My favorite place to celebrate the Bon Season and the start of summer!…read more Mōili'ili Summer Festival and Bon Dance is a great place to celebrate it all the Bon Festival, start of Summer and even Tanabata or the Star Festival, which they do have an area that dedicate that with a beautiful description of those where new or unfamiliar with the meaning and representation of each decor and attire and just the foods and entertainment that goes with the events. As always to support with a donation or to purchase shirts and towels is a great way to show some love this year they have a few collaboration which really got me excited is with Eden In Love, Sumo Fish and Asato!!! Gosh yes I did get some Love from Eden with their super cute tote I couldn't resist and yasss a shirt from Sumo Fish I'm in love with! The line for Asato was cray cray so I decided on other treats. Fujiyama Texas always yummy as I Mom really wanted to go this year so she got their Pork Belly Udon which I got last year and knew it was a great choice as it was a bowl filled with perfectly cooked udon in a light a flavorful broth topped with the load of thin sliced pork belly she ate it all up. I decided to go in a different direction and saw Hott Potstickers...ooooo!!! Love love looooove potstickers I stood in the line which moved fairly well there was four types to choose from and I got the Curry Chicken and is $13 for 10pcs or make it a combo with tea for $18/$19 but just the potstickers will do me fine and these good sized pieces was nice! The skin was a bit thicker like a mandoo put are pan fried crisp with probably a steamed finish is seriously exactly how I love mines prepared. As we all settled with our sips and bites we enjoyed the many many many dancers as I've never seen so many people dancing in unison is breathtaking the weather was nice and calm though the crowd probably made it hotter than it probably is. There's so much vendors here it is much more a festival than your typical Bon Dance but it's so festive and so much to choose from it's seriously my favorite. Thank you to my bestie Tamilyn for getting me and mom some drinks from Tropical Wai that really hit the spot you're so thoughtful and kind I'm so blessed you got got meet mom and enjoy this event for your first time and now know why this is my favorite we will be so prepared for next year! Thank you!

Decent festival, this seems more of a festival than a bon dance which seems secondary to the food…read moretrucks/booths and retail vendors. The bon dance itself has a nice mix of live and recorded music. They were behind schedule at certain points so it seemed like certain groups sets were not that long. Favorite Eats: + Shoyu Pork, it was much more tasty this year with the actual pork being much more flavorful. The portion size was definitely larger with them giving a larger serving of the pork itself. Could have done with less rice though. + Yakisoba, was surprised that it was actually tasty. Plus the container it came in held a good amount of noodles. Cons: - It was $20 for handicap/disabled people with parking placards to park in the lot next to the event. In the past there used to be free handicap parking. Plus they packed us in with none of the stalls having an access aisle.

Tonight is Na Wai! Yay! Awesome hula to start the evening! So happy to be here and to enjoy the…read moreHawaiian Cultures with malihini and kanaka! Love Kona Nui nights during this hot summer! The aloha here is definitely felt! I just love the sharing of mo'olelo and hula followed by beautiful music of Hawai'i top artists. Come on out to Kona Nui Nights!

A FREE concert on the Third Wednesday of every month?…read more I must check it out! It seems too good to be true! I had seen Lyla D. check in at this Honolulu event in the past. Fortunately, this time, she invited me to go with her and her husband, Ed, on July 20, 2016. The featured guest performer was Hoku Zuttermeister who is known for his contemporary Hawaiian music, including awesome falsetto vocals! We got to the reception table in the lobby of the IBM Building at about 5:30pm for the 6pm show. We were welcomed by the pleasant staff with a warm greeting and a yellow paper band for our wrist! At first, we sat in the last row of canvas beach chairs and enjoyed some overflow of air conditioning from the open door of the IBM Building. Later, when family members of the hula halau left, we were able to move up and sit in the second row! The balmy tropical breeze kept us cool in the open air courtyard. A large white tent kept up protected from the last rays of the setting sun. Aja Gample started off the evening with her smooth vocals and slack key guitar accompaniment. Also of note, was Kumu Hina (I had seen a movie about her) and her hula halau (hula troupe)! There were other hula dancers (children, men, aunties, seniors, etc.) who jumped in and danced to songs sung by Hoku Zuttermeister, including Hoku's mother, Susan! It was such a wonderful event, full of surprises and fun! This time, Lyla got a free ticket for me via wardvillageshops.com - mahalo, Lyla!! Next month, I will be able to acquire my own ticket, now that I know the routine and the location. Free parking is nearby at the Ward Village shops, the Ward Warehouse and Ward Center. The restroom in the IBM Building is convenient and clean. Beverages were available at the bar in the back ($2 soft drink and $6 beer). A shave ice cart provided cool treats for $3 a serving. Besides watching hula and listening to Hawaiian music, we enjoyed each others' company and were allowed to bring in our own dinner! This casual 2-hour event reminded me of the Grand Performances in Downtown Los Angeles, but on a more personal and meaningful level. Our community is able to come together and celebrate Hawaiian culture, language, dance, and music in an inviting and intimate manner! A hui hou!

