Apr 13 
the kokua festival just released tickets for the pit and lawn sections for next weekend's show featuring headliners jack johnson and eddie vedder. make like a bee and buzz over to ticketmaster and beat the scalpers at their own game before the show truly sells out.
Apr 7 
that the stage show 'ulalena is brand new to me just shows you how long it has been since my last visit to maui. the theatrical spectacle has been described as a mash up of cirque du soleil (one of the executive producers brought mystère to the world) meets the mythology and history of hawaii and her people.
say no more. if 'ulalena is half as magical as mystère it will be well worth the price of admission. take a peek at a few reviews (here and here) for the professional perspective of those who are not easily awed by acrobatics and colorful stage tricks.
details:
Mar 30 
we spend a lot of time out at makaha when we're home and a friend always shares the story of when he met rell sunn (aka the queen of makaha) at the beach. a few years ago, he raved about a documentary on rell called heart of the sea after it aired on independent lens on pbs. the film racked up a number of awards when it was released for its poignant take on rell's life and is a lesson in living your life with grace and how truly embodying the aloha spirit is good not only for yourself but for your community too.
unfortunately, the film is not currently on the pbs schedule (but you should still check out il which is one of my favorite programs on tv) and nowhere to be found at netflix, however the hawaii state library happens to have a vhs copy so you can put your library card to work if you still own a vcr.
dvds can be picked up at women make movies swell cinema which also has a trailer posted on their website.
fyi - rell's family has set up a non-profit which keeps the rell sunn menehune surf contest going and which also supports breast cancer research in honor of rell. click here to learn how you can help.
{update | jan 2010: dvds are now on the shelves at your local library!}
Mar 8 
there is new lifestyle/travel glossie in town and its name is modern luxury hawaii. the quarterly magazine is aiming to fill a niche by targeting cosmopolitan kama'aina and jet setters who love food, fashion, good design & vacationing in the islands with style.
while i was home i tracked down a copy at borders and discovered an absolutely gorgeous magazine filled with editorials on what to do & where to go, handy dining/shopping/spa guides, features on notable locals (the premiere issue spotlighted momi from lily lotus!) and, my favorite part, the stunning photography. the hefty premiere issue weighs just a tad under three pounds since, instead of publishing separate editions, mlh
opted to print one side in english and the other side in japanese.
fyi - i did spot complimentary issues at pacific home (after i bought my copy. darn.) so keep your eyes peeled at shops catering to mlh's demographic (or you can always subscribe online).
Feb 23 
a few members from the cast of lost are hitting the stage next weekend to benefit the honolulu theatre for youth. barring any scheduling conflicts, matthew fox, jorge garcia, daniel dae kim, terry o'quinn, henry ian cusick, michael emerson, elizabeth mitchell & chris soldvilla will perform selected readings from the theatre's upcoming 2007-2008 season.
the ticket prices may sound a tad pricey however just keep the following in mind when you phone in your order:
one - your dollars are helping to fund hty programs (a very good thing)
two - the benefit will include a reception so you just may get a chance to rub shoulders with some of the cast members
details:
