Freestyle: Real-life adventures

COURTESY LANDON TOM

HONOLULU ARTIST LANDON TOM’S UNTITLED WORK IS PART OF “CAROUSEL.”

BY ELIZABETH KIESZKOWSKI / ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com

Sometimes, you just crave “interaction” in the true, human sense. Two events this weekend provide just that.

Friday’s “CAROUSEL: group image inspiration machine” at Kaka‘ako Agora is interactive in every sense of the word — a event that lets you shout out your reaction to art, head to head with fellow enthusiasts.

(I like that word, “enthusiasts.” Don’t you crave that feeling of enthusiasm that comes when you’re engaged and involved?)

This weekend, the Ka Pilina Interactive Arts Society, Burning Man’s recognized Hawaii group, hosts a Regional Ranger Training Session on Saturday and a NewbieQ — new Burner Q&A and “Meat ‘n Greet” — on Sunday, both at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park and campground.

“CAROUSEL” is a show, a sport and a communal live event. Inspired by the idea of the slide show on a vintage carousel (did you see that famous scene from “Mad Men,” when Don Draper uses one to great effect to inspire sentimental feelings about family?), this art show is designed to pull image-admirers out of the lone bubble that is Tumblr or Instagram by bringing us into the same room with others to share our impressions.

Conceived by Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, an independent curator, and organized with assistance by Erika Enomoto, it’s presented by Kakaako’s ii gallery.

“My hope is that folks will come away inspired by unexpected connections made between images and ideas,” said Goldberg. “But really, I just want to laugh and not take looking at images so seriously. No experts, no lecture, no niche areas of knowledge. Just connections. Possibly random ones.”

The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Friday, with doors opening at 6. Word to the wise: Socializing will probably be on the agenda until about 6:45 p.m. if the sun is bright, so that light streaming though the skylights doesn’t wash out the slideshow.

Invited image selectors include:

» Adele Balderston, geographer
» Leah Caldeira, collections manager at Bishop Museum
» Gaye Chan, conceptual artist/professor and art dept. chair, University of Hawaii-Mānoa
» Charles Cohan, visual artist/associate professor and printmaking program chair, UH-Mānoa
» AJ Feducia, visual artist/musician
» John Hook,photographer
» Nadine Kam, Style Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser (my co-worker)
» Billie Lee,visual artist/filmmaker
» Henry Mochida,filmmaker/urban planner
» Linny Morris, photographer
» Sara Oka, curator of textiles, Honolulu Museum of Art
» Dana Paresa, artist/maker/illustrator/designer
» Franco Salmoiraghi, photographer
» Landon Tom, visual artist/musician

KTUH DJ James Charisma will get the party in tune with music before and after the slide show. The Sunny 16 will be on hand with vintage slides, snapshots, darkroom prints from old negatives, and slide reprints for sale. Beverages (including adult beverages) and popcorn will be available “to keep energy levels high and to help fortify courage for blurting out word associations!”

ELIZABETH KIESZKOWSKI / 2012

SUNRISE AT BURNING MAN 2012.

AFTER ATTENDING Burning Man the past two years, I’m taking a pass in 2014. However, my life has been changed by my experiences there, with its lessons of self-sufficiency, generosity and possibility, and I do crave a refresher. (Here’s my look back at the sun-baked Black Rock City, Nevada gathering last year.) This weekend provides the opportunity.

I’ll be camping out with the group in Waimanalo on Saturday for a Hawaii-style, Burning Man-related adventure. As with Burning Man, we’ll be expected to “leave no trace” (be kind to the environment), be prepared to share (it’s a time to forget about money and commerce, at least for a little while) and to enjoy ourselves creatively (beach dancing and sky gazing are on my agenda).

If you plan to attend Burning Man this year (it takes place on the week leading up to Labor Day), or want to know more as a potential “virgin Burner,” join in for Sunday’s Q&A and barbecue (bring your own grillables and refreshments) at 11 a.m. Sunday. Veteran Burners are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

I’ll have more to say about this extravagant, difficult, exuberant, oddball explosion of self-expression in future posts.
———
Elizabeth Kieszkowski is editor of TGIF, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s weekly arts and entertainment section. Reach her via email at ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com or follow her on Twitter.

PICS: Art + Flea at the Our Kakaako Warehouse

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

People shopped and enjoyed entertainment by DJs Seeko, Drift, RA and special guest DJs Kowai Kowai and Delve on Thursday in Kakaako. More than 60 vendors gathered for the event; the theme of the night was “Work It,” and people who dressed in theme got in at a discounted rate.

PICS: Ke Kani O Ke Kai at the Waikiki Aquarium

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

The Waikiki Aquarium hosted its first Ke Kani O Ke Kai concert of the summer on Thursday, inviting music lovers to enjoy an evening of music on the lawn in Waikiki. Hapa and Cyril Pahinui entertained the crowd.

Food La La: Chef Chai launches new bar menu

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY LINDSEY MURAOKA / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Chef Chai at Pacifica on Kapiolani Blvd. recently launched a new bar menu with special tapas-style dishes created by chefs Montrice Shumpert and Mark Allen Lopez.

Served from 4 to 11 p.m. daily, the new dishes showcase the contrasting culinary styles of each chef.

