List of all annual events on the Big Island of Hawaii. Find a local festival during your stay on the Big Island and get the true local experience.
January – PGA Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
This event kicks off the PGA Championship Tour every year at the Hualalai Resort Golf Club. For more information call 800-417-2770 or visit their website.
February – Panaewa Stampede Rodeo
Check out rodeo Hawaiian-style at this weekend event featuring an amateur competition between cowboys, cowgirls, keiki and kūpuna. Enjoy paniolo (cowboy) demonstrations, Hawaiian musical entertainment, food and craft booths. For more info call 808-937-1004 or visit their website.
February – Annual Hilo Chinese New Year Festival
Chinese lion dancers snake to Hilo’s Kalākaua Park which is transformed into a mini-Chinatown to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Performances, displays, cooking and cultural demonstrations show the Chinese influence in Hawai‘i. For more info call 808-935-8850 or visit their website.
February – Pahoa Annual Surf Film Fest
A local surf film festival featuring at least a couple of new-release nationally renowned films and topped of with locally produced films. Located in the colorful town of Pahoa southeast of Hilo. For info call 808-965-2322.
February – Hawaii Reggae and Agricultural Fair
This annual fun family event (before 2012 known as the Bob Fest Concert and Agricultural Fair) celebrates the legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley in Hilo. With Hawaiian & Reggae music, organic farms produce and growing techniques, children’s activities, seeds and trees to plant, beekeepers and more. For more info call 808-216-7372 or visit their website at hawaiireggaeandagriculturalfair.com
February – Laupehoehoe Music Festival
The annual Laupahoehoe Music Festival hosts an exceptional lineup of Hawaiian entertainers. Grammy recognized rising stars, veteran masters and top local bands come together for a day of nonstop music and hula, island style! Festival food vendors will offer a wide vareity of tastes and vegetarian grinds. Local craft vendors will be on site as well. For more info visit their website.
February – Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival
This popular festival celebrates Japanese traditions and culture and includes cherry blossom viewing, music, demonstrations, exhibits, crafts, entertainment, ethnic foods, a farmers’ market and visiting performers and artisans from Japan. For more info call 808-961-8706.
February -Panaewa Stampede Rodeo
Check out rodeo Hawaiian-style at this weekend event featuring an amateur competition between cowboys, cowgirls, keiki and kūpuna. Enjoy paniolo (cowboy) demonstrations, Hawaiian musical entertainment, food and craft booths. For more info call 808-937-1004 or visit their website.
March – Kona Brewers Festival
This annual festival promotes craft brewing an microbreweries in Hawaii. Expect about 60 craft beers from Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland, plus gourmet food. Also special Brewer’s Dinner, Golf Tourney and Run for the Hops. For more info call 808-987-9196 or visit their website.
March – Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
Big Island ukulele enthusiasts can strum along and play their part with a great lineup of ukulele masters. Join them for laughter, love and hope. Ukulele give-aways, food booths, ukulele lessons and more. For more info visit their website.
March – Big Island International Marathon
10.8 mile and 3.1 mile fun runs along the Pacific Ocean, through tropical rainforests, past rushing waterfalls and along black lava beaches to finish at the historic Hilo Bay front in one of the world most scenic marathons! For more info call 808-969-7400 or visit their website.
March – Annual Haili Volleyball Tournament
Players from around the United states frequent this popular event. You find can find Nationally ranked AA player but also novices in the many different teams. For more info call 808-961-3633 or visit their website.
March – Big Island Chocolate Festival
The Big Island Chocolate Festival tries to combine all the best elements of the other chocolate festivals i.e. the chef competition for savory and sweet and People’s Choice, the chocolate symposiums and farm tours, and the live entertainment, into one.
Everyone going will taste 20-25 different samples of savory and sweet chocolate delicacies and you can also enjoy wine, Kona Brewery beer or Island Cuvee sparkling wine. For more info visit their website.
Did you know Hawaii is the only state where cacao can be grown? More information: Locally grown and produced chocolate from the Big Island.
April – Lavaman Triathlon Waikoloa
Features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run. It was voted the Best Post-Race Party in Triathlon! With finish line nutrition, finisher medal, massage provided by Hawaiian School of Massage, live music and prize giveaways. right on Waikoloa Beach. For more info visit their