‘Hair’ today at Manoa Valley Theatre

Hair, the Tony Award-winning tribal rock musical that defined the “Age of Aquarius,” is onstage at Manoa Valley from March 4 to March 28.

The Hawaii International Film Festival to showcase two Oscar-nominated features

HONOLULU -- The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) announced two of the first four films confirmed to screen at the 13th Annual HIFF Spring Showcase, from April 16 through 22, have been nominated for Academy Awards. Ajami, a film from Israel, was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and the Most Dangerous Man in America were nominated for Best Documentary Film. The two other confirmed HIFF films, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and A Good Rain Knows, come from Sweden and South Korea. Oscar winners will be announced Sunday, March 7.

8th Annual Jewish Film Festival features films from Israel, U.S., and Canada

Filmmaker Lynn Roth will be at opening night of the 8th Annual Temple Emanu-El Kirk Cashmere Jewish Film Festival to introduce her film The Little Traitor, starring Alfred Molina. The film won the 2008 Audience Award for best feature film at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. Roth will also lead a discussion following the film.

Legislature opens its doors for Second Annual Art at the Capitol

HONOLULU -- The Hawaii State Legislature will open its doors for March’s First Friday event with the 2nd Annual “Art at the Capitol,” an opportunity for the public to view over 430 works of art that are a part of the State’s Art in Public Places program. Guests can also enjoy entertainment featuring live music by the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, take guided historical tours of the Capitol, and mingle with artists and lawmakers.

Kamuela Kahoano makes music from the heart and mind

HONOLULU -- Kamuela Kahoano is a gig machine. With well over 20 performances around Oahu with his band Analog and solo gigs at Rumfire and Hula Grill (among others) in February alone, Kahoano could call himself one of the hardest working musicians in Hawaii. But he’s far too focused on his goals to think about such incidental superlatives. One could reasonably expect a tightly wound, frenetic energy from someone who spends their professional life under lights in front of roomfuls of strangers, but Kahoano is reflective, soft spoken, and perfectly clear about what he is working toward.

‘The Three Year Swim Club’ makes a splash at Honolulu Theatre for Youth

HONOLULU -- Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents the world premiere of The Three Year Swim Club, Lee A. Tonouchi's inspiring play based on the true story of a group of ordinary local high school students in plantation-era Maui, who are determined to make it to the Olympics. Showtimes are Friday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6 at 4:30 p.m.

February happenings at Honolulu Academy of Arts

Exciting things are in store this February as the Academy presents an action-packed schedule. Get ready for our big Spring exhibition From Whistler to Warhol: Modernism on Paper, the return of ARTafterDARK after a three-month hiatus, Makaha Sons at the Doris Duke Theatre, a celebration of the Year of the Tiger at Bank of Hawaii Family Sunday, and more.

Erica Sunshine Lee rocks her way to Hawaii for song and surf

HONOLULU -- If it is possible for a musician to beam over the phone, Erica Sunshine Lee does it from her home in the Bay Area, where she performs regularly when not on the road. The Elberton, Georgia native is gleefully anticipating her upcoming Oahu shows. With country roots, a folk sensibility, and a rock-and-roll heart, Lee is forging a career destined for only those true to their art and committed to the work that success as a performer demands. Also, she surfs.

Artist in residence seeks portrait sitters for photography project

HONOLULU -- Photographer Elizabeth R. Curtis will begin her six-week tenure as the Gallery 31 Art Studio Artist-in-Residence at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on Jan. 23, 2010. She will be working on a project entitled The Visitors, which calls upon willing museum visitors to become the subjects of her photographic portraits.

Youth Speaks Hawaii brings poetry legends, champions to one stage

HONOLULU -- The elite of Hawaii's slam poets are sounding off the fireworks early on stage for a special year-ending showcase. Youth Speaks Hawaii (YSH) presents its reunion show on Wednesday, December 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The arts at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Avenue.