“I love creating dishes based on what I think women would enjoy while sipping on a cocktail,” said Shumpert, pictured at right. He said he creates dishes that are colorful and delicate with South American fusion flavors, while Lopez’s style is bolder with Filipino influences.

This is the Heirloom Tomato Salad ($13) which is as delicious as it looks. It’s made with marinated feta cheese, Mission figs, basil and balsamic caviar with a creamy roast beet aioli.

The balsamic caviar was not actually caviar, but a jelly that is made to resemble the real thing. It gave the dish another depth of texture and flavor.

This is the crispy Brazilian Spiced Chicken Bau Buns ($13) with tangy citrus aioli and golden beet relish. I could eat 20 of these; they were addicting!

The Poached Papaya Prawn Cucumber Salad ($15) had a spicy and refreshing Thai-inspired dressing. I love how all the dishes at Chef Chai have contrasting flavors, yet go perfectly together.

The grand finale was a Deconstructed Cheesecake ($9). It’s a liquid cheesecake with crunchy condensed milk powder, sticky caramel pudding gummies and raspberry sorbet. There were so many different elements and textures going on, but it worked.

For more information about Chef Chai at Pacifica, visit the restaurant’s website.
———
Lindsey Muraoka blogs about food and drink for the Pulse. Contact her on Twitter or via email at foodlalablog@gmail.com.

Five-0 Redux: Makinen honors blue-collar roots

BY WENDIE BURBRIDGE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Actor Karl Makinen is the first to describe himself as a blue-collar actor — someone who has to work hard for every part they land. He’s made a name for himself as a perennial guest star, with appearances on popular television shows like “CSI,” “NCIS,” “The Unit,” “Prison Break,” “Without a Trace,” and “CSI: Miami.”

COURTESY KARL MAKINEN

KARL MAKINEN.

Makinen’s resume is long and the variety of roles he has played, from cops to bad guys, is impressive. The New York native is the son of a police officer, who didn’t understand his drive to be an actor until he landed a role on the first season of “NYPD Blue.”

Unfortunately, Makinen played a cop-killer in the episode, but the role helped his father accept that he had what it took to become a successful actor.

Lucky for us, he’s continued with his acting dream and played Jack Anderson in what was probably one of the best guest roles of season four on “Hawaii Five-0.”

Makinen’s character — a bar owner and family man who protected his patrons from local toughs and was an anonymous supporter of the local police — was expertly written by John Dove and smartly directed by Peter Weller.

Looking at the roles Makinen has played throughout his career, often regular guys who are pushed into a corner and forced to protect themselves or their children, you can understand how he was a perfect fit to play Jack Anderson.

Makinen played Anderson as a true good guy, yet someone whose life was a cover for being on the run from the FBI for 20 years. He accidentally killed a woman while trying to escape the police after a liquor store robbery. Even though we know he killed someone, it seemed like he never committed a crime after the robbery and had spent the last 20 years making his amends.

It was hard not to like Anderson and feel empathy for him. He had stayed straight, had a great wife and two small boys and ran a good business. He was friends with Grover (Chi McBride) and seemed to be a friend to all.

Much like the solid guy Makinen seems to be in real life.

I spoke to Makinen with Amy Bakari during the “Amy and Friends Show” on KPRP-AM 650, and he was as easy to talk to as it was to love him as Jack Anderson. Makinen shared a lot about his life and his acting, as well as his experiences on “Hawaii Five-0.”

“I hadn’t been to Hawaii, so that was pretty awesome. It was so beautiful,” he said. “Then to be able to go to a great place like that and to work on ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ which is a great show. And then not only that, as an actor who is ‘guest star guy,’ and most parts I get, are not necessary full with so many levels to play.

“Thanks to writer John Dove, my guest star is the best guest spot I’ve ever had, as far as a character that has that really has a full arc and so many levels to him. It was awesome to get the part. I was really excited.”

COURTESY CBS

MAKINEN IN A SCENE FROM “HAWAII FIVE-0.”

Makinen was thrilled to be able to sink his teeth into a meaty part.

“Luckily in my life, I don’t have any sort of major regret,” he said. “But you think about little regrets that you have in life and how they eat away at you. That’s why I love this character.

“He was trying so hard to live this other life, in order to make up for the one that he screwed up. And it took a horrible event for him to really face up to it and that was the only way he was going to move on. They just don’t do that on television. They don’t have this kind of guest spots for actors.

“So when I booked the part, I was so excited, because it meant a lot to me as an actor. I have to work hard for every part I get, and when I get a really great one like this I just really appreciate it and love to do it.”

I asked about working with Peter Weller on set, and Makinen talked about what a great experience it was to work with the popular “Hawaii Five-0” director and actor.

“Peter Weller is a character,” he said. “He’s a super intelligent guy. His brain is always jumping ahead to the next scene. He just let me do my work and guided me. He did a great job.”

Makinen also talked about his favorite parts to play.

“I always play bad guys or cops. I think I just have that look,” he said. “Cop parts for me are not as fun as the bad guy. When you play a bad guy, there are so many levels; it’s so much fun.

“Usually I play straight up bad guys, so my mom and dad sometimes ask if they are going to bring me back for another episode. And I have to say no, I’m the bad guy, I either die or go to jail.”

Well, sometimes on “Hawaii Five-0” the bad guys come back.

COURTESY CBS

MAKINEN IN A SCENE FILMED AT THE HIDEAWAY BAR IN WAIKIKI.

