Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Weekend in Honolulu: October 7–9

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

PHOTO: COURTESY OF bikinibird

Shop: BikiniBird Pop-Up Shop at Echo + Atlas

Friday, Oct. 7, 5 to 8 p.m.

Yes, summer is over—but, thankfully, Hawai‘i has 365 days of bikini-appropriate temperatures. This First Friday, leave work at 5 on the dot and head straight to Echo + Atlas for the BikiniBird end-of-summer pop-up shop. Partake in some libations and peruse the brandʻs new Resort 2017 collections and 2016 sale styles that you won’t have to wait a year to show off.

Echo + Atlas, 1 N. Hotel St. For more information, follow its Instagram.

Play: Amazing Hawai‘i Comic Con—Special Edition

Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9

Has your inner nerd felt a little neglected lately? Reconnect this weekend at the Amazing Hawai‘i Comic Con. Bringing you the best in comic book and pop culture, this weekend is packed with a video game arena, exhibition hall, artist’s alley and a solid lineup of special guests. Costumes welcome—you’ll feel right at home with the hundreds of others. The top headline talent this year is none other than Brian Michael Bendis, award-winning comics creator and one of the most successful writers in the industry.

$20–$150, free for kids 10 and under with paying adult, Hawai‘i Convention Center. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF  The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

Drink: A Celebration of Wine at The Kāhala

Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8

For the first time ever, The Kāhala is teaming up with Wine Spectator to bring you a vino-filled celebration worthy of the week’s end. Special guest Gillian Ballance, one of just 30 women in the world who hold the title of master sommelier, will demystify the flavors of wine as she guides you through a 90-plus rated wine tasting on Friday ($75) and an educational blind tasting of four wines on Saturday ($50). Or, if you prefer to dine with your wine, the event ends at Hoku’s with a fancy dinner and wine pairings ($150) fit for a god—Dionysus, to be precise.

$50–$150, ages 21 and over. The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kāhala Ave. For more information, go here. To make reservations, call The Kāhala at 739-8760 or email restaurants@kahalaresort.com.

Shop: Homecoming Honolulu Warehouse Sale

Sunday Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Boys come and go, but fashion is forever. Unfortunately, it can also break your wallet. Lucky for us, Homecoming Honolulu, one of Chinatown’s trendiest boutiques, is holding a warehouse sale at Kaka‘ako Agora with all of its best brands at 50 to 90 percent off. (Yes, we typed that right. No, we’re not mistaken.) We’re talking Jeffrey Campbell, MINKPINK, UNIF, Wonderland HNL and tons more ready to become a part of your regular wardrobe rotation. If the store’s past sales are any indication, this one’s going to be huge, so we suggest getting there early. And ditch the boyfriend, because this date has BFF written all over it.

Kaka‘ako Agora, 441 Cooke St. For more information, follow Homecoming Honolulu on Facebook. 

PHOTO: COURTESY OF Waikīkī Aquarium

Help: Waimānalo Beach Cleanup with Waikīkī Aquarium

Sunday, Oct. 9, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

We love our beaches, but sometimes they can get a little dirty. And when beaches get dirty, the ocean gets dirty, and that’s not cool. Waikīkī Aquarium, which regularly organizes beach cleanups around O‘ahu, will be at Waimānalo Beach Park on Sunday morning to help beautify the area. Get some exercise, sun and karma for just two hours of your time. The Aquarium provides trash bags, gloves and everything you need to clean up—but don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen!

Free, Waimānalo Beach Park, 41-741 Kalanianaʻole Highway. For more information and to register, go here.

Cook: BLT Steak Waikīkī Cooking Class: España Cooking Series, Paella

Saturday, Oct. 8, noon to 3 p.m.

If you want to hone your cooking skills, are looking to impress a potential new beau or just really love paella, now’s your chance to learn from one of Honolulu’s ritziest restaurants. At BLT Steak Waikīkī, sip on a complimentary glass of Champagne or wine as chef de cuisine Guillaume Thivet leads a one-and-a-half-hour cooking demonstration. Since learning works up an appetite, included is a post-class three-course lunch with two more glasses of wine to celebrate, because—congratulations!—you can now cook.

$90, ages 21 and over. BLT Steak, 223 Saratoga Road. To make reservations, call 683-7447 or email Jordyn@bltsteak.com.