Top 10 things to do on Big Island for July 18-24: ‘Cabaret,’ Drag In July, Relay For Life, Pokémon Day, jazz, plus more
Sorry we’re late getting the top 10 out to you, our amazing readers, on this fine Thursday morning of the third week of July.
There’s a ton of stuff happening this weekend and heading into the end of the month that we had to sift through so we could bring you some of the best.
For example, if you’re looking for a place to leave your worries behind, shed off those troubles and chuck your responsibilities, Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre has a place where you can lose yourself opening at a familiar spot in Downtown Hilo.
The theatre troupe’s production of “Cabaret” premieres this weekend for a 3-week run at the historic Palace Theater.
Audiences will experience the seedy, dazzling and decadent world of 1930s Berlin along with all the drama of the Kit Kat Club. Once you’re seduced by the scandals and the oh-so-sexy comedy, darlin’, you won’t want to leave.
Tickets are $25 for general admission.
Maybe a more chill vibe is your style? Don’t want to get too worked up? Downtown Hilo’s newest coffee spot might have event more in your lane.
Coffee Notes is your new home away from home — where coffee, culture and community blend perfectly. It’s hosting one of its first events, featuring Hilo jazz musicians Bradley Leighton and Bub Pratt, on Friday night.
The event is free, too, unless you bring your own beverages. Then there’s a $2 corkage fee.
If it’s a different kind of thrill and seduction you seek though — perhaps of a 4-wheeled variety — head to Hilo Drag Strip on Ho‘olaulima Road, past the Hilo transfer station and Hawai‘i County Mass Transit headquarters, for Big Island Auto Club’s Drag In July event this weekend.
Crowds will be treated to 2 days of drag racing, rumbling engines, lightning quick bikes and motorcycles and more during a Summer Showdown. It’s the Jardine ‘ohana memorial race as well, honoring and remembering the life of Lawrence “Turtle” Jardine.
Relay For Life of the Big Island also returns this weekend to Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo, shiking a bright light of hope on a future without cancer as teams and community members gather to and raise funds in support of the American Cancer Society.
Everyone on the island is invited — and encouraged — to come out and participate.
There are plenty of activities planned from the survivors and caregivers laps, lighting of the luminaries, family fun, food trucks, games, tons of items for sale, line dancing, of course Zumba and a lot more.
So don’t just sit there Saturday night. Get up, get out and get to Relay and make a difference.
There’s one more event we’ll mention before you peruse on your own, and it’s because you need your keiki to become a trainer to attend.
They’ll probably want to have a desire to at least catch all of the pocket monsters, anyway.
Gam3Escape in Hilo is hosting its July Pokémon Day this weekend, with Professor Jim returning to teach prospective Pokémon trainers how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Crowd-favorite Pokémon Bingo will return and a Pokémon Trading Card Game League Challenge tournament will be offered for anyone who wants to participate.
No opportunity will be missed to help everyone catch as many Pokémon as possible that day.
So, see, we told you there was a lot to go through — and there’s even more to do.
Here’s our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for July 18-24.
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No. 1 — “Cabaret” (Hilo, July 18-21, 25-27 and Aug. 1-3)
When: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays; doors, box office and concessions open 1 hour prior to performance time
Location: Hilo Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.
Leave all your worries at the door. Shed off those responsibilities. Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre invites you to a place where life is beautiful, the girls are gorgeous and the music never stops! Experience the dazzling, decadent world of the seedy Kit Kat Club of 1930s Berlin interpreted by a live orchestra, 35 of Hilo’s most dynamic performers and unforgettable songs such as “Don’t Tell Mama” and the title classic “Cabaret.” Trust us, darlin’, you’ll get one taste of the music, dance and drama with the seductive, scandalous and oh-so-sexy musical comedy, you won’t want to leave. Tickets are $20 for students, $25 general admission and $30 for priority orchestra seating.
More info/tickets: Visit the Palace Theater website.
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No. 2 — Jazz Event (Hilo, July 18)
When: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Coffee Notes, 116 Keawe St.
Your new cozy neighborhood spot, where coffee, culture and community blend perfectly, is hosting one of its first events. More than just a café, Coffee Notes is your home away from home, and this Friday, it’s bringing Hilo jazz musicians Bradley Leighton and Bub Pratt right into your living room. So come out and catch some cool vibes at Downtown’s newest spot. Free to attend, but there is a $2 corkage fee if you bring your own beverage.
More info: Call Coffee Notes at 808-767-8887 or click here.
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No. 3 — Drag In July (Hilo, July 19-20)
When: Gates open at 8 a.m. both days
Location: Hilo Drag Strip, 2295 Ho‘olaulima Road
Presented by Big Island Auto Club, expect 2 days of fast cars, rumbling engines, lightning quick bikes and motorcycles and more during this Summer Showdown event that will include time trials, junior dragsters, bracket racing, bikes and motorcyles. The weekend also serves as the Jardine ‘ohana memorial race, honoring and remembering Lawrence “Turtle” Jardine. Admission is $10 for adults. Keiki 12 years old and younger are free. All programs are subject to change based on participation/racers.