Makinen also spoke fondly of shooting at The Hideaway Bar in Waikiki.

“That was my last day of shooting and I had all those fight scenes,” he said. “I practiced for three hours and it was hot and humid. We didn’t get to the fight until about 11:30 at night, but after I met Peter Weller and Laurie Fortier, who played my wife, and we hung out there with the crew.

“That bar has such character. It’s a little dive bar in the midst of this big city. It was great.”

Makinen knows about bars with character as his most recent passion is running his two Los Angeles area restaurants.

“It’s a love of mine. I love food, and I love great people. I love entertaining guests,” he said. “It’s a gastropub called The Local Peasant. Local beer, local wine, local produce, local people, I try to hire local employees.

“It’s chef-driven, upscale pub food. It’s amazing. I love it.”

Follow Makinen via his website and check out his restaurant, The Local Peasant, when you are in Sherman Oaks or Woodland Hills.

Tell him Five-0 sent you.

REDUX SIDE NOTE

This weekend is a big one, with Friday’s repeat of “Ma lalo o ka ‘ili” (Beneath the surface) and Saturday’s special airing of “Kupuʻeu” (“Fallen Hero”).

If you haven’t seen Ian Anthony Dale’s latest project, the Steven Bochco summer drama series, “Murder in the First,” on TNT, it replays Saturday with a new episode Monday. Dale stars as Lt. Jim Koto, a Stanford graduate and head of the San Francisco Police Department’s homicide unit.
———
Wendie Burbridge is a published author, playwright and teacher. Reach her via Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

PICS: Eat the Street

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Monthly food festival Eat the Street returned to Kakaako with a luau theme on Friday.

PICS: Mo Scanlan Album Release Party

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PHOTOS BY JOAH BULEY / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Local recording artist Mo Scanlan celebrated the release of her new album, “For the World to See,” with a release party at 53 By the Sea on Friday.

PICS: ‘Girl, Boi, Grrl’ at Hula’s Waikiki

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PHOTOS BY JAMES GARRETT / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand and Pretty Peacock Productions presented an evening of gender-blending entertainment with “Girl, Boi, Grrl” on Friday. The production featured performances by Miss Catwings, Lola Love, Rhonda Corner, Hunter Down, La Femme Rikita, Pamela Poles, Phong and The Aphrodisiacs.

PICS: Honpa Hongwanji Bon Dance

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

The Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin hosted the first night of a two-day bon dance at 1727 Pali Hwy. on Friday. The event repeats at 6 p.m. Saturday with a taiko performance, followed by services at 6:15 p.m and the bon dance to follow.

PICS: ‘The Haumana’ DVD Launch Party

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PHOTOS BY JOAH BULEY / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Cast and crew from Hawaii-made film “The Haumana,” directed by Keo Woolford, celebrated its release on DVD with a launch party at The Crown on Friday.

PICS: Groove Fest at The Groove Hawaii

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Hawaii Party Rentals and Eightball Hawaii hosted Groove Fest at The Groove Hawaii on Saturday. The party featured go-kart racing, a foam party and music by DJs G-Spot, First Class, Dirty Beanie and Wizzard with a special guest appearance by Oof (Graves, King Kekai and DJ Frizel).

Review: Top 10 Summer Albums

BY RANDALL ROBERTS / Los Angeles Times

Summer offers ample time for the kind of concentrated listening that drives musical love affairs. Whether aboard a luxury liner headed for Alaska or in a hand-me-down Hyundai road-tripping to Joshua Tree, the season presents opportunities galore to catch up on hot records that plugged-in friends have had on repeat.

Below, in alphabetical order, are 10 records released this year that I’ve been recommending to friends. The “best” so far? Sure, but don’t expect the same list at the end of the year – or even the end of next week.

‘MORNING PHASE’ BY BECK (CAPITOL)

A lush, breezy record from a mercurial Los Angeles songwriter, “Morning Phase” sees Beck Hansen in contemplation mode. Through 11 songs and a couple of ethereal interludes, the artist responsible for ’90s jams “Loser” and “Devil’s Haircut” taps into the spirit of his languid cult classic “Sea Change.”

At its best – “Blue Moon,” “Heart Is a Drum,” “Unforgiven” – Beck combines his way with grand melody and a minimalist lyrical touch that cuts away irony to focus on the honesty below.

‘TOUMANI & SIDIKI’ BY TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIABATE (WORLD CIRCUIT)

Those rolling through hills or across desert vistas looking for relaxing but vibrant accompaniment will love “Toumani & Sidiki,” the product of the first recorded studio session between the father and son Toumani and Sidiki Diabate.

Both are masters of the kora, a 21-stringed West African instrument somewhere between a lute and a harp. It’s a beguiling sound, and when two geniuses bridge generations, you can hear echoes of a continuum stretching back centuries.

‘DARK COMEDY’ BY OPEN MIKE EAGLE (MELLO)

Funny without being slapstick, political without being preachy, L.A. rapper Open Mike Eagle is a wordsmith whose lines could be endlessly footnoted. One listen to “Very Much Money” should hook you, but don’t stop there.

“A History of Modern Dance” couples an oblong beat with Eagle’s exquisite phrasing; “Jon Lovitz” is a surreal vision of a gig that occurs on the moon.

