This Week In Honolulu: 8 Events and Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss

Aug. 15, 2014: Mark your calendars this week. Sample craft beers, picnic on the pier and watch a local fashion show.

Photo: Courtesy of Battleship Missouri Memorial

1. The Gamer Expo and Aloha Concert YouTube Stars

Friday, Aug. 15 and Saturday, Aug. 16

The Gamer Expo opens Friday with an Aloha Concert at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, with a host of popular YouTube musicians who have more than a million subscribers each. Jason Chen, Clara C, Timothy Delaghetto, David Choi, Alex G and AJ Rafael will perform after an autograph session with fans. On Saturday, let the gaming begin with a full day of tournaments of some of the most popular video games, a cosplay contest, silent auction and a VIP casino night—for the 21 and over crowd.

$30 to $50, 6 p.m., Blaisdell Concert Hall and the Pomaikai Ballrooms, tickets available online at gamerexpohi.com or at the Blaisdell Box Office.

2. DJ Colette at Eleven44

*Friday, Aug. 15

Like danceable house music and also strong female vocalists like Debbie Harry and Kylie Minogue? Check out visiting Chicago DJ Colette—she mixes beats and then sings over them, for a performance that’s better than your run-of-the-mill house DJ.

$15, 21+, 8 p.m., Eleven44, 1144 Bethel St., Chinatown. odinworks.eventbrite.com

*Event moved from Aug. 8, due to last week’s hurricane warning.

3. Picnic on the Pier at the Battleship Missouri

Friday, Aug. 15

Bring a blanket, chairs, food, drinks, your family and friends and picnic on the pier right next to the Battleship Missouri. There will be Big Band music, keiki activities, a swing-dance area and tours of the first level and main deck of the Big Mo to keep you entertained. Got some vintage duds in the closet? Now’s the time to break them out!

$10 general, $5 ages four to 12, free for Mighty Mo members. 6 to 9 p.m., Battleship Missouri Memorial, Ford Island, 63 Cowpens St., complimentary shuttles will run from Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to the Battleship Missouri. bb63.stores.yahoo.net/stbepi2.html

4. Carousel at Kakaako Agora

*Friday, Aug. 15

Watch a parade of projected images selected by 28 creative types from various fields, and join in a fun game of word association. There are no wrong interpretations, as this visual art event promotes open ideas in which everyone is the expert.

Free, 6 to 9 p.m., 441 Cooke St., Kakaako. facebook.com/events/1540240809533064

*Event moved from Aug. 8, due to hurricane warning.

5. Made in Hawaii Festival

Friday, Aug. 15 through Monday, Aug. 18

Stock up on your favorite Made in Hawaii products at this three-day festival that only comes once a year. Browse local fashions, crafts, books, art and food, and listen to live Hawaiian music and watch a fashion showcase. Don’t miss the cooking demonstrations with Hawaii’s best chefs. There are free samples!

$5, children six and under are free. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and Arena, 777 Ward Ave., Honolulu. madeinhawaiifestival.com

6. Second Annual REAL Beer Festival

*Saturday, Aug. 16

Need a new reason to go day-drinking on a Saturday? Get your friends together and buy tickets to REAL a Gastropub’s beer festival. Sample 10 of the 60 craft beers being showcased and eat as much food as you can from 15 participating restaurants. After four hours of drinking, we recommend cabbing it home!

21+, $60, 2 to 6:30 p.m., Kakaako Makai Gateway Park. Purchase tickets at realbeerfestival.eventbrite.com
 

*Event moved from Aug. 9, due to hurricane warning.

7. Honolulu Night Market

Saturday, Aug. 16

If the REAL Beer festival in Kakaako hasn’t worn you out, stick around for Honolulu Night Market. You’ll find a fashion show by Salt Liko, locally made art and live music, ono food from All Kine Grindz, Naono, Five-O Hawaiian Style Smoked Ribs or Bonfire Pizza Co., and the debut of the King’s Hawaiian food truck.

No cover, 6 p.m., 449 Cooke St., Kakaako. facebook.com/HonoluluNightMarket

8. 32nd Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival

Sunday, Aug. 17

No need to bring a radio to the park this weekend—Kapiolani Park is going to be hosting performances from some of Hawaii’s best Hawaiian slack key guitar musicians, and from some up-and-comers. The 16-musician lineup includes Makana, Keale, Brother Noland, George Kuo, Sean Robbins, Chris Lau and Kawika Kahiapo.

Free, noon to 6 p.m., Kapiolani Park, Waikiki. slackkeyfestival.com