Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: May 12–17, 2022

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day

Friday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To adorn the grave of each veteran buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific with lei this Memorial Day, the Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting various lei-sewing and drop-off opportunities throughout the month. This Friday, come to Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden to craft ti leaf lei. The lei made there and elsewhere will then be placed on 38,000 graves at Pūowaina. Ages 12 and up are welcome; class sizes are very limited (Saturday’s session is full) so sign up in advance.

Free, Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden, (808) 233-7323, @hoomaluhiabotanicalgarden

Bishop Museum After Hours

Friday, May 13, 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Visiting a museum at night just hits different. In addition to seeing the permanent and rotating exhibitions currently on display, hang out on the lawn for food and live music, sign up for a planetarium show, take a tour, or register as a member to enjoy the Membership Lounge from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This month, join a pau hana presentation about the exhibit Tatau: Marks of Polynesia, then observe live tattooing from 7 to 8 p.m. Last admission is at 8 p.m. You can also receive free admission to the event if you visited the museum earlier that day—just show your tickets.

$20 general, $10 kama‘āina, $5 ages 4–17, free for members. Parking is $3 per vehicle. 1525 Bernice St. See the schedule, vendor details and register here, @bishopmuseum

Mālama Pu‘uloa Community Workday

Saturday, May 14, 8 a.m.–noon

Every second Saturday, lend a helping hand to Mālama Pu‘uloa, a program of the community networking nonprofit Hui O Ho‘ohonua. The group removes trash and invasive trees and shrubs from the shoreline at Kapapapuhi Point Park (formerly West Loch Community Shoreline Park) in ‘Ewa Beach as part of its Honouliuli Restoration project. Register to volunteer and sign the waiver here.

Free, Kapapapuhi Point Park, malamapuuloa.org, @malamapuuloa

Photo: Courtesy of Blue Note Hawai‘i

Mindy Smokestack Presents a Tribute to Amy Winehouse

Monday, May 16, 6:30 and 9 p.m. shows

The English singer-songwriter’s hits live on through soulful cover queen Mindy Smokestack, who has also performed tributes to Etta James, Nina Simone and Sharon Jones. If you plan to come for dinner but don’t want to hear your loud silverware clanging during the performance, show up early: Doors to the first show open a full hour and a half in advance, and both validated and valet parking are for four hours ($6 self-parking at the ‘Ohana East Hotel, $15 valet on site). Doors open for the 9 p.m. show at 8:30.

$25–$35, Blue Note Hawaiʻi, 2335 Kalākaua Ave., bluenotehawaii.com, @bluenotehawaii

Celebrate Ballet

Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15

Two local ballets hold showcases this weekend. Ballet Hawai‘i’s Spring Showcase features its upper school students on Saturday at 7 p.m., with lower school dancers showing their stuff on Sunday at 1 p.m. (Honolulu students) and 4:30 p.m. (Waipahu lower school students). Celebrate this year’s theme, Dancing Together Again, in person at Leeward Community College, where students will perform choreography from classical ballets as well as original pieces. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at ballethawaii.org. Across the Ko‘olau Range, Queen Emma Ballet debuts The Forest of Enchanted Dreams at Windward Community College’s Palikū Theatre. More than 100 students will perform this bedtime story, directed by artistic director Therese Wendler. Shows are at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased here.

@ballethawaii; @queenemmaballet