‘UNDER COVER OF OFFICIAL LIGHT’ BY PROTOMARTYR (HARDLY ART)

Like Open Mike Eagle, Protomartyr singer and lyricist Joe Casey seems like he’s laughing to keep from crying. But unlike Eagle, Casey’s laugh is bitter, disgruntled and fed up.

Through 14 post-punk tracks that suggest Joy Division and Interpol but with a layer of Detroit grit, “Under Cover” is as grim as it is infectious, filled with echoed beats and super catchy hooks.

‘ST. VINCENT’ BY ST. VINCENT (LOMA VISTA/UNIVERSAL)

Few aesthetic experiences are as gratifying as hearing an artist hit her peak, and “St. Vincent,” the fifth album from the musician born Annie Clark, delivers such pleasure. With hints of new wave, experimental pop and art rock, Clark’s new work succeeds in documenting the here-and-now without sounding the least bit trendy.

Touches of modern R&B (“I Prefer Your Love”) rub against frenetic guitar shredding (“Birth in Reverse”). Elsewhere she offers complicated love songs and relentlessly surprising structures.

‘OXYMORON’ BY SCHOOLBOY Q (TOP DAWG/INTERSCOPE)

A wicked debut album from a should-be rap star, Schoolboy Q on “Oxymoron” makes a valid argument that he and label mates and fellow Black Hippy members Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul are an unstoppable force.

Reporting from his home base of Compton, the artist born Quincey Handley couples hard, unflinching beats with a sing-song lyrical delivery. The title track is particularly harrowing.

‘TO BE KIND’ BY SWANS (YOUNG GOD)

Warning: Wear a seat belt and helmet when strapping into Swans’ jumbo double-disc statement of intent, “To Be Kind.” To call it epic is true, but whether its density is pleasurable or not depends on your constitution and tolerance for furrow-browed art rock.

Me? I haven’t heard a record this consistently powerful and frightening in ages. At full volume – the only way to really hear “To Be Kind” – the fury overwhelms. More impressive, the decibels are delivered with patience and forethought.

‘ARE WE THERE’ BY SHARON VAN ETTEN (JAGJAGUWAR)

A heartbreaking tangle of pretty melodies about a destroyed relationship, “Are We There” is the fourth album from a New York-based singer and guitarist who endured a doomed affair and survived to write about it.

Unflinching, Americana-tinged rock that isn’t afraid to go dark, Van Etten on “Are We There” mixes little beatbox rhythms, hypnotic melodies and just a touch of twang.

‘LOST IN THE DREAM’ BY THE WAR ON DRUGS (SECRETLY CANADIAN)

The breakout record from Philadelphia’s the War on Drugs will appeal to fans of guitar rock from across history. On the band’s third album are touches of Bob Dylan’s electric work, solos that suggest the tag-team efforts of Television’s Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd and beats that drive songs until they’re humming on cruise control.

But the influences are beside the point. “Lost in the Dream” molds those sounds into something original, no small feat.

‘LAZARETTO’ BY JACK WHITE (THIRD MAN)

The album on which a restless Jack White stops, catches his breath and works to build structures as solid as his riffs, “Lazaretto” is essential because it showcases White the perfectionist.

Opting to spend months in the studio rather than banging the record direct to tape, White’s patience is evident throughout, but especially on “Alone in My Home” and “Just One Drink,” two instant rock classics.

PICS: 2014 Ikaika Bodybuilding Championships

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PHOTOS BY JOAH BULEY / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Athletes from around Hawaii and the United States were at the Blaisdell Concert Hall for the 2014 Ikaika Bodybuilding Championships on Saturday. More than 150 competitors took part in different classes, including Men’s and Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure, Physique and Bikini.

PICS: Rolando Sanchez 30th Anniversary Concert

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PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Local Latin recording artist Rolando Sanchez celebrated 30 years of music-making in Hawaii with a bash at Hawaiian Brian’s on Sunday. He was joined on stage by the Brown Sound Orchestra and other guests.

Outtakes Online: Producers score seed money

BY MIKE GORDON / mgordon@staradvertiser.com

Five film and TV projects conceived in Hawaii each received $50,000 in seed money this month, including some from the state, as part of a new program to accelerate the development of creative ideas.

The projects — two reality TV series, two feature films and a 3-D IMAX documentary about volcanoes — are part of the Global Virtual Studio Transmedia Accelerator, located in Kona.

COURTESY GVS TRANSMEDIA ACCELERATOR

FILMMAKER DAVID CUNNINGHAM, SEATED AT CENTER, LISTENS TO MIKE FRANK, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GVS TRANSMEDIA ACCELERATOR, AS HE TALKS TO MEMBERS OF THE WINNING PROJECTS AT HONUA STUDIOS.

The team behind the long-winded moniker wants to go global and stay local, said David Cunningham, a filmmaker who serves as executive director of the accelerator.

“Our theme is ‘Created in Hawaii but made for the world,’” he said. “We are looking for stuff that competes globally.”

Cunningham, who grew up in Kona, hopes that each creative entrepreneur will become successful in Hawaii instead of in more traditional media locations such as Los Angeles and New York. Cunningham, 43, had an established film career on the mainland before returning to Hawaii in 2004 to start a family. Two of his better-known films were shot in Hawaii: “Beyond Paradise” and “To End All Wars.”

