Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: May 18–20, 2018

Go the distance for your team, shop baby gear and rock out in your skinniest pair of denim.

By Marisa Heung

This weekend, quit the texting, put down the phone and make plans to spend some QT with friends and family. Gather your best running buddies for a relay race steeped in Japanese tradition, shop the latest goods for moms and babies, plan your next group beer adventure and relive the golden age of rock music.

PHOTO: ross d. hamamura/SONY

Honolulu Ekiden

Sunday, May 20, 4:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Dating back to early Japan, the Ekiden began as a way for outlying provinces to communicate with Japan’s capital, using a series of messengers who would each be responsible for a leg of the journey. (Basically, what you’d get if a marathon and the game of telephone had a love child.) The Honolulu Ekiden brings the Japanese relay competition to the Islands, and participants from across the world visit each year to take part in the 26.2-mile course, which starts at Kapiʻolani Park and winds around Kalaniana‘ole Highway, offering plenty of gorgeous Island views to keep that runner’s high going. Teams of up to six runners are allowed. Online registrations will be accepted before midnight tonight, but last-minute participants can still register on Saturday at the Waikīkī Shell during packet pickup.

$60–$90, Kapiʻolani Park, 3840 Pākī Ave. For more information and to register (online registration will close after midnight), go here.

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Buy Tickets: Hawai‘i Beer Fest

Saturday, June 16, 5 to 9 p.m.

Something new is brewing in Honolulu. Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Hawai‘i Beer Fest, the city’s new cele-beer-tion on the block, taking place next month at the Bishop Museum Great Lawn. ‘Ohana Broadcast Co. and Kurious Productions have partnered to bring you a sudsy night of sampling more than 100 brews from some of your favorite local, national and international brands, as well as a few exclusive ones offered that night only. Plus, a variety of food booths, retail vendors and party games will keep your spirits up all evening.

$55–$75, 21 and older only. Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

photo: courtesy of new baby expo

New Baby Expo

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20

Shout-out all the new mamas who celebrated their first-ever Mother’s Day last weekend. Continue your celebrations this weekend at the New Baby Expo, a one-stop resource for all moms (and dads!) starting, or about to start, a family. The two-day event aims to offer the very best products, services and info for today’s parents through workshops, more than 150 prenatal-to-preschool exhibitors and the latest products for moms and babies. Stick around for family-fun activities such as giveaways, a baby crawling contest, Hawai‘i’s Largest Baby Shower, a keiki fashion show presented by ‘Iolani Sportswear and more.

$5.50, free for children 5 years and younger. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, 777 Ward Ave., Hawai‘i Suites 1 to 6, Pīkake Room. For more information, go here.

Led Zepplica in Concert

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20

Not everyone can pull off skin-tight jeans, a jacket with no shirt and flowing feathered locks. But the members of Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential bands in the history of music, were no ordinary dudes. While the band’s legendary sound (and style) can no longer be experienced live, Honolulu fans still have an opportunity to rock out to its greatest hits this weekend. The No. 1 requested tribute band in the world, Led Zepplica has been bringing the magic of Led Zeppelin to the stage since 1989 and hits Honolulu—bare chest, flowing locks and all—this Saturday and Sunday at The Republik. Saturday's show is sold out, but you can still snag tickets to Led Zepplica's Sunday performance.

$20–$40, The Republik, 1349 Kapiʻolani Blvd., Suite 30. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

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