East Maui Taro Festival

Maui’s most Hawaiian town throws its most Hawaiian party. If it’s native, it’s here – a taro pancake breakfast, poi making, hula dancing and a big jamfest of Hawaiian music. Held on the last weekend in April, it’s Hana at its finest. Book accommodations well in advance.

Wailuku First Friday

On the first Friday of every month, Market St turns into a pedestrian zone and laid-back street party, with several bands, lots of tasty food options, and even a beer garden. This is Wailuku at its finest, so don’t miss it if you’re nearby.

King Kamehameha Day Parade

Traditionally dressed Hawaiian riders on horseback, marching bands and floral floats take to Front St to honor Kamehameha the Great on this public holiday in mid-June. An awards ceremony and arts festival follow at Kamehameha Iki Park.

Whale & Ocean Arts Festival

Celebrate the annual humpback-whale migration at Banyan Tree Sq during this weekend-long celebration with Hawaiian music, hula and games. Naturalists are on hand to share their knowledge about whales. Also features marine-themed art.

Ki Hoʻalu Slack Key Guitar Festival

Top slack key guitarists take the stage at this fun event, held on the lawn of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center each June.

Maui Film Festival

Hollywood celebs swoop in for this five-day extravaganza in mid-June. Join the stars under the stars at various Wailea locations, including the open-air ‘Celestial Theater’ on a nearby golf course and the ‘Toes-in-the-Sand Cinema’ (free) on Wailea Beach.

Friday Town Parties

Street parties every Friday night in a different city, rotating between Wailuku, on the first Friday, then Lahaina, Makawao and Kihei. These family friendly gatherings feature live music, food trucks and local vendors. On the occasional fifth Friday, the party moves to Lanaʻi.

Holiday Lighting of the Banyan Tree

Lahaina illuminates Hawaii’s biggest tree on the first weekend in December with thousands of colorful lights, accompanied by hula performances, carolers, cookie decorating and a craft show. And, of course, Santa shows up for the na keiki (children).

World Whale Day

Organized by the Pacific Whale Foundation, this family-friendly bash celebrates Maui’s humpback whales with a parade (9am to 10am), crafts, live music, food booths and environmental displays. It’s held at Kalama Park on a Saturday in mid-February.

Makawao Third Friday

On the third Friday of every month the center of Makawao turns into a pedestrian zone and laid-back street party from 6pm to 9pm, with food, arts and crafts and live music.

Kihei Fourth Fridays

Part of the Friday Town Parties series, this popular monthly festival draws locals with live music, food trucks and arts and crafts.

ʻUlupalakua Holiday Tree Lighting

On a Saturday in early December, ʻUlupalakua Ranch sponsors a fun holiday bash on the lawn of Maui Wine. Come by for children’s games, live music, an outdoor movie and the lighting of a 25ft-tall decorated Monterey pine. There’s wine tasting too. Admission is free, but the winery requests that guests bring a canned good for Maui Food Bank.

Maui Polo Club

A friendly tailgating party surrounds these Sunday matches held behind Oskie Rice Arena, 1 mile above town on Olinda Rd, early September through mid-November; and at the Manduke Baldwin Polo Arena, 1.7 miles up Haleakalā Highway from Makawao Ave, from early April 3 to late June. Dress is casual to island dressy (ie your best aloha shirt).

Halloween in Lahaina

Front St morphs into a costumed street festival on Halloween night. The party is fun for families in the late afternoon, with a na keiki costume parade, but things gets a bit wilder as the night goes on – although a strong police presence keeps rowdiness in check. Forget parking; take a shuttle or taxi.

Paniolo Parade

Held on the Saturday morning closest to July 4, this festive parade with horseback riders, floats, a marching band and classic cars goes right through the heart of Makawao; park at Oskie Rice Arena and take the free shuttle to the town center. A stick-horse race for the kiddies starts at 8:30am on Baldwin Ave.

Upcountry Ag & Farm Fair

Traditional agricultural fair with a 4H livestock auction, farmers market, arts and crafts, food, keiki games, a rodeo and live music. It’s held on the second weekend in June from 9am to 5pm at the Oskie Rice Arena.

Holy Ghost Feast

This festival celebrates Kula’s Portuguese heritage. Held at the Holy Ghost Church in the spring on Pentecost weekend (50 days after Easter). It’s a family event with games, craft vendors, a farmers’ market and a free Hawaiian-Portuguese lunch on Sunday.

Xterra World Championship

A major off-road triathlon race, boasting a $105,000 purse. It starts with a 1-mile rough water swim, followed by a 20-mile dirt-trail bike ride through a ravine and tropical landscape, and then a 6.5-mile trail run through forest and across beach.

Nā Mele O Maui

This celebration of Hawaiian culture features children’s choral groups singing native Hawaiian music. The aloha-rich event is held in late November/early December at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Banyan Tree Birthday

Lahaina’s favorite tree gets a two-day birthday party, complete with a birthday cake, music and art, plus piñatas for the na keiki. It’s held on the weekend closest to April 24. The tree celebrated its 145th birthday in 2018.

Maui County Fair

Get a feel for Maui’s agricultural roots at this venerable fair held in late September or early October, with farm exhibits, tasty island grinds and a dazzling orchid display.

PGA Tournament of Champions

Watch Tiger and friends tee off at the PGA Tour’s season opener at the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course, vying for a multimillion-dollar purse.

Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

A culinary extravaganza held over four days in mid-June. It features renowned winemakers and Hawaii’s hottest chefs, offering cooking demonstrations and wine tastings.

Friday Town Party

This outdoor festival features music and food vendors. It’s held the second Friday of the month at Campbell Park, which is across from the Pioneer Inn on Front St.

Maui Ukulele Festival

Held outdoors at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on a Sunday in mid-October, this aloha event showcases uke masters from Maui and beyond.

Fourth of July

Enjoy a concert on the lawn of the public library from 5pm then watch fireworks light up the sky over the harbor at 8pm.

Celebration of the Arts

This festival celebrates traditional Hawaiian culture with art, hula, music, films and cultural panels.

Maui Marathon

This road race begins in Kahului and ends 26.2 miles later at Whalers Village in Kaʻanapali.

Hula O Nā Keiki

Children take center stage at this hula-dance competition in early to mid-November, which features some of the best keiki dancers in Hawaii. It’s held at the Kaʻanapali Beach Hotel.

E Hoʻoulu Aloha

This old-Hawaii-style festival held towards the end of the year at the Bailey House Museum features hula, music, crafts and food. You won’t find a friendlier community scene. Phone the museum to check dates.

Vissla/High-Tech/Lopez Surfbash

This weekend surf contest takes place at Hoʻokipa Beach around mid-November with competing short-boarders, long-boarders and body-boarders.

Ukulele lessons

Learn a tune on Hawaii’s popular musical instrument. Classes are limited to six people, so get there early. Ukuleles are provided.

Kula Fest

Stop by for a farmers’ market, quilt show, arts and crafts, food, music and loads of kids’ games. Usually held in late September.

Hana Canoe Regatta

Outrigger canoes race out to sea in April, marking the start of canoe season.

Hana Surfing Classic

Annual amateur surfing contest held at Koki Beach in mid-September.