Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend: March 17–23, 2021

Load up the car for concerts and screenings, draw on the streets of Kaka‘ako and raise a glass (or two) on St. Patrick’s Day to bars and restaurants serving until midnight. Oh, and don’t forget to show your poi puppy some love.

March 17, 2021

Katie Kenny,

Moonlight Mele Drive-in Concert

Saturday, March 20, 6:30 p.m.

Ha.Ka. Entertainment and Hawai‘i Stage and Lighting’s drive-in series continues at Aloha Stadium this month with a live concert featuring local musicians: Grammy Award-nominated and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winners Josh Tatofi, Pure Heart (a trio that includes ‘ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and whose 1998 self-titled album was listed as one of our Top 50 Hawai‘i albums) and Jawaiian/reggae/R&B favorite Rebel Souljahz. The outdoor experience is an effort to raise money for the Hawai‘i Theatre Center. Gates open at 5 p.m. and you must have an FM radio in your car to tune in.

$75–$100 per car, Aloha Stadium, 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd., hawaiitheatre.com

Stop, Drop and Chalk

Friday, March 19–Sunday, March 21

Create your own temporary chalk art at Salt this weekend. Think of uplifting messages to share with the community and then stylishly scribble them all over the ground at the open-air space between Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room and Moku Kitchen. On Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pow! Wow! Hawai‘i co-founder Jasper Wong (@mrjasperwong) as well as artists Luke DeKneef (@landrexd) and Lana Svirezheva (@lanasvirezheva) will talk story and show off some chalk drawing skills.

Free, Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 327 Keawe St., saltatkakaako.com

CHANGE Event Series: Health & Wellness

Thursday, March 18, 3–4 p.m.

Join top changemakers in health and wellness from across the Islands as they discuss the pandemic, mental health among our keiki, programs for kūpuna and more. Panelists include Lt. Gov. Josh Green, UHA Health Insurance’s Dr. Kathleen Kozak, Jason Chang of The Queen’s Health Systems and other leading health professionals. Register for the virtual event at hawaiibusiness.com.

$10, hawaiibusiness.com

Plus: Coming Up

Thunderstorm Artis Live at Blue Note Hawai‘i

Friday, March 26 & Saturday, March 27, 10:30 p.m.

The 6 and 8:30 p.m. shows are sold out on March 26, 27 and 28. The Hale‘iwa singer/songwriter heard the roar for his folk, rock, soul and country style and has answered with two more late-night sets. If you have ever heard Artis’ covers of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Mikky Ekko’s “Stay” and his original song “Sedona” on season 18 of NBC’s The Voice, then you know to book your tickets right now. Secure your seat at the wonderful Blue Note Hawai‘i and find out why I think the front-runner of the entire season was robbed at the finals.

$25, Blue Note Hawai‘i, 2335 Kalākaua Ave., bluenotehawaii.com

Other Ideas

Photo: Courtesy of Butcher & Bird

CELEBRATE St. Patrick’s Day

On March 17, 2020, the HONOLULU Magazine team began working from home. One year later, I’m trying to decide between having a quiet celebration at home with a Guinness and takeout or venturing out into our new world of last calls at midnight and reopened bars. Both options are looking pretty good since restaurants, diners, pubs, bars, bakeries and even shave ice spots are offering awesome dine-in and takeout options. Some standouts this year include Butcher & Bird’s lucky chucky corned beef and cabbage special, 12th Ave Grill’s Maui Cattle Co. corned beef and traditional shepherd’s pie, Hideout at The Laylow’s Jameson flight, Via Gelato’s Irish coffee gelato and, of course, Murphy’s Bar & Grill’s entire festive menu. But click below for Frolic’s big long list of St. Paddy’s Day specials. Sláinte!

WATCH a Movie from Your Couch or Your Car

This is a choose-your-own-adventure event. If you selected the couch option, set your search for comedies on National Let’s Laugh Day (March 19). Chuckle with two movies that debuted digitally this month: Coming 2 America with Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall (they both play multiple roles) and James Earl Jones on Amazon Prime, and the Asian-inspired Disney animation Raya and the Last Dragon starring Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu the dragon on Disney Plus. If you selected the car option, then rev your engines for HIFF Night at Aloha Drive-In Movies this weekend. Saturday has a very strong lineup of movies I’m eager to see: Minari (6 p.m.) and Promising Young Woman (9 p.m.). Minari (Lee Isaac Chung’s film about a Korean American family that moves from California to rural Arkansas in the ’80s) has six nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards, including for best picture, best director and best actor for Steven Yeun (who is making Oscar history). Promising Young Woman (Carey Mulligan stars as a vengeance-seeking woman who deals with her painful past by hunting male predators) has five nominations including for best picture, best director and best actress.

HIFF Night at Aloha Drive-In Movies: $25–$45 per vehicle, Ala Moana Center, alohadriveinmovies.com

The Italian Hoagie from ‘Ili‘ili Cash & Carry. Photo: Thomas Obungen

EAT a Sandwich

O‘ahu sure knows how to pack a lunch: Paper-thin salami, juicy roast beef, tasty tonkatsu, sumptuous smoked brisket, hefty lumps of crab, fresh fish and everything else that’s best between bread. The HONOLULU team is a hungry bunch so we asked everyone to share our 9 favorite grab-and-go’s.

This Hawai‘i rescue pup, and her human, love their matching outfits from Roberta Oaks. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

SPOIL Your Puppy

Tuesday, March 23

As if you need one of hundreds of dog-related national days to show Fido some love. But if you want an excuse to post pupper pics on Instagram, mark National Puppy Day in your calendar. Then head to HONOLULU’s pets page for tips on doggy days out to restaurants and trails, photo galleries of dogs surfing and more—while you mentally plan photo ops to enter in our annual Pet Photo Contest this summer. If you need a wardrobe refresh, head to Roberta Oaks’ new, bigger digs on Nu‘uanu Avenue for matching masks and pet bandannas.

SEE ALSO: Where to Adopt a Pet in Honolulu