He founded Global Virtual Studio, a virtual production house, five years ago so he could connect projects from around the world and work on them from Kona. His staff of 20 works with artists and facilities in 15 countries.

“I really believe we are more than just a back lot for Hollywood movies that say they want to come here,” he said. “That’s a huge and important market, but we also want to grow our own industry, and it starts with creating your own content.”

The state’s Hawaii Strategic Development Corp. has a three-year deal with the accelerator program and will contribute up to $500,000 in a matching arrangement with Cunningham. The budget calls for up to six projects a year, and if fewer projects are chosen, as was the case this first time, the leftover funds can be used the following years, said Karl Fooks, president of HSCD.

The accelerator fund will receive 10 percent of each project’s profits and will be shared equally.

Hawaii County is pitching in with $200,000 each year to help with some of the operating expenses, such as electricity at Honua Studios, home of the accelerator program, Fooks said. The state’s Creative Industries Division is helping connect projects to mentors.

ACCELERATORS have taken center stage as a way to build the economy in communities around the country, Fooks said. They provide new entrepreneurs with industry mentorship, business advice and resources to get going.

In this, the first creative media accelerator in Hawaii, the project entrepreneurs will receive story and script refinement, budget advice and distribution plans. The intensive six-month program will be tailored to their needs.

“Investors have had difficulty finding good concepts, and typically those people who dream these ideas up are not the best business people,” Fooks said. “So the accelerator model brings the founders, the developers, and matches them with the business guys who can polish their idea, and then they bring in the investors.”

But success or failure rests squarely on the projects.

“These are risky enterprises,” said Fooks, who points out that the state’s contributions are considered an investment. “We never know what idea will catch fire.”

More than 100 projects were submitted, including one successful pitch by Cunningham and screenwriter-producer John Fusco, who wrote “Young Guns,” “Hidalgo” and “Forbidden Kingdom.” The finalists were chosen by an independent board of entertainment and business executives.

All the projects have one thing in common: that funny-sounding term “transmedia.” It means that all of the projects must be paired with another media platform — for example, a TV show and an app, a movie and a video game, or a documentary and a digital magazine, Cunningham said.

“You want to carry that story and those characters across multiple platforms,” he said. “Think of it like your iPad. It has replaced Blockbuster video, arcade games and bookstores.”
———
Mike Gordon covers film and television in Hawaii for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Email him at mgordon@staradvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his weekly “Outtakes” column Sundays in the Star-Advertiser.

Fourth of July fun abounds

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2008

FIREWORKS RETURN TO MAGIC ISLAND AT ALA MOANA BEACH PARK THIS WEEK FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

HONOLULU PULSE STAFF / honolulupulse@staradvertiser.com

Celebrate our nation’s birthday on land or at sea with fireworks, music and family activities. Here are some of the fun and patriotic events happening throughout the weekend:

Ala Moana Center’s 23rd Annual Fourth of July Celebration: Thursday to Sunday. Visit http://alamoanacenter.com.

» Enjoy live entertainment at Centerstage on Thursday, with Eric Lee at 4 p.m., Duncan Kama­kana at 5 p.m. and Kuana Torres Kahele at 6 p.m.; Friday, with EMKE at 4 p.m., Mark Yama­naka at 5 p.m. and Touch of Gold at 6 p.m.; Saturday, with Mike Tulba at 4 p.m., Melveen Leed at 5 p.m. and Hoku Zuttermeister at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, with Erin Smith at 4 p.m., Sean Na‘auao at 5 p.m. and Kapena at 6 p.m.

» Fireworks spectacular, 8:30 p.m. Friday, Ala Moana Beach Park. Tune in to radio station KSSK (92.3 FM) for a live soundtrack.

Turtle Bay Resort’s Independence Day Celebration: 57-091 Kame­ha­meha Highway, Kahuku. Visit http://turtlebayresort.com/oahu_events. Fourth of July festivities run 9:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.:

» The 36th annual Da Hui Paddle Race from Turtle Bay to Wai­mea Bay begins 9:45 a.m., followed by awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Other highlights include a stand-up paddleboard demonstration, a beer garden, prize giveaways and family activities including bounce houses, a water slide, Hawaiian board carving and Hawaiian holua sledding.

» Enjoy live entertainment on the West Lawn (gates open 2:30 p.m.) by Cultural Nation at 3:30 p.m., MT Ke‘ala at 4:30 p.m., Crimson Apple at 5:30 p.m., Kei­lana Moku­le­hua at 6:30 p.m. and Kapena at 7:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. Both are free and open to the public. Bring mats. High-back chairs, coolers or outside food and beverages are not allowed.

» Pool Bar Sunset BBQ and fireworks, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., with food, drink specials, live Hawaiian entertainment and a DJ from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. $25 and up.

» After-party (for ages 21 and older) at Surfer, the Bar, featuring Darren Benitez at 9 p.m.; $15 cover charge, $10 for race participants.

Festivities continue Saturday:

» 7 p.m. performance by JGeeks from New Zealand on the West Lawn; gates open 6 p.m. Cost: $25, $20 pre-sale, $70 VIP and $200 Family VIP for four (VIP includes luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Surfer, the Bar, meet-and-greet and preferred seating). Visit http://shopturtlebay.com.

