Do It! Honolulu City Lights, Nervo, Reel Big Fish
–Courtesy photo
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
Electric Light Parade kicks off annual Honolulu City Lights celebration
Hawaii’s favorite holiday tradition, Honolulu City Lights, kicks off Saturday with the annual Electric Light Parade, tree-lighting ceremony and musical performances throughout the night at Honolulu Hale.
While families can expect the same holiday attractions as in the past, this year brings a visually stunning addition: three water-spouting humuhumunukunukuapuaa. The 4-foot-high sculptures of Hawaii’s state fish will be hanging out in the fountain fronting Honolulu Hale (where Santa and Mrs. Claus dip their toes). The triggerfish will shoot timed streams of water as laser lights crisscross across the pool.
“They look almost like glass rods, and a light element goes through. It’s going to be beautiful,” said Sheri Kajiwara, the city’s coordinator of Honolulu City Lights.
The fish are the only new attraction at this year’s event, but returning favorites are sure to entertain.
Saturday’s festivities start at 4 p.m., with food booths and keiki rides — including the popular little train — opening up on the grounds of Honolulu Hale.
Food offerings include popcorn, malasadas, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and plate lunches.
The Public Workers Electric Light Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Aala Park, with more than 50 decorated city vehicles, 18 high school marching bands and, of course, Santa!
The route ends at Honolulu Hale, where Mayor Kirk Caldwell will light the city’s 65-foot Norfolk pine tree and turn on all the light displays around 6:25 p.m., Kajiwara said.
“That’s always one of those special moments,” she said.
Santa will be available for picture-taking at the Mission Memorial Auditorium from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
After the parade, you can view 22 elaborately decorated trees in the Honolulu Hale courtyard. The annual display, consisting of trees decorated by different city departments, this year has a theme of anime.
WILL WE see some Pokemon, Naruto or maybe even Sailor Moon?
“The departments are pretty hushed about that,” Kajiwara said of this year’s designs. “We’re excited to see what people put together.”
You can also see the entrants in the annual wreath contest at Lane Gallery. This year’s theme is “Blue Hawaiian Holiday.”
The event’s holiday concert, produced by Tom Moffatt, will be held at Sky Gate starting at 7:30 p.m. Acts include Nix Performing Arts Christmas Variety Show, Makua Rothman, Robi Kahakalau and Henry Kapono.
Kajiwara said the city expects between 65,000 to 75,000 at Saturday’s festivities, so arrive early.
If you can’t make it or just want to avoid the enormous crowd, the tree and wreath displays will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day through Jan. 1. After opening night, keiki rides resume Tuesday through Dec. 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. And free picture-taking sessions with Santa will be held Dec. 14 and 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gingerbread House in Honolulu Hale.
Where: Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St.
When: 4 p.m. (food booths, keiki rides), 6 p.m. (parade and ceremony, tree lighting at about 6:25 p.m.), 7:30 p.m. (concert) Saturday
Cost: Free
Info: honolulucitylights.org
– Stefanie Nakasone<p>
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
Comely duo from Australia to spin music at The Republik
–Courtesy photo
Mim and Liv Nervo certainly have a lot going for them.
The talented and not-too-bad-to-look-at twins from Australia are one of the hottest DJ acts around, spinning their brand of electric dance music at venues around the world under the stage name Nervo.
The Nervo twins are talented songwriters, which is how they got their start in the music industry in the mid-2000s. They have penned songs for Ke$ha, Kylie Minogue, The Pussycat Dolls, Jennifer Hudson and Nicole Scherzinger, and collaborated with David Guetta and Kelly Rowland to write the 2009 Grammy-winning song “When Love Takes Over.”
Nervo is also well known for remixes of Katy Perry and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
As if that weren’t enough, the beautiful blond sisters, who were signed to an Australian modeling agency as teenagers, signed on last year with cosmetics giant CoverGirl as celebrity spokesmodels, joining the likes of Pink, Sofia Vergara and Queen Latifah.
Catch them live at The Republik on Saturday as part of the club’s Electric Palms Concert Series.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $40; VIP tickets available
Info: 855-235-2867, flavorus.com
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
Reel Big Fish to perform midweek ska-punk gig
–Courtesy photo
It might not be very “Trendy” nowadays, but head down to The Republik on Wednesday night for a little “Alternative, Baby” and have yourself a “Beer” with Reel Big Fish.
The ska-punk band from Huntington Beach, Calif., known for its comedic lyrics and high-energy music, has played in Hawaii on almost a yearly basis as of late, much to the delight of its loyal fan base.
Formed in 1991, Reel Big Fish broke into the mainstream with the 1997 hit “Sell Out” off the album “Turn the Radio Off” (which also includes the songs mentioned at the beginning of this article). Of the original members, only frontman Aaron Barrett is still with the band.
While Reel Big Fish has been unable to match the success of “Turn Off the Radio,” the band has toured extensively since. The band’s Honolulu show comes off the heels of its run on the Vans Warped Tour Australia.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Cost: $26
Info: 855-235-2867, flavorus.com
SUNDAY, DEC. 8
Top motorcyclists set to roar during North Shore event
–Courtesy photo
The bikes will be flying as some of the best motocross riders show off their stuff at the Fox MX Loco Moto on Sunday at Kahuku MX Park.
Fox, the motocross apparel company, will host riding demos and keiki clinics during the regular season Hawaii Motorsports Association race. The event is open to the public. Gates open at 7 a.m.
Fox All-Star team members Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Emig and Ronnie Renner will take to the track for a demonstration from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
The “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time), Carmichael owns 15 major motocross titles and has also raced on NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series.
Emig is a four-time major champion and freestyle motocrosser; Renner is a five-time X Games gold medalist.
A kids riding clinic with Fox athletes is scheduled for 2 p.m., with same-day sign-ups.
The Fox team will also hold an autograph signing from 3 to 4:30 p.m., including star motocross riders and surfers, depending on availability due to the Pipeline Masters.
Where: Kahuku MX Park, 58-280 Kamehameha Hiighway, Haleiwa
When: 7 a.m. Sunday
Cost: $5 HMA members, $10 nonmembers
Info: foxhead.com/hawaii
TICKER:
The Actors’ Group presents “Hollywood Arms,” today-Dec. 29; $12-$20, 722-6941, written by Carrie Hamilton and Carol Burnett. taghawaii.net