Community Calendar

All Literature and Fiction books will be on sale at 50% off for the month of August. If you haven't finished your summer reading then stop by as the shelves are always being restocked and Pop-up sales are frequent.

The Bookstore also has DVDs, CDs, audio books, records, anime, comics, games, puzzles and so much more at great prices. Please note that Statehood day will be Friday August 15th and all libraries will be closed.

Wednesdays at Highway Inn Waipahu and Thursdays at Highway Inn Kaka‘ako feature a rotating lineup of local musicians perform from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Wednesdays at Waipahu feature Kapono Na‘ili’ili with Kata Maduli, Mistyreis and Mista Lawri, and Meldon Leong of Kapili Band with Scott Medeiros. Thursdays at Kaka‘ako feature Barrett Awai and Kevin Inn, Meldon Leong of Kapili Band with Scott Medeiros, and Jackie Burke. See myhighwayinn.com for the weekly schedule.

Enjoy live music from the talented local guitarist and singer, Darin Cumpston. He will performing relaxing sunset vibes at Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, Waikiki, from 6pm to 9pm. The event is free and welcome to adults 21+.

The Invisible Wild: Where Ancient Stories Meet Modern Struggles

An Evening with Author Nikki Van De Car

Join us for an intimate evening at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio as kanaka māoli author Nikki Van De Car shares the magic and meaning behind her acclaimed debut young adult novel, The Invisible Wild.

The novel follows sixteen-year-old Emma as she reconnects with her childhood ability to see and communicate with the forest spirits whose sacred home is threatened by a resort development. Through Emma's journey, Van De Car weaves together the ancient legends of Hawaiʻi—including the stories of the Menehune—with the urgent contemporary issues facing our ‘āina today: environmental destruction, cultural preservation, and the complex questions of identity and belonging in modern Hawaiʻi.

Drawing from her own experiences growing up in Volcano, Hawaiʻi, Van De Car will discuss how ancestral stories refuse to be left behind, the vital connection between people and land, and what it means to fight for the wild spaces—both visible and invisible—that shape who we are. She'll share insights about writing authentic Hawaiian representation, why stories of environmental activism and indigenous sovereignty matter now more than ever.

The 45th Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani culminates with the HIFF45 Awards Ceremony and Reception, a distinguished evening honoring cinematic excellence from Asia, the U.S., and the Pacific. As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival, HIFF showcases the year’s most exceptional films and filmmakers, presenting top honors including Kau Ka Hōkū (International Feature), NETPAC, Made in Hawai‘i Short & Feature, Pasifika Short & Feature, Audience Awards Short & Feature, Best Short Film, and University Short Film.

Guests will enjoy a celebratory evening of awards, gourmet bites, and live music, mingling in true red-carpet fashion on Halekulani's stunning outdoor lawn as the sun sets - an elegant gathering under the stars. Join us for a reimagined reception, bringing together the entire film industry of the Pacific for an unforgettable night of connection and celebration.

Hosted bar and Heavy Pupus from Halekulani's award-winning chefs

Attire: Island Elegance

World Premiere Musical
Written and Directed by MFA candidate Alison Bruce-Maldonado

October 22-26, 2025
*Post Show Q&A following the Friday performance

Set in a 1940’s American toy store, Dolls: A Toy Story is a moving tale of love, loss, and societal change. As segregation and war shape the world around them, LENA, a radiant Black teen with dreams of becoming a fashion designer, and TIMOTHY, a soft-spoken White teen who is an aspiring engineer, find their love challenged by miscegenation laws that threaten to keep them apart. Meanwhile, the store’s dolls watch in quiet wonder as history unfolds and war leaves its mark on those who return, including a desperate former storehand and a once-powerful store manager carrying unspoken regrets. As the nation stands on the brink of change after the war, LENA must reckon with the sacrifices she has made for her family and the dreams that she left behind. With heartfelt music, historical depth, and a bittersweet love story, Dolls: A Toy Story reminds us that despite injustice, hope endures, and change is always on the horizon. Viewer discretion is advised. Not recommended for children.

Content Advisories: Segregation, racism, prejudice and harmful ideologies, war and its impacts, loss and grief, tense moments and conflicts.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30pm
Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7:30pm
Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30pm*
Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2:00pm
*post-show Q&A 10/24

OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa will host the inaugural OUTRIGGER Pickleball Open from October 22-26, 2025. The five-day tournament, produced in partnership with Pickleball Is Great, will welcome amateurs and pros from across the globe to compete at Holua Racquet & Paddle, the state’s largest tennis and pickleball facility located a short walk from the resort.

The tournament will feature singles, doubles and mixed doubles competition across eight divisions. Matches follow a round-robin format with a total prize pool of $10,000 distributed among top players. With 20 newly resurfaced outdoor courts set against the oceanfront landscape of Keauhou Bay, the event combines competitive play with a premier travel experience. Registration for the OUTRIGGER Pickleball Open is open now through September 30. Entry is $85, increasing to $115 beginning September 1. Find full details on pickleballtournaments.com.

Guests and players staying at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa during the tournament can enjoy upgraded accommodations, oceanfront dining and exclusive cultural experiences including discounted access to Feast & Fire, Kona’s premier lūʻau held every Monday and Thursday night, by using promo code PICKLEBALL25.

Registration: https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/2025-outrigger-open-kona-at-holua-racquet-and-paddle-by-pig

Over 100 pieces of art in a wide variety of 2D and 3D mediums are on display.

Lahaina Arts Society's fine art fairs showcasing award winning juried Maui resident artists creating paintings, ceramics, photography, glass art, woodwork, feather art, jewelry and more for over 50 years. Meet and talk story.

When: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 10:30 am
Walk-ins accepted as capacity allowed
Reservations: Recommended – Call (808) 768-7135
Cost: Free with garden admission

About the Garden:

Step away from the city and enjoy a refreshing visit to Foster Botanical Garden, the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. This 14-acre oasis features a world-class collection of tropical plants, including some magnificent trees planted in the 1850s by Dr. William Hillebrand. These trees mark the beginning of what would become the Honolulu Botanical Gardens.

What to Expect:

Tours are led by dedicated volunteer guides who have completed a six-week training program. They bring the garden to life with in-depth stories, history, culture, and fascinating insights into its plants and animals.

Organized Group Tours:

For schools and organized groups, please call (808) 768-7135 to discuss possibilities.

Garden Highlights:
Upper Terrace
Palm Garden
Economic Garden (with herbs, spices, and other plants with commercial value)
Prehistoric Glen Cycad Collection
21 Exceptional Trees (as designated by Hawaii’s Exceptional Tree Program)
The Conservatory (with orchids, pitcher plants, and more)
Outdoor Butterfly Garden
and an affiliated Gift Shop