Shows &events
Ka’u Coffee Festival Hoolaulea Saturday
The ninth annual Ka‘u Coffee Festival Hoolaulea is Saturday in Pahala.
The festival culminates with the hoolaulea — a full day of live music, hula, food booths, local crafts, keiki activities, educational displays, coffee tastings and farm/mill tours headquartered inside and out of the Pahala Community Center. The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. event is free; tours are for a fee.
On Sunday, experts at the Ka’u Coffee College at Pahala Community Center will offer seminars. They are also free, but donations are accepted.
Info: www.kaucoffeefest.com.
Hanohano O Kona Lecture Series presents Jackie Pualani Johnson
Kona Historical Society presents Jackie Pualani Johnson, director, actor and retired professor of theater arts from the University of Hawaii at Hilo for the next Hanohano O Kona Lecture Series on Wednesday at West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona.
Born and raised in Hilo, Johnson has spent decades providing the UH Performing Arts Department drama program with classical, musical, and ethnic theater. She has directed several living history productions with KHS, including Kona Coffee Days, A Visit to Kalukalu, and Isabella Bird at Kealapu’ali.
Johnson will be presenting “Isabella Rides Again: Isabella Bird &Living History,” selections from a one-woman living history play written for the Kona Historical Society by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl.
The 5:30 p.m. lecture is free and is open to all. This lecture is supported by the State of Hawaii, Grant in Aid program and sponsored by Meg Greenwell and West Hawaii Today.
Info: 323-3222.
Family Skate Night and Outdoor Market June 3
Bring the family down to the Old A Skate Rink at Old Kona Airport Park on June 3 for an “All That Glitters — Gold Party” themed Family Skate Night and Outdoor Market.
The 6 to 9 p.m. event will feature a costume contest so come ready to outshine everyone with your best shimmer and glimmer.
In addition, there will be a gold mining activity for keiki, local grinds, shaved ice, and food trucks, as well as vendor booths that parents can cruise and shop while keiki skate.
All ages are welcome. Entry is $5 for keiki 3 years old and up; parents and keiki younger than 2 years old enter free. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to West Hawaii Hockey Association to help support its youth hockey program and rink fees.
Info: www.facebook.com/events/1953748858189750, 217-4990 or email sgskona@gmail.com.
‘The Trump Card’ comes to Hawaii
What makes Donald Trump tick? Who are the people and what are the forces that shaped him? Playwright Mike Daisey explains our 45th president in the edgy, funny, and provocative one-man show, “The Trump Card” coming to the Big Island June 9-10 and 18.
The performance is not a comedy impersonation, but a raw and intriguing story that gets to the roots of Trump’s personality and motivations. Performed throughout the country, this is the first time the show will be staged in Hawaii.
John Sucke, the acclaimed Waimea actor, has adapted the script and performs the 90-minute show.
“I learned more about why Trump acts the way he does from this play than from all the news stories I’ve read and watched. That’s why I wanted to bring the show here,” he said.
Show times are 7 p.m. June 9 and 10 at Aloha Theatre and 2 p.m. June 18 at Honokaa People’s Theatre.
Tickets for the Kainaliu performance are $10 online at www.apachawaii.org or at the door. Tickets for the Honokaa performance are also $10 and car be purchased via PayPal at mattbinder@earthlink.net or at the door.
Announcements
Several with Big Island ties win Hokus
Several artists with Hawaii Island ties were among the winners last Saturday night at the 40th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Hawaii’s most prestigious music awards.
Hilo native Kalani Pe‘a, who now lives on Maui, took the Contemporary Album of the Year award for his debut album, “E Walea.” That makes Pe‘a, who won a Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album in February, the first musical artist to win a Grammy and a Hoku for the same album.
Cyril Pahinui, who lived a number of years in Hilo, won two of the coveted statuettes, Hawaiian Slack-key Album of the Year for “Hi‘ilawe” and Best Instrumental Composition for “Ki Ho‘alu,” from “Hi‘ilawe.” He now has 17 of the awards on his mantel.
Rupert Tripp Jr. of Volcano won the Hoku for Best Religious Album for “Righteous Son Rize.”
The award for Best Alternative Album went to Kukahi Lee, a 17-year-old from Waimea, for “Kukahi.”
Singer-keyboardist Maggie Herron, a former Hilo resident, won the Best Jazz Album Hoku for “Between the Music &the Moon.”
Slack-key legend Ledward Kaapana, a Kalapana native, garnered the award for Best Ukulele Album for “Jus’ Press, Vol. 2.”
And producer Kenneth Makuakane, a Hilo native, took home the Hoku for Best Compilation Album for “Mele From Aunty’s Beach House Aulani, A Disney Resort And Spa.”
The night, however, belonged to Keauhou. The Oahu-based Hawaiian trio won nine prizes for its self-titled debut album, including album, song and Hawaiian Music Album of the Year category. The group also won the Most Promising Artist and Favorite Entertainer of the Year awards.
Native Hawaiian wanted for King Kamehameha movie role
HONOLULU — The director of “The Islands” wants Native Hawaiians to appear in his movie about the state’s history — and he’s not just looking for extras.
One lucky person will get a shot at playing King Kamehameha.
“That’s a must,” director Tim Chey said about having a Native Hawaiian play the king.
The movie will document Captain Cook’s arrival to Hawaii, the king’s unification wars and the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani’s monarchy.
“Whoever plays King Kamehameha will be one who is authentic and will truly know the history and share the blood,” said Albert Mossman, a Native Hawaiian adviser to the film. “The film will also accurately portray the fascinating and incredible stories of four of the most significant figures in Hawaii history.”
Casting for the king will begin in June and will run until late-August. National and local casting agencies will be involved in finding the perfect person for each role.
Filming will begin this fall. The movie is expected to bring 2,000 jobs to Hawaii.
“The Islands” is scheduled to be released in November 2018. ■