Hawaii Visitor Information
Hawaii Festivals
JANUARY
Cherry Blossom Festival
The Cherry Blossom Festival takes place over three months, continuing into March. The festival features a variety of Japanese cultural events, most of which occur on Oahu.
Chinese New Year Celebration
Celebrate the Chinese New Years at the Mun Fa Cultural Plaza, Beretania and Maunakea Streets. Lots of entertainment, lion dance, food booths, pageants and more. The Chinese Cultural Plaza on Beretania at River Street opens to the public and is transformed into a festival bazaar. Chinese Chamber of Commerce 533-3181
Ka Molokai Makahiki Festival
Ka Molokai Makahiki, on Molokai, is a week-long celebration featuring a fishing contest, Hawaiian games and sporting events, Hawaiian music and hula dancing.
Narcissus Festival
The Narcissus Festival is part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and is held on Oahu. It features food stalls, arts and crafts, a beauty pageant and a coronation ball, and festivities last for five weeks.
FEBRUARY
Cherry Blossom Festival
The Cherry Blossom Festival takes place over three months, continuing into March. The festival features a variety of Japanese cultural events, most of which occur on Oahu.
Narcissus Festival
The Narcissus Festival is part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and is held on Oahu. It features food stalls, arts and crafts, a beauty pageant and a coronation ball, and festivities last for five weeks.
Maui's Whale Day Celebration
This free, all-day family celebration of Maui's humpback whales, is held at Kalama Park (by the big whale statue) on South Kihei Road, in Kihei, Maui. The celebration features live Hawaiian entertainment and dance all day. A Hawaiian craft fair features the work of over 70 local crafters. Enjoy great food by Maui restaurants at the many food booths and pick up some excellent bargains on golf packages, accommodations, restaurant meals and art at the Silent Auction. There are informational displays about whales, the ocean and Maui's natural environment, and a Wild and Wonderful Whale Regatta (Maui's own version of the rubber ducky race). There are performances just for children, and a children's carnival.
MARCH
Honolulu Festival
The Honolulu Festival was established in 1994, and is Hawaii's premier event promoting cultural understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. The first Honolulu Festival was held in 1995 and attracted more than 87,500 residents and visitors.
Kona Brewer's Festival
Nearly 30 breweries offer more than 60 types of beer. Chefs from over twenty-five restaurants serve culinary creations on the shores of Kailua Bay at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. The festival features live music, contests, fire dancers, a " Trash Fashion Show" and more.
Oahu Kite Festival
The Oahu Kite Festival is a weekend event held early in the month at Kapiolani Park, Oahu.
Prince Kuhio Day
Prince Kuhio Day on 26 March is a state holiday honoring Hawaii's first delegate to the U.S. Congress. The week-long festival featuring canoe races, music and dance, and a royal ball, are held on his native island of Kauai
Merrie Monarch Festival
A week-long festival of cultural events including Hawaii's most prestigious hula competition at Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium.
May
In Celebration of Canoes, Lahaina, Maui
This celebration of Hawaii's rich heritage honors the voyaging canoe which united all of Polynesia. Cultural delegations from Pacific island nations come together with Master Carvers creating Polynesian canoes from wood logs throughout the event in Lahaina Town. Hosts from Hawai'i welcome each nation in a traditional 'awa ceremony at the beach. Enjoy cultural arts demo's and performances during the week, the Festival of Canoes & Parade, including ancient warrior demonstrations, Polynesian crafts and food; watch a ceremonial launching of the carved canoes at sunset, with entertainment.
May Day
May Day, or in Hawaii, Lei Day, is celebrated throughout the state, with everybody wearing a floral necklace (lei) for the day. The first day of the month is a flower spectacle as islanders wear flowers, take part in lei-making competitions, and crown a lei queen.
Molokai Ka Hula Piko
Molokai Ka Hula Piko, held on Molokai in the middle of the month celebrates the birth of hula. Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and visits to sacred sites are supported by traditional dance performances and plenty of Hawaiian food.
JUNE
King Kamehameha Day
King Kamehameha day is the holiday established during the monarchy and observed continually since its establishment by royal proclamation in 1871. The day is celebrated to honor King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands, and who stands as an exponent of Hawaiian self-determination.
