FRIDAY, JULY 31
Hawaii vocalist kicks off series at Waikiki hotel
There can’t be too many better ways to celebrate enjoy a summer night than listening to Raiatea Helm, one of Hawaii’s most beloved vocalists, at one of Waikiki’s most celebrated performance venues, the Banyan Courtyard at the Moana Surfrider.
Helm has been a fixture on Hawaii’s music scene since she was a teenager, winning the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for female vocalist of the year at age 18 for her debut CD, "Far Away Heaven," in 2002. Singing in the traditional leo kiekie (falsetto) style, she was immediately seen as the successor to Hawaii’s great female vocalists like Auntie Genoa Keawe. She hasn’t disappointed, with multiple Hoku awards and Grammy nominations over the years.
She’ll perform two sets, from 7:15-8 and 8:15-9 p.m. Ellsworth Simeona opens the night at 5 p.m.
The concert is the first in the grand hotel’s Mele at the Moana series this year. Upcoming performers include John Cruz, Natalie Ai Kamauu and Maunalua.
Where: Moana Surfrider, 2365 Kalakaua Ave.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Cost: Free
Info: 923-2811
COURTESY POWER YOGA HAWAII
SATURDAY, AUG. 1
Yoga in the dark goes for the glow with body painting
Yogis, display your aura in all its fluorescent glory at Glow Flow Yoga, a yoga session at The Modern Honolulu that will include neon body painting.
"It’s basically a yoga class done in the dark, under black lights," said Lehua Wright, co-owner of Power Yoga Hawaii, organizer of the event. "We spin house music and hip-hop under the black lights."
Participants are invited to come to the hotel’s ballroom to paint themselves with a wax-based paint that glows under a black light. "The body painting has gotten really elaborate," Wright said. "It kind of reminds me of the ’70s California. It went from really basic face paint to people doing a lot of body painting."
This session, the sixth that Power Yoga has held, has a "Zoolander" theme. Yogis are invited to base their body art on the makeup and costuming of the Ben Stiller movie, which poked fun at the fashion world, and mimic his awkward movements in a "pose off" contest.
Body painting begins at 5 p.m. and the 90-minute yoga session starts at 6 p.m. Yoga instructors Scoop and Juri Ko will teach the class in Power Yoga, which Wright called a "fast-paced vinyasa" style of yoga. Beginners to experts are welcome, but bring your own mat.
After the class, participants are invited to the pool deck to shower off the paint and enjoy some entertainment. There will be a performance of "Acro Yoga," a partner yoga exercise "that is like a really basic Cirque du Soleil," Wright said. Power Yoga Hawaii has invited vendors to offer health-related food and clothing items.
Where: The Modern Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday (body painting begins 5 p.m.)
Cost: $20 ($5 extra for cocktail and parking)
Info: poweryogahawaii.com
COURTESY NICOLE NODLAND
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8
Sibling Revelry
Echosmith, a fun-loving family of musicians with a cheerful alternative sound, sallies into The Republik on Wednesday.
Named one of MTV’s Artists to Watch in 2014, the Chino, Calif.-based band is composed of the Sierota siblings: lead singer/keyboard player Sydney, guitarist and vocalist Jamie, bass player Noah and drummer Graham. They were inspired by artists such as Coldplay, U2 and Fleetwood Mac. All band members write songs, so Echosmith has a varied sound, but Sydney’s, clear, bright vocals characterize the band’s music.
The Sierotas range from just 16 to 22 years old, but their talent was recognized early by professionals and fans alike. They were signed by Warner Bros. in 2012, and their 2013 debut album "Talking Dreams" reached the top 50 on the charts in several countries and peaked at No. 1 in the Billboard HeatseekersHeat-seeking chart. The album featured the hit single "Cool Kids," which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 and went double platinum in Australia. Their second album, "Acoustic Dreams," reached No. 34 on the HeatseekersHeat-seeking chart last year.
In performance, Echosmith has been making all the right moves too, getting raves on the Vans Warped Tour last summer and appearing on "Conan" and "Ellen." Just two weeks ago, the band visited "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," performing the new single "Let’s Love" off its newest album "Talking Dreams."
Opening will be local rockers the Bougies, who have a new album out.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Cost: $25-$30
Info: flavorus.com or 855-235-2867
COURTESY OHANA ARTS
THURSDAY, AUG. 9
Inspirational musical follows youths after Hiroshima bombing
Commemorate the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan with "Peace on Your Wings," a youth musical inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki and her thousand origami cranes.
Sasaki was a toddler living about a mile from ground zero in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped by an American bomber on Aug. 6, 1945. She survived the attack but fell ill at age 11. After hearing a legend that a person who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted one wish, she gathered her friends and started making cranes. Sasaki died at age 12 of leukemia and became a symbol of peace when her friends mobilized to create the peace memorial on her behalf. A statue of her is in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
"Peace on Your Wings," written by musician and composer Jennifer Taira and singer Laurie Rubin, follows the lives of middle-school students in Hiroshima after the war and how the bombing affects their relationships. The musical, which features a cast of 36 youths performing Japanese-inspired pop music, debuted last year and has been performed around the islands, with a tour in Los Angeles and Japan planned.
"We wanted a Broadway-caliber show, so we brought in a lot of set designers who have actually worked on Broadway shows with sets and lighting," Rubin said.
This series of performances will be marked by the appearance of Masahiro and Yuji Sasaki, Sadako’s brother and his son, at the Aug. 8 and 9 performances. Taira and Rubin said they reached out to them through contacts with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.
Rubin said Yuji Sasaki will sing a song, "Inori," about Sadako that "has become famous amidst the peace community."
Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Aug. 8, and 2 p.m Aug. 8-9
Cost: $15-$35
Info: hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506
