B on Hawaii

The internationally recognized Court of Master Sommeliers is offering a two-day introductory course plus a third day for those interested in taking the first-level “Certified Sommelier” exam on O‘ahu this November. Settling into two full days of lectures, discussion and tastings at MidPacific Country Club where the likes of master sommeliers Roberto Viernes and Patrick Okubo along with advanced sommelier Charles Fredy, will push your enthusiasm for wine into a full-fledged working knowledge of the industry.

What's better than an evening spent supporting the arts and imbibing on food prepared by a James Beard-nominated chef fresh off the boat from exile in Kaua‘i? Nothing! (Good guess.) Honolulu's IONA contemporary dancers have joined forces with the Sheraton Waikiki and Colin Hazama (formerly of Jean-Georges' Kauai Grill) to present a Mayan-themed evening of dining and dancing on Saturday, October 8, 2011. The fete will take place around the newly refinished Helumoa Pool starting at 6:00 p.m.

In the late 1970s, a new art form was born on urban the streets of Manhattan. Young kids—often frustrated with convention—armed with spray cans “tagged” the cold steel of dormant subway cars and buildings in shadowy alleys, only to emerge as the sun rose as roving artwork embraced on the streets. Some of these artists went on to lucrative design careers; others went to jail. Now, twelve top graffiti artists in Hawai‘i will compete in the “Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle” at the Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona Art Center this Saturday, Sept. 3, from noon to 7:00 p.m.

This weekend, Queens Beach in Waikiki will see more foot traffic by legendary watermen and women than anywhere else over the course of the entire year. It’s the full-swing of Duke’s Oceanfest, and the “Legends Lonboard” contest kicks off Friday, going well into Saturday afternoon; it is followed/preceded by the open water mile swim, SUP and paddleboard races, as well as a variety of water events that all culminate with a rockin’ luau at sundown on Saturday, August 27th.

With summer in full swing, anyone not embarking on a European holiday or mainland sojourn tshould consider a neighbor island jaunt to one of many inn experiences we are lucky to have among us. We’ve written at length about the quaint (and historic) Shipman House in lush Hilo; you’ve drooled over the elite homes of Pure Kauai, as well as some stunning oceanfront estates on O‘ahu. But it’s been a while since we directed our gaze towards the coffee-laden hillsides above Kona—and the sublimely serene Holualoa Inn.

There’s a new locale at the Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa, on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, that pays tribute to one of the most storied, modern day watermen. The Eddie Aikau Restaurant & Surf Museum opened for business this month, and if the celebrity turn-out was any gauge for its future success, well, things are looking bright.

How many times have you endured a holiday weekend and, somewhere between frosty “adult” beverage numbers three and four (or thereabouts) thought: “Wow, I don’t even know what this holiday is all about!” or something similar? Thankfully, this year you can experience less of what has become a kick-off-the-summer weekend, and more of what it actually signifies. We’re talking Memorial Day—and there’s no better place to be than in Ala Moana Beach Park watching or participating in the 13th Annual Lantern Floating ceremony

While the name Sig Zane isn’t unknown throughout fashionable circles on O‘ahu, it isn’t every day that the residents of one isle get to deeply experience the true artistry of an entire family of talent that resides on another island. In fact, there may still be some that aren’t aware: authentic (and hand drawn) aloha attire designer Zane is married to the uber-talented kumu hula (and cultural practitioner) Nalani Kanaka‘ole. Along with son Kuha‘o—an entrepreneur and artist—the Hilo-based trio will lecture, display and talk story at an open gallery event for an entire week in Waikiki.

Two-time Grammy Award winning singer (and actor) Tia Carrere and four-time Grammy winning producer-performer Daniel Ho will join professor of Hawaiian language Amy Ku‘uleialoha Stillman for an open forum session on the future of Hawaiian music. The admission is free for this event, to be held at the University of Hawaii on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.

Time has arrived again to review the albums selected for this year’s Hawaiian Grammy Award, something that could come in handy this week as you’re looking for the gift of song for the music enthusiast on your list.
First up, and hard to overlook, is Tia Carrere’s follow up album (to her ‘ikena LP that took home last years Grammy), entitled Huana Ke aloha. The album features arrangements and accompaniment by Carrere’s long time pal and collaborator, Daniel Ho.