This weekend, Hawaii residents and visitors can immerse themselves in a diverse array of events, from thrilling surf competitions and live music to a major college football game and a prestigious international piano competition. The weekend promises a vibrant mix of sports, culture, and entertainment across Oahu.
Key Takeaways
- Music Festivals: Enjoy performances by Henry Kapono, Kapena, Ekolu, and Ooklah the Moc.
- Ocean Sports: Participate in or watch surf contests, ocean swims, and canoe regattas.
- College Football: Cheer on the Rainbow Warriors as they face Stanford University.
- Cultural Events: Experience Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and the "Olympics of the Piano."
Musical Delights and Ocean Festivities
Kicking off Friday, August 22, is FM100’s Birthday Bash, a two-day music festival at the Wai Kai Events Lawn in ʻEwa Beach. Friday night features Henry Kapono and Kapena, with Ekolu and Ooklah the Moc headlining Saturday. Tickets range from $29 to $79.
Simultaneously, the Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest continues its week-long celebration. Upcoming events include a parent-assisted keiki surf fest, an ocean mile swim, the Na Koa Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta, and surfboard water polo. This festival supports scholarships for Hawaii athletes.
Sports and Cultural Highlights
Saturday, August 23, marks the first football game of the season, with the Rainbow Warriors battling Stanford University at the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex. The game will be nationally televised by CBS.
That evening, the Waikīkī Aquarium hosts the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Featured performers include Ledward Kaapana and Kalaʻe Parish. Admission is $20, with children 12 and under admitted free. The event benefits the aquarium.
A Grand Finale
Sunday, August 24, culminates with the Keʻalohi International Piano Competition at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. The top three pianists will perform with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, with the winner receiving a $10,000 prize. This competition, described as the "Olympics of the piano," draws global talent.
Later that day, Henry Kapono will perform a tribute to his friend Jimmy Buffett at Duke’s Waikīkī from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as part of the "Duke’s on Sunday" series. The performance is livestreamed on Facebook for the last hour.
Sources
- Catch football, surf contests, Henry Kapono, and ʻOlympics of the piano’ : Friday, Aug.…, Aloha State Daily.
