Big Island Blues Festival features local blues talent
The second annual Big Island Blues Festival is from 4-10 p.m. Saturday at the Courtyard Marriott at King Kamehameha’s Beach Hotel. The festival offers great original blues music, unique vendors, delicious barbecue and more.
Unplug from the daily stresses of life and come enjoy yourself with some great live music and barbecue. This year, the festival is featuring three amazing local bands: Ronnie V. &The Family Band, Bottle of Blue and Tomi Isobe’s Blues Band.
Tickets are $20 and available online at BigIslandBluesFest2018.eventbrite.com.
Info: Go to facebook.com/Offthegridpro.
Kona Aloha Singers to start their first season
The Kona Aloha Singers, an adult contemporary chorus, will begin their first season on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Kona Church of Christ on Palani. Check-in starts at 5 p.m. and rehearsal begins promptly at 6 p.m.
The chorus will be learning choral arrangements from 20th and 21st century songwriting masters including Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacrein in a fun but serious singing environment. Music genres include: Hawaiian, Pop, Broadway, Modern, Jazz and Standard Choral Repertoire. This will include songs from Elton John, Leonard Cohen, Abba, Queen, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. There are no auditions and reading music is not required.
The cost to join the chorus is $90, high school singers $35 plus sheet music. If you are interested in singing with the chorus, please email contact@konaalohasingers.org or message the Kona Aloha Singers Facebook page to preregister or just attend our first rehearsal on Oct. 4.
The Kona Aloha Singers is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and is currently seeking donations.
Info: Call 443-7379 or email contact@konaalohasingers.org.
Collectors reception with Cathy Shines
A collectors reception for photographer Cathy Shines will be from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Tiffany’s Art Agency in Hawi.
Shines began documenting Hawaii with film and her 100-year-old Leica camera more than 35 years ago. She has captured locations that no longer exist like Queen’s Bath, Green Lake and Kona Village. She’s documented farmers’ love of the land for Merriman’s Restaurant, ventured behind the scenes at festivals and continues to capture images that speak to hearts.
Now, her original darkroom processed images are available as enlargements on canvas, allowing for grand works that speak to a deep love of Hawaii.
Info: Visit TiffanysArtAgency.com.
Craft fair and music showcase at Queens’ MarketPlace
Hawaiian music, hula, crafts and food make an exciting, only-in-Hawaii celebration from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa.
Admission to Hawaii Fest is free and the community is invited to explore an extensive art and craft fair with numerous artists and producers of handmade treasures and products for sale. Plus, top island entertainers John Keawe, Lito Arkangel, Halau Malanai, Diana Aki, Kris Fuchigami and Darlene Ahuna will perform throughout the day at the Coronation Pavilion, emceed by Darde Gamayo.
A collaboration with Na Makua Designs, Hawaii Fest brings together some of Hawaii’s most popular and skilled crafters, sharing a unique selection of items—jewelry, fine art, made-in-Hawaii food products, hula implements, aloha wear by Na Makua Designs and more.
In addition to perusing products, visitors may also stop and learn from master crafters in traditional Hawaiian arts, with hands-on cultural demonstrations. These include lei making with Randy Lee and Dana Castro, lau hala weaving by Kona Weavers, ‘ohe kapala with Haamauliola Makua Aiona and kalo poi pounding with Kalai Aiona.
Hawaii Fest is free and open to all, with free parking.
Info: Visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net or call 886-8822.
Art-After-Dark returns this weekend in Holualoa
Holualoa Village galleries will feature new art and artists, tasty street eats and music all along Mamalahoa Highway during their monthly Art-After-Dark event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday. This community event is free, and for all ages.
Dave Lawrence will be pumping classic rock n’ roll at Koa Realty and the Holualoa Ukulele Gallery will host popular Hawaiian and contemporary tunes by Mauka Highnotes on its front lanai.
At Holualoa Gallery, owners/artists, Matthew and Mary Lovein will be greeting guests to the tunes of John-E Collins, appearing live with his classic rock music. Kona Dogs will be presenting gourmet street food and refreshments. Featured artist, William Wingert will be painting in the gallery and displaying new work. Natural World Millinery hat designer Sahra Indio with be showing some of her fine art royal crowns.
Glyph Art Gallery will be hosting cover artist for this month’s Ke Ola Magazine, Andrea Pro.
Info: First Friday photos and map at HolualoaHawaii.com.
Waimea Ballroom Dance Club offering tango lessons
Waimea Ballroom Dance Club is offering six weeks of American tango dance lessons from 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 at Kahilu Town Hall. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. for the first two weeks, dancing begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $40. One time drop in is $10 any time within the six weeks.
Info: Email waimeaballroomdance@yahoo.com or call 333-5198.
Kailua Village Artists featuring seven guest artists in September
For the month of September, the Kailua Village Artists Gallery is featuring the works of seven guest artists from the Big Island.
Frank Andrews creates welded copper petroglyph images inspired from petroglyps found on locations around the Hawaiian Islands. Rachel Baker works with fused glass shaping it into plates, coasters, jewelry, wine stoppers and accessory pieces in bright colors featuring marine life images. Brad Lewis is an internationally published and recognized photographer with an impressive portfolio of volcano photography taken over the last 30 years, and features new photographs from the most recent lava flows. Parker and Debbie Nicholson collaborate in their wood turning of native wood found on the island and feature a variety of refillable wood pens. Scott Pincus is a silversmith. He creates silver jewelry that incorporate native shells and sea life designs in his work. Bill Twibell, known as the “Fish Print Guy,” specializes in the ancient art of Gyotaku. He paints various fish of all sizes and then presses rice paper onto the fish to create limited prints.
The Kailua Village Artists Gallery is located at the Kona Marketplace, 75-5729 Alii Drive, Suite C-110 in Kailua-Kona. The gallery is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Info: Call 329-6653.