The weekend is just a few days away and there are opportunities to shop for the holidays, celebrate Hawaiʻi cuisine, and listen to live music.
Looking to Island hop? The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival will offer screenings on Neighbor Islands, including Maui, Molokai, Lanaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island, from Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 15. The 34th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival- Kauaʻi Style also takes place on Sunday, Nov. 8, on Kauaʻi.
Ready to make plans? Here are 10 things to do on Oʻahu this weekend:
Friday, Nov. 6
Go to the Battle of the Bands. HI93’s Local Break Battle of the Bands will hold its grand finale, where four finalists compete, at Capitol Modern. The winner of the contest gets eight hours of studio time, a free mix and master with Le Vanta Records and $1,500. Aloha State Daily is one of the sponsors of the contest, along with Hele Gas, Le Vanta Records, Capitol Modern, and Kahuina. Details.
Shop Hawaiʻi’s Finest Black Friday Mākeke. Get started on your holiday shopping at Hawaiʻi’s Finest Black Friday Mākeke at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. There will be more than 250 local vendors, fashion shows, a Kendama contest, and live music. The event also includes a Hawaiʻi’s Finest sale. Check out Aloha State Daily’s booth and say hello to our staff, play games and get free prizes. The event is Friday, Nov. 6, Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8. Free. On-site parking is $8. Details.
Check out the Nā Lehua Marketplace & Festival. This celebration of Hawaiʻi makers, culture and community includes local vendors and entertainment at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Singers taking the stage include Izik, Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm, Connor Johnson and more. The marketplace and festival runs Friday, Nov. 6, Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8. General admission tickets are $6. Details.
Catch the Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival. The festival, which was co-founded by James Beard Award-winning chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong in Waikīkī in 2011, includes four days of culinary experiences on Oʻahu. This year, the theme is traditions and heritage. The festival kicked off on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui and is finishing up on Oaʻhu with grand tastings and intimate dinners as well as wine seminars, cultural gatherings, and thought provoking conversations. Proceeds from tickets support culinary education and workforce development, as well as local agriculture and sustainability initiatives and have raised $5.2 million for these efforts in the past 15 years. Details.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Attend the 20th Annual Taste of Waipahu. The Waipahu Community Association will host this annual culinary celebration featuring local chefs, restaurateurs and home cooks. There will be vendors and live entertainment. About 6,000 people are expected to attend the event, according to a permit filed with the City and County of Honolulu. Free. Details.
Send a kid to The Lil' Design Workshop. This hands-on architectural workshop is a chance to learn design principles, sketch ideas and construct a model of a dreamhouse from inside the Liljestrand House, a defining work of Architect Vladimir Ossipoff. The project is a collaboration of the Liljestrand Foundation and the American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter, and is for youth between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. Tickets are $50. Details.
Shop local at a farmers market. Looking for dragon fruit? Bok choy? Longan fruit? Find all of these and more at the local farmers market. Many also offer fresh flowers and local food vendors. The farmers market at Kapiʻolani Community College runs from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., while the ones in Kakaʻako and Pearlridge run from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Other markets, including ones in Kailua and Mililani, are open on Sundays. Details.
Sunday, Nov. 8
Run the Val Nolasco Half Marathon. This race starts at Kapiʻolani Regional Park and continues over Diamond Head to Wailupe Circle before ending at the iconic Honolulu marathon finish line in Waikīkī. The half marathon starts at 5:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 6 a.m. The cost is $90 for the half marathon and $40 for the 5K. Register online. Details.
Go to Kamaʻāina Sunday. Once a month, ʻIolani Palace hosts its Kamaʻāina Sunday, where state residents can explore the palace and grounds for free. There are self-led audio tours for the first 500 attendees. The event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes cultural workshops led by Kawika Lum-Nelmida, who will share how to make a hulu brooch at 9 a.m. and a hulu hairpin at 11:30 a.m. Free. Details.
Share your sky photos. Send us your pictures of sunsets, rainbows and more. Submitted photos may be featured in our reader submission series called Hawaiʻi Skies. Include your name and where the picture was taken, plus why the moment was special. Details.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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