Pacific Roller Derby presents the Nerds vs. Prom Queens Scrimmage and Fundraiser at The Hideaway Bar at the US Coast Guard Air Station at Barber’s at 4:30pm on Saturday, August 7, 2010. The $5 admission fee directly supports Pacific’s rollergirls as they prepare for the 3rd Annual SK808 Tournament.

The themed scrimmage and fundraiser features Oahu’s favorite skaters such as BeatHer Bailey, Bella de Brawl, and Malice in Wonderland dressed in their finest prom and nerd inspired uniforms. The league’s newest skaters, Ace Wenchura, Whips n’ Salsa, A-Bomb, Dirty Karry, and Serial Skrapist will also make their debut at the Hideaway’s caged flat-track.

Fans can look forward to live music by Higher Ground, a bbq and bake sale, shave ice, and the opportunity to drop a derby girl in the dunk tank.

Pacific’s Hideaway scrimmages are family friendly events, though the bar welcomes fans aged 18+ after sunset. The first whistle blows promptly at 4:30 at the tennis courts outside the USCG Air Station’s Hideaway Bar, at 1 Coral Sea Street in Barber’s Point. Fans without a military ID must RSVP at the league’s website by Wednesday, August 4th, for entry onto the base.

The ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase runs at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on August 13 & 14, 2010. is back. ‘Ohina means “the gathering” or “coming together” and this screening provides a venue for Hawai‘i’s filmmakers to collectively present their talents. Created to support Hawai‘i’s independent filmmakers, ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase is produced by a dedicated group of volunteers in the arts and film industry. General admission tickets are just $8.50, with discounts for students, seniors, and academy members.

• August 13: Opening reception 6-7:30 p.m. Screening at 7:30 p.m.
• August 14 at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

On  Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 8:30 am – 3 pm  Waimea Valley presents the 2010 Kalo Workshop on the second floor of the Proud Peacock. This workshop brings together kalo experts, local farmers and community members  to share knowledge and learn  about the traditional uses of kalo.  The workshop is FREE and open to all interested individuals and groups.

The Kalo Workshop is a joint venture  of the Botanical and Cultural Programs Groups of Waimea Valley. This interactive workshop will have special guest speakers and break-out sessions that will aid in identifying different varieties of kalo found throughout the state of Hawai‘i, and will feature displays by kalo farmers in addition to kalo pounding demonstrations and kalo tasting.

PRESENTERS:

Jerry Konanui is a native Hawaiian Mahi‘ai who cultivates many varieties of Hawaiian food crops.  As a resource expert, Konanui is called upon to  lead  hands on workshops on identification of Hawaiian food plants– their varieties, propagation, cultivation, harvesting, processing and uses throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Kawehi Ryder is a DOE teacher and proprietor  of Kuleana Gardens. Kawehi teaches cultural strategies, develops gardens at various schools and for community at-risk youth  organizations.   Ryder has done extensive work in the cultivation of dry land kalo and la‘au plants and has worked with Kupuna Luther Makekau, Fred Olepau and Charlie Kawashima.  He has also worked with William Kaneoka on commercial wet-land kalo farming in Waipio Valley and on Moloka‘i marshland with Mr. Harry (Cowboy) Otsuka.  Most recently Kawehi has been working on the preparation and cultivation of a method of kalo farming called pakukui, planting within a kukui forest, utilizing old lo‘i sites.

Penny Levin is a restoration ecologist, taro farmer, and long time student of Hawaiian culture from Wailuku, Maui.  Ms. Levin has worked in wet and dry taro systems throughout the State of Hawai‘i for over  20 years.  Like  kalo expert Jerry Konanui, she shares a passion for reviving the knowledge of the old Hawaiian kalo varieties, the mo‘olelo, cultural traditions and practices surrounding kalo, and for returning them to the lo‘i and the table.  As a member of the Taro Security and Purity Task Force, Levin represents botanical gardens and living collections that are working to preserve these unique cultivars.

Tentative Workshop Agenda

8:30 am     Check-in/Registration
9:00 am     Protocol, Introductions, Overview
9:30 am     Traditional planting with Kawehi Ryder
10:45 am   Break -out sessions
11:45 am   Lunch, Pounding demonstrations
1:00 pm     Identification with Jerry Konanui & Penny Levin
3:30 pm     Closing

Light refreshments will be available at registration.  You can bring lunch or place an order at the Waimea Valley Grill.  To RSVP for or for more information  regarding the 2010 Kalo Workshop,  please  contact Jennifer Yagodich at (808) 638-5859 or jyagodich@waimeavalley.net.

Waimea Valley is located at 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, (across from Waimea Bay). Waimea Valley is a living pu‘uhonua, a place of peace and safety, for Hawai‘i and the world and one of O‘ahu’s last partially intact ahupua‘a. Waimea is significant in the history of Hawai‘i and a repository for Hawaiian spirituality and traditions. The 1, 800-acre valley offers an authentic cultural window into the lifestyle and customs of the Hawaiian people through daily programs and activities.  For more information visit www.waimeavalley.net or call (808) 638-7766.

