The 8 Best Things to Do in February 2016

Sure, Mardi Gras takes place this month, but so do swoon-worthy performances, the city’s favorite carnival and a messy obstacle race.

February 1, 2016

Katrina Valcourt,

ENTERTAINMENT

Punahou Carnival

Photo: Thinkstock

February 5 and 6

The junior class has been organizing this event for months, including getting ready for all the jellies and jams to fly off the shelves at Punahou School’s annual fundraiser. Pro tip: Eat after you go on the rides.

Punahou School, punahou.edu

SPORTS

Swamp Romp

February 6

Photo: Kelli Bullock

According to the waiver for the 2016 Swamp Romp, “I acknowledge that certain detrimental physiological changes may occur while I participate in the event, including, but not limited to heat exhaustion and stroke; abnormal heart beat; abnormal blood pressure; and, in rare instances, heart attack.” Not to mention getting mud literally everywhere. You have been warned. Now, get down and dirty and conquer those obstacles!

Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i Kāne‘ohe Bay, $50 individual, $150 for teams of five or six, mccshawaii.com/swampromp

ENTERTAINMENT

Tony Trischka

February 6

Photo: Thinkstock

How often do you get to hear a banjo player perform, let alone one designated Banjo Player of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007?

Atherton Performing Arts Studio, $16.82–$32.64, hawaiipublicradio.org

Hawai‘i ‘Ukulele Museum Benefit Concert

February 12

Photo: courtesy of ‘ukelele picnic in hawai‘i

Part of ‘Ukulele Picnic Weekend, this concert raises money specifically for the Hawai‘i ‘Ukulele Museum planned for Kaka‘ako. Enjoy dinner (and one free drink) and performances by Teresa Bright, Benny Chong, Byron Yasui, Sweet Hollywaiians (from Japan) and more.

6:30–9:30 p.m., $48–$55, Hawai‘i Prince Hotel Mauna Kea Ballroom, ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org/benefit

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Photo: courtesy of hawai‘i opera theatre

February 12, 14 and 16

“Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, / Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend / More than cool reason ever comprehends.”—Theseus, upon hearing the tales of the lovers in the forest, in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Hawai‘i Opera Theatre will present the opera, composed by Benjamin Britten in 1960, for the first time this month.

Friday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 4 p.m. and Tuesday, 7 p.m., $34–$135, Blaisdell Concert Hall, hawaiiopera.org

Brian McKnight

February 13

Photo: Courtesy of Brian Mcknight

One: Purchase a ticket to see Brian McKnight and En Vogue.

Two: Rehearse all the lyrics to their songs.

Three: Finesse your dance moves.

Four: Repeat steps one through three.

Five: Have the best Valentine’s Day ever.

7 p.m., $49–$139, Blaisdell Arena, ticketmaster.com

CHARITABLE

Swing Back to the ’40s

Photos: Thinkstock

February 13

Dress in your best pinup costume and get ready to swing with mini lessons by the Jitterbugs and live jazz from the Hot Club of Hulaville. Proceeds from this dinner, dance and silent auction benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

$45, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Hangar 37, swingback40s.eventbrite.com

VOLUNTEER

Sanctuary Ocean Count

February 27

Help count the whale population and record whale behavior across the Islands at this month’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. If you’re lucky, you may see some balletic maneuvers.

Multiple locations, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

Did you know? In many European countries, it’s traditional for women to propose to their boyfriends on Leap Day (Feb. 29).