Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: May 11–17, 2023

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Hokkaido Ramen Festival

Daily through July 30, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you can’t make the trip to Japan, you can still experience popular ramen from Hokkaido. During this three-month festival, beloved ramen restaurants from Hokkaido will be on rotation offering limited-time menu items. It’s the last week for the first round of restaurants (Yukiguni Story, Sapporo Ramen Sanomaru and Niseko Ramen Tokin), and on May 15, another group of restaurants will begin service (Tomeji, Kiichiro and Sakurajima).

Family-Friendly Event, Mitsuwa Marketplace, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., Level 2, hokkaido-ramen-festival.com, @hokkaidoramenfest2023

SEE ALSO: Hokkaido Ramen Festival Is Bringing 18 Ramen Shops to Waikīkī

Handpicked in Paradiso: An AAPI Marketplace

Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, shop this marketplace of local AAPI small business owners, creatives and entrepreneurs. There will also be AAPI performers, food vendors and a karaoke lounge (hop on the mic for $1). Proceeds from vendor registration fees and the karaoke lounge will be donated to Hawai‘i People’s Fund.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, Hub Coworking Hawai‘i, 1050 Queen St. #100, hubcoworkinghi.com, @hubcoworkinghi

The Play That Goes Wrong

May 11 to May 28, various times

Check out the hysterical Hawai‘i premiere of the play-within-a-play The Play That Goes Wrong. You’ll be privy to the antics of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society who are trying their very best to stage a production of a 1920s murder mystery. Watch as this company of actors and crew strive valiantly to prove that “the show must go on” as the disasters mount.

Family-Friendly Event (suggested for keiki 6 and older), $42 for adults, $37 for seniors and military, $24 for youth (25 years old and younger), Mānoa Valley Theatre, 2833 East Mānoa Road, manoavalleytheatre.com, @manoavalleytheatre

Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Valdivia via Unsplash

Cooking Class – Local Shoyu Foods

Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It’s never too late to learn! Take a cooking class with Chef Grant Sato to learn how to make meat jun, orange shoyu chicken and yurinchi sweet and sour karaage. After the one-day class, you’ll have learned how to create basic dishes from the shoyu family and identify tools and equipment.

$125, Kapi‘olani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, ce.uhcc.hawaii.edu

Mother’s Day Gift Fair by Island Craft Fairs

Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find the perfect gift for Mom and discover unique handcrafted jewelry, apparel, tote bags and stationery, as well as snacks, plants and other locally made goods. Participating vendors include Mzticalboutique, Coco Beads, HI Freeze Treats, Ugly Stix, Hawaii Candy Factory, doTERRA Nature’s Finest, Half Moon Boutique and more.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, Ka Makana Ali‘i, 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, islandcraftfairs.org, @islandcraftfairs

Photo: Courtesy of Blue Note Hawai‘i

Mother’s Day Comedy Brunch With Frank DeLima

Sunday, May 14, 1 p.m.

Treat Mom to a comedy show with Frank DeLima, one of Hawai‘i’s most popular and beloved comedians. Feast on good food and laugh out loud at the award-winning comic’s zany parodies. He humorously translates current events, fads, attitudes and people.

$35 to $45, Blue Note Hawai‘i, 2335 Kalākaua Ave., bluenotejazz.com, @bluenotehawaii

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways to Have Fun on Mother’s Day 2023

Photo: Courtesy of April Lawrence

2nd Annual DRIPNIQ Picnic Festival

Sunday, May 14, 5 p.m.

Get fancy outdoors with your mom friends at a picnic while supporting local food and retail vendors and enjoying live entertainment. The event is for 21 and over, so you can unwind with no kids. Suggested attire colors are yellow, green, orange, pink or blue.

$65 to $175 per person, Great Lawn at Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., blackbazaarhnl.com, @blackbazaarhnl

Eahou – A Fun-raiser for Purple Maiʻa

Sunday, May 7, 5:30 p.m.

Support Purple Maiʻa, a Hawaiian-led nonprofit, and their mission to build a Hawaiian culture-based tech and innovation sector in Hawaiʻi that is by and for Hawai‘i’s people. The fundraiser will celebrate where they’ve been and talk about the future they are building. Plus, expect a silent auction, door prizes, keiki activities, art and some special presentations.

Family-Friendly Event, $85, keiki 13 and under are free, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, 2454 S. Beretania St., purplemaia.org, @purple_maia

Photo: Laura Dornbush

Camp Pālehua Volunteer Day

Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m.

Deep-clean and paint the interior of upper bunkhouses, weed-whack and provide other service work in one of the most beautiful settings on O‘ahu. The camp, perched on the southern slopes of the Wai‘anae mountains, is on a mission to create unforgettable experiences in a unique ma uka environment for the local community and visitors.

Family-Friendly Event, Free, beverages and snacks will be provided. Email camppalehua@gmail.com to sign up. Camp Pālehua, 1 Pālehua Road, Kapolei, camppalehua.org, @camp_palehua

SEE ALSO: Events for Kids in May 2023 on O‘ahu

Natural Vibrations Live at ShoreFyre

Saturday, May 13, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Natural Vibrations—affectionately known as Natty Vibes to their fans—will play the reggae jams featuring rock and pop influences that they’re known for during this weekend’s NUTRL Nights ShoreFyre Weekend Concert Series. Formed in Kahalu‘u and now based out of San Diego, the band has a loyal local following and received several awards at the Hawai‘i Music Awards and the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

$15, ShoreFyre International Marketplace, 2330 Kalākaua Ave. #Suite 396, tickets available here.

Photo: Courtesy of Kai Pilger via Unsplash

Navigating by the Stars

Wednesday, May 17, 7 p.m.

Bishop Museum Planetarium educators will join Honolulu Community College Hoʻokele Instructor and Hōkūleʻa navigator Ka‘iulani Murphy to do a talk, introducing the night sky and celestial navigation and featuring the Hawaiian star line most prominent this month, Iwikuamo‘o.

Family-Friendly Event, $10 for adults, $7 for keiki (4 to 17 years old), free for keiki 3 and under, members receive 50% off, Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

Photo: Courtesy of Antonio Agosto

Kalani Pe‘a & Lincoln Center Moments

Tuesday, May 16, 1 p.m.

If you’re a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, sign up to enjoy a performance by Hawaiian contemporary soul singer/songwriter Kalani Pe‘a and celebrate the joyful and healing power of music. Part of Lincoln Center Moments, this free, performance-based 90-minute program is specially designed for audiences impacted by dementia anywhere in the country with access to Zoom. Expect live and recorded performances and activities facilitated by educators and music therapists that explore the work through discussion, movement, music and art-making.

Free. Register here. kalanipeamusic.com, @kalanipeamusic

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Business Magazine

Need to Know Series: The Promise and Reality of Regenerative Tourism

Wednesday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Hawai‘i Business Magazine is hosting a variety of Need to Know Series events throughout the year. This panel discussion features community leaders—Kūhiō Lewis from Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and John De Fries from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, for example—talking about how some local organizations are making regenerative tourism work and how to expand efforts moving forward.

$60, YWCA Laniākea Elizabeth Fuller Hall, 1040 Richards St., eventbrite.com, @hawaiibusinessmagazine