Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: March 3–9, 2021

Pink and white chichi dango from Nisshodo Candy Store. Photo: Steve Czerniak

Girls’ Day!

March 3

The third day of the third month means Girls’ Day in Hawai‘i and a good reason to celebrate the girls and women in your life with mochi or other treats. Our colleagues on the Frolic Hawai‘i team did our homework for us on where to find a tasty and lovely array of goodies to mark this day in a sweet, and often very pink, fashion. Click here for their picks.

Robi Kahakalau. Photo: Courtesy of Blue Note Hawai‘i

Artist 2 Artist Series with Henry Kapono & Guests

Thursdays, March 4 to May 27, 6 p.m.

Blue Note Hawai‘i keeps the live music coming with this week’s launch of a 13-concert series presented as a partnership with the Henry Kapono Foundation, dedicated to helping get Hawai‘i’s musicians back to work. Each show features an up-and-coming local musician, followed by a jam and talk-story session with some of our state’s most iconic entertainers. Not ready to book a table just yet? The Waikīkī club offers a livestreaming ticket option so you can watch live and on-demand for a week after each show. Henry Kapono hosts, kicking off the series March 4 with Robi Kahakalau, Kala‘e Camarillo and Malia Mahi, with an opening performance by Kamaka Camarillo. Next week, March 11: Jerry Santos with opening performance by Kamuela Kimokeo.

$20–$25, 2355 Kalākaua Ave., bluenotehawaii.com       

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i State Public Library System

Virtual Genealogy Workshops with Hawai‘i State Library

Saturdays, March 6–April 3, 10 a.m.

Explore your family tree along with the experts gathered by the Hawai‘i State Public Library System for a Saturday morning series of five workshops to “learn about different research resources, repositories and search strategies that can help you find your family history.” First up this week is: How to Begin Finding Your Family Roots, presented by librarian Kylie Flood, at the Nānākuli Public Library. The workshops provide a mix of general information along with specific Hawai‘i and Native Hawaiian resources. Other sessions feature Hawaiian newspapers, genealogy resources, Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Sites and Archives, and a session on genealogy and land research with Nā Hawai‘i ‘Imi Loa. This series comes through a partnership with the James & Abigail Campbell Library, Hawaiian Mission Houses and Nā Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa, with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Free, registration is required, librarieshawaii.org

Photo: Courtesy of Razor Sports

Razor Drifting at Ka Makana Ali‘i

In January, owner Dave Nagamine opened three small but mighty indoor racetracks for three levels of drivers in a 3,000-square-foot space in Kapolei. Drivers from age 3 and up can take these electric carts for a 10-minute spin, with adults clocking about 3-4 mph. The setting includes backdrops of the Hale‘iwa bridge, the Ko‘olau Range and the Waialua Sugar Mill. Families can feel what it’s like to drift around corners in a glide that Nagamine says resembles driving in snow but is warmer and safer. “It is high adrenaline enough to get the adults to smile but safe enough for the keiki,” says Nagamine. Masks are required as are head socks to keep the track helmets clean. Buy a head sock there for $3.50 or bring your own helmet and you won’t need the head sock. The first location for this company was at Pearlridge.

$10–$15, Ka Makana Ali‘i, 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, razordrift808.com

Other Ideas

Photo: Courtesy of Ward Village

Pop-up Bookstore at Ward Village

Through June

Check out the new pop-up Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i bookstore at Ward Village in the former Pier 1 Imports space, next to Nordstrom Rack. The temporary store opened Feb. 27, offering thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, artwork and more. While the traditional summer sale at McKinley High School has been postponed because of the pandemic, this location, sponsored by Ward Village and the Hawai‘i State Federal Credit Union, will be open—and restocked—daily except Mondays.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, 1240 Ala Moana Blvd., friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org

Photo: Courtesy of Sea Life Park

Sea Life Park Reopens

March 6–7, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

After being closed for most of the past year—354 days to be precise—Sea Life Park in Waimānalo will reopen beginning with shorter weekend-only hours as well as increased health and safety measures. The marine life-centered attraction encourages visitors to book tickets online for contactless experiences and an added behind-the-scenes tour ($49.99, including park admission).

$14.99 children, $22.99 adults, for kama‘āina rates, 41-202 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, #7, Waimānalo, sealifeparkhawaii.com

Artist Esperance Rakotonirina. Photo: Courtesy of Arts at Marks Garage

Lasting Impressions Art Exhibit

March 2–27

The Arts at Marks Garage in Downtown Honolulu presents the works of 11 local artists. Artist MaryAnne Long curated this exhibit to showcase the skills and backstories of artists who have made a positive impact on her: Christopher Edwards, Elizabeth Kent, Frank Oliva, Jodi Endicott, Calvin Lac, Robert Mace, Esperance Rakotonirina, Michelle Schwengel-Regala, Sam Campos, Wendy Johnson Roberts and Roger Tinius.

1159 Nu‘uanu Ave., artsatmarks.com

Photo: Courtesy of state Department of Land and Natural Resources

Diamond Head State Monument Open More Often

Beginning March 8

After months of being closed, then open—but for fewer days per week than pre-COVID-19—the popular Diamond Head State Monument will soon be open to hikers six days a week, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entrance). Gates close at 6 p.m. Hawai‘i residents can park and enter for free but nonresidents and commercial vehicles pay a fee to help keep up the trail. The monument will be closed on Wednesdays.

Diamond Head Road, dlnr.hawaii.gov