I was very excited to come attend this year's Flavors of Honolulu event. It's been two years since…read moremy last attendance so I couldn't wait to relive my great experiences. Went with two other girlfriends this past Saturday night. I found free parking? No crowds? 13 vendors - that's it? Definitely not what I remembered. The advantages: no long lines. The longest and slowest moving line was for Ichiriki. There were many tables/chairs set-up across the grounds for people to enjoy their food. The disadvantage: Not enough restaurants! There were only 13 vendors this year. I had no desire to try Planet Hollywood & Senor Frogs. And Mangea! had no line at all? The food didn't look good. Everything I had was YUMMY: Village Steak & Seafood - Grilled Chipotle Marinated Ribeye Steak w/ Ume Rice, Clam cucumber Namasu & Tomato Salsa! KOI - Tempura Shrimp Dynomite w/ Masago & Unagi Aaioli Sauce Da Spot - Egyptian Baked Chicken w/ Shariya Rice Le Crepe Cafe - Crepe Nutella (I love Nutella!) The guy makin' them was very cute too! And tried my first Dos Equis - I LIKE it! I normally hate beer but now I found one I can drink!! Yeah! Very smooth and light. Hopefully there will be more restaurants next year.

I compare this to similar events in San Francisco--actually, A La Carte, A La Park, which I finally…read morestopped attending because it just got too expensive. Flavors of Honolulu is almost perfect event for an out-of-state visitor. The cost of entry isn't too high ($5), and the food sampling is moderately priced as well. It operates on scrips, which basically are 75 cents a ticket. Items range from 4 to 9 scripts, with most being 8. Now that the math is done, let's get to the nibbles. I love the fact that the Website (http://www.flavorsofhonolulu.org/flavors.html) actually lists ahead of time what the menu offerings will be, so you can strategize. I'm sure the method must pose a logistical nightmare and restrict chef freedom, but it likely cuts down on the clumps of pondering would-be customers. My husband and I bypassed Planet Hollywood and the crepe place, and tried to scout out things we wouldn't get at home. The longest, but quick-moving, line belong to Koi Catering, and so we stood in that for the garlic ahi -- very good. The Hawaiian plate at Laverne's Catering & Restaurant was nice, not spectacular, and the squid luau was very rich. Other highlights: * Mark's Specialties: Open face pork sandwich. * Bali by the Sea: Seared Kona Kampachi on a Bed of Maui Onion and Tomato Fondue * Village Steak & Seafood: Grilled Chipotle Marinated Ribeye Steak with Ume Rice, Clam Cucumber Namasu and Tomato Salsa * Da Spot: Egyptian Rack of Lamb with Shariya Rice and Yogurt Cucumber Mint Sauce. The lamb was the only disappointment, as it was slightly overcooked, but preparing dishes for 30,000 likely customers is a tough experience. I went back twice to Ichikiriki for its ujikintoki Shave Ice. The most crowd-stopping item. Anyone who cradled a dish of towering ice ladled with condensed milk (not exaggerating about that ladle either... the second one I ordered, I asked for them to cut way back... and match) was asked whence this delicacy came. Didn't stay long to appreciate properly the other events, like the cook-offs or singing. One female singer of Collective Delight or whatever the group was called really stood out for her amazing pipes.

Wake up, wake up, get up! it's the first Friday of the month…read more.. When people ask me what is First Fridays. I tell them it's just like a big block party that happens every first Friday of each month in the downtown/chinatown area. At this event, you will find that majority of the shops in the area anything from the bars, pubs, clubs, art galleries, etc. opens up in a big social gathering for everyone. There's a lot of space to walk around and discover the downtown side of Honolulu if you're not familiar with area. There's a bunch of parking structures that you can park in too. Majority of them has flat rate pricing but it can get filled up real quick so you have to be on top of it. If it does fill up by the time you get here then there's always street parking outside of the party zones. It can get crazy here later in the evening. Majority of the crowd doesnt show up until 10:30-ish. So people... get here before the rest of the herd does. Fair warning! Enjoy!

