Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: Sept. 11–17, 2025

See a made-in-Hilo film, take a cocktail masterclass, try out the YMCA, attend a garden party and more.

3 hours ago

Laura Dornbush,

Photo: Courtesy of 1919 Film

Chaperone

Premiering on Friday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m., additional screenings through Thursday, Sept. 18

Catch this award-winning indie drama directed and written by Zoë Eisenberg at its O‘ahu debut, featuring a pre-show mixer with the cast and crew, performance by local musician and the film’s composer Taimane, followed by a post-screening Q&A session in partnership with Hawai‘i Women in Filmmaking. Winner of the 2024 Slamdance Grand Jury Award, the film is an age-gap drama set in Hilo and features an all-AANHPI cast and Hawai‘i-based creative team.

Not rated, $17.75 general admission, Consolidated Theatres Ward, 1044 Auahi St., Kaka‘ako, consolidatedtheatres.com, @chaperonefilmhawaii

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9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Thursday, Sept. 11, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

Spend your lunch break at this annual gathering commemorating the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost, including first responders and Hawai‘i residents, with music by the Royal Hawaiian Band and a moment of reflection honoring victims and heroes alike.

Free, Tamarind Park, Bishop and King Streets, Downtown, rotaryd5000.org

Photos: Courtesy of Michael Jensen

Signature Sips with Foraged Flavors

Friday, Sept. 12, 5 to 7 p.m.

Go back to school to up your cocktail game. This hands-on mixology masterclass led by Hale ‘Aina Award-winning mixologist Michael Jensen dives into locally foraged ingredients, cultural storytelling and next-level sipping. You’ll learn the fundamentals of cocktail balance while crafting three signature drinks: a monkeypod old fashioned, li hing pineapple highball and pandan calamansi martini.

21+, $150, Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, 1001 California Ave., Wahiawā, ce.uhcc.hawaii.edu, @michaeljensen.mixology

Photo: Courtesy of YMCA Honolulu

Welcoming Week at YMCA

Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept. 21

If you’ve even been curious about joining the YMCA, here’s your chance to check it out for free. For 10 days, you can enjoy family-friendly activities, potlucks, sports challenges and access to more than 300 classes—from Hot Hula and pickleball to youth basketball and wellness workshops.

Family-friendly, free with registration, YMCA of Honolulu branches island-wide, ymcahonolulu.org, @ymcahonolulu

Photo: Courtesy of AIA Honolulu

AIA Honolulu CANstruction Competition

Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stop by Kāhala Mall to watch teams of local architects, designers and engineers put their building skills to work as they create dynamic 3D structures made from thousands of cans of food, which will later be donated to Hawai‘i Foodbank. The public will vote for their favorite “CANstruction.” From 10 a.m. to noon, keiki (ages 5 to 12) will learn to build their own creations with help from students from the UH School of Architecture.

Family-friendly, free, Kāhala Mall, 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Kāhala, aiahonolulu.org, @aiahonolulu

Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Parks & Rec

Honolulu Community Gardens’ 50th Anniversary

Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Celebrate five decades of community gardening on O‘ahu, now with 11 locations across the island. Enjoy garden tours, educational displays, hands-on demos, entertainment, food and more at the lush Foster Botanical Garden.

Family-friendly, free, Foster Botanical Garden, 180 N. Vineyard Blvd., Downtown, honolulu.gov, @honolulu_parks

Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush