Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend: February 10-16, 2021
Get into art, share love, celebrate shave ice, bake and enjoy the holiday.
Navid Najafi will perform during ‘Ohana Day as part of the 2021 Virtual Art Summit. Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Contemporary Art Summit.
Inaugural Virtual Hawai‘i Contemporary Art Summit, February 10–13
Free with registration
Listen to keynote speakers, artists, curators, and thinkers from Hawai‘i and around the world known for educational programming focused on art and ideas. They include multi-generational local arts and creative practitioners Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, the founders of Piliāmo‘o and ‘Elepaio Press, and Nikkya Taliaferro, Moanalua High School senior and executive director of Hawai‘i for Black Lives, musician and activist Navid Najafi, joined by international artists, filmmakers, performers and thinkers including Ai Weiwei, Theaster Gates and Homi K. Bhabaha. This new event by Hawai‘i Contemporary, formerly the Honolulu Biennial Foundation, and the Hawai‘i State Art Museum is a multi-day series of public talks, panels, and performance-based events. The goal is to engage local communities through meaningful dialogue. Content will be available to those who register for two weeks after the event.
This virtual event is free and open to the public, registration is required. Sessions start at 10 a.m. each day, hawaiicontemporary.org/art-summit. View the full Art Summit and ‘Ohana Day schedule.
Share Aloha interactive art through Feb. 14 at Salt at Kaka‘ako. Photo: Courtesy of Our Kaka‘ako.
Share “AL♡HA”
Through February 14
Visit 4-foot-high letters that spell AL♡HA through Valentine’s Day, as part of an art campaign “designed to encourage aloha, gratitude and positivity during these challenging times.” Write your own messages on postcards and hang them on the fence. Yes, there’s a social media element: Take a photo of the giant letters or your postcard and post it on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #alohakakaako by midnight Sunday, Feb. 14, to be entered to win a $50 gift card to one of the Our Kaka‘ako merchants.
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, The Barn at Salt in Kaka‘ako, 660 Ala Moana Blvd., ourkakaako.com, @ourkakaako
North Shore landmark Matsumoto Shave Ice. Photo: Courtesy of Matsumoto Shave Ice.
Celebrate 70th anniversary of Matsumoto Shave Ice
Saturday, February 13 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Iconic family business Matsumoto Shave Ice invites the public to help celebrate its 70th anniversary with the nostalgic special price of $1 for a small size with up to three flavors as well as other promotions and giveaways. Founded as a grocery store in 1951, the North Shore landmark quickly gained a loyal following of regulars who bought the rainbow shave ice. The third generation of the family continues the tradition.
66-111 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, (808) 637-4827, matsumotoshaveice.com, @matsumotoshaveice
Mānoa Valley Theatre opens 2021 with the virtual play Waiting for the Host. Photo: Courtesy of Mānoa Valley Theatre.
Waiting for the Host
Available on-demand Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14
Honolulu’s off-Broadway specialist begins the 2021 lineup with a virtual play called Waiting For The Host, described as “a timely, hilarious and thought-provoking production specially created to be experienced online, exploring the challenges of the new normal by bringing you an exciting and extraordinary piece of virtual theater in the midst of our enforced digital regime.” The comedy was performed live on stage at Mānoa Valley Theatre and livestreamed last weekend. If you missed it, you can now see the recording on-demand.
Tickets are $20, manoavalleytheatre.com
Other ideas
Make these Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies for a sweet and spicy treat on a rainy day. Photo by Robbie Dingeman.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, it’s been chilly and Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 15, which is a holiday for many. That gives us many reasons to bake something fun, spicy and festive. This cookie has some heat but it’s balanced by the sweet. We love an excuse to buy the Dandies vegan marshmallows that often go on sale close to holidays at Whole Foods Market, Down To Earth and Kokua Market for that added kick of vanilla. You know how some desserts look better than they taste? Not these, they taste as fabulous as they look.
One of the famous Blue Angel aircraft arrives from Naval Air Station Pensacola about Pasha Hawai‘i’s Jean Anne on February 2, 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Pasha Hawai‘i.
Blue Angel Reassemble
Wednesday, February 10 through Friday, February 12
Blue Angel #4, an F/A-18C Hornet, has arrived in historic Hangar 79 and will be reassembled in full view of the public. It’s a rare opportunity to watch the restoration team and volunteers reassemble the aircraft for display. To watch in person, you must buy a general admission ticket. Can’t make it? The museum won’t livestream but will post photos on social media.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Ford Island, 319 Lexington Blvd., (808) 441-1000, pearlharboraviationmuseum.org
Kōlea or Pacific Golden Plover near Kawainui Marsh in Kailua. Photo by Robbie Dingeman
Great Backyard Bird Count 2021
Friday, February 12 through Monday, February 15
Watch birds for 15 minutes or more at least once February 12 to 15 and report back on what you see as part of this worldwide event. Organizers suggest using an app on your smartphone but offer different ways to get involved. Last year, 268,674 people counted more than 27 million birds in 194 countries.
Hate Mail, A Comedy
Friday, February 12, 7 p.m.
This 90-minute play is being presented drive-in theater style and billed as “a Valentine’s treat for those who prefer some bitter with their sweet.” From the playwrights best known for Mystery Science Theatre 3000 and RiffTrax, the story provides a new twist on love letters presented by scrappy Kailua Onstage Arts in a covered parking lot in Kailua with the audio available on FM radio. Sunday’s performance is sold out.
$20, 340 Uluniu St., Kailua, kailuaonstagearts.com
Hearts & Craft Gift Fair
Saturday, February 13, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Island Craft Fairs returns to Ka Makana Ali‘i for a Hearts & Crafts Gift Fair at Center Court with gifts for all ages. Part of the proceeds from this event will benefit Hawaiʻi’s Mother’s Milk.
