Shows & events
Benefit concert for SUDS and Wounded Warriors Project
A free benefit concert for SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba) and Wounded Warrior Project is from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Old Kona Airport Park’s Makaeo Events Pavilion in Kailua-Kona.
The entertainment line up includes The Green Machine, Charlie Don’t Surf, Overtime, The Dan Brauer Band, Ms Demeanor and the Felons. There will also be door prizes and a silent auction, in addition to keiki activities by Fun to Jump and Hawaii Laser Tag Park.
Food will be provided by Privateers Cove, Shred and the VFW with dessert by Just the Two of Us chicken and waffles.
The SUDS program provides veterans with trips and dives throughout the world, including Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay and Kona.
Night of comedy at Aloha Theatre
LOL Supersize! is Saturday at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
The evening of improv and comedy, including sketches, stand up, and improv games, gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Attendees may watch or join in the show.
Tickets are $10.
Info: www.apachawaii.org
Hawaiian Idol XIV finals Saturday
The next Hawaiian Idol will be named Saturday in Kailua-Kona.
The final round of the monthlong Hawaiian Idol XIV competition gets underway at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at KBXtreme.
About 12-15 semifinalists will take the stage to belt out their best for the chance to represent the Big Island on the big stage in the Talent Quest National Karaoke Contest at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. The all-expenses-paid trip includes airfare, a seven-night hotel stay, $500 cash and ground transportation.
The crowd also takes part in the fun via live voting that’s used as a tie-breaker and in selecting a Fan Favorite by liking or “hearting” snippets posted on social media.
Also Saturday, Jr. Hawaiian Idol, now in its second year, will announce its winners.
The competition for kids and young adults ages 8-20 this year attracted 12 contestants between two age groups 8-13 and 14-20. That number includes 11 of the 14 contestants who took part in the inaugural competition in 2016.
The Jr. Hawaiian Idol winners also compete against the adults for the Fan Favorite award as voted on by the public via social media.
Info: www.kbxtreme.com.
‘Ohrlando’s Chamber Ensemble’ performs Sunday in Kailua-Kona
“Ohrlando’s Chamber Ensemble” will perform its Spring Concert on Sunday in Waimea.
The performance will take attendees a musical spring walk with Roland Maurer, alias Ohrlando and his wife Ursula Hesse. As part of the 2016/17 Chamber Music series, the two Kona Musicians will offer a colorful bouquet of salon musique including waltzes, polkas, dances and more from the 19th and the early 20th century. Maurer performs on bassoon and saxophone while Hesse performs on piano.
Admission is free; a $15 donation is suggested.
The concert will be held at 4 p.m. at Holo Holo Ku Clubhouse, located at 67-5000 Holo Holo Ku Way.
Info: roland.maurer@gmx.ch, 315-7666.
Nakamoto to lead popular jewelry making program
Jewelry artist Sid Nakamoto will offer two sessions of his popular jewelry making program on Monday in Kapaau.
The sessions will be held at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Materials for the program were donated by the artist and the Friends of the North Kohala Library. Because of the popularity of Nakamoto’s jewelry workshops, a limit has been placed on the number of participants. Call the library to register.
Info: 889-6655.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth to perform
The Honolulu Theatre for Youth will perform “Home” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kailua-Kona Public Library.
The new performance explores the value of a shelter. What is a home? What happens when you do not have one? Two charming characters wrestle to create their own homes, until they come to realize that one of the great joys of having a home is sharing it.
This 30-minute performance is sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii and is suitable for ages 3 to 5. All children must be accompanied by aparent or adult caregiver.
Info: 327-4327.
Read Aloud Shakespeare meets Wednesday
Read Aloud Shakespeare meets Wednesday in Keauhou to read “The Bard’s plays.”
During the 6-7:30 p.m. meeting, the group will begin “Othello.” The group takes turns reading and no previous Shakespeare or acting ability is required.
Info: Joy Vogelgesang, 557-0694, by noon Wednesday.