First Friday is not for everyone. I get to experience it if I'm fortunate to be there when there's…read morea first Friday. So Rianne, Melanio, the partner, and myself decided to check it out since they had never been. We started at Bar 35, then twentyninehotel, which we just walked through and didn't drink or anything. It's really interesting to watch all the different types of people in the same area. Professionals, homeless, posers, hookers, hipsters, families, old school Chinese, Yelpers artists, trannies, gays, lesbians, tourists, cousins, etc. Marks Garage had an interesting gallery. There were a couple others we wandered into...and we did this waiting for a table at Lucky Belly. It is a fun place to check out every once in a while. I don't know if I'd come every first Friday...it might lose its charm and appeal. Oh, and parking is a bitch and at a premium. My advice is to bus or cab it in.

When I was in Las Vegas a few months ago, The Love Festival was called to my attention because of…read moreall the unusual costumes. There were many young women dressed in tutus, neon colors, floral garlands, headbands, fuzzy leg warmers, stuffed animal backpacks, and short shorts. Automobiles with license plates from different states were also decorated with neon paint and the words "Love Festival". At that time, I was busy studying at a conference, so I didn't have time to check it out. Thanks to Yelp Hawaii and our outstanding CM, Emi, my friends and I were able to obtain free tickets to the Hawaii Love Festival at Kakaako Waterfront Park! It was a fun and educational experience! I did not know that this Festival has been around for 16 years! I did not know that there were 4 different stages (we only sat at one). I did not know that tickets ranged from $40 to $50, $60, $75 and $125 for VIP. The Event was to start at 7pm. My friends and I jumped in to one car and caught a ride to the Park. There was a line already formed before 6:45pm. We read the signs that no food was allowed. Being the good, thrifty Pakes, we quickly devoured the food we had packed and drank our bottled water. However, free water was distributed inside the Festival to prevent dehydration. We didn't really need the water because there was a cool, gentle breeze and the sun had gone down by that time. The line moved along at a steady pace. The first security stop was for ticket collection. We got our first wrist band there. They also searched our bags for food and weapons. We were all asked for our ID's at the next stop. The people under 21 went through a separate line and the rest of us received a second wrist band. Very organized!! Inside, there were many vendors selling snacks, caps, shirts, neon items, shades, etc. We found a safe place on a grassy hill and sat on our towels and beach mats. We were able to observe all the great dance moves by the audience and the awesome scaffolded stage-like structure. It was a huge cube-like audio-visual smoke machine with colorful lighting. The young people sang along to songs I had never heard! Hahaha! Overall, we had a great time and we would go again next year! Thanks again to Emi and Yelp Hawaii for this special opportunity!!

When I first heard about this festival I thought I would not being going. The idea of spending a…read morelot on a ticket and being unsure if it'd be worth it is not one of my favorite thoughts. Thank you to Yelp for the tickets, I went and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I would definitely go back in the future. To start, this event was in my favorite park in Honolulu, Kaka'ako near Ward Centres and right on the waterfront. The hills made the perfect venue to have multiple stages that didn't interfere (sound-wise) with one another. Walking toward the park that night, I could hear music and see multi-colored spotlights shining on the clouds. The entrance was organized and there were plenty of bouncers to point the way. There was practically no line to get in. Tickets were also available for purchase at the door. My guest and I spent the majority of the time in the 21+ section, which had a full service bar including special cocktails for the event. The portions ended up being generous and the bartenders were very fun and friendly. The main stage was a visual feast- bright colors, smoke, lasers, and bubble machines. Some DJs were better than others- I liked the guy from Amsterdam the best. There was free water available, and countless portapotties in the center of the park- I never had to wait, always many open. The park's many grassy areas offered plenty of places to stand, dance, or lay down and watch the stars. The ocean was close as well. All in all, I loved this event; it's great for people of all ages and interests!

Mango jam was fun on a hot summer day! It was the official first day of summer and boy was it hot!…read moreActually, I don't like mango and I'm semi allergic to it but I went for fun and to socialize cause I'm a little anti! There's lots of free parking sorta- just drive around and something will pop up lol! Just remember if you went up or down the stairs when you exit the structure. I sometimes tend to forget where I parked. They didn't have a lot of vendors there but it was a good amount. A lot of the food places were small businesses that probably has a food truck or small store front. A lot of the places I didn't recognize but some of them had looonnnggg lines which made me a little hungry. They had really good entertainment and had pure heart play one song (without jake) but wow such nostalgia! I was like wow that's my jam .. in high school -_-;; Anyway if you go keep hydrated cause it's hot and you can easily overheat. They do have some water dispensers and some fancy porta potty. I even came here and stumbled across the dachshund group meet up. My baby boy met some of his own people sorta. Well he wasn't very interested to be honest. He was probably like this place is too hot. I didn't get to look at everything cause like I said the line was too long for food so it took up some time. It also closed at 9p so most stuff shut down. We just hung around and let everyone leave first so we don't get stuck in the parking lot getting out.

