The 8 Best Things to Do in June 2018
Bless your pets, meet your neighbors and kick off the season with Hawai‘i’s favorite summer fruit.
KIDS AND FAMILY
Chinowa Blessings for People and Pets
June 3
PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAIʻI KOTOHIRA JINSHA-DAZAIFU TENMANGU
Whether your best friend is furred, feathered, scaled or shelled, all species are welcome during this annual day honoring the animals in our lives. Bring your leashed or caged pet, or a stuffed animal in its stead, to the Shinto shrine for a complimentary blessing.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hawai‘i Kotohira Jinsha – Hawai‘i Dazaifu Tenmangu, free, jinja.us
FAIRS & EXPOS
Pan-Pacific Festival
June 8–10
PHOTO: DAVID CROXFORD
Explore Pacific Rim cultures and help foster a global community. Nearly 100 organizations from across the Pacific will share their unique customs through song, dance and other cultural presentations, kicking off with a ho‘olaule‘a on Friday and ending on Sunday with a colorful, festive parade along Kalākaua Avenue.
Waikīkī, free, pan-pacific-festival.com
MUSIC
Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Olga Kern
June 9 and 10
PHOTO: CHRIS LEE
Russian-American piano virtuoso Olga Kern joins the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra for two nights of performances starring three of Tchaikovsky’s dramatic, memorable compositions.
Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, $34–$92, hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org
CULTURE
King Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony
June 11
PHOTO: DAVID CROXFORD
Each year, the King Kamehameha statue in Downtown is adorned with dozens of 30-foot plumeria lei to honor the founder of the Hawaiian Kingdom, accompanied by music and hula performances.
9 a.m. to noon, Ali‘iōlani Hale, free, hawaii.com
KIDS & FAMILY
ESPN 1420 Sports Festival
June 16
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK
Break a sweat, pick up a new sport, win free prizes and shop the latest fitness merch at this fun, fitness-focused event for all ages. Disclosure: ESPN 1420 is a sister aio company of HONOLULU.
Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, free, espn1420am.com
MUSIC
Leilani Wolfgramm
June 22
Photo: Courtesy of BAMP Project
The Orlando, Florida, native with Tongan roots first started performing alongside her brothers, Zech and Nasur, in the reggae band Hor!zen. As a solo artist, she’s graced stages with big reggae names such as Sublime with Rome, SOJA, The Green and Common Kings. Wolfgramm brings her chill vibes to The Republik this month.
8 p.m., The Republik, $23, bampproject.com
THEATRE & ARTS
Naomi Shihab Nye and Cathy Song
June 26
In the Honolulu Museum of Art’s latest installment of The Green Room, two acclaimed poets from divergent walks of life share conversation and readings of their award-winning poetry.
Doris Duke Theatre, $15–$20, honolulumuseum.org
FAIRS & EXPOS
Mango Jam Honolulu
June 29 and 30
PHOTO: ODEELO DAYONDON
What does a Hawaiian summer mean? Amped-up temperatures, lazy beach days and a surplus of mangoes. Indulge in the juicy fruit with two days of mango-themed dishes, desserts and drinks. A craft fair, farmers market and live cultural performances make this an event for the whole family.
4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, free, mangojamhonolulu.com
Gear up for surf, sand and sun at the Hawai‘i Ocean Expo, Hawai‘i’s biggest event for all things ocean related, June 23 and 24 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. pacificexpos.com
Looking for more things to do? Check out our events calendar.
READ MORE STORIES BY MARISA HEUNG