Maui Film Festival
The Maui Film Festival at Wailea features film premieres at the under-the-stars Dolby-Digital equipped Celestial Cinema™ and toes-in-the-sand oceanside silent film venue - The SandDance Theater, as well as at the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts &
Cultural Center and the Maui Digital Theater. Special Food and wine events including the Taste of Wailea plus Filmmakers Panels and Special Screenings complete the event.
Pan Pacific Festival
As many as 4,000 musicians, dancers and artists from Japan will join scores of their peers in Hawaii to present a variety of entertaining events; most are free. Since its inception in 1980, the mission of the Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri in Hawaii has been to promote intercultural friendship and overcome language and geographic barriers through shared interests. Today, the festival is one of Hawaii's largest cultural events.
Taste of Honolulu
Hawaii's largest outdoor food, wine, and entertainment festival, is getting ready for its eleventh year at the Honolulu Civic Center grounds adjacent to Honolulu Hale. The festival is a food-lovers' paradise with gourmet samplings, local grinds, ethnic delicacies, and alll-American favorites. There is also non-stop entertainment, wine and beer tastings, cooking demonstrations, and children's activities.
JULY
Hawaii International Jazz Festival
Featuring the best of today's jazz at concerts on Oahu and Maui.
Kapalua Wine and Food Festival
The Kapalua Wine and Food Festival is Hawaii’s premier celebration of wine, food and the good life.
Makawao Rodeo
The largest rodeo of the year in Hawaii, with more than 350 cowboys from all over the world, livens up Oskie Rice Rodeo Arena, a mile above Makawao town, on Olinda Road at Kaanaolo Ranch on Maui. This Hawaiian style rodeo, with rough stock and roping events, features rodeo clowns. Before and after the rodeo, enjoy live entertainment and country western dancing.
Parker Ranch Rodeo
Held annually at Paniolo Park on Parker Ranch rodeo grounds in Waimea, this is the most popular rodeo of the year on the Big Island of Hawaii and includes many western festivities.
Prince Lot Hula Festival
The Prince Lot Hula Festival is held annually on the third Saturday of July at the Moanalua Gardens in Honolulu, Oahu. The festival is named after Prince Lot, who reigned as King Kamehameha V from 1863 to 1872 in Hawaii. Noted for his energy, perseverence, and strength of will, he promoted the resurgence and preservation of Hawaiian culture in the face of Western criticism. In keeping with Prince Lot's resolve to perpetuate his culture, MGF started, and continues to produce the annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, considered to be the largest and oldest non-competitive hula event in the islands.
Ukulele Festival
Held annually July at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki, the Ukulele Festival attracts thousands of residents and visitors to a free two-hour concert that showcases many of the finest ukulele players in the world, along with Hawaii's top entertainers, national celebrities, and an ukulele orchestra of more than 800 children.
AUGUST
Admission Day
Admission Day is a state holiday celebrated on the third Friday of the month, observing the anniversary of Hawaiian statehood.
Aloha Festivals
Aloha Festivals is Hawai'i's premier cultural showcase, a celebration of Hawai'i's music, dance and history intended to preserve the unique island traditions. They are not only Hawaii's largest festival, but also America's only statewide multicultural celebration. The festivals run from August through October.
Made in Hawaii Festival
Held at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, the "Made in Hawaii Festival" features a dazzling array of hot, new finds and old favorites of made-in-Hawaii merchandise from some 400 exhibitors representing Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island. Products include apparel, arts & crafts, bath and body products, books, flowers, gourmet food and wine, hats, home accessories, handcrafted jewelry, lau hala (woven Pandanus leaves) wares, porcelain and pottery, stationery, tabletop fountains, tropical plants and produce, woodwork, and works of art.
Puuhonua O Honaunau Cultural Festival
The Puuhonua O Honaunau Cultural Festival is held on the Big Island of Hawaii. Festivities include a royal court, hula and traditional craft displays, and seine net fishing.
SEPTEMBER
Aloha Festivals
Aloha Festivals is Hawai'i's premier cultural showcase, a celebration of Hawai'i's music, dance and history intended to preserve the unique island traditions. They are not only Hawaii's largest festival, but also America's only statewide multicultural celebration. The festivals run from August through October.
Kauai Mokihana Festival
A full week of exciting workshops, contests, music, folk crafts and Hawaiian language as Kaua`i celebrates its culture. The mission of the Kaua`i Mokihana Festival is to provide an event that educates, promotes, preserves and perpetuates the Hawaiian culture through its varied activities and for all people.
