Our Picks for the Weekend
Star-Bulletin staff
|
FAMILY
Two Windward festivals for the weekend
Two big neighborhood events on the windward side highlight this weekend.
Laie's version of Sunset on the Beach takes place at Kokololiu (Kekela) Beach Park, co-sponsored by the Ko'olauloa Community Health and Wellness Center and Turtle Bay Resort. Festivities run 2 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Free movie screenings, starting approximately 7:15 p.m. each night, will be "The Game Plan" on Friday and "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" on Saturday.
The Re-Discover Kailua Family Festival, meanwhile, runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Kailua District Park. Along with food and crafts booths, entertainment and a keiki fun zone, there'll also be movies shown around 7:15 as well, with "The Game Plan" on Saturday and "Enchanted" on Sunday.
The festival is co-sponsored by the Kailua Mustangs Pop Warner Association.
FESTIVALS
Aloha Festivals features parade and music events
This year's Aloha Festivals start in earnest this weekend, with the following on the agenda:
» The 56th Annual Waikiki Hoolaulea along Kalakaua Avenue starts at 7 p.m. Friday.
» The 62nd Annual Floral Parade, 9 a.m. Saturday. The route goes down Ala Moana and Kalakaua, from Ala Moana Beach Park to Kapiolani Park, and features the usual floats, pau riders, equestrian processions, hula and marching bands.
» The Aloha Tower Marketplace Third Annual Ukulele Contest, 10 a.m. Sunday. Amateur players will compete for prizes in front of celebrity judges.
To find out how you can get your Aloha Festivals ribbon, call 923-0407 or visit www.alohafestivals.com.
FESTIVALS
Buddhist temple hosts its first Moon Festival
Nichiren Mission of Hawaii will have its first Moon Festival, with the theme "Drumming for World Peace," Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. The mission's goal is for the community to join them in promoting world peace by playing hand-held taiko drums (you can either bring your own drum or borrow one.)
In the members' pledge "to become a Bodhisattva (enlightened being who serves others) with compassion and respect," the festival will also include lanterns for world harmony, luminary candles of love, fellowship with compassionate people, plus a Sangha festival market, food and entertainment.
The mission is located at 33 Pulelehua Way near Alewa Heights. Call 595-3517.
FOOD
THE LOFT
510 Piikoi St., #202 / 591-LOFT (5638)
Having been disappointed by some new restaurants, I've fled over the past few weeks to takeout spots, and this week to the new dining lounge, The Loft.
It was easy enough for the owners of Ichiriki, the nabe restaurant on Piikoi Street, to expand to second quarters upstairs and open The Loft. The decor is trendy with a mix of comfortable low couches, high tables and bar seats, with paper orb lanterns and the warmth of light bouncing off an orange wall. House music is set low enough to allow for conversation, rather than shouting matches. Show up any day and you'll find the dreaded "Reserved" sign on many tables. It's a problem that so early on, the place is already too small.
During happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., you'll find beer at $3.50 per bottle; it's $5 otherwise. The house red by the glass is $5, while bottles range from $30 to $100. Specialty drinks range from a shochu-based shiso mojito ($8) to a luscious Drunken Monkey ($10) of Kahlua and Bailey's blended and thickened with apple banana. Yum.
For nibblers, there is silky ahi poke ($6) made with a light, though spicy, kim chee sauce and strings of thin-sliced onions, pipikaula ($7) and mini pizzas on French bread toast, such as mushroom and sausage, and your basic Margherita ($8).
Diet watchers will be delighted by fresh crudite ($5), caprese doused with fine balsamic vinegar ($6) and a Caesar salad ($7) finished with a handful of diced shrimp. Nothing is overworked, including tempura-style garlic shrimp dredged in the potato starch katakuriko.
Those requiring more substantial fare might opt for the USDA Prime ribeye steak ($38), but, not being so extravagant, I went with the USDA Choice ribeye steak ($24) and was thoroughly happy. Simply grilled with onions and mushrooms, it was better than any steak I've had in a traditional restaurant lately.
Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
FREEBIE
Master quilter displays her wares and skills
Master quilter Carol Kamaile will be showcasing her designs with a Hawaiian quilt exhibition at Kahala Mall starting Saturday and running through Sept. 21.
Some of the quilter's students will also be on hand with their designs, and free quilting demonstrations will commence throughout the week. Shoppers are encouraged to vote for their favorites in such categories as best design, best use of color and best in show.
The event is free and sponsored by Whole Foods Market, which just opened their first Hawaii store at the mall Wednesday.
Send questions, stories or other story ideas or comments to: Features, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813 or e-mail
features@starbulletin.com.
Please include your phone number.