THURSDAY
>> Fourth of July holiday celebrated islandwide
Break out the beach chairs and barbecues and enjoy Independence Day today, the 243rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Celebrations will be held island-wide.
>> Kailua hosts a 73rd annual celebration, with its Kailua Independence Day Parade beginning at 10 a.m., marching down Kainalu Drive to Kailua Intermediate School. There will be fireworks at 8 p.m. at Kailua Beach Park. kailuachamber.com
>> On the North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center hosts a 4th of July Fireworks and Concert at the Hukilau Marketplace. Josh Tatofi, the Tonga Sisters, Ke Kai o Kahiki, Rebel Souljahz, Peni Dean and Makaha Sons provide the entertainment starting at 4 p.m., leading up to the fireworks by Grucci at 9 p.m. hukilaumarketplace.com
>> At Schofield Barracks, the Fourth of July Spectacular begins at noon, with carnival rides, games and a full lineup of music right through to the fireworks at 8:40 p.m. It’s free and open to the public, with i.d. required for admission; those without a Department of Defense i.d. should enter via Foote Gate. Details: himwr.com
>> At the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a Fourth of July Picnic at the Pier includes tours of the Mighty Mo, keiki activities, music and fireworks, starting at 6 p.m.; $10-$15, ussmissouri.org/picnic
>> In Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts “Rock the Lagoon,” noon to 8 p.m., with entertainment, food vendors and free admission; hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/events.
>> At the Sheraton Waikiki’s infinity pool and Rumfire, guests over 21 are invited to rock red, white and blue swimwear for “Red, White and Brews,” 6-10 p.m. with DJs LYT and Bliss ; $30-$53, 808ne.ws/RWB-PLAY
Islandwide, the main event is Ala Moana Center’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, featuring fireworks synched up to popular music, broadcast over radio station KSSK (92.3 FM). The center will also host music starting at noon, headlined by Hoku Zuttermeister and Maunaloa at 4 p.m. Get to Ala Moana Regional Park early, if you plan to watch from there, and note: Ala Moana Boulevard will be closed to traffic in front of Ala Moana Center between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
WAIKIKI FIREWORKS
>> Where: Ala Moana Regional Park
>> When: Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: alamoanacenter.com
FRIDAY
>> Guitar duo Hot Tuna plays hot licks
The inventive guitar blues duo Hot Tuna comes to Honolulu on its 50th Anniversary Tour this week.
Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady first came to prominence in the 1960s as members of Jefferson Airplane, but they had been making music together as childhood friends in Washington D.C., where they got exposure to a wide range of music in the city’s club scene. When Jefferson Airplane lead singer Grace Slick had to go on hiatus due to throat problems, they combined their talents again, at times opening for Jefferson Airplane before striking out on their own in the early 1970s.
They’ve produced more than a dozen albums since then, most of which reached the Billboard Top 100 charts. They’ve also compiled an impressive list as individual performers.
Though they accomplished plenty playing psychedelic-rock electronic music, they’re excellent acoustic performers, producing a sound that has a laid-back, gentle sensibility. Kaukonen’s sweet voice lends a wistful tone to their melancholy songs, and blends beautifully with his virtuousic finger-picking style – he was named the 54th greatest rock guitarist by Rolling Stone magazine’s David Fricke in 2010.
Casady’s acoustic bass playing is no less impressive than his electric bass performance – innovative and tasteful. He plays on a specially made, oversized instrument that he named “Diana” for his late wife. He keeps a lock of her hair in it.
HOT TUNA ACOUSTIC
50th Anniversary Tour
>> Where: Hawaii Theatre Center
>> When: 8 p.m. Friday
>> Cost: $39.50-$69.50; $250 VIP
>> Info: 528-0506, hawaiitheatre.com
SATURDAY-AUG. 4
>> Surf film festival slides into Honolulu Museum of Art
Big waves, spectacular surfing and soul sessions come to the Honolulu Museum of Art for the Honolulu Surf Film Festival 2019.
With big wave surfing now the rage, “White Rhino” will be Saturday’s opening-night film. Brent Storm’s film documents three epic swells that hit Tahiti’s famous breaks, Cloudbreak and Teahupo’o, and the surfers who tried to conquer them.
Storm will be on hand to discuss his film at opening night festivities on Saturday, which include a dinner featuring Hawaiian classics like kalua pig, lau lau and haupia, with live music by Goon Lei Goon. Storm also will attend the two later screenings, at 4 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The festival also highlights the global reach of modern surfing, with films set in South Africa (“Satori,” at 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday), Russia (“Priboi,” at 1 p.m. July 11, 4 p.m. July 13 and 7:30 p.m. July 16) and the Falkland Islands (“Transcending Waves: La Ola Sin Fronteres,” 7:30 p.m. July 31 and 4 p.m. Aug. 3).
Hawaii’s surfing legacy will be on display in “Mai Kinohi Mai: Surfing in Hawai’i,” a film developed by DeSoto Brown of Bishop Museum, 4 p.m July 21.
Visit 808ne.ws/surffilmfest for a full schedule and details.
HONOLULU SURF FILM FESTIVAL 2019
>> Where: Honolulu Museum of Art
>> When: Opening night 6 p.m. Saturday; movie screens at 7:30
>> Cost: Opening $30 ($25 members); individual films, $15 ($12 members)
>> Info: 532-6097, honolulumuseum.org
SUNDAY
>> Fundraiser to help ailing musician
Bass guitarist Arex Ikehara is a respected musician on the islands, having played with Na Leo Pilimehana, Kristian Lei and other artists. Last fall, Ikehara was diagnosed with disorder called Neuromyelitis Optica, a rare autoimmune disease that damages the brain, spinal cord and eyes.
Sunday’s fundraiser, put together by his friends and musical colleagues, will help cover his medical costs. The evening features a broad range of music, including colorfully inventive jazz troupe Pacific Harp Project, singer/songwriter Sunway, Tony Award-nominated Broadway performer Loretta Ables Sayre and pianist Jim Howard and Na Leo Pilimehana.
To contribute to Ikehara’s gofundme campaign and support research into Neuromyelitis Optica, go to 808ne.ws/ArexIkehara.
AREX IKEHARA FUNDRAISER
>> Where: Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Aloha Tower
>> When: 5-9:30 p.m. Sunday
>> Cost: Donations requested
>> Info: 808ne.ws/ArexIkehara
For additional events, visit staradvertiser.com/calendar.
