Ready to plan the weekend? From festivals to free food, Aloha State Daily is sharing inspiration for how to spend time with family and friends.
Friday, Aug. 7
Go to the Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival. Ready to hear some Shakespeare? Catch the final show of the Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival, which is “Julius Caesar,” directed by Alex Munro. It runs through Sunday, Aug. 9, at Mānoa Valley Theatre. General admission is $25. “Julius Caesar” will offer $15 tickets for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Details.
Watch Raina Huang compete in eating contests. This celebrity competitive eater with 1.3 million followers on Instagram will be in Honolulu this week, with stops at the Korean Festival Hawaiʻi, Nori Bar Waikīkī and Oh My Grill. The events — four contests and three meet-and-greets on Oʻahu — kick off this Friday, Aug. 7, at 1:30 p.m. at Waikīkī Beach Walk Plaza. Watch her eat a towering stack of handrolls in five minutes or less, as well as kimchi, jajangmyeon and burgers. Free. Details.
Go to Obon festivals. Find Obon festivals in three locations this weekend: Soto Mission of ‘Aiea – Taiheiji and Shingon Mission of Hawai‘i on Friday and Saturday; and Pearl City Hongwanji Mission on Saturday. Details.
Saturday, Aug. 8
Vote. Ballots must be received by the County Elections Division by 7 p.m. today. Hawaiʻi conducts its statewide elections in even years. Voters must be at least 16 years old and residents of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. For those participating in vote by mail, sign the return envelope or it will not be counted. Details.
Eat free Spam musubi. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is giving out free Spam musubi from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at participating locations in Hawaiʻi and on the Mainland in celebration of National Spam Musubi Day. Free. Details.
Go to the Korean Festival. Find Korean food, cultural experiences and family friendly activities, plus live entertainment, which ranges from traditional performances to K-pop, at the 22nd annual Korean Festival, which will be held at Kapiʻolani Park. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free. Details.
Eat Mochi. More than 50 craft and food vendors will celebrate National Mochi Day with the National Mochi Day & Snack Fair from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Windward City Shopping Center. The event includes a mochi-making demonstration. Free.
Attend the inaugural HNL-X Fandom Anime Expo. This pop culture convention features vendors, creators and programming for regional fans of comics, gaming, anime, collectibles and more. There will be pop art, cosplay, K-pop entertainment, a tattoo pavilion, and more. The event is being produced by Pacific Expos and will take place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9. General admission is $20, for tickets ordered early. Discounted tickets are available for students, military and seniors. Details.
Catch the Muʻu & Mimosas Tea Party. This afternoon tea, which used to be just once a month, is now every Saturday at Kaimana Beach Hotel in Waikīkī. The experience includes a variety of treats, such as scones with POG jam and guava fruit tarts. Alohawear, complete with lei or fresh flowers, is encouraged. Tea starts at $55 per person. Details.
Sunday, Aug. 9
Check out Kam Bowl, now open in Pearl City. The restaurant closed its Kalihi location in June and is now open in Pearl City. The restaurant opened in the Times Square Shopping Center, in a space formerly occupied by IHOP. Signature dishes, such as its well known oxtail soup, are back on the menu, along with hamburger steak, loco moco and more. Details.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