Queen Lili'uokalani Music Festival and Concert
Learn the art of composing, copywriting and recording Hawaiian Music from Hawaii's Top Songwriters and Musicians.
A Taste of Lahaina
Maui's largest culinary festival celebrates 11 years showcasing new and popular restaurants in Maui County. Also features Hawaii farmers market, a beer garden, wine tasting, top chefs cooking demonstrations, kids' game zone, and continuous live entertainment on stage.
OCTOBER
Aloha Festivals
Aloha Festivals is Hawai'i's premier cultural showcase, a celebration of Hawai'i's music, dance and history intended to preserve the unique island traditions. They are not only Hawaii's largest festival, but also America's only statewide multicultural celebration. The festivals run from August through October.
Halloween in Lahaina
Celebrated since 1990 as the "Mardi Gras of the Pacific," this is more than just a night on the town in costume. Over 30,000 revelers come to Front Street on Halloween night, which is closed to vehicle traffic from 4pm to 2am. Annual children's costume parade down Front Street kicks-off the evening. Other features are crafters, activities and food booths, live music and dancing.
Hamakua Music Festival
The Hamakua Music Festival was conceived in the fall of 1994 when the Hamakua Coast, on the windward side of the Island of Hawaii, was uncertain of it's future due to the death of the sugar industry which had been the economic mainstay of the community for more than one hundred years. Each year since, the Festival has brought a concert series to Honokaa and has expanded its formal education activities to include annual scholarship awards to Big Island students as well as the funding of a dedicated music teacher for Honoka'a and Paauilo Elementary Schools.
Hispanic Heritage Festival
The Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce present the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival held at Kapiolani Park Bandstand. Spend the day as you feast on the food, entertainment and culture of the Festival.
Ironman Triathlon
The Ironman Triathlon World Championship is held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Approximately 1,500 competitors will try to complete a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile run. Competitors have 17 hours to finish the race.
Princess Ka`iulani Keiki Hula Festival
A week-long celebration honoring Princess Victoria Ka'iulani is held at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel and includes the Princess Ka'iulani Keiki Hula Festival.
NOVEMBER
Kona Coffee Festival
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is Hawaii's oldest festival held over a two-week event held in Kailua-Kona during late October and early November. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized as the oldest and most successful product festival in Hawaii and is the only coffee festival in the United States. This 10-day festival is filled with more than 30 community events honor the multi-ethnic heritage of Kona coffee pioneers and their gourmet brew.
Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival takes place in mid-November.
The festival lasts two weeks; during the first week, Oahu is the host, whereafter the screenings take place on the other islands. From its beginning, the Festival's constant theme has been "When Strangers Meet." HIFF is unique in discovering features and documentaries from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawaii filmmakers that present Hawaii in a culturally accurate way.
Honolulu Harbor Festival
So, you don't believe a tugboat can do the hula? The "Tugboat Hula Contest" is one of the featured events along with a U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue demonstration, Navy & Coast Guard ship tours, a Keiki treasure hunt, tours around Honolulu Harbor, a poster coloring contest and other fun activities for the entire family. The Harbor Festival is free and open to the public. Information (808) 528-5700
Molokai Coffee and Cultural Festival
The Moloka`i Coffee and Cultural Festival would like to invite you to come to "The Friendly Island" to participate in a unique blend of local activities, music and of course, for its world-renowned coffees.
DECEMBER
Honolulu City Lights
Shining brighter than ever the city lights spectacular begins with children's entertainment from 4pm, opening ceremony 6pm, Electric Light Parade at 6:25pm, lighting of the City Christmas tree at 6:30pm, followed by a concert and Santa for family fun. At Honolulu Hale and on the municipal lawn. Indoor Christmas tree and wreath exhibits open daily from 8am to 11pm. All free!
Honolulu International Choral Festival
The Honolulu International Choral Festival features choral interchange, adjudication and performance. Choirs participating in this festival will meet local Hawai‘i choirs and their conductors for a musical, cultural and artistic exchange. Adjudication and clinic sessions are available for guest choirs as well as performance opportunities. Presented by the O‘ahu Choral Society and the Honolulu Symphony in cooperation with the University of Hawai‘i Music Department.
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