Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Weekend in Honolulu: November 4–6

Lei Chic’s guide to the weekend’s best events.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF Aloha Elixir

Shop: Aloha Elixir Pop-Up Shop

Saturday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Aloha Elixir, local apothecary and good vibes provider, is holding its first-ever pop-up shop at the Ala Moana Hotel’s Pakalana Room. Whether you’re holiday shopping or just looking to remedy all the stress holiday shopping brings, the shop’s owner and aromatherapy master Keoki Tavares has just what you need. Inspired by the Native Hawaiian practice of la‘au lapa‘au—a natural healing method using botanicals and meditation—Tavares creates all of his own salves, soy candles, essential oil mixes and more to promote the natural healing of emotional and physical ailments. With candles called Road Opener, Letting Go and Millionaire, there’s something for everyone, making these the most perfect, thoughtful gifts. While you’re there, can you grab us a Millionaire or two?

Ala Moana Hotel, Pakalana Room, 410 Atkinson Drive. For more information, go here.

Watch: Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents iHula by Ryan Okinaka

Through Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

Sometimes, in this age of smartphones, social media and instant gratification at our fingertips, you begin to wonder what role—if any—tradition has with future generations. Will technology help preserve our traditions, or will the customs of our cultures be replaced entirely by tweets, selfies, hashtags? The question is explored in iHula, told through the eyes of a kumu hula and four of her students, each a very different young woman. Kumu ‘Iwalani is trying her best to pass on her love for hula to her students, a task that gets harder to do to with each passing generation. Pono, Kumu’s rebellious granddaughter, has better things to do than give up her nights teaching the keiki class. Jen has “Miss Aloha Hula” dreams. Kanani, the youngest of the group, is sick of being called a baby. And, finally, Pumehana is a passionate dancer hiding in the back line.

$5–$25, Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF Hawai‘i International Film Festival

Watch: Paterson at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival

Saturday, Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

The Hawai‘i International Film Festival is back, now until Nov. 13! The event always brings us the best new films across the globe, and this year is no exception. Since it will be impossible to see every movie (unless you’re Doc Brown, in which case, may we borrow your DeLorean?), we suggest having a game plan and a few options. On our radar is Paterson (among others—check out the full list of must-see movie picks here), starring Adam Driver (of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Girls fame). Written and directed by cult-favorite Jim Jarmusch, the film is about a man named Paterson who lives in a town, also named Paterson, and works as a city bus driver. Behind his simple daily routine is a rich inner world, which springs to life in the poetry book he writes in every day. By contrast, his wife, Laura, lives from moment to moment in an ever-changing reality. Despite differences, the pair share an unconditional love that pretty much makes us redefine our bae goals.

$12–$14, Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX, 735 ‘Iwilei Road. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

Play: Discovery Fair at Leeward Community College

Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learning that’s actually fun? Now there’s something we can all get behind. Toss the textbooks aside this weekend and head to Leeward Community College for the annual Discovery Fair, a family event centered around fun times that both educate and excite. At the fair’s 50-plus activities, your keiki will get to learn about solid and liquid forms with quicksand goo, try out clay sculpting and wheel throwing, create and launch their own rockets and learn the traditional art of gyotaku, to name a few. Parking and entry is completely free for the whole family, so bring everyone for a family day out. Weed and Seed Hawai‘i, a grassroots effort to make O‘ahu’s communities safer, will join in for the fifth year in a row to showcase some federal, state and local law enforcement exhibits, including keiki IDs, how to prepare for emergencies, fraud awareness and more.

Free, Leeward Community College, 96-045 Ala Ike St., Pearl City. For more information, go here.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF Keri Nakahashi Photography

Play: Holiday Pet Pop-Up Shop with Keri Nakahashi Photography

Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Has your dog been a good boy this year? Then we think he deserves something extra-special this Christmas. Beginning this Saturday, Hawai‘i Doggie Bakery will hold holiday pet-themed pop-up shops at its Mānoa store. Sister-owners Jen Sarsuelo and Trudy Mahelona join forces with four other local small businesses to bring tail wags to man’s best friend this holiday season. This Saturday’s pop-up features Keri Nakahashi Photography. Nakahashi is a pro and shoots pet portraits outdoors, using lots of natural light and Hawai‘i’s scenic landscapes to capture your pup’s most joyful moments. This pop-up shop will offer a buy one, get one free photography session promotion, and keep your fingers crossed for the raffle prize: a Milk & Cookies mini-session at $40 value.

Hawai‘i Doggie Bakery, 2961C E. Mānoa Road. For more information, go here.

Play: Fashion in Paradise, A Benefit Gala for Reach the Runway

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6 to 10 p.m.

Last but not least, HONOLULU Fashion Week is next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and there’s no better way to kick it off than with a chic, aloha-attire-only benefit gala for Reach the Runway, Fashion Week’s official nonprofit that provides mentorship opportunities for O‘ahu middle school students interested in learning about the fashion industry. The benefit takes place on Wednesday evening at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako and lots of fun fashion surprises are in store—just make sure you arrive dressed to impress in your very best alohawear. Browse a silent auction of items from Sig Zane, Island Air, MW Restaurant and more. Nibble on bites and sip on libations provided by some of O‘ahu’s best, including Bill’s Hawai‘i, Tanioka’s, OnoPops and Kona Brewing Co. While the ticket price is a bit more than you’d shell out for a movie date night, we promise this event—and cause!—is worth your dime.

$125, SALT at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.