Here’s your last chance to take in some free movies this summer at the Regal Theatres Free Family Film Festival. Selected G & PG movies start at 10 am. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. Tickets for the 2010 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at the Dole Cannery Stadium 18 & IMAX box office on the day of the show. Movies subject to change.

Dole Cannery Stadium 18 & IMAX
735 B Iwilei Road
Honolulu
808-528-3653

Here’s the schedule:

August 3-4, 2010

• Curious George (G)
• Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG)

August 10-11, 2010

• Hotel For Dogs (PG)
• Planet 51 (PG)

August 17-18, 2010

• Charlotte’s Web (G)
• Imagine That (PG)

August 24- 25, 2010

• Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie (G)
• Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (PG)

Three Oahu museums are participating in Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 700 museums across America, to offer free admission to all active-duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day 2010. The museums participating in the program are Honolulu Academy of Arts, The Contemporary Museum and Lyon Arboretum.

Active-duty military personnel and their families simply need to show valid ID at the museum’s front desk to gain free entry to the museum.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members and up to five immediate family members. Immediate family members are defined as spouse or child of active duty military or active duty military family member.

E aloha ‘ia a pūlama ‘ia kēia ‘āina kapu no nā kau a kau
May this sacred land be loved and cherished for all ages.

Waimea Valley presents Pūlama ‘O Waimea on Saturday, August 14, 2010. The cost is $10 per person and $8 per keiki under 12. Pre-sale tickets for general admission are available for $8 per person and can be purchased at Waimea Valley’s gift shop Ku‘ono Waiwai until Friday,  August 13, 2010. Hula, Hawaiian arts & crafts, keiki games, Hawaiian food and guided tours of Waimea Valley celebrate the acquisition of valley, ensuring that:

…from this day forward, the cultural and natural resources of Waimea Valley will be forever preserved on behalf of ‘Ōiwi Hawai‘i (native Hawaiians) and all people of the State of Hawai‘i, the nation and the world so that all who come here may learn from and celebrate this sacred land of our ancestors.

Schedule:

9 am Kalāhe‘e Family Hike
Climb to the top of Kalāhe‘e Ridge, following a switchback trail through
a mixed forest of exotic and native plants. Bring a camera, the view from the
top is breathtaking! Approximately 2 miles round trip, easy to moderate hike.
For ages 7 yrs. and up (must be accompanied by an adult).
Reservations are required for Kalahe‘e Family Hike.

11 am – 4 pm Native Hawaiian Plant Sale- Native Hawaiian plants from Waimea Valley
Food plants of interests for sales include:
Ice Cream Bean, Peanut butter tree, Lemon grass, African nutmeg, Pineapple, Black Mulberry, Cinnamon, Papaya, Chili  pepper, Kalo, Sapodilla, Longan, Black pepper, Sour sop, and Tapioca. Native plants include: Alahe‘e, Hala, ‘Uki ‘uki, Nanu, Koa, Milo, Kamani, Loulu palms, Manele, ‘Ae‘ae, A‘ali‘i

10 am -4 pm Artisans
Hawaiian artisans demonstrate ‘ukulele making, lau hala weaving, feather work and a weaponry demonstration

10 am – 4:30 pm Hawaiian Games
Demonstration of Hawaiian games with Cultural Programs staff at Hawaiian   Games site

11 am – 4 pm Hawaiian Arts & Crafts
Join Waimea Valley Cultural programs staff and learn to make Hawaiian Arts & Crafts – palai‘e, kukui nut tops, etc.

12:30 pm  Waimea Valley Garden Tour

1 pm Kanikapila
Join the Abrigo ‘Ohana for an afternoon of traditional Hawaiian Music in the Pikake Pavilion.

1:30 pm History of Waimea Valley Tour

5 pm Pūlama ‘O Waimea Concludes

7  pm  The North Shore Premiere of the MIGHTY UKE
The doors open at 6:00 pm with live music by  Pūlama ‘O Waimea Band. The film will begin promptly at 7:00 pm in the Pikake Pavilion.

Waimea Valley is a living pu‘uhonua, a place of peace and safety, for Hawai‘i and the world and one of O‘ahu’s last partially intact ahupua‘a. Waimea is significant in the history of Hawai‘i and a repository for Hawaiian spirituality and traditions. The 1,875-acre valley offers an authentic cultural window into the lifestyle and customs of the Hawaiian people through daily programs and activities.  For more information visit www.waimeavalley.net or call (808) 638-7766.

If you’re a fan of aviation history, take a minute to stop in at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in downtown Honolulu. The photo exhibit featuring 65 black and white photos of Earhart during a vacation in Hawaii is set to run through the end of the year. Check out this story in the Christian Science Monitor if you want to know more about the free exhibit.

