Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend: January 6–12, 2021

HIFF40 Hana Hou

Wednesday, Jan. 6–Sunday, Jan. 10

Since it is finally starting to feel a little like a Hawai‘i winter, we’re all for the Hawai‘i International Film Festival’s current limited offer: Stream all 10 of the 40th festival’s award-winning films at home. One pass will grant you access to movies such as the Made in Hawai‘i Best Feature and the Best Cinematography winner, Waikīkī; the Made in Hawai‘i Best Short and the Audience Award Short, Hawaiian Soul; the Made in Hawai‘i Best Animation, Kapaemahu (a short that focuses on a young Hawaiian activist who is fighting to protect Kaho‘olawe from military bombing); and the winner of the Audience Award Best Narrative, Lumpia with a Vengeance. Watch online on HIFF’s streaming portal or through the Apple TV, Amazon or Roku apps.

$25, hiff.org

SEE ALSO: What to Watch at the 2020 Hawai‘i International Film Festival This Month

Kōkua Small Biz with Kailua Night Market

Saturday, Jan. 9, 5–9 p.m.

You’ve been shopping for others in recent months so it’s time to splurge on yourself. Kailua Night Market is back with a Kōkua Small Biz series on two Saturdays in January and two in February. And the first of the free, family- and pet-friendly events is taking place this weekend. Expect local brands like The Fox Lotus, Skye Dream Boutique and Inxgami, plus a canned food drive that you can contribute to. There are a handful of COVID-19 rules in place for everyone’s safety so be sure to check those out before attending the market.

340 Uluniu St, Kailua, kailuanightmarket.com, @kailuanightmarket

Tumua Tuinei

Friday, Jan. 8—Sunday, Jan. 10, 6 & 8:30 p.m. shows

This hard-working UH football player turned comedian is kicking off the year with some major go get goals: 12 shows at Blue Note Hawai‘i over the course of six nights. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, this social media star (@tumua_) has been entertaining us with his YouTube sketches about toilet paper, local dads trying to homeschool their kids, common characteristics for local servers, first time joggers, what your Zippys order and the O‘ahu high school you went to says about you, and his vlog about Tanioka’s being back in business after the lockdown. Check him out this weekend with his first set of back-to-back shows.

$28–$33, Blue Note Hawai‘i, bluenotehawaii.com, @bluenotehawaii

Ho‘okahi Sunday with Grant Kono

Sunday, Jan. 10, 6–9 p.m.

Sundays are all about Hawaiian music at WorkPlay in Kaka‘ako. Spend your evening listening to award-winning local musician Grant Kono (who also makes up one third of the band Ei Nei) perform while you sip on cocktails and munch on adobo tacos (our favorite) in the socially distant bar and dining area. Or hide away in one of the four private rooms during the performance. We recommend reserving your spot ahead of time via WorkPlay’s online booking system.

Free to attend, 814 Ilaniwai St., workplayhi.com, @workplayhi

SEE ALSO: The Two Faces of WorkPlay: A Hip Kaka‘ako Bar That Now Serves a Mellow Brunch

Self-Care at Home

Photo: Elena Mozhvilo @miracleday / Unsplash

CREATE a 2021 Vision Board

Saturday, Jan. 9

This Saturday is National Vision Board Day so if you haven’t set your goals for 2021 yet then here’s your chance. We can’t help but stress that after a year like 2020, setting realistic (and flexible!) goals for yourself will be a lot more rewarding. We have a lot to inspire you all over our website: check out our fitness page, make a list of hikes you want to conquer, get money tips from thrifty rich locals, learn to cook Iron Chef Morimoto’s three-ingredient udon noodles, read a new book every month and maybe even Marie Kondo your life. We’re heading to the closest Fisher Hawai‘i store to stock up on fun things to craft with!

We held ours in December so we included an Elderflower and Prosecco cocktail. Photo: Katie Kenny

THROW an Afternoon Tea Party

Some of us have taken on a dry January challenge but are still looking for ways to gather (safely and with five or fewer people) at home. Why not create a sweet little tea party with mini homemade cucumber, egg salad and katsu chicken finger sandwiches, bite-size desserts with local flavors, and scones with clotted cream and various jams (we love the scones from Diamond Head Bakery and Whole Foods)? Only thing left is the tea. Bring all the tea in your pantry that you’ve been meaning to use or head over to Tea Chest Hawai‘i to choose from locally grown teas from Hawaiian Natural Tea, Tropical Iced Tea, Island Essence Tea and Moana Surfrider. Make sure to invite that one friend who loves to spill the tea.

SEE ALSO: Impress Your Guests with a Tropical Spread That’s Brimming with Good Taste, Fresh Picks and Festive Spirits

SHOP for Plant Babies

Sunday, Jan. 10

Make your followers go green with envy the next time they see your jungalow home on Instagram. This Sunday is National Houseplant Appreciation Day, which to us is just the perfect excuse to bring more of the beautiful outdoors in. Check out our list of seven greenery-inspired products from local boutiques for some pre-shopping planning.

SEE ALSO: 6 Fruiting Plants You Can Grow On Your Own Lānai

Seafood paella at Rigo. Photo: Olivier Koning

REVIEW the Year That Was

We’re not ones to dwell but we do enjoy looking back at some of the biggest moments of our lives in Honolulu. Our editor picked out her favorite articles that were published in 2020, then we rounded up the most-read food and dining stories and now we’re preparing our annual Sour Poi Awards. Want more? Check out all of the retrospectives we have done over the years, including a look back at the past decade.