Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: April 27–29, 2018

Mana up, get down for Spam and take a hike with man’s best friend.

By Marisa Heung

Some visitors might turn their noses up at Spam, but locals know there’s a lot to love about that block of mystery-meat-in-a-can. Celebrate Spam this weekend at Hawai‘i’s biggest food festival dedicated to Hormel’s canned product. Plus, grab your dog and join the Hawaiian Humane Society for a hike in Makiki, learn how one company is helping local businesses go global and watch as 33 power tool jockeys compete in a battle of strength, skill and accuracy.

PHOTO: courtesy of Waikiīkī Spam Jam

Waikīkī Spam Jam

Saturday, April 28, 4 to 10 p.m.

Hawai‘i’s annual celebration of Hormel Spam returns to Waikīkī with live entertainment, Hawai‘i-made crafts, Spam merchandise and 20 local restaurants showcasing the many ways the canned luncheon meat can be enjoyed. This year, the festival is furthering its efforts to minimize the waste made by its vendors and 30,000-plus festivalgoers by partnering with the Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation to bring HI-5 recycling bins and water stations where guests can refill their reusable water bottles with fresh drinking water. If you forget your HydroFlask at home, though, no worries—official Spam Jam collapsible water bottles will be available for purchase at shop tents and info booths for just 2 bucks, with a portion of proceeds going to the Hawai‘i Foodbank.

Free, Kalākaua Avenue. For more information, go here.

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Paws on the Path: Makiki Loop Trail

Saturday, April 28 at 8:30 a.m.

Chihuahua, terrier or retriever, all dogs need some level of exercise. And while your pup can’t do yoga or hit the gym with you, here’s an easy way to get a sweat (or pant) session in together. The Hawaiian Humane Society’s hiking club organizes a hike every last Saturday of the month that’s open to all dogs and their human halves. This month, take your best friend for a morning of bonding along Makiki Loop Trail, an intermediate-level, 2.5-mile trail with plenty of scenic views. Who knows? Fido may even make some new friends along the way.

Free, meet at start of Makiki Tantalus Loop Trail, 2131 Makiki Heights Drive. For more information, go here.

photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Mana Up

Friday, April 27, 4 to 8 p.m.

Start your aloha Friday early and head to Salt at Our Kaka‘ako for Mana Up’s inaugural showcase. Mana Up is a Hawai‘i-based initiative that aims to help brands expand from the local market and bring their unique Island products to the rest of the world. At the showcase, guests will hear presentations by Hawaiian Pie Co., Kō Hana Rum, Mānoa Chocolate and more, followed by a reception and a pop-up marketplace with lots of Hawai‘i-made items for sale.

$20, Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

He-Man Competition & Sale

Sunday, April 29, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Each year, Hawai‘i’s largest locally owned power tool distributor invites the island’s He-Men and She-Ras to a heated competition that tests power, skill and accuracy. At the 25th annual He-Man Competition this Sunday, 33 strong men and women will showcase their power-tool-wielding proficiency as they nail, saw, drill and unscrew as fast as possible in four back-to-back challenges. The fastest four will go head-to-head in a final round to win the grand prize: a $2,500 shopping spree to Slim’s Power Tools, bragging rights and claim to the phrase “I have the power!” for the rest of the day. The competition will be accompanied by a clearance sale with vendor demos and discounts on every single power tool Slim’s carries.

Free, Slim’s Power Tools, 1626 Republican St. For more information, go here.

Looking for more things to do? Check out our events calendar.