B on Hawaii

Get to the store and stock up on Jello Pudding Pops: It will help you get in the mood for Bill Cosby's arrival. That's right: Fat Albert is coming to town. This legendary comedian, actor, artist, father and icon of America will perform two rare shows at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on Friday, January 15.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival kicks off this year on Friday, November 6, with events stretching through November 15th. Festival organizers seem to be taking advantage of the "cultural" aspect of the festival this go-around, to spotlight a number of unique offerings in and surrounding the Kona location, on Hawai`i's Big Island.

What began as a distracting itch nearly 40 years ago has blossomed in to the lifelong pursuit for musician Michael Utley. In fact, this keyboardist and self-proclaimed “product of the Nashville and Memphis rhythm and blues scenes” had his sights set on a life studying the creature habits of, well, creatures.

Father Damien DeVeuster was not only a unique character in the history of the Pacific Islands, he was a tie that helped bind westerners and natives in a time when tensions ran rampant. Next week, twenty-three island artists will create their own interpretations of Father Damien, to celebrate his canonization.

On Saturday, August 15, at 1:00 p.m. paradise time, the story of Peter Pan will unfold through ballet for those lucky enough to be in attendance at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. This isn't your grandfather's ballet (sorry grandpa): The show features 8 world-class, professional dancers that hail from Brazil, Russia, Cuba, Hungary and the U.S.

On a late Spring day at the Kahala Mall, multiple Grammy Award-winning music producer Daniel Ho took the stage with ukulele in hand. He performed a few tunes to passers-by, grabbed his things, and walked down to the movie theaters still inside the mall.

There's a new buzz brewing in the underground art scene here on O`ahu; and it's called "Interisland Terminal". Founded this past January by a group of like-minded individuals looking to to shed light on "the intersections of creativity, innovation and leadership" throughout Hawai`i by exhibiting independent work across multiple genres, says the group's web site. 

The first whispers of the holiday season can be heard around town, and like most years, everyone is beginning to look for that unique gift to bestow upon their loved one(s). Just in the nick of time, the Honolulu Academy of Arts is celebrating it's annual "World Art Bazaar" at the Academy Art Center at Linekona, in Honolulu.