Hawaii Cultural Festivals 2026 — Full Calendar by Month

Hawaii has more cultural festivals per capita than almost anywhere in the United States. Some are tiny — a single neighborhood block party. Some are massive — the Aloha Festivals draw hundreds of thousands across multiple islands. Here is the full year laid out by month so you can plan a trip around what matters to you.

January

• Sony Open in Hawaii (PGA Tour) — early January, Waialae Country Club, Oahu. Not strictly cultural, but a Hawaii institution.
• Hawaii Polo Club Sunday matches — start late January, North Shore Oahu. Free general admission, $10 parking.
• Chinese New Year Festival — late January or early February (date varies), Honolulu Chinatown. Lion dances, lion blessings, food, fireworks. Free.

February

• Punahou Carnival — first weekend of February, Punahou School, Honolulu. The state's largest carnival. Funds school scholarships. Iconic local food booths and games.
• Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival — Big Island, early February. Cherry blossoms, mochi pounding, taiko drumming. Free.
• Great Aloha Run — President's Day, 8.15-mile run from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium. 25,000+ participants.

March

• Honolulu Festival — mid-March, three-day Pacific Rim cultural celebration. Parade through Waikiki, performances, fireworks finale at Waikiki Beach. Free.
• Prince Kuhio Day — March 26, state holiday. Ceremonies at Kuhio Beach (Waikiki), Iolani Palace, and the Royal Mausoleum.
• Kona Brewers Festival — Big Island, mid-March. Local craft beer + food + music. Ticketed but worth the cost for craft beer fans.

April

• Merrie Monarch Festival — week after Easter, Hilo, Big Island. The most prestigious hula competition in the world. Competition tickets are nearly impossible — but the Hawaiian arts fair, hoolaulea block party, and parade are all free. The whole town transforms.
• Spam Jam — late April, Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki. Yes, a Spam-themed street festival. Genuinely fun. Free entry, food costs vary.
• Waikiki Spam Jam overlaps with Merrie Monarch — different islands, no conflict.

May

• Lei Day — May 1, statewide. Lei competitions at Kapiolani Park (Oahu), performances, food. Free.
• Honolulu Triathlon — early May, Magic Island.
• Buddha Day (Wesak) — early May, Hawaii Betsuin and other Buddhist temples. Public welcome.

June

• King Kamehameha Day — June 11, state holiday. Floral parade in Honolulu, lei-draping ceremony at the King Kamehameha statue downtown. Free public events on every island.
• Pan-Pacific Festival — mid-June, Waikiki. Three-day Asian-Pacific cultural festival, parade, performances. Free.
• Mango Festival — late June, Foster Botanical Garden. Free with garden admission.

July

• Prince Lot Hula Festival — mid-to-late July, Iolani Palace grounds. Largest non-competitive hula festival. Free.
• Independence Day — July 4, fireworks at Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island, Schofield Barracks, Kailua, and on every island.
• Ukulele Festival Hawaii — late July, Kapiolani Park bandstand. Free, family-friendly, world-class players.

August

• Made in Hawaii Festival — mid-August, Hawaii Convention Center. 400+ Hawaii makers, food, music. Ticketed (cheap entry).
• Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival — late August, Kapiolani Park. Free.
• Statehood Day — third Friday in August, state holiday but few public events specifically tied to it.

September

• Aloha Festivals — mid-September, multi-island, multi-week. Royal Court, Floral Parade, Hoolaulea (Waikiki block party). The state's largest cultural festival. Free.
• Honolulu Pride — early October typically but sometimes late September.
• Hawaii Food & Wine Festival — September into October, multiple events across multiple islands. Ticketed, expensive, but legitimately world-class.

October

• Hawaii International Film Festival — early-to-mid October, Honolulu. Two-week run with Asian-Pacific film focus.
• Honolulu Marathon — mid-December, but registration usually opens in fall.
• Halloween — Wallace Theater drag shows in Chinatown are an institution; Waikiki street scene gets dense.

November

• Kona Coffee Cultural Festival — early November, Big Island. Ten-day celebration of Hawaii's coffee heritage. Free village stroll, ticketed cupping events.
• Hawaii International Film Festival — overlaps from October.
• Veterans Day Parade — November 11, Honolulu.

December

• Honolulu City Lights — December 1 through year-end. Trees, decorations, and the city tree at Honolulu Hale. Free, family-favorite.
• Honolulu Marathon — second Sunday of December. 25,000+ runners, scenic course through Waikiki and Diamond Head.
• Pearl Harbor Day — December 7, ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial.
• New Year's Eve fireworks — Aloha Tower, Magic Island, every island has a public show.

Festival dates can shift year to year — most are tied to weekends rather than specific calendar dates. Verify before booking travel by checking our Hawaii events calendar or the host venue's website.