8 March Entertainment Picks in Hawaii

Put a little spring in your step with concerts, contests, festivals and races this season.

Fairs & Expos

Honolulu Festival

Highlights this year: The premiere of a WaikiKitchen food fest (what a mouthful!) and a performance by Japanese group Skimaswitch, the ever-popular Friendship Gala, Grand Parade and Nagaoka Fireworks.

March 7–9, Most events are free, Hawaii Convention Center and other venues, honolulufestival.com.
 

Entertainment

An Evening with David Sedaris

“When asked ‘What do we need to learn this for?’ any high-school teacher can confidently answer that, regardless of the subject, the knowledge will come in handy once the student hits middle age and starts working crossword puzzles in order to stave off the terrible loneliness.”

―From Me Talk Pretty One Day, a collection of essays by humorist David Sedaris, back in Honolulu to read from his work (including all-new material), hold a Q&A and sign books before and after the show.

March 10, 7:30 p.m., $42–$62, Hawaii Theatre, 528-0506, hawaiitheatre.com.

Charity

Great Chefs Fight Hunger

If you need a reason to enjoy mouthwatering concoctions from some of the best restaurants and chefs in Hawaii (we know it can be hard to justify splurging on food sometimes), know that every tummy filled at this event will help the Hawai‘i Foodbank fill more than 180,000 other tummies, and that’s something to feel good about. Participants include d.k Steak House, 12th Ave Grill, Chef Chai, Cocina and many more.

March 15, 6–8:30 p.m., $150–$200, Hawaii Foodbank Warehouse, hawaiifoodbank.org.  
 

Entertainment

Herbig Conducts Beethoven

Beethoven was once arrested because he was mistaken for a bum.

March 16, Concert starts at 8 p.m., $13–$90, Blaisdell Concert Hall, hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org.
 

sports

CitySolve Urban Race

Prove your mettle against other trivia lovers in a race throughout Honolulu that won’t leave you covered in mud, dyed cornstarch, neon paint or shame. You don’t have to be the fittest of the fit to solve clues or complete checkpoint challenges throughout the city. (No, really—you’re allowed to ride the bus. Take that, Honolulu Marathon!) Teams of 2 to 4 players compete for cash prizes.

March 22, Check in 10–11 a.m., race 11:30 a.m., $50–$65, Dave and Buster’s, citysolveurbanrace.com.
 

Theater & Arts

Kiakahi—A Purposed Journey

After the deaths of both her son and her husband in the early 1860s, Queen Emma traveled abroad to raise funds for the Anglican Church of Hawaii. This exhibit showcases artifacts, quotes and a map from that time period.

Through March 27, Queen Emma Summer Palace, $6–$10, daughtersofhawaii.org.
 

Theater & Arts

Cockadoodledoo

The twisted genius of local playwright Eric Yokomori manifests once again in what promises to be a scandalous perversion of hilarious proportions—this isn’t Chicken Little. See what happens when a meteor lands in a chicken coop and changes everything.

March 27–April 27, Kumu Kahua Theatre, $5–$20, kumukahua.org/cockadoodledoo.
 

Food

Hawaii Edible Book Contest

Now you can have your cake and read it, too! Edible entries must be inspired by books, in the categories of most booklike, best use of chocolate, best book in UH library, people’s choice or audible arts (movies or music from the library’s collection). Entries will be judged (at noon), and eaten (at 1 p.m.), on April 1, so start cooking up ideas now. Canned-food entry fees benefit the Hawaii Foodbank.

April 1, Drop-off 9–11:30 a.m., One canned food item or $1, Hamilton Library, facebook.com/UHMLib.
 

Did you know? St. Alban’s College (now Iolani School) teacher Pierre Jones gave baby Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole the nickname “Prince Cupid.” Kuhio Day is March 26.