Fun, Inside and Out.

Kokua Fest is one of the biggest concert events of the year. The earthy, eclectic people of Hawaii come together at the Waikiki Shell to enjoy mellow sounds of such performers as Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Paula Fuga. This year, there were back-to-back shows on Friday and Saturday, possibly to make up for the festival's hiatus last year.

I remembered from past Kokua Fests that a very large number of fans congregate at Kapiolani park to listen from outside the Shell. I also remembered those fans were my JoZo!Prints target audience. At dusk, I walked with friends to the park and got ready for a live social networking frenzy.

What a turnout! By merely taking a stroll in the park, I sold 9 shirts and made some good contacts! I also threw a couple out to people that embraced my mission but had no funds. Some bought prints for sustainability support while others who were intoxicated flung ten bucks at me. Maybe it was my friend's bag that said "Feed the children of the world". Some girl insisted I sell the shirt off my back! I ended up walking home wearing a tight female shirt. I was most definitely going back on Saturday.

Saturday was a lot more calm; big family barbecues, lovers frolicking, and fans hungover from the previous night-like Joey Zeez. I took my chances with the not-as-enthused crowd anyway. It proved to be alright by selling 6 more shirts. Grand total for selling outside Kokua Fest-$150.

Not bad for just hanging in the park.

An Eventful First Friday

February's First Friday was a milestone in the art renaissance of Chinatown, Honolulu. People came out in droves to see the Chinese New Year celebration along side the art walk that was simultaneously occurring. It was also the first time newly renovated artist lofts were available for open house. Hotel Street became the most concentrated I had ever seen with party goers. I looked inside Smith's Union Bar which is normally empty, to see customers filling it to capacity. Vagrants and homeless were interspersed with the crowd who spilled out onto the street.

It was a special night for me; I started off doing my T-shirt gig in Chaplain Lane where I participate in a flea market entitled Shop, Bop, and Grind. Later that evening, one of Hip Hop's founding fathers was in attendance down the street at bar/venue Next Door. D.J. Kool Herc, who is given credit for making Hip Hop breaks popular in the late 70's-early 80's, performed to a full capacity. The Jamaican born, New York native had the crowd roaring with his innovative style of blending old and new music genres. Many in the crowd had no idea who Kool Herc was, yet for myself, who is a Hip Hop head (enthusiast), it was an event I had been waiting for five years to witness (I missed his performance at Next Door in 2005).

Seeing many friendly faces on the dance floor reminded me that Honolulu is a collective area of society where artists, artisans, and audiences reciprocate positive energy in a way that few cities do. The city's cultural diversity is a major contribution that is paralleled by the tradition of ohana.

The February First Friday opened up Chinatown's gateway to a larger audience, combining dual festivities whereby helping its popularity. The art walk seems to get bigger every month as the number of reasons for attendance grows: art appreciation, shopping, partying, performances, relaxation, and cultural dining. The emergence of a well rounded art scene is giving the city a reason to be hopeful for an economical upturn.