APAC’s ‘The Miracle Worker’ opens next week
Aloha Performing Arts Company’s production of “The Miracle Worker” opens May 5 at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
“The Miracle Worker” is by William Gibson, adapted from his 1957 “Playhouse 90” teleplay of the same name. It chronicles a pivotal time in the young Helen Keller’s development. The late Anne Bancroft and the late Patty Duke created the roles of Annie Sullivan and Helen on Broadway in 1960. That production won four Tony Awards, including Best Play. The two stars reunited for the highly acclaimed 1962 film adaptation. Bancroft won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and Patty Duke won for Best Supporting Actress. The play is set in the 1880s in and around the Keller homestead in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and also, briefly, at the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston.
Jerry Tracy is directing, assisted by Felicity Johnson. Juanita Finkenberg will serve as movement director, Jeannie Kutsunai as the sign language consultant, and producers are Joel Michaelson and Karen Barry.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays from May 5 to 21. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for young adults and seniors, and $10 for children.
See next Friday’s edition of the Big Island Entertainment Scene for full coverage.
Info: www.apachawaii.org.
Culinary Arts Under the Stars returns May 5
Culinary Arts Under the Stars — a benefit for Hawaii Community College-Palamanui’s culinary arts program, returns May 5 to South Kohala.
Stroll under the stars at Kings’ Shops courtyard while listening to the music of John Keawe and meet chefs from the Kohala Coast as they offer local cuisine at tasting stations throughout the center. The event is made possible by a partnership between Kings’ Shops and the American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association.
Patisserie students from the college will provide savory and sweet dessert tastings. Konawaena High School culinary students will offer a lemonade station.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door. Tickets are available at Maui Divers Jewelry at Kings’ Shops, Waikoloa Resort, Westside Wines, The Spoon Shop and online at www.konakohalachefs.org. The event, which starts at 5:30 p.m., also features a silent auction.
Info: www.kingsshops.com, www.konakohalachefs.org.
Honokaa Jazz Band year-end concert May 5
The Honoka’a Jazz Band’s final year-end concert will be held May 5 at Honokaa People’s Theatre.
The 7 p.m. performance will feature music from their upcoming CD and many instrumental soloists and vocalists. The band just completed its annual tour celebrating National Jazz Appreciation Month with an emphasis on women in jazz. This year they toured Maui and Lanai performing eight concerts in four days.
Info: 775-0000
Mauka Talent Show May 6
The Society for Kona’s Education and Art presents the ninth annual Mauka Talent Show on May 6.
The 6:45 to 9 p.m. event will feature talent and fun, prizes, food and more. General admission is $8. To perform, the price increases to $10. Sign up to perform by calling 896-2944.
The Society for Kona’s Education & Art is located at 84-5191 Mamalahoa Hwy in Honaunau.
Film screenings
‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ to be screened
Naalehu Public Library screens an afternoon family movie at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The library shows a different family-friendly movie each week at no cost. Tuesday, the library will screen “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” released in 2016. Free popcorn will be served, while supplies last.
Info: 939-2442.
Announcements
Auditions slated for ‘Once on This Island Jr.’
Aloha Performing Arts Company will present its summer family musical, “Once on This Island Jr.” June 23 through July 2.
Open auditions for volunteer performers will be held at 6 p.m. on May 7 and 8. Everyone in the show must be age 18 or under, and parent or guardian signatures are required on all paperwork. Actors are only required to attend one audition session.
There are 20-30 roles for boys and girls age 18 and under. No experience is required and newcomers are encouraged to audition.
An invitational callback audition may be held on May 9, if necessary. Guest director is Tiffany Kutsunai, vocal director is Wendy Buzby, sound designer is Miguel Montez, and set designer is Gerald Lucena. Producers are John Holliday and Jerry Tracy. Other production team members are being recruited.
At auditions, actors will be asked to read a short line from the show, provided by the director. Each candidate will also be asked to sing about a minute of “We Dance,” “One Small Girl,” or another song from the show with the APAC accompanist. For those who don’t know the show and don’t have access to sheet music, “Happy Birthday” will be acceptable. In addition to speaking and singing, a short movement routine will be taught to each small group. Closed toe shoes are required, and no slippers will be allowed.
