The 7 Best Things to Do in August 2015

Get tatted up or stuff your face with baklava in these final days of freedom before school and traffic come back to ruin us all.

August 4, 2015

Katrina Valcourt,

FOOD & DINING

Courtyard Brunch

August 9

Photo: Thinkstock

Ward Village’s new monthly event features local chefs bringing their expertise to small plates. Tickets get you one drink and three food vouchers, though you can always buy more at the event.

BM Building Courtyard, $30, wardvillageshops.com

THEATER & ARTS

Ballet Hawai‘i Presents Alice (in Wonderland)

August 7–9

“Still she haunts me, phantomwise / Alice moving under skies / Never seen by waking eyes. … Life, what is it but a dream?”—Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.

Blaisdell Concert Hall, $35 and up, ballethawaii.org

FAIRS & EXPOS

Pacific Ink & Art Expo

August 7–9

Photo: Jaymi Britten

Even if you’re not into tattoo art, don’t let that stop you from signing up for the Chee Hoo Challenge, watching Maori dancers perform or grooving to Mike Love. If you do love tattoos, say hello to Big Gus from Tattoo Nightmares, witness live tattooing or get one yourself. More than 60 headliners and celebrities, including recent Best of Honolulu winner for best tattoo artist, Billy Whitney, will be there to make this a truly unforgettable weekend.

Blaisdell Center, $20 per day, or $51.50 for three days, pacificinkandartexpo.com

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival “Waikīkī Style”

August 16

In its 33rd year, this is the longest-running slack key festival on O‘ahu. Stay tuned for the first Windward-style event, which could happen as soon as next month, and a North Shore-style event next year.

Kapi‘olani Park, slackkeyfestival.com

34th Annual Greek Festival

August 29 and 30

Photo: ross d. hamura/sony

This year, Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Pacific celebrates its 50th anniversary. But Greeks have been in the Islands much longer, first arriving on whaling and trading vessels in the early 1800s. Many of them were jailed, fined or exiled from Hawai‘i for their roles in the counterrevolution opposing the overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani. Come by this two-day fest to listen to music, dance, shop, eat and learn more about Greek culture.

Noon to 9 p.m., McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Park, $3, free for active military and children under 12, greekfestivalhawaii.com

Hawai‘i Burlesque Festival and Revue

August 30 through September 5

This year’s theme is Pasties Across the Pacific, with performers from the Neighbor Islands, the Mainland, France and Switzerland joining local acts.

Doris Duke Theatre, $30–$45 per show, hawaiiburlesquefestival.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Terry Fator

August 15 and 16

Photo: Terry Fator

If you’ve ever seen Terry Fator’s headlining show at the Mirage in Las Vegas, well, you’re in for something completely different here. The ventriloquist and impressionist performs in Hawai‘i for the first time this month with a show about how he got to Vegas. Here’s hoping he incorporates Cuz Kani Kalipa, his shaka-wielding, ‘ukulele-loving puppet.

7:30 p.m., Hawai‘i Theatre, $60 and up, hawaiitheatre.com