» 9 p.m. performance by Alex Marley at Surfer, the Bar. For ages 21 and older. Cost: $20, $15 online pre-sale. Visit http://shopturtlebay.com.

43rd Annual 4th of July Spectacular at Schofield Barracks: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Open to Department of Defense ID cardholders, including military members, retirees and civilian employees and their authorized guests.

» Free concert by Grammy-nominated rock band Third Eye Blind at 5:35 p.m. Openers include Willie K (4 p.m.) and O.N.E. Nation (3:15 p.m.). At 7:30 p.m. enjoy a 50-state patriotic salute and 25th Infantry Division Band concert.

» Fireworks display at 8:30 p.m.

» More live entertainment: Chaotic 5, Amanda Frazier, AnyGivenChance, Ignite the Red and others on the Family and MWR Stage, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Weyand Field.

» On Desiderio Field: pony rides, petting zoo, archery, game booths, mechanical bull, surf rides and food booths.

» On Sills Field and tennis court parking lot: rides (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.), climbing wall and carriage rides.

» In pool parking lot: crafts and new products bazaar, miniature PX, water slides, Zorb, dunk tank, video game trailer and minigolf (all 10 a.m.-6 p.m.). Kendama tournament 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit http://himwr.com/4thofjuly or call 656-3160.

68th Annual Kailua Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. to noon Friday on Kai­nalu Drive (from Palapu Street to Kai­lua Intermediate School). Expect about 40 floats, four marching bands, colorful patriotic characters and more. Call 261-7997 or visit http://kailuachamber.com.

Kailua’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Twilight Air Show: Kicks off at 6 p.m. with the 13th annual Twilight Air Show over Kai­lua Bay by local pilots Clint Churchill and Hank Bruckner; entertainment by Marine Corps Marching Band from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kai­lua Beach Park; and a fireworks show at 8 p.m. off Kai­lua Bay. Parking available at Lani­kai Elementary from noon to 10 p.m., Kai­lua Intermediate and Kai­nalu Elementary from 1 to 10 p.m., Kai­lua Elementary from 4 to 10 p.m. and in the Macy’s parking lot all day where there will be free shuttle service to Kai­lua Beach Center from 4:30 to 10 p.m. (includes stop at Kai­lua Elementary School). Call 478-5230 or visit http://kailuafireworks.net.

4th of July Celebration at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam: 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Ward Field. Open to all military-affiliated personnel and their sponsored guests.

» 3 Doors Down at 7:30 p.m.

» Fireworks display at 9 p.m.

» Free activities (closing at about 6:30) include a petting zoo, Xpress Train, airbrush tattoos, 360-degree photos and a batting cage, Pizza Hut samples and a pre-party on Ward Field with London DJ Bennie James and a Car Show & Shine.

» Paid activities: Xtreme Fun rides and inflatables, food and drink vendors and beer garden.

For more information, visit http://greatlifehawaii.com.

Waikiki Ocean Club Sunset Sail: Departing 5:30 p.m. Friday from Aloha Tower, Diamond Head side. Double-decker party boat with two bars and DJs spinning, offering an overhead view of the fireworks. Pre-party 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Above Ultra Lounge. Shuttle departing from Hawaiian Monarch Hotel at 4:15 p.m. Cost: $50 (includes food and drink). Call 375-0659.

Picnic on the Pier: 6 p.m. “steel beach” picnic at the Battleship Missouri Memorial and 9 p.m. fireworks show Friday at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Bring your picnic gear, food and drinks (no glass or grills permitted) for live music by Jason Laeha and keiki activities. Drinks and snacks available for purchase. Free shuttle service from Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Cost: $10, $5 for children (ages 4 to 12), free for Mighty Mo members. Visit http://bit.ly/ussmsteelpicnic or call 877-644-4896.

Fourth of July Cruise: 6:15 to 9:15 p.m.; departs Aloha Tower Marketplace at Pier 6. Enjoy a Navatek cruise along the Wai­kiki and East Oahu shoreline with live entertainment and prime seats to view the fireworks. Includes a buffet dinner on the main deck or an elegant five-course dinner on the upper deck. Cost: $134 to $164 for adults, $93 to $110 for ages 7 to 12, free for keiki ages 6 and under. Add $20 to $25 for premium window seating. For reservations, call 973-1311.

Fashion Tribe: Showing skin at Love Renaissance

PHOTOS BY NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARADVERTISER.COM

FROM LEFT, NINA THAI, RITSUKO KUKONU AND MAKAMAE KAHAWAI SHOW SOME OF LOVE RENAISSANCE’S PRODUCTS.

BY NADINE KAM / nkam@staradvertiser.com

There was no sleep, just a lot of laughter, zaps and suds when Love Renaissance decided to host a girls night out “slumber party” to introduce new products.

The beautification ritual is not a pretty sight, and while I’m loathe to go bare-faced in public, Waikiki magazine editor Sarah Honda and I were the first to try the photofacial device promising tauter, glowing skin. Off came the makeup and by evening’s end, even those who at first refused to remove makeup that took much effort to put on were washing their face not once, but twice, to try the various product lines. As one guest put it, “I don’t care anymore.”

Never mind that many of the evening’s photos would end up plastered across several social media platforms!

THERE WERE A LOT OF KABUKI FACES IN THE CROWD AS GUESTS CLEANED UP WITH XTRUE 10 PM FOAM.

