Our Picks for the Weekend Star-Bulletin staff

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FOOD

The Willows brews up a tasty way to end summer

On the hunt for a decent brew? Try the "Beer Hunter's Ball," 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Willows, 902 Hausten St.

The summer-ending event, part of the restaurant's monthly "Hops & Grinds" beer tastings, will feature domestic and imported favorites from past tastings, seasonal beers and the yet-to-be-introduced Steinlager Pure from Lion Nathan.

Besides the beer, the event includes a pupu buffet, entertainment and prize drawings.

Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Get tickets at the Willows, Liquor Collection, Wine Stop or Tamura's Kaimuki. Call 952-9200. Age 21 and older only.

The monthly tastings are led by beer expert Andy Baker. To learn more, call him at 271-9701.

CULTURE

See the Royal Court's flamboyant investiture

The investiture of the Aloha Festivals Royal Court always brings color and pageantry, plus a bit of education in the traditions of the Hawaiian monarchy.

This year's event takes place at 10 a.m. Friday at Honolulu Hale.

The free ceremony will include Hawaiian chant and hula kahiko, as the festival royals accept the symbols of their reign -- royal cloak, helmet and feather lei.

This year's royalty: king Ocean Papaiano Kaowili, queen Shelley Kehaulani Pe'a, prince Cheyne Keli'iokekai Andrade and princess Kala'iku Ka'ehukai Kaowili.

An Aloha Friday Pa'ina follows at 11 a.m., including Hawaiian entertainment. Lunch will be sold. Call 589-1771.

Purchase an Aloha Festivals ribbon for $5 at the festival office at Ward Warehouse, ABC, 7-Eleven and Safeway stores. For more locations, visit www.alohafestivals.com.

MUSIC

John Cruz will give free performance

The Waikiki Beach Walk's Hawaiian music heritage program presents John Cruz in a free concert Saturday as part of the monthly Na Mele No Na Pua series, preceded by a special showing of his documentary "Made of Music -- The Story of John Cruz" at 3 p.m.

His performance will then start at 4:15, and will be followed by an autograph signing.

Cruz, whose original song "Jo Bo's Night" was featured on the Grammy award-winning "Slack Key Guitar Volume 2," is one of the most recognized singer-songwriters in the islands. Next month, Cruz will finally release his sophomore effort "One of These Days," and some of the album's songs will be performed on Saturday.

The concert will be at the walk's fourth-floor Grand Lanai.

FAMILY

Say 'I Love Liliha' during fun neighborhood event

On Saturday, the fourth annual I Love Liliha Town Festival, hosted by Rep. Corinne Ching, will celebrate the still-quaint neighborhood. From between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Prince David Kawananakoa Playground, there will be a health fair, games and activities for the keiki, community and health care service booths and, of course, plenty of food.

The Royal Hawaiian Band will play between 11 a.m. and noon, and Gov. Linda Lingle will make an appearance between noon and 1 p.m.

It's all free, including parking. You're invited to spend the day, so bring your mats, chairs and beach umbrellas.

For more info, call 586-9415.

FOOD

Elua

1341 Kapiolani Blvd. (formerly L'Uraku) 955-ELUA (3582)

I had my doubts about two "name" chefs working in a tiny kitchen beyond the occasional special event dinner, but they have been put to rest since visiting Elua, a dual project of Philippe Padovani and Donato Loperfido.

Considering their diverse styles, I worried about what a combo menu would look like. To my relief, the restaurant's dual-chef concept is as theme-y as it gets. There are no French-Italian fusion shenanigans on the menu, making the chefs' situation more like a casual live-in relationship than a full marriage, but what matters is that in this moment it seems to be working. Padovani is responsible for one page, Loperfido for the other, and they both take their halves seriously.

For guests, the beauty of the partnership is that couples with divergent cravings -- one wants French, the other, Italian -- need not compromise. Both can share a table here and leave satisfied.

Elua's five-course tasting menu allows you to sample both chefs' work, currently at $80, or $95 with 2-ounce portions of wine accompanying each dish.

If ordering a la carte, don't miss Loperfido's homemade mozzarella or Padovani's simple fricassee of seasonal mushrooms ($12): brown clamshell, alba clamshell, crimini and shiitake drizzled with Parmesan, vinaigrette and truffle oil. I've tasted many a fricassee in this town reduced to a mushy brown mess, but this was definitely not the case here. Every 'shroom had its crunchy, woodsy dignity intact.

Open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and 6 to 11 p.m. daily; late-night wine and cheese from 10 p.m. to midnight. Costs about $70 to $90 for two without drinks.