Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: July 5–11, 2023

Kick back by the pool at Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, enjoy live local music alfresco and check out Kama‘āina Sundays at ‘Iolani Palace.

July 5, 2023

Jasmine Chagnon,

Photo: Courtesy of The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club

Pool Party at the Surfjack

Sunday, July 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kick back at the Surfjack and enjoy the iconic ‘Wish You Were Here’ swimming pool because the summer pool parties are back! Los Angeles-based DJ Lahaina Soul will be spinning under the sun while Mahina & Sun’s serves up poolside bites and bevs from their revamped food and tiki-cocktail menu. There’s no cover charge, and parking is $8 for 4 hours with validation at Hyatt Centric Parking Garage (349 Seaside Ave.).

Free, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, 412 Lewers St., surfjack.com, @thesurfjack

Photo: Zane Persaud

The Honolulu Surf Film Festival

Thursday, July 6 to Sunday, July 30, various times

The 14th edition of the popular surf festival is back to being entirely in-person and includes appearances by Tom Curren and a tribute to Joey Cabell. Throughout the month, enjoy a diverse and robust selection of 28 surf films redefining the genre. And on July 8 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., HoMA will host the Surf Aloha Concert, a celebration of surf with headlining surfing singer-songwriter Landon McNamara—who had one of the epic rides of this year’s Eddie Aikau Invitational—on the Central Courtyard stage, as well as performances by Mana Maoli, Kupu Collective and The Late Ones, a pop-up shop by festival logo designer Manny Aloha and live art.

Films from $15, Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 South Beretania St., honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum

Castle Park. Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i State Art Museum

First Friday at HiSAM

Friday, July 7, 6 to 9 p.m.

Get ready for a unique live experience as Hawai‘i State Art Museum and SlappGood showcase several established and up-and-coming producers playing never-before-heard beats and songs. The stage will see some of the Pacific’s most skilled music producers, including Bimwala, a three-time Grammy-nominated producer, and Ohtoro, who has won multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards. Plus, there will be a live performance by Castle Park, a music group consisting of five members who were all born and raised in Hawai‘i.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, Hawai‘i State Art Museum, 250 South Hotel St., hisam.hawaii.gov, @hawaiistateartmuseum

Photo: Courtesy of Prince Waikīkī

Cosmics & Cocktails

Friday, July 7, 7:45 to 9:45 p.m.

Join Stargazers of Hawai‘i to experience a rare view of the Hawaiian night sky—Venus, Mars and Milky Way star clusters and more—through the lens of a large telescope. Sip on a cocktail poolside while you witness this summer’s celestial events. The Cosmic Coco Berry is a specialty, hand-crafted cocktail made with Kõloa Coffee rum, coffee liqueur, blueberries and oranges.

Free, Prince Waikīkī, 100 Holomoana St., princewaikiki.com, @princewaikiki

Left: Lissette Yamase of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, a portrait artist who uses charcoal.
Right: Anthony Watson, a carver of Palauan ancestry.
Photo: Courtesy of Floyd K. Takeuchi

Opening Reception for 7 Degrees North – The Arts of Micronesia

Friday, July 7, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Celebrate the new exhibit “7 Degrees North – The Arts of Micronesia,” which features contemporary artwork by artists of Micronesian ancestry who live in Hawaiʻi. Expect traditional handicrafts, part of a larger collection held by Hawaiʻi Pacific University, and photographs of the Islands and people of Micronesia in the Northwest Pacific. The exhibit is also the first of a year’s worth of special arts programming for Downtown Arts Center and the Micronesian community in Hawaiʻi.

Free, Downtown Arts Center, 1041 Nuʻuanu Ave., second floor, downtownarthi.org, @downtownartcenter

Wahiawā Botanical Garden. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Twilight Concert Series at Wahiawā Botanical Garden

Friday, July 7, 5 p.m.

Listen to Hale Hou perform traditional Hawaiian music during the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Twilight Series. Take a stroll through the garden and experience the splendor before enjoying the show. There is no entry fee for Wahiawā Botanical Garden, but carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, 1396 California Ave., Wahiawā, honolulubotanicalgardens.com, @honolulubotanicalgardens

Molly Whuppie Music at DLT Stables

Saturday, July 7, 3 to 5 p.m.

Keiki will delight a music performance by Molly Whuppie at Da Zoo. Feed and play with the animals while enjoying this special event at DLT Stables.

Family-Friendly Event, $25, DLT Stables, 41-631 Mokulama St., Waimānalo, dltstables.com, @dltstables

Photo: David Croxford

Dive ‘n’ Movie

Saturday, July 8, noon and 5 p.m.

Enjoy a movie outdoors and the water park’s extended hours (10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.). This weekend’s free movie presentation is Super Mario Brothers (PG), with double showings at noon and 5 p.m. at the Hawaiian Waters Wave Pool.

Family-Friendly Event, $29.99–$53.99, Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawai‘i, 400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii

Mauka Market

Saturday, July 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mauka Market and Masako in May are collaborating on the ultimate small business summer market at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako. The Barn will be chock-full of some amazing music and a curated mix of locally owned businesses, including Frozen Treats HI, Mai Mai Made, Māla Māmā Farm and Nekko Wellness, to name just a few.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, The Barn at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St., saltatkakaako.com, @maukamarket

Photo: Courtesy of American Savings Bank

Kama‘āina Sundays at ‘Iolani Palace Presented by American Savings Bank

Sunday, July 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This month’s Kama‘āina Sunday is all about health. Residents can once again attend free tours and enjoy live performances and presentations, this time featuring dental and nutritional demonstrations, health screenings, free personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kids from Ke Ola Mamo. There will also be movement and moʻōlelo sessions with Project Koa Yoga; lei making classes with Royal Hawaiian Center; painting with Paint Escape; a workshop on the Mauli Ola Initiative with Dr. Kalani Kaahanui and more.

Family-Friendly Event, free, ‘Iolani Palace, 364 South King St., asbhawaii.com, @asbhawaii

HI Finest Presents: Maoli Live

Sunday, July 9, 5 to 9 p.m.

Due to popular demand, Maoli has added a third show to their lineup at the Waikīkī Shell (Friday and Saturday nights’ shows are sold out). The singer-songwriter is credited with more than 21 #1 regional Island reggae hits, fusing country, R&B, soul, acoustic, rock & roll and reggae. Expect heartfelt, uplifting, feel-good music in the great outdoors.

$35 and up, Waikīkī Shell, 2805 Monsarrat Ave., blaisdellcenter.com, @blaisdellcenter

Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week performer Mālie Lyman. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week

Monday, July 10, and Sunday, July 15, various times

Enjoy one-hour performances by different Hawaiian steel guitar artists and ensembles such as Alan Akaka and The Islanders, Mālie Lyman, Greg Sardinha and Po‘okela and NextGen. The festival’s Saturday ho‘olaule‘a performances will feature various Hawaiian steel guitar artists and bands in two performance segments.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, The Royal Grove, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave., waikikisteelguitarweek.com, @royalhwnctr

SEE ALSO: 8 Things to Do in Waikīkī