Triple Crown of Surfing
During the North Shore’s Triple Crown of Surfing, touring pros compete for megabucks in prizes. The kickoff is the Hawaiian Pro at Haleʻiwa surf break in mid-November. The competition’s second challenge, the Vans World Cup of Surfing (late November to early December), happens at Sunset Beach. The final leg, the Billabong Pipe Masters, happens in early to mid-December at Banzai Pipeline.
Aloha Festivals
During Hawaii’s premier state-wide cultural festival, Waikiki is famous for its royal court ceremonies and also its huge hoʻolauleʻa evening block party and float parade along Kalakaua Ave, with food vendors, live music and hula dancers. Usually held in late September.
Molokaʻi Hoe
In mid-October, the men’s outrigger-canoe world-championship race starts just after sunrise on Molokaʻi and then finishes 41 miles later at Waikiki’s Kahanamoku Beach.
Ukulele Festival
Since 1971 this has been one of the world’s premier festivals celebrating the ukulele. The recent explosion in popularity of the diminutive stringed instrument has made the event a don’t-miss celebration.
Hawaii International Film Festival
This celebration of film packs the city’s movie theaters with homegrown and imported Pacific Rim, Asian, mainland American and European films for 11 days in early November.
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival
Star chefs, sustainable farmers and food-lovers come together for a weekend of wining and dining in October. Think wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities highlighting the state’s local farmers, fishermen and ranchers.
Mele Mei
A celebration of Hawaiian music starting in April with workshops, live concerts and hula performances leads up to Hawaii’s prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in June.
Honolulu Festival
Three days of Asian-Pacific cultural exchange with music, dance and drama performances, an arts-and-crafts fair, a parade and fireworks, all in early to mid-March.
Na Wahine O Ke Kai
Hawaii’s major annual women’s outrigger-canoe race starts at sunrise on the island of Molokaʻi and ends 41 miles later at Waikiki’s Kahanamoku Beach. Best time (2008): five hours, 22 minutes, five seconds.
Pan-Pacific Festival
Three days of Japanese, Hawaiian and South Pacific entertainment in early to mid-June, with music, dancing and taiko (traditional Japanese drumming) at Waikiki and the Ala Moana Center.
Memorial Day
On the last Monday in May, this national public holiday honors military personnel killed in battle. The USS Arizona Memorial, dedicated on Memorial Day in 1962, has a special ceremony.
Prince Lot Hula Festival
The state’s oldest and largest noncompetitive hula event invites Hawaii’s leading hula halau (schools) to the royal Moanalua Gardens on the third Saturday in July.
Veterans Day
On November 11, this national public holiday honors US military veterans; the USS Missouri hosts a sunset ceremony and tribute.
Pearl Harbor Day
On December 7, ceremonies at Pearl Harbor include a Hawaiian blessing and heartfelt accounts from survivors of the 1941 Japanese attack.
Haleʻiwa Arts Festival
More than 140 artists gather at Haleʻiwa one weekend in July to show and sell their wares. There’s painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, woodwork, jewelry, leatherwork, sculpture, glass and other art forms. Music, food, cultural tours and hands-on demonstrations are also scheduled.
Sailor Jerry Festival
Held in Chinatown in June, this festival features music, stand-up comedy, movies and tattooing. Sailor Jerry (aka Norman Collins) was the legendary tattoo artist who fulfilled the third part of Honolulu-stationed WWII sailors’ and soldiers’ proud motto – ‘stewed, screwed and tattooed.’
King Kalakaua’s Birthday
Features a concert of traditional monarchy-era music by the Royal Hawaiian Band at ʻIolani Palace on November 16, a parade down Waikiki’s Kalakaua Ave, and a lei-draping ceremony at the King Kalakaua statue located at the intersection of Kalakaua Ave and Kuhio Ave in Waikiki.
Lantern Floating Hawaii
Held on Memorial Day in May, the souls of the dead are honored with a Japanese floating-lantern ceremony after sunset at Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park. More than 5000 lanterns are floated and over 50,000 turn up to watch.
