Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: Nov. 8–11, 2018

No Bruno Mars tickets? No problem.

November 7, 2018

Marisa Heung,

PHOTO: courtesy of IMDB

Hawai‘i International Film Festival

Thursday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 18

Movie buffs, cancel your plans and block out your social calendar: Hawai‘i’s premier film festival is back. The 11-day event will showcase 187 films from 35 countries, plus other film-related events—including the chance to see clips from the Hawaiian language version of Disney’s Moana and to meet Crazy Rich Asians actor (and 2018 HIFF Maverick Award winner) Awkwafina—and kicks off tomorrow evening with Shadow, directed by veteran filmmaker Zhang Yimou (you may be familiar with some of his past works: Hero, Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers, to name a few). Die-hard HIFF fans should consider dropping the extra cash for a $425 festival pass, which grants you unlimited movie watching plus priority access—no waiting in line!—for the entire event.

$10–$15, Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18, 735 Iwilei Road. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

Hawai‘i World War I Centennial and Veterans Day Commemoration

Monday, Nov. 11, 6 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.

This Veterans Day, the Hawai‘i World War One Centennial Task Force honors those who have served in the military with an entire day of festivities, all free to the public. The event kicks off at 6 a.m. with the Celtic Kula Pip Band performing “Battle’s O’er” as part of a nationwide tribute to the millions killed or wounded during WWI. From 9 a.m., the public can enjoy concerts, film screenings, historical exhibits, re-enactments and more throughout the day. The commemoration concludes at 8:45 p.m. with a special fireworks display over the Waikīkī Natatorium. Parking is available at lots near Kapiʻolani Community College, with a free trolley service running between seven pickup/drop-off points nearby from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Free, Waikīkī Natatorium War Memorial, 2815 Kalākaua Ave. For more information, go here.

photo: courtesy of taormina sicilian cuisine

Restaurant Week Hawai‘i

Friday, Nov. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 18

No matter how busy life gets around the holidays, Restaurant Week always gives us a reason to sit down, chill out and dig in. Now in its 11^th year, the 10-day culinary event, which runs from Nov. 9 to 18, features more than 60 restaurants offering exclusive prix fixe menus and dining offers at special discounted prices. A portion of proceeds raised from every dining meal purchased during Restaurant Week is donated to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, which supports the six culinary programs within the UH system. This year’s event is dedicated to Conrad Nonaka, late director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific and longtime supporter of the local food industry, who passed away in June.

For more information and a complete list of participating restaurants, go here.

Eat Think Drink

Thursday, Nov. 8, 6 to 9 p.m.

The latest installment of Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation’s quarterly event takes place this Thursday at the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach. “Scaling Up: Small Farm to Big Farm” is the theme of this quarter’s Eat Think Drink and will focus on how local farms can use innovation and technology to grow their businesses. The evening kicks off with a keynote presentation by Greenleaf Farm Management owner Eric Pond, followed by a panel discussion with locally successful farm owners, and concludes with drinks and bites at ‘Alohilani’s poolside Swell Bar.

$55 online, $65 at the door. ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach, 2490 Kalākaua Ave. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

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

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