More info: Contact Big Island Auto Club at biachawaii@gmail.com or follow the club @biac808 on Facebook and Instagram.
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No. 4 — Stewardship at the Summit: Rain Forest Restoration (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, July 19)
When: 8:45 a.m.
Location: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot
Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in the national park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Parents or guardians must accompany participants younger than 18 years old.
More info: Visit the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website.
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No. 5 — “A Little Night Music” (Waimea, July 19-20)
When: 3 p.m. both days
Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road
This elegant and bittersweet musical — presented by Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival featuring a full orchestra — waltzes through the follies of love and longing under the glow of the midsummer night. It blends sharp wit, heartbreak and sumptuous melodies — including the iconic “Send in the Clowns” — to tell a tale of intertwined romances and second chances. Tickets start at $40. Improve your experience for free by adding on a pre-performance conversation with the artistic team behind “A Little Night Music,” exploring the vision, challenges and creative journey behind bringing the musical to the Kahilu stage.
More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website.
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No. 6 — July Pokémon Day (Hilo, July 19)
When: 3 p.m.
Location: Gam3Escape, 57 Shipman St.
Does your child like Pokémon? Do they have to catch them all? Professor Jim returns to Gam3Escape this month to teach participating trainers how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The afternoon and evening will also include crowd-favorite Pokémon Bingo and a Pokémon Trading Card Game League Challege (deck lists are required; players will be divided into age divisions when possible). Keiki younger than 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant will receive a starter deck, booster pack and a promo pack. Entry fees are $10 for learn to play and Pokémon Bingo and $10 for tournament.
More info: Contact Gam3Escape at 808-498-4095 or via email at g3ecustomerservice@gmail.com.
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No. 7 — Relay For Life of the Big Island 2025 (Hilo, July 19)
When: 5 to 10 p.m.
Location: Francis Wong Stadium, 323 Manono St.
The Big Island community is invited — and encouraged — to come out and participate in this annual event that supports the American Cancer Society, raising funds for and awareness about the fight against cancer. Walk or run a lap — or 10. Decorate a luminary for a loved one who survived their battle with cancer or another who lost theirs. Cheer on cancer survivors as they walk triumphantly in their lap. There also will be lots of family fun with a dunk tank, horsehoes, cornhole, a “human slot machine” and more, plus food trucks, team contests, free entertainment, line dancing and great items for sale, among other activities, all with the goal of making sure hope is not lost but instead the light that guides the path to a future without cancer.
More info: Click here, follow Relay For Life of the Big Island on Facebook or email Kittrin Cade at kittrin.cade@cancer.org.
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No. 8 — Improv Comedy Night (Hilo, July 19)
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.; doors open half an hour before the show
Location: The Keawe Theater, 280 Keawe St.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of side-splitting laughter, quick-witted improv fueled by audience-driven antics and endless creativity during this hilarious show presented by Hilo Community Players and Big Island Comedy Theater. Parental discretion is advised as the show could contain mature content. General admission is $10. Tickets are $5 more at the door.
More info/tickets: Click here.
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No. 9 — 3D Printing Fun (Waikōloa, July 21-25)
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day
Location: Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive
Kids ages 8 to 15 years old will explore the world of computer-aided design by learning to use TinkerCAD to design and then printing their own toys. The 5-day workshop will include discussions about their toy design, sharing their design with other participants, exploring the exhibits at the musuem, working with TinkerCAD and then finally printing their 3D computer-aided designed toy and showing it to everyone to share what they learned. Cost is $250 per child.
More info/register: Visit the Hawai‘i Keiki Museum website.
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No. 10 — Hilo Orchid Show Gala Preview Party (Hilo, July 24)
When: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa St.
Where’s the best place in Hilo to get wine, beer and food while you have fun with friends, fellow community members and neighbors plus get to bask in the sweet smell of orchids on display? It’s this party, silly, the “fun”-raiser that kicks off the annual Hilo Orchid Show and Sale while also raising funds for peace and agriculture. The evening gala features hard and soft beverages, catered food, live music plus orchid viewing and pre-sales. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at The Most Irresistible Shop and Ku’ikahi Mediation Center in Hilo or online.
More info/tickets: Visit the Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center website. You can also contact Carol at 808-935-7844, ext. 8, or via email at carol@hawaiimediation.org.
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Check for yourself to see what’s happening around the Big Island
We admit. We can’t fit everything going on each week in our top 10. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.
- Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
- Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
- Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
- Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
- East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
- Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
- Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
- Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
- Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
- Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
- Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
- Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
- Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
- Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
- MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
- Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
- University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
- Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
- Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/
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