Better than expected!…read more This is the 4th Mango Jam in Honolulu. It has been held annually on the grounds between City Hall (aka Honolulu Hale) and the Frank Fasi Municipal Building where City Offices are located. This festival can be compared to the 626 Night Market in Los Angeles, but better! Why? 1. Because there's FREE parking - enter from Beretania Street and follow the signs. 2. Because there's FREE admission - just pay the vendors for food, clothing, jewelry, tote bags, etc. that you may see/like/want/buy... 3. Because there's LIVE entertainment by local groups such as Kapena and Kalapana! (Free concert!) 4. Because there are interesting food options - some are inspired by mangoes! This year, we sat under the Ohana Tent which had many folding chairs and a clear view of the stage. (Other attendees sat on blankets in front of the stage.) On my way to the Ohana Tent, I passed by some of the vendors and won a water bottle from the Spectrum booth! Also, I got a fan with the program printed on it from the Information Booth; and a tote bag with a mango print that was distributed during Mayor Kirk Caldwell's appearance! Fresh mango fruit was also being offered to the crowd! Score! This was a fun event, sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Culture and Arts! It's awesome! Thank you Mr. Mayor and our City and County of Honolulu! See you again next year!

This party was absolutely happen!! It was on the rooftop of the Hyatt Waikiki. There was drinks…read moreflowing with several locations to purchase. The music was Poppin with a live DJ. Everybody came dressed and ready to party. There was several awesome costume wearers that night. You could tell everybody went all out for this event. My friend and I enjoyed ourselves and dance the night away. I will be heading to this event up next year, but I will be wearing comfortable dance shoes. Note, bring cash for the bar. There was a $50 minimum for credit card at the inside bar area. But there was a ATM conveniently located between two alcohol stations. There was seating and there was a cabanas that you can reserve for the night. Most of the patron sat along the sides of the balcony. We left after midnight and there was a huge line around the corner waiting to get in. So if you're going to check this location out next year, come early.

It was nice to attend this auspicious party for once. I've been hearing about it for years…read more Gathered with a few yelpers to help fight off the ghouls if needed. I was under the impression it started at 8pm but we were not let in until about 8:30pm. HPD made their presence felt there would be no problems here. The crowd felt pretty tame to me. Maybe later in the evening it would have gotten more loose. Don't know as the next day was still a work day, we had to leave earlier to get our beauty sleep. The roof top setting was gorgeous with the water of the pool changing colors beneath the skyline and starry night. We were the 1st ones to enter affording us a quiet respite to enjoy the moment before the crowd came in. Precious. Two full bars and two dance floors didn't have much people dancing. There were some very interesting costumes worth taking pics of or with. I was impressed with the get up many tourist had. Halloween is no longer just for kids. Did we really grow up? ( As I stare into the mirror looking in the mad eyes of the mad Hatter.) It was nice to see what this was all about. Next year I will be more prepared for the going ons and hope to participate more. Too bad it only comes once a year.

This was my first time at the Honolulu zoo and at the wildest show in town event. Thank you Yelp…read morefor the invite. The event was held on a large lawn facing the stage,. There was some vendors and some educational 10th, fundraiser for the elephants and activities tables for the children. The theme of the day was elephants and the Hawaiian national butterfly. We stop by the elephant book and bought some cute matching bracelets in support the elephants. We signed up at the free ukulele giveaway. Then we stopped by the butterfly exhibit and I got plenty of knowledge about how butterflies hatch. They grow on in Hawaii. And little did I know I was ready for the pop quiz that was happening later on that day. There was a coloring contest and everyone had fun coloring in there butterflies. And then we walked over to the vendor that was telling food and ICs. And had a nice day. They gave away to ukuleles and prizes for the most creative and interesting colors from the butterfly color station.. The event is family friendly especially for children under 10. With the activities and the large area of grass to play. There was a lot of children enjoying themselves. It was a perfect day to be outside and have a picnic. I did not have the heads up I'm bringing my own Blanket and chairs that I will bring the next time. The zoo is closed during the event I will definitely be returning to check out the zoo at another date.

At the Honokulu Zoo August 1. Beautiful perfect weather for this evening' awesome show featuring…read moreJohnny Helm and Friends! ---Took a quick stroll through the zoo before they closed. It's been a very long time since my last visit, and the zoo has made some massive improvements! I need to come back for a longer and leisure stroll! ---Trivia today (fun facts) was on the Hawaiian Monarch Butterfly. Hawaiian name? Pulelehua. Cold blooded or warm blooded? Cold blooded! ---food prices: see my pic. Expensive...you know what to do..... --- ambiance: family friendly atmosphere! Lots of little keiki around and very nice to see the kupuna out.