THE PHOTOFACIAL MACHINE GAVE US A GOOD ZAP WITH EVERY PUSH OF A BUTTON. IF YOU’VE EVER HAD AN IPL, OR INTENSE PULSED LIGHT TREATMENT, THAT’S WHAT IT FELT LIKE.

The product lines sampled ranged from the beginner’s Swaness, so named to turn ugly young ducklings into beautiful swans, up through the top-of-the-line Verdi series for more serious facial woes.

Gisele Zelauy was the ringleader for the event, bringing her infectious joie de vivre to the evening of facials, skin treats and sweet treats that included Le Tour Cafe macarons and some of the best chocolates in the world.

GISELE BEING GISELE.

SITTING ON A SHELF WERE DOZENS OF GISELE’S MODELING PHOTOS, SINGING THE PRAISES OF LOVE RENAISSANCE PRODUCTS. IN USING THE PRODUCTS, SHE SAID HER SKIN IS SO GOOD SHE WEARS NO FACE MAKEUP, ONLY EYE MAKEUP.

Among of her pearls of wisdom: “If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, look somewhere else.”

“Create the mise en scene; change your lighting, don’t obsess over every spot.”

In other words, don’t take beauty so seriously. The right products can improve the look of our skin, but none of us can hope for airbrushed perfection. She said that if she worried about the size of her nose, she never would have become a model.

Her energy and enthusiasm made it clear why Karl Lagerfeld chose her as muse for Maison Chanel, and the vivacious Brazilian proudly proclaims herself “the original Gisele from Brazil.”

MODERN MEN KNOW THEY HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH WOMEN AND WERE GAME TO TRY THE PHOTOFACIAL MACHINE.

WE WERE ALL SQUEAKY CLEAN BY EVENING’S END.

THERE WERE A LOT OF SWEET BITES INCLUDING CHOCOLATES, CUPCAKES AND MACARONS.

Both men and women took turns zapping their skin into shape with photo facials. Maybe women are more accustomed to such treatment, because they took it in stride, while men jumped with early zaps, mentioning it was particularly painful in facial hair areas.

It was entertaining watching the men, who were so random in their approach, compared to women who are very methodical about covering every centimeter of skin.

The party was timed to get us all out the door by 9 p.m. so we could get a good night’s sleep, because sleep is one of the best weapons for fighting signs of aging. And, it’s free.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

RELATED VIDEO:

Fashion Tribe: M33Ms launches YWCA pendants

PHOTOS COURTESY M33MS

NEW JEWELRY DESIGNS BY M33M’S EMIKO MIYAZAWA, INCLUDING THIS WAX SEAL MEDALLION, WILL BENEFIT YWCA OF O’AHU.

BY NADINE KAM / nkam@staradvertiser.com

M33Ms Designs Emiko Miyazawa unveiled her newest collection of pendants designed exclusively for the YWCA of O‘ahu on Wednesday.

Inspired by YWCA Laniākea pioneering architect Julia Morgan’s work and the women of the YWCA, the designer has created two exclusive pendants for the organization. Proceeds from pendant sales will benefit YWCA of O‘ahu community programs.

DETAIL OF WAX SEAL MEDALLION SHOWN AT TOP.

STERLING SILVER TRI PENDANT, SHOWN WITH OTHER STERLING PIECES BY M33MS DESIGNER EMIKO MIYAZAWA.

The designer approaches each piece as a wearable piece of art, drawing inspiration from her eclectic array of interests, from architecture and industrial hardware to nature, Art Deco and Art Nouveau. The meshing of Japanese and American cultures is another constant influence, seen in a juxtaposition of clean lines and elegant restraint, with a sense of boldness and edge.

Miyazawa’s Wax Seal Medallion is a sterling silver necklace that can be worn at two different lengths. The flower chosen for the pendant can be seen on the carved entrance doors at Laniākea. Miyazawa said she felt it was symbolic of the YWCA women, who protect, empower and welcome with open arms. The medallions are one of a kind, individually hand-stamped and made so no two are the same.

The handmade YWCA of O‘ahu solid silver Tri Pendant design was chosen because it echoes the columns in Laniākea’s open-air courtyard. Every piece is handmade and hand-stamped with YWCA, and hangs on an 18-inch sterling silver bead chain.

The pendants start at $100.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print appears on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Heels & Picks: HMA goes ‘Out of the Box’

BY ERIN SMITH / Special to the Star-Advertiser

When it comes to a city and its nightlife, the best-kept secrets never stay under the radar for very long.

Restaurants that serve out-of-this-world sushi, the band that just started out and has what it takes to succeed, vintage stores tucked away with the best finds – eventually the word gets out about all of them. It’s the Coconut Wireless, as we call it around here.

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014

BRANDON APELES, CENTER, AT THE 2014 NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS.

Local music manager, Honolulu Museum of Art staffer and personal friend Brandon Apeles has spent the last few months building the museum’s Out of the Box concert series into one of the latest secrets ready for mainstream discovery. He’s helped turn the museum’s Doris Duke Theatre into a destination for those who want to catch national talent in an intimate space, and the community is starting to take notice.

Reggie Watts, with his blend of comedy, improvised music and a hairdo that is an entity unto itself, played a sold out show in October; Rhys Darby, of “Flight of the Concords” fame, had patrons rolling in the aisles in February. Nuanced musical performances from the likes of California singer-songwriter Meiko (you may have heard her songs on television shows “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Vampire Diaries”) and critically-acclaimed Josh Radin (Rolling Stone gave his 2006 album “We Were Here” four stars) have garnered solid word-of-mouth reviews.

When it comes to the musical side of the series, many of the performers recruited aren’t household names. They’re musician’s musicians — people musicians look up to.

Take Benny Rietveld, for example. He is the musical director and bass player for Santana, a 14-time Grammy winner as well as a McKinley High School graduate. An opportunity to perform with Sheila E on Prince’s Purple Rain tour is what lured him to the mainland in the earlier part of his career. He has since gone on to play bass with Miles Davis and grace the cover of Bass Musician magazine.

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014

RHYS DARBY ON STAGE AT THE DORIS DUKE THEATRE IN JANUARY.

On Saturday, Rietveld played bass alongside local musicians Eldred Ahlo, Travis Oh, Reggie Padilla, Keith Griffin, Tim Tsukiyama and Michael Boe. Out of the Box provides them with an opportunity to collaborate with national acts in a space Meiko described as “a listening room.”

Let’s face it, playing in a noisy bar where the focus is not on music is monumentally frustrating. You may as well be singing to your toaster. Performing for people in a room with good acoustics and sound where people can focus on your songs, voice and artistry is money. Perhaps not literally, but it beats playing at a bar — no matter how many free beers they give you.

There are several spaces in Hawaii that are stellar for live performances, and the Doris Duke Theatre is one of them. With 280 seats, it’s a space for lesser-known national acts and local artists on the rise. Fans will also get a more personal experience here than at some of Hawaii’s bigger concert venues.

An interesting phenomenon happens when you put an artist in an intimate space. They go above and beyond to connect with their audience, since there is little distance between them and the crowd. Darby’s February performance included several local-themed jokes that he had clearly written since arriving just days before. It was as though half of his routine was written specifically for the Honolulu audience, rather than the usual jokes from his comedy videos.

When it comes to bringing in artists for the series, Apeles has a knack for finding the right balance between artist, venue and community. He started working in the local music industry as a teenager, starting as a manager for Guy Cruz before helping with promotions for Fiji and playing bass for Anuhea. If you watch the music video for my new single, “Chances,” you’ll find him there playing bass as well.

“I always wanted to put on a show at the Doris Duke, ever since I saw my first show here, a jazz show in 1994 or 1995,” he said. “The venue always seemed so cool, and now here I am booking all the shows for the space.”

Aside from the great sound, strong acoustics and intimate vibe, artists who perform at the Doris Duke have felt the aloha from the crowds and museum staff.

“I had such a great time visiting Honolulu and playing at the Doris Duke Theatre,” Radin said of his performance. “Everyone, especially Brandon Apeles, made me feel so welcome and I can’t wait to return for another show.”

Added Meiko: “My first show at the Doris Duke Theatre was magical. A perfect setting for me to tell the stories behind my songs.”

Coming up this summer, singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb returns to Honolulu for a July 10 performance with local opener Aidan James (she’ll also perform on July 9 to help celebrate the HMA’s 20th anniversary screening of “Reality Bites,” the film that made her career with the inclusion of her hit single, “Stay (I Missed You),” on the soundtrack).

The 2014 Surf Film Festival will kick off with surfing community favorite Todd Hannigan and local opener Johnny Helm on July 16. Hannigan’s best-known song, “Thicker Than Water,” is the title track to Jack Johnson’s surf documentary from 2000 by the same name.

Here’s the remaining 2014 schedule:

» July 10: Lisa Loeb and Aidan James
» July 16: Todd Hannigan and Johnny Helm
» July 26: Bill Champlin Formerly of Chicago
» Aug. 9: Tyrone Wells and Family
» Aug. 20: Saloon Pilots
» Aug. 31: Tuck and Patti
» Sept. 17: Kuana Torres Kahele
» Sept. 27: Ernie Halter
» Oct. 2: Raul Midon

For more information and to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming shows, visit honolulumusuem.org.
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Erin Smith is a singer and guitarist who performs as a solo artist and with Maui-based Na Hoku Hanohano Award-nominated band The Throwdowns. Born in Canada, she moved to Hawaii in 2004 and now resides in Kailua. Contact her via e-mail or follow her on Twitter.

VIDEO: Soul Sessions feat. Ginai

Ginai

www.ginai.com

Ginai has proven to be a compelling surge of dynamism that shocks the mind, body and soul with her charismatic, hypnotic voice and welcoming stage presence.

The two-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning artist was born in Chicago and inspired by jazz greats like Nat King Cole, Gene Ammons, Benny Goodman and Bud Freeman. Her mother, who is part Hawaiian, brought her back to Oahu and raised her on the North Shore.

Ginai won her first talent contest as a seventh grader and joined a ’50s cover band at 16 years old. At 18, she moved to San Francisco to pursue her music career, returning to Hawaii in 1981 and settling into a career performing for tourists in Waikiki — which included a decade working as Honolulu’s top Whitney Houston impersonator. She released her debut solo album in 2011 and continues work on her sophomore release, “Conversations.”
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Video courtesy Soul Sessions USA. Visit www.honolulupulse.com every Tuesday for more performances by various Hawaii-based recording artists.