Tonight, the first Friday of November, is stacked with parties all across the state, from Hilo to Hanap?p?. If you're in Honolulu, start with the Honolulu Printmakers' Print and Book Fairat Aloha Tower. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.
Let’s start on Hawai‘i island—where the action this Friday is in Hilo, it’s Black and White night! The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association blocks off streets, there are food and craft vendors, contests with prizes, there’s a scavenger hunt kind of thing, and everyone wears black and white—tuxedos to t-shirts. And this year, the Pacific States Biennial North American Juried Printmaking Exhibition, born and raised in Hilo, is opening Friday too! Jon Goebel is the exhibition director:
Goebel: One of the strengths of this exhibition in general is you really get a good finger on the pulse of contemporary printmaking throughout north America. We make this a professional development activity for our students involved in the art program at UH Hilo. They curate the show, they mat, they frame, and hang the exhibit. They’re there for the entire process of producing the exhibition.
For the first time, the print exhibition will be at the UH Hilo Campus Center Gallery and at the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, downtown Hilo. In the Annex alongside the Cultural Center, find a new Makers’ Market featuring Big Island ceramics, glass, and other crafts. The parking lot will host food trucks, a night garden, and a plant sale.
On the Kona side, H?lualoa Village First Friday Art After Dark happens 5:30-8:30 with galleries, boutiques, music, food, art, coffee.
Maui celebrates First Friday in Wailuku, Brendan Smith is in charge.
Smith: This month we’re going to have Kaumaka’iwa Kanakaole performing on the main stage. People come in because they know they can have a great time, have some great food, hear great music. That’s what Maui is all about is taking that time off, putting your feet up, and really embracing maui time wholeheartedly.
This county knows how to party----Second Fridays are in Lahaina, Third Fridays are in Makawao, if it’s the 4th Friday, it’s K?hei---and if the month has a 5th Friday, head to L?na‘i for that one!
On Kaua‘i, little Hanap?p? town celebrates every Friday night, here’s artist Jan Brookshier from the Bridge Gallery.
Brookshier: I think this is year 21. It started after Hurricane Iniki as a way to get people to come back. We kind of pride ourselves on being the art center of the whole island of Kaua‘i.
Craft and food tents line that one street---try Porky’s hot dog with k?lua pork.
Here on O‘ahu, Chinatown is reclaiming First Friday! Start at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum where tonight, Rumi Murakami and Matt Bruening are showing their latest designs in the HiSAM Shop. Really hope I get there before you. At 8pm in a mysterious mirrored room off Artizen Café, Aly ishikuni of Art and Flea and Brandon Udani, their band, Alt/Air, will perform “dream pop” in a visuals-with-soundscape experience.
Deeper in Chinatown, on Nu‘uanu, the new Pantheon Contemporary debuts in the former Indigo space. Ara Laylo, Gnarley, a bunch of DJ’s and visual creatives promise an experiential pop up there! And in the old Nikki’s Arcade on Hotel, Maoli artists Cory Taum & Imaikalani Kalahele are holding forth on civic engagement!! The Artist lofts are in full swing, enjoy the inner courtyards and courtyard balconies.
And do not forget to hit the Honolulu Printmakers’ Print and Book Fair opening at Aloha Tower! It runs through Saturday. The Fair will be at the Aloha Tower campus of Hawaii Pacific University, in Multipurpose Room # 3,
This Friday all over these islands you will see the result of months of preparation. These artists of all stripes have invested their labor and love into these events. You want to have a fun town? All you have to do is get out and enjoy it!
40+ locations featuring local place-makers, entrepreneurs and artists MAPPED within 6 square blocks of Honolulu’s ONLY Historical Culture and Arts District, the oldest Chinatown in the U.S.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS INCLUDE:
Hawaii Theatre Center:
Benefit film screening of Last Taxi Dance starring Danielle Zalopany by local indie filmmaker Brayden Yoder, with special live performances of songs from the film by Starr Kalahiki, and Stephen Inglis!
In the New Pantheon Contemporary The old Indigo Restaurant): : THE ENTERPRISE Experiential Pop up featuring Chinatown creatives. VISUALS by Alec Singer. SOUND by: Gnarley, DJ Bradley, DJ Delve, The Commondandies, Frntbznzz, Central Pacific Time, Nick Kurazawa & Ara Laylo. 6p-1a...librations & joy being served.
The ARTS at Marks Garage:
Opening of “For Art Sake”, a group artist exhibition featuring local artists Albert “Hardkoa” Weight, Brook Parker, Barry Napolean, Sonya Hoffermeister, Nadia Fairlamb.
For Freedoms revive the vacant storefront of Nikki’s Arcade with an art installation by Maoli artists Cory Taum & Imaikalani Kalahele. A symbol of artistic civic engagement in identifying our relationship to place and the kuleana that comes with it.
Don't forget the Hotel Street Block pARTy:
Do NOT miss going down to Aloha Tower!!!!!!! For the Honolulu Printmakers’ Print and Book Fair it’s in new digs, with demos and manga and canvas totes all things printable
