculpture lobby on the second floor. There will also be musical performances by Out of the Blue, Nevermind, Temple Waves and Twin Fin. Free. Details.
Buy art. Check out the Downtown Art Center Collectors’ Art Sale, which is curated by Allison Wong. Proceeds benefit the center. Get early access to the Downtown Art Center’s Collectors’ Sale preview event through tickets, which cost $150 each, and grant access on Thursday, Sept. 4. Featured artists include Allyn Bromley, Bumpei Akaji, Carl Pao, Dietrich Varez, Hiroki Morinoue, Jo Rowley, John Kjargaard, John Koga, Lionel Walden, Lori Uyehara, Madge Tennent and Timothy Ojile. The public can enjoy the exhibit for free, starting Friday, Sept. 5. Details.
Catch “Smother.” The play, written by Sara Ward, opened in Kumu Kahua Theatre on Aug. 28. It explores a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter with shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Sept. 28. Buy tickets.
Watch “Chief of War.” Watch episode seven of “Chief of War,” which stars Jason Momoa, on Apple TV+. The series features the story of Kaʻiana, played by Momoa, as he tries to unify the Islands before Western colonization in the late 18th century. The first two episodes drop Aug. 1, with an additional episode appearing every Friday through Sept. 19. The show was written and executive produced by Momoa and Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett. The cast features Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale‘o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Te Kohe Tuhaka, and more. Details.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Go to the opening ceremony for Aloha Festivals. The opening ceremony, which kicks off Aloha Festivals, will be accompanied by hula and musical performances at 4 p.m. at Helumoa Gardens at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort. This year, the annual floral parade, which runs from Ala Moana Regional Park to Kapiʻolani Regional Park via Kalākaua Avenue will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27. Free. Details.
Tour ʻIolani Palace. September marks the state’s first Hawaiian History Month. As part of planned activities, ʻIolani Palace will offer free tours. There will also be dramatic walking tours, which were formed in 1993 by playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl to recreate the pivotal days of January 1893 and share stories of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s overthrow. Free. Details.
Check out the Queen Liliʻuokalani Festival. The 26 annual event, hosted by County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation, includes the He Haliʻa Aloha No Liliʻuokalani Festival, which will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo. The event honors Queen Liliʻuokalani, who was born Sept. 2, 1838, and was the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Free. Details.
Attend the Welcome Home Kōlea Festival. This event celebrates the Kōlea, or Pacific Golden Plover, and its seasonal return to the Hawaiian Islands. Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Audubon Society, the event will take place at Picnic Site 31 at Ala Moana Regional Park.
Sunday, Sept. 7
Enjoy Steel Guitar Sundays. Enjoy steel guitar from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hula Grill Waikīkī. The new program features monthly steel guitar performances at the oceanside restaurant on the first Sunday of each month through the rest of 2025. The program was created with Alan Akaka, who kicked off the series with a live performance on Sunday, July 6.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
