Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Weekend in Honolulu: December 2–4
Lei Chic’s guide to the weekend’s best events.
Photo: Courtesy of Arts and Flavors of Hawai‘i
Shop: Arts and Flavors of Hawai‘i Food and Products Show
Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or shopping for another, who cares? Let’s be real—shopping is shopping, and we love it any which way. And what better way to spend those dollars than on locally made products? Shop the newest pop-up event by Arts and Flavors of Hawai‘i on the East Side at Hawai‘i Kai Retirement Community, featuring many beloved regulars such as Pure Joy Hawai‘i, Kira Hawai‘I (on the model in the above photo), Florencia Arias, S.I.E. Swim and 19th and Whimsy. In addition, you’ll have the chance to peruse all-natural beauty and health products and vintage Hawaiian home décor, plus some street and specialty food options (shoutout to The Stick & The Ball for its addicting granola we love to eat straight out of the bag) for when you get the tummy rumbles.
Hawai‘i Kai Retirement Community, 428 Kawaihae St. For more information on the event and participating vendors, go here or visit the Arts and Flavors of Hawai‘i Instagram.
Watch: Her Bodies of Stories at Doris Duke Theatre
Saturday, Dec. 3, 7 to 11 p.m.
Lyz Soto, poet of the written and spoken word, uses her voice to bring life to Her Bodies of Stories, a spoken-art collection of scenes that explores themes of diaspora, settler colonialism and growing up in Hawai‘i. Slam poetry mixes with theater, movement and sound to produce powerful scenes that can be playful and humorous one moment, then fierce and thought-provoking another. The program, written by Soto, mentor at the award-winning program Youth Speaks Hawai‘i, will be performed by herself, Jocelyn Ng, Serena Simmons and Joanna Gordon and directed by Grace Taylor.
$8–$10, Doris Duke Theatre, 901 Kīnaʻu St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.
Photo: Courtesy of Town Center of Mililani
Play: Town Center of Mililani Grand Unveiling Celebration
Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4
Those of you living in M-town already know what’s up: Town Center of Mililani, neighborhood outdoor mall and unofficial afterschool hangout spot, completed renovations and celebrates its reopening on Friday with a weekend full of free, fun holiday events for the entire family. The lineup includes a Hawaiian blessing, “Sunset at Town Center” movie night, the Mililani Holiday Parade, free keiki activities including holiday crafts and origami, and Holiday Storytime with Mililani Public Library. Come on Saturday for some fun in the snow (yep, snow) and an opportunity for free stuff, including the chance to win a $1,000 Town Center shopping spree! The center’s stores will be participating in special offers this weekend, and the event benefits Mililani High School Project Grad, Mililani Public Library and The Bella Project.
Town Center of Mililani, 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Mililani. For more information on Town Center of Mililani, go here.
Shop: “Eye for Beauty” at Ho‘āla Salon and Spa
Friday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
While you’re shopping at Ala Moana Center this Friday, traipsing through the ‘Ewa and Mauka wings to find the perfect gifts for all your lucky loved ones, take a moment to stop by the Ho‘āla Salon and Spa between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and treat your eyes to a mini makeover. Ho‘āla will have an artistic team available for complimentary makeup application, as well as exclusive sneak peeks into its limited edition gift sets (basically, the perfect gift for Becky with the Good Hair). This week is Aveda’s double points weekend, which means Pure Privilege members receive double points with the purchase of any Aveda product. Not a member yet? Sign up this weekend and you’ll get triple points.
Ho‘āla Salon and Spa, Ala Moana Center. For more information on Ho‘ālaSalon and Spa, go here.
Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu City LIghts
Walk: Honolulu City Lights Opening Night
Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 to 11 p.m.
Grab your SO, your family, your friends or just your dog and head for the 32nd annual Honolulu City Lights, O‘ahu’s annual holiday promenade at Honolulu Hale. Kicking off the official start of the holiday season on Saturday evening, the Honolulu City Lights opening night will feature family-friendly activities mingled with holiday displays both new and old. (Don’t worry, though—Shaka Santa’s still there.) Combine the bright, shiny lights with the kiddie rides and food booths, and you’ve got enough excitement and stimulation to tire your keiki out for the rest of the night (you’re welcome). The Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony starts at 6 p.m., just around the time the Public Workers Electric Light Parade begins to make its way from ‘A‘ala Park and down King Street. The evening finishes up with a holiday concert near the Sky Gate featuring local artists. Tip: Score free parking in the city’s municipal lot. Easy peasy.
Free, Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St. For more information and schedule of events, go here.
Shop: Kāhala Mall Presents The Very Merry Event
Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4
Perhaps you’re more of an Ebenezer Scrooge than a Buddy the Elf, but the third annual Very Merry Event, a centerwide holiday event at Kāhala Mall, will be sure to have even you cheerfully wishing a merry Christmas to all. For just five bucks, you receive one VIP pass to attend the Very Merry Event, where participating stores and restaurants are offering special discounts, offers and gifts with purchase exclusively to pass holders. More than 45 stores and restaurants are participating, each offering a pretty discount off items! Participants include retailers Adore, Cinnamon Girl, Magnolia, Riches Kāhala and Thinker Things, which are all offering 20 percent off merchandise. It’s a win-win for everyone: Local nonprofits are able to raise funds and shoppers have the opportunity to shop special savings while getting that feel-good, do-gooder high. And the best part: Nonprofits get to keep every single penny received from ticket sales, an equivalent to Christmas come early if you ask us. Purchase tickets this weekend at the enter-to-win table in Center Court.
Kāhala Mall. For more information on The Very Merry Event, go here. For a list of participating stores, go here.
