Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend: Aug. 18–20, 2017

A lineup of the weekend’s best events.

August 16, 2017

Marisa Heung,

Had enough of all the Hawai‘i-centric events the summer has given us? Nope, us neither. But even if our closet’s filled with new local merch and our bank account is begging for reprieve, it’ll be hard for us to stay away from the Blaisdell this weekend, where nearly 400 small businesses will offer their goods at one of Hawai‘i’s biggest local-product expos. Those looking for less shopping this weekend can register for a special felting class (which comes with lunch at Kan Zaman), get their raunchy laughs in at Jim Jefferies’ comedy tour or support oral cancer awareness at the Oral Cancer Foundation’s first-ever walk.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF Made in Hawai‘i Festival

2017 Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Friday, Aug. 18 through Sunday, Aug. 20

What will you find at the Made in Hawai‘i Festival? Really, the better question is: What won’t you find? Produced by the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association and sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank, the Made in Hawai‘i Festival was created to give local small businesses an opportunity to showcase their goods, increase exposure and gain new customers. Now in its 23^rd year, the festival attracts tens of thousands of attendees from both here and abroad each year. This Friday through Sunday, nearly 400 exhibitors will set up shop at the Blaisdell and offer Island-crafted fashion, produce, accessories, artwork, crafts and more. Add a lineup of live entertainment and cooking demonstrations by Hawai‘i’s best local talents, and you may never want to leave (but, sorry, you will need to eventually). You can check out the full directory of exhibitors on the Made in Hawai‘i Festival website, but if you need specifics, we’ll throw a few names your way: Kealopiko, Anahola Granola, Roberta Oaks, Aloun Farms, Jana Lam and Naked Cow Dairy. (You’re welcome.)

$6, free for ages 6 and younger. Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and Arena, 777 Ward Ave. For more information on this event, go here.

This month’s Weekend Picks Sponsored by:

Cactus & Kebabs: A Food + Art Pop-Up

Saturday, Aug. 19, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The Art Loft buddies up with StreetGrindz for a fun D.I.Y. class that the lazy, the forgetful or just the unfortunately brown-thumbed can get behind. Spend your Saturday lunch and afternoon at Kan Zaman in Chinatown with Cactus & Kebabs, the partnership’s first-ever food-plus-art pop-up series. One ticket gets you: a spot at the table; your choice of a chicken, lamb or vegetarian kebab sandwich, plus salad and a drink; and all the materials you need to create your very own, adorable, one-of-a-kind, unkillable miniature succulent Mason-jar garden. Have the crafting skills of a 5-year-old? No worries, your journey to faux-succulent success will be guided by in-house crafter and felt master Jen McCloud. Just show up and be ready for a fun, relaxing crafting adventure.

$63, Kan Zaman, 1028 Nu‘uanu Ave. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Jim Jefferies

Jim Jefferies: The Unusual Punishment Tour at Hawai‘i Theatre

Saturday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m.

We’ll say this now: Jim Jefferies is not for everyone. If you enjoy exchanging pleasantries, are fond of dad jokes and believe in the adage, “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all,” it’d probably be best to spend your evening elsewhere. If, however, you enjoy swearing, revel in others’ misfortunes and have been called “incredibly inappropriate and offensive” by someone at some point, buy a ticket to The Unusual Punishment Tour, because you’ll love this guy. Known for his caustic, confrontational style, Jim Jefferies delivers in-yo’-face stand-up with topics and personal anecdotes that could (and do) make the audience blush—and is completely unapologetic for it. His no-holds-barred comedy routines have won him international fame, as well as production opportunities on HBO, Showtime, Epix, FX, Netflix and, most recently, Comedy Central, where he currently hosts The Jim Jefferies Show.

$36.50–$179. Hawai‘i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

Oral Cancer Walk for Awareness

Sunday, Aug. 20 at 8 a.m.

Oral cancer may not get as much buzz as other life-threatening illnesses. But maybe it should, when you consider that nearly 50,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it this year, and, of those, only slightly more than half will still be alive in five years. The Oral Cancer Foundation aims to raise awareness and funds to research the disease with its inaugural Oral Cancer Walk for Awareness, taking place this Sunday morning at Ala Moana Park. In addition to a 5K walk/run course, the event will have cancer screenings, activity booths, light refreshments and a ceremony, when cancer survivors will share their personal journeys battling the illness. Oral cancer survivors and keiki 5 years and younger may join the walk free of charge; everyone else can register online ($10 for ages 6–10, $15 for students, $25 for adults) or at the event (an additional $5 for students and adults). Don’t want to exercise but still want to support the cause? You can make a donation here.

$0–$30, Ala Moana Regional Park, 1201 Ala Moana Blvd. For more information and to register online, go here.

Looking for more things to do? Check out our events calendar.