Rehearsals will begin May 11, and will generally be held Sunday afternoons and Monday through Thursday evenings. Although all cast members are not required to attend every rehearsal, those auditioning must commit to the entire performance schedule, and be available for the entire rehearsal schedule with a minimum number of conflicts.
In addition to performers, support staff is also sought, such as backstage help, set builders, hair and makeup artists, painters, concessions workers, and ushers. Those interested in any of these volunteer positions are encouraged to attend auditions to fill out a registration form or email info@apachawaii.org.
“Once on This Island Jr.” will be presented at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu June 23 through July 2, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.
The show is a play within a play. It opens in the present on a Caribbean island, where a group of villagers have taken refuge from a terrible storm created by the four gods who watch over the island. In order to comfort a scared little girl, the villagers tell the legend of the orphan Ti Moune. The villagers play the various characters in the tale, weaving music, dance, and storytelling into a magical fable of star-crossed lovers, temperamental island gods, and the power of love.
Info: 322-9924.
Toyota Dream Car Art Contest winners announced
Winners of the sixth annual Toyota Hawaii Dream Car Art Contest were recently announced.
Through colorful designs and thoughtful ideas, students conjured up their versions of the cars of the future. This year’s first place winners were all from Oahu: Aja Middleton (7), Raphael Stark (10) and Sophie Stark (12).
The winners were selected by a panel of judges that included renowned artists Kamea Hader and Mark Chai, Assistant Dean Song K. Choi, Ph.D from the UH College of engineering and TV celebrity judges, Justin Cruz, Brenton Awa, and Lacy Deniz.
New this year was a partnership with the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii that resulted in 3D printed models of the winning designs, recognizing this new partnership and its commitment to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), Toyota Hawaii donated $5,000 to the college.
The top three and grand-prize winners in each age category won iPad mini 4s. First and second place runners-up for each age category received $100. The top three entries from each age group also were entered in the international competition where winners can win an all-expenses paid trip to Japan.
Classes & workshops
Thursday Evening Pottery Drop-in offered at VAC
The Volcano Art Center Ceramics Program will soon expand to include evening classes beginning May 18.
The 6-9 p.m. drop-in style class will allow residents and visitors to Hawaii Island the opportunity to try their hand at creating with clay on the potter’s wheel, without having to commit to an eight0- or 10-week long series. Students with all levels of clay experience are welcome.
Teaching artist Erik Wold will be available for individualized assistance to answer questions and troubleshoot problems. The emphasis will be placed on getting a feel for working on the potter’s wheel and experiencing the thrill of hand-forming a pot in motion. Each class will include an introduction to working on the potter’s wheel, along with a step by step demonstration of its use. Students will then try their hand at wheel throwing under the guidance and supervision of the instructor. Students will be given up to five pounds of clay to experiment with during the evening.
“Thursday Evening Pottery Drop-in” will begin May 18. Cost for each evening session is $30 for VAC members and $35 for nonmembers. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.
Wold is a full-time potter living in Volcano Village. He is a member of the Volcano Village Artists Hui, and sells his wares regularly at the Saturday Hilo Farmers Market, and Sunday Cooper Center Farmers Market in Volcano. He studied ceramics at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, graduating in 1993.
Info/register: 967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.
Business of Art workshop offered
The “Business of Art” workshop by Volcano artist Ira Ono returns to Volcano Art Center next month.
Ono will help artists navigate basic business principles in this one-day intensive workshop. From the initial pros and cons of being one’s own boss to copyright basics to branding products, attendees will discover what’s right for them and their art. Topics include pricing your product for profit, trade shows/catalog sales, visual merchandising, affordable display techniques, fool proof presentations, internet marketing and getting free publicity.
The “Business of Art” workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 13 at Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Cost for the full day workshop is $45 for VAC members and $50 for nonmembers.
Ono is an internationally known artist whose works are featured in the Hawaii State Art Museum and private collections in the U.S., Europe and Japan. He is the founder of annual Trash Art Shows throughout the state and is also the owner and director of Volcano Garden Arts gallery in Volcano where he exhibits his personal works along with over 100 artists from around the state.
Info/register: 967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org. ■