Honolulu Festival
Free Asian and Pacific arts and cultural performances are staged for three days across Honolulu, including Waikiki. On the Sunday, there’s a festive parade along Kalakaua Ave followed by a fireworks show in early to mid-March.
Pan-Pacific Festival
This Asian and Polynesian cultural festival puts on a performing-arts showcase at various venues, including outdoor hula shows at Kuhio Beach Park, and a huge hoʻolauleʻa block party and parade along Kalakaua Ave.
Wahiawa Pineapple Festival
On a Saturday in early May everything pineapple is celebrated at this small-town community fair at the Wahiawa District Park on California Ave. A parade, music, food sales, games and demonstrations are all included.
Great Aloha Fun Run
A popular 8.15-mile race from the harborfront Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium on the third Monday in February. There’s a free eight-week training program leading up to the event.
Molokaʻi Hoe
Running annually for over 60 years, the Molokaʻi Hoe, the paddling race between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi, is one to capture the imagination. Over 1000 paddlers turn up to take on the 38-mile course.
‘I Love Kailua’ Town Party
One Sunday in April the whole community turns out for a giant block party, with hula schools and bands performing, local artists selling wares and local restaurants feeding the masses.
Waikiki Spam Jam
Join thousands of Spam aficionados celebrating at this street festival devoted to Hawaii’s favorite tinned meat product. The events take over Kalakaua Ave for one Saturday.
King Kamehameha Hula Competition
One of Hawaii’s biggest hula contests, with hundreds of dancers competing at downtown’s Neal S Blaisdell Center in late June. Participants come from all over the world.
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival
A day-long celebration of traditional Hawaiian slack key guitar and ukulele music with food vendors and an arts-and-crafts fair. The location varies from year to year.
Talk Story Festival
Storytellers gather at Ala Moana Beach Park in mid-October to honor traditional and contemporary storytelling and oral history by presenting Hawaii’s best tellers.
Oʻahu Fringe Festival
Held in January and part of a Hawaii-wide circuit, Oʻahu’s Fringe Festival presents uncensored performing arts, often off-the-cuff. Expect the unexpected.
‘I Love Hula’
See a rotating schedule of area hula schools perform one Sunday of each month at 3pm, in the parking area behind Longs/CVS Drugstore in Kailua Town Center
Tinman Hawaii Triathlon
It’s not the Ironman, but the Tinman is a popular triathlon – a 750m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run around Waikiki and Diamond Head on Oʻahu in July.
Chinese New Year
Between late January and mid-February, Chinatown’s swirling festivities include a parade with lion dances and crackling firecrackers.
Honolulu Fashion Week
Held in November at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, Fashion Week presents an opportunity for local designers to strut their stuff.
Nā Hula Festival
Local hula halau (schools) gather for two days of music and dance celebrations at Kapiʻolani Regional Park.
Honolulu Marathon
The USA’s third-largest marathon runs from downtown Honolulu to Diamond Head on the second Sunday of December.
Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition
Children’s hula troupes from throughout Hawaii take over the stage at the Neal S Blaisdell Center in mid-July.
Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival
Colorful Chinese dragon boats race to the beat of island drummers at Ala Moana Beach Park in late July.
King Kamehameha Celebration
King Kamehameha Celebration, a state holiday in early June, includes festivities at ʻIolani Palace.
Duke Kahanamoku Challenge
Outrigger-canoe and stand-up paddling (SUP) races, island-style local food, traditional Hawaiian games, arts and crafts vendors and live entertainment all happen on a Sunday at Duke Kahanamoku Beach.
Waialua Bandstand in the Park
A community-minded group, the Friends of Waialua Bandstand in the Park organizes a concert in the bandstand at Waialua Park on the first Sunday of each month, starting at 4pm. Check the website for schedules, but US military bands, the Royal Hawaiian Band and local high-school bands are regulars.
