Friday (August 20), 6-9pm, Stella Blues, Kihei, $30 / $60

Heralded as Hawaii’s Renaissance Man, George Kahumoku, Jr. is not simply a master slack key guitarist and multiple Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner—he’s a visual artist, entrepreneur, farmer and teacher (both at Lahainaluna and UH Maui College; plus his summertime Maui Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Workshop, now 13 years running). Kahumoku’s pal Dennis Kamakahi (who in 1974, succeeded legend Gabby Pahinui, in the group Sons of Hawaii) also has a shiny bevy of awards on his mantel, and …

Friday (August 20), 9:45pm, Casanova, Makawao, $15 / $20
Not to be confused with J Boog (now just Boog) of B2K and You Got Served (2004) fame, Polynesian powerhouse J-Boog has been an island music sensation since his 2007 debut album, Hear Me Roar. Ironically, both Boogs were raise in Compton, CA, but our Boog (born Jerry Afemata) now calls Hawaii home (and one-ups the other guy in that his dad is chief of their family village in Aloa, Samoa). Recorded in Jamaica, his new album Back Yard Boogie (2010) features …

Push your kodachrome and creativity to the limit this Thursday, at the 2nd Annual Body Slam. Read more in This Week’s Picks.

Keys of Creation’s hit “Heart of Polynesia,” is just the kind of anthem I love to turn up on Q103 (Happy B-day, BTW!), when curling my way down from Kula on Kekaulike Avenue. How can you not love a sweet, rootsy chant to “live up Polynesia,” while in sightline of our own bicoastal blessing? Makes me feel all revolutionary and stuff—stoking hope for some great Pacific peoples’ collective that remains to be had and held. Beyond their lyrics, Keys of Creation’s…

Sadly, Jacques is gone. And, “Jacques owned Friday nights on the North Shore,” says Steven Cappelli, owner of Casanova in Makawao. Fear not. The man who brought the beats to the night’s famed “Fusion”—DJ Del Sol—has found a new Friday home, further up the mount hailed the House of the Sun. You guessed it.

This year’s poetry slam contest - Maui Slam! will be raising awareness about the famous poet John Milton (who’s birthday is on Dec 9th) who wrote the epic poem “Paradise Lost.”  Moreover, this event will also be raising awareness about the plight currently facing Maui’s Library system as the states budget shortfall threatens it’s operation.

This event will be an open forum format, after a guest reading honoring John Milton, any and all poets (21 & over), are invited to get up on stage and prsent their original work of poetry for …

…these are my selections of the week that had me feeling as pretty as a princess, as lovely as Juliet…

“The Velvet Kiss” martini, Casanova, Makawao ($10); Lemon Coconut Sconce, Café Marc Aurel, Wailuku ($3); ‘Sugar Babe’ body scrub/’Love Lettuce’ Fresh Face Mask, Lush, Lahaina ($4.95/$7.95); Women’s Haircut with Toni, Soleil Luna, Lahaina ($45); Entertainment Weekly #1068 feat. “Jim & Pam Forever!” ($3.95).