Events and Festivals
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Hawaii's Annual Events & Festivals
The Festive Islands of Aloha
Dive deep into Hawaii’s local community and you’ll discover a culture alive with paniolo (cowboys), Chinese dragons, ethnic festivals, culinary events and an exotic collection of celebrations. Throughout the year, you’ll also encounter parades, street parties, food and craft fairs, concerts and family activities that honor every aspect of Hawaii’s diverse culture.
Annual Events
Many of Hawaii’s most memorable celebrations occur annually. Some, like the Honolulu Marathon(December) and the Hawaii International Film Festival (October), draw visitors and participants from around the globe. Others, like Oahu’s Prince Lot Hula Competition (July) or the Eo E Emalani I Alakai Festival (October) on Kauai and the statewide King Kamehameha Celebration (June) are primarily local occasions. These events have a strong allure for visitors who want to get an authentic glimpse of Hawaii during their trip.
Food Festivals
Events that feature local foods and agricultural products attract both locals and visitors. The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival on the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Oahu (October) and the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival (June) on Maui are long-running culinary events, hosting world-class chefs, winemakers and master sommeliers for thousands of wine and food lovers. The Island of Hawaii’s Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (November) celebrates all things coffee and includes nearly 50 events over 10 days. Kauai Chocolate & Coffee Festival (October) highlights al things cacao and coffee industries of Kauai.Video: Festivals and Events in Hawaii
Events Around the Hawaiian Islands
Duke's Oceanfest 2018: Waikiki's Premier Ocean Sports Festival
The annual Duke's OceanFest features a variety of ocean sports that were close to Duke Kahanamoku's heart, including Longboard Surfing, Paddleboard Racing, Swimming, Tandem Surfing, Surf Polo, Beach Volleyball, and Stand-Up Paddling.
The festival celebrates Duke Kahanamoku's life, his [...]
- Contact Name: James Fulton
- Contact Organization: Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation
Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races
The Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races have been held annually since 1971. Hosted by Kai Opua Canoe Club over the Labor Day holiday, this is the world's largest long distance canoe race. The women's and men's 18-mile races follow a historically and culturally significant course running [...]
- Contact Name: Uncle Bo Campos
- Contact Organization: Kai Opua Canoe Club
The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon
The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon are one of the most beautiful destination races in the world today. Taking place on September 2, 2018 this race is a great way to combine a unique experience and a get-away that only Kauai can offer. Participants pass hula dancers and Taiko drum troupes along [...]
- Contact Name: Robin Jumper
- Contact Organization: The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon
Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha - Kindy Sproat Falsetto & Hawaiian Storytelling Competition
Our kane come out to show their skills to throw their voice in higher registers. They also share the manao of their mele, the songwriter and the hidden meaning (kaona). This is to honor the late Uncle Kindy Sproat, a true Hawaiian who lived in Pololu Valley, as his kupuna before him. This event [...]
- Contact Name: M. Akana
- Contact Organization: Hawaii Island Festival
La Ulu 2018 (Breadfruit Day!)
Saturday, September 8, from 10 AM to 3 PM: La Ulu (Breadfruit Day!)
In partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens will host the second annual La Ulu: Breadfruit Day! This free community event will include food booths, breadfruit cooking demonstrations, [...]
- Contact Name: Whit Germano
- Contact Organization: Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha Poke Contest
Featuring cube sized fish (poke) and various ocean delicacies, tako, opihi, loli. We share our delicious fish with the bounty from our ocean, limu eleele, limu kohu, opihi, opae, wana, loli. Visitors as well as our host culture get to taste various preparations of poke. Our host culture is [...]
- Contact Name: Monica Lindsey
- Contact Organization: Hawaii Island Festival
Hawaiicon - The World's First Sci-fi, Science, And Fantasy Tropical Vacation Convention
This event will bring together leading cast members from TV shows and movies well as stars from a dozen other shows, cosplayers, space scientists, visionaries, gamers, comic book artists, and writers. We start with taking the celebrities out on tours with the fans around the island to change [...]
- Contact Name: Juanita Revell
- Contact Organization: HawaiiCon
Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha - Waimea 43rd Annual Paniolo Parade
We show off our paniolo, the art of pa'u, the art of hula, oli, olelo, our royal society Ahahui Ka'ahumanu Waimea Chapter. We have schools, church groups, hula halau, businesses, etc, as participants in our annual Paniolo Parade.
Many of our paniolo and pa'u riders are true paniolo; they [...]
- Contact Name: M. Akana
- Contact Organization: Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha
Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha - Waimea Hoolaulea
A relaxing day in beautiful Waimea, God's country indeed. We start off with community olelo Hawaii by our keiki, Taiko drummers "sound the alarm" and draw people in from the Parade.
Our Craft Tent is filled with clothing, purses, jewelry, lauhala products.
Delicious food and snacks [...]
- Contact Name: M. Akana
- Contact Organization: Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha
Pailolo Challenge 2018
The Pailolo Challenge is a 26 mile race from DT Fleming Beach, Maui to Kaunakakai, Molokai. Paddlers gather from Hawaii, USA, Canada, Australia and more to test themselves in excellent channel crossing conditions. Since it's inception the race has caught on and considered to be the most consistent [...]
- Contact Name: Ka'ili Moikeha
- Contact Organization: Hawaiian Canoe Club