Download a free Lilith Fair sampler album on iTunes.  Sampler includes music from Sarah McLachlan, The Rescues, The Submarines, & more. The download code expires on September 30, 2010.

Via Cities on the Cheap

If you or your kids are headed off to college this fall, you can save a pretty penny when you rent your textbooks instead of buying them – even if you buy used. We’ve had success with Chegg. Simply order your book online and they will ship it right to your door. Tuck the box away (you’ll need it to return the book) and use it all semester. When the semester is finished, you’ll go back to the website and request a return shipping label (free). It is easy.

If you decide to drop a class, you can return the book within a certain period of time and you will get a full refund. Also, they’ll send you reminder emails as the semester draws to a close, so that you don’t forget to return the book. Good stuff!

My friend Jody at Charlotte on the Cheap just posted about another similar service, Bookrenter.com where you can save up to 75% off the cost of a textbook.

Just think, starving college student: If you can save that much on your textbooks, you might even be able to afford a stop at Starbucks!

Did you know Hawaii Theatre Center offers weekly docent tours? Every Tuesday at 11 am (theatre schedule permitting),
trained guides tell the story of the historic theatre, from its 1922 opening to its role in the revitalization of the downtown/Chinatown district. They’ll point out the many architectural features and original artwork throughout the theatre, and then invite visitors to take a seat and enjoy a demonstration of the 1922 Hawaii Theatre orchestral organ.

The Hawaii Theatre is located at 1130 Bethel Street.
Cost $10
For information and reservations: (808) 528-0506

A quick correction: The free-drive-in movie on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Aloha Stadium Swap Meet starts at 6 p.m. We accidentally told you the wrong time. The movie is Madagascar – Escape 2 Africa.

If you’re interested in attending the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, you can save 10% by using the code NELHA10 when prompted.

In its drive for energy independence, Hawaii has the opportunity to lead the world in testing and deploying clean technologies.

Help make clean energy a success at home in Hawaii by attending the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit. This is our opportunity to secure Hawaii’s economic future, and sustainably manage our critical natural resource assets. Join us!

The Expo runs August 31 – September 2, 2010 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

Thanks to Honolulu On The Cheap reader Lisa who reminds us that the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet hosts a free drive in movie on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Catch Madagascar – Escape 2 Africa under the stars in at the open air drive-in movie at dusk.

Sound for the movie will be transmitted over a FM radio station. Attendees are encouraged to bring a portable FM radio to avoid draining the car battery. Open air seating will be available at the front of the screen, so be sure to pack your beach mats and chairs. Tailgating with barbecues and alcohol will not be allowed during this family friendly event. Centerplate will offer a variety of snacks and drinks via the snack bar.

FREE admission for movie beginning at 6pm.

Sure, you can pick up cheap souvenirs in Hawaii. T-shirts and key chains abound, as do wooden tiki statues. But check the fine print; these souvenirs of your Hawaiian vacation were likely made far from the islands. If you’d rather support local artisans and take home a truly authentic souvenir, it’s simple: avoid souvenir shops. Instead, check out these three locations. You’ll find a great selection of products made right here in the islands.

Shop Pacifica: The Bishop Museum gift shop, Shop Pacifica, offers a wealth of hand-crafted items including woven lauhala, wooden implements, and Hawaiian quilting kits. There’s also a wide selection of locally published books for kids and adults. If you’re looking for high quality artwork and gifts related to Hawaiian nature and history, this is the place to shop. Bishop Museum is located not far from bustling Waikiki and the oceanfront Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki.

Native Books: You will have a hard time deciding what to take home from this bookstore that focuses solely on books related to the islands. Books in English and Hawaiian mingle on the shelves, covering topics from Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant to lei making, Polynesian voyaging, and cooking. In addition to books, you’ll find music CDs by local artists, DVDs, and products made in Hawaii. The store also features ongoing cultural classes and a free monthly concert. Located in Ward Warehouse.

Little Hawaiian Craft Shop: With arts handmade in Hawaii (as well as some from around the South Pacific) the Little Hawaiian Craft Shop has a wide selection to choose from. Check out the assortment of koa boxes, quilt kits, Christmas ornaments, seed lei, and petroglyph art. Located in the Royal Hawaiian Center adjacent to the famous pink (and not cheap) Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Budget travelers will want to look a block or two away for hotels like the Aston at the Waikiki Banyan or the Best Western Coconut Waikiki.

Your library card is the ticket to a big collection of free audiobooks available from the Hawaii State Public Library System. You can download audiobooks and ebooks any time of day or night – and there are no late fees. You check them out from the comfort of your own home, and then listen on your computer or transfer the checked out items over to your iPod, Sony Reader, or other devices. Not all devices are supported, but if you have one that’s compatible with the library’s system, this is a great way to catch up on your reading – on the run. Go to http://hawaii.lib.overdrive.com to get started.