Taste of the Arts
Friday, September 19, 6:00-"ish" to 10:00 PM
on Hotel St. between Smith and Bethel Sts.

Live broadcast of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
on a 16’ x 20’ movie screen on Hotel St.

In Galleries & Stores
11:00AM-8:00PM - FREE lucky wish bookmarks & raffle tickets
6:00-7:45pm - FREE bubbles & lions blessing area businessess

STREET FESTIVAL [6:00-10:00]
Live entertainment including:
Cherry Blossom Cabaret, Doolin Rakes, Saloon Pilots

8:08PM - Bubble Wish Countdown & Lion Dances, Howard Dashefsky of KHNL countsdown to the bubble-wish blowing moment as 8 lions dancing auspiciously

Food on the Street by:
Bale, Bar 35 pizza, Little Village, Soul de Cuba & enjoy the cuisine of the CHINATOWN/ARTS DISTRICT RESTAURANTS

Bubble Machines throughout the Arts District

 

Events by Month

JANUARY
Friday, January 4, 2008 – 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk
Galleries and other venues host monthly opening receptions to showcase their new exhibits. Where: The Arts District, see Gallery Walk Map (link above)

January 25 & 26, 2008 – 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Chinatown Cultural Plaza Festivities
Chinatown Cultural Plaza hosts a Chinese New Year’s Festival celebration. Visit www.chinatownhi.com for more information on all Chinese New Year activities.

January 26, 2008 – 5:30 to 11:00 pm
Chinatown Chase
Hawaii Theatre Center’s second annual CHINATOWN CHASE offers an evening of adventurous, code-cracking, brain-wracking merriment. This sleuthfest is now signing up teams of 10 who wish to put their collective talents together for the 2008 challenge. Much like a road rally – but on foot – teams will be challenged to solve clever clues and perform other feats as they visit area galleries, watering holes, restaurants and landmarks in a race to the finish line. Dinner, dancing, team prizes and a silent auction follow. Visit www.chinatownchase.com for more information. Where: Chinatown/The Arts District

FEBRUARY
Friday, February 1, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008 may be the biggest day in recent Chinatown history. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce will kick off the Chinese New Year festivities with lion dance processions throughout Chinatown at the same time that the Arts District’s galleries have their First Friday Gallery walk openings. Following are the specific events taking place:

Lion Dances, 5-9pm - Follow the dancing lions as they visit area businesses collecting Chinese good luck li-see envelopes and light firecrackers to scare away evil spirits. Where: up and down King St., Nu’uanu Ave., Hotel St., Maunakea St. in Chinatown/the Arts District
First Friday Gallery Walk, 5-9pm - See description above. Where: The Arts District
Chinatown Cultural Plaza Festivities, 5-11pm - Celebrate Chinese culture. Enjoy traditional Chinese favorites including jai (monk’s food), jin doi (Chinese doughnut) and gau (new year’s pudding). Entertainment includes ethnic dance troupes, local music groups and martial arts demonstrations. Where: Chinatown Cultural Plaza.
Royal Hawaiian Band/other live entertainment at Smith-Beretania Park, 6-9pm – Take a break from following the lion dances and visiting area galleries to take in some live local entertainment.

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Maunakea Street Festival, 9:00am–10:30pm - Chinese New Year festivities with entertainment, food and traditional arts and crafts for sale.
Chinatown Parade, starts at 4:00pm - Parade participants include acrobats and martial artists. Where: Hotel Street, from HI State Arts Museum to River Street.
Chinatown Cultural Plaza Festivities, 5-11pm - Celebrate Chinese culture. Enjoy traditional Chinese favorites including jai (monk’s food), jin doi (Chinese doughnut) and gau (new year’s pudding). Entertainment includes ethnic dance troupes, local music groups and martial arts demonstrations. Where: Chinatown Cultural Plaza.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - 5:30 to 10:00pm
Mardi Gras/Carnival Street Festival
On Fat Tuesday Nu‘uanu Avenue will transform into a whirl of percussion, samba, parades and floats. Enjoy live batucadas (Brazilian percussion groups), sinful food and live music.  Download a flyer here. Where: Nu’uanu Ave. between Chaplain Ln. & King St.

Friday, February 8, 2008 (2-08-08) - 5:00 to 8:00pm
Double 8 Celebration, An Auspicious Evening in the Arts District
Everyone’s Day/Everybody’s Birthday
Receive a Prosperity Li-see from participating art galleries and stores (while supplies last - see below for participant list). Special events include artists receptions, birthday party, grand opening and trunk show.

MARCH
Friday, March 7, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 6:30 pm
Movie on the Mall
Hawai‘i Pacific University kicks off its 2008 “Movie on the Mall” outdoor film series March 12 at 6:30 p.m. on upper Fort Street Mall, in front of the Model Progress building (1188 Fort Street Mall) with Supersize Me, a 2004 Sundance Film Festival award winning documentary about health hazards wreaked by our fast food nation. Starting at 5:00 p.m., local radio station HOT 93.9 will play music and hand out promotional items, while Govindaji’s on Fort Street Mall will provide vegetarian and vegan food.

APRIL
Friday, April 4, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

MAY
Friday, May 2, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

JUNE
Friday, June 6, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

JULY
Friday, July 4, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

AUGUST
Friday, August 1, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

Friday, 8.8.08 - 11:00am - 10:00 pm
888 "Triple Eight" Celebration & Street Festival
IN STORES & GALLERIES - 11:00am - 8:00pm
Special events and give aways at area galleries and stores from 11:00 am to 8:00pm. Get your free lucky wish bookmarks and "lucky" raffel tickets - hang on to your lucky tickets for a chance to win prizes (visit 8 stores to qualify). From 6:00 to 7:45 pm, galleries and stores will give away free bubbles, experience wines from around the world (sponsored by HASR) and watch as Lions spread prosperity to area businesses.

STREET FESTIVAL - 6:00 - 10:00pm
Watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies from Beijing on a giant 16'x20' movie screen set up on Hotel St. Join the celebration with with a Bubble Wish Countdown, led by KHNL's Howard Dashefsky; 8 dancing lions; live entertainment by the Cherry Blossom Cabaret, Doolin Rakes and Saloon Pilots; food booths by Bale, Bar 35 pizza, Little Village, Soul de Cuba. KHNL news will be broadcasting live from the site throughout the evening.

SEPTEMBER
Friday, September 5, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

OCTOBER
Friday, October 3, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

NOVEMBER
Friday, November 7, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]

DECEMBER
Friday, December 5, 2008 - 5:00 to 9:00 pm
First Friday Gallery Walk [see featured events description]