Kona Nui Nights

Tonight is Na Wai! Yay! Awesome hula to start the evening! So happy to be here and to enjoy the Hawaiian Cultures with malihini and kanaka! Love Kona Nui nights during this hot summer! The aloha here is definitely felt! I just love the sharing of mo'olelo and hula followed by beautiful music of Hawai'i top artists.Come on out to Kona Nui Nights!

A FREE concert on the Third Wednesday of every month? I must check it out! It seems too good to be true!I had seen Lyla D. check in at this Honolulu event in the past. Fortunately, this time, she invited me to go with her and her husband, Ed, on July 20, 2016. The featured guest performer was Hoku Zuttermeister who is known for his contemporary Hawaiian music, including awesome falsetto vocals! We got to the reception table in the lobby of the IBM Building at about 5:30pm for the 6pm show. We were welcomed by the pleasant staff with a warm greeting and a yellow paper band for our wrist!At first, we sat in the last row of canvas beach chairs and enjoyed some overflow of air conditioning from the open door of the IBM Building. Later, when family members of the hula halau left, we were able to move up and sit in the second row! The balmy tropical breeze kept us cool in the open air courtyard. A large white tent kept up protected from the last rays of the setting sun.Aja Gample started off the evening with her smooth vocals and slack key guitar accompaniment. Also of note, was Kumu Hina (I had seen a movie about her) and her hula halau (hula troupe)! There were other hula dancers (children, men, aunties, seniors, etc.) who jumped in and danced to songs sung by Hoku Zuttermeister, including Hoku's mother, Susan! It was such a wonderful event, full of surprises and fun!This time, Lyla got a free ticket for me via wardvillageshops.com - mahalo, Lyla!! Next month, I will be able to acquire my own ticket, now that I know the routine and the location. Free parking is nearby at the Ward Village shops, the Ward Warehouse and Ward Center. The restroom in the IBM Building is convenient and clean. Beverages were available at the bar in the back ($2 soft drink and $6 beer). A shave ice cart provided cool treats for $3 a serving.Besides watching hula and listening to Hawaiian music, we enjoyed each others' company and were allowed to bring in our own dinner! This casual 2-hour event reminded me of the Grand Performances in Downtown Los Angeles, but on a more personal and meaningful level. Our community is able to come together and celebrate Hawaiian culture, language, dance, and music in an inviting and intimate manner! A hui hou!

While roaming about Ward Village, we noticed recent announcements of new monthly events such as Kona Nui Nights and Courtyard Brunch in addition to their other popular Center Events. Their other free events feature weekly yoga sessions, Courtyard cinema, Mahalo Tuesdays, Kaka'ako Farmers Market, hula classes and Country line dance classes. For future event schedules you can check out the website for Ward Village or sign up for their emails. These events help to create a sense of community and family in the Kaka'ako area.These free events are open to the public however the more intimate events such as Kona Nui Nights and Courtyard Cinema require registration for tickets. If you want "IN" you can sign up online through Ward Village or through Eventbrite. You must show your ID along with your tickets. Kona Nui Nights promptly starts at 6:00 PM and ends at 9:00 PM. Patio-type seating is provided under a big tent. Lots of parking is at the Ward Village Shops parking structure or at Ward Centre's parking structure.Kona Nui Nights is a celebration or honoring of Hawaiian language, culture and music. There are hula performances by well-known local hula hālau. Unfortunately, one of tonight's scheduled performers, Sean Na'auao, a slack key guitarist, canceled. Tonight we were treated to the talents of Jeff Rasmussen, Robi Kahakalau, Hālau Ke Kai O Kahiki (2010 Merrie Monarch Men's Division & 4-time winners) and Na Hoku Award winner Natalie Ai Kamauu. Tonight's food is provided by La Creperie and a cash bar by Freespirits Mobile bartendering. Kona Nui Nights is a wonderful and exciting night of entertainment under the stars. We were surprised that this event wasn't filled...it was 3 hours that just blew by. We can't wait until the next Kona Nui Nights which is scheduled for October 21st, Wednesday.# 401

Kona Nui nights is a great (free!!) monthly event hosted by ward village. In the little courtyard of the IBM building, ward sets up a magnificent tent and brings amazing performers to entertain attendees with Hawaiian music and dance. I can't believe this event isn't more popular. With performers like performances Nā Mamo o Pu'uanahulu, Roddy Lopez, Jeff Rasmussen and Robi Kahakalau, they could charge an arm and a leg and people would still want to come! My aunty invited my family to the event and reminded us to reserve tickets online; this is how you get in!! Even though the event is free, you need to reserve tickets online. I reluctantly agreed to go, not expecting there to be such great performers at a free event. However, I had nothing else planned on a Sunday evening and went along. Our "tickets" were checked at the entrance to the event and we found a seats in the very comfy and relaxed "we are ward" lounge chairs. From there we were serenaded with classic Hawaiian music and sat 5 feet away from the award winning halau of Sonny Ching (one of my favorite halaus when watching Merrie Monarch!). I have to brag and say that I used to be in this halau when I was younger. But that doesn't make my admiration any less credible; this halau is seriously amazing. Food and drink are available for purchase as well, but there isn't a lot of variety. You can always plan on going to dinner at one of the ward center restaurants after the event--there are a lot to choose from. Another great part of this event was the old IBM building's new bathrooms. Gorgeous. A little confusing, but gorgeous! I was a little disappointed with small details of the event... I don't think they did enough to promote themselves or the performers, as there were no announcements or flyers about next month's event or where to see the performers on a normal basis. This event has so much potential, especially because they brought in such amazing talent. I can't wait for next month's Kona Nui nights! Woooo!

Located in Ward Villages, there's Nothing like chillin with good company on a Wednesday night from 6pm-9pm, drinking wine or beer, snacking on pupus, loungin, watching a hula halau, and listening to great local musicians. It's an event if you're not doing anything on a Wednesday and want to do something different. It's goes till October every 3rd Thursday. In the winter season, they've turned the place into a ice skating rink which is pretty cool. Oh and they serve shave ice too =P

A wonderful local event has been here for many years. We haven't missed the monthly presentation since the beginning, except few. No free events during winter month, because it gets converted to an outdoor ice-skating rink. Always love all the aloha from many Halau and local musicians. You can bring all the drinks and pupu with you while enjoying the presentation rain or shine. They got you covered, literally covered under the tent! . They also have a bar (simple wine, beer, and soda menu) takes both cash and credit cards. They also have yummy shaved ice within the venue. Many times, you get to buy the CDs and have a chance talk-stories with the musicians, getting autograph and pictures too! It is a super relax event... It is like an organized kanikapila with an extended ohana... You laugh, you laugh so hard with tear, or the mele/hula moves you with chicken skin and need tissues... All in all, we look forward to this event every month..Don't forget to reserve your next Kona Nui Night tickets on EventBite the night of performance. I always space out...haha...A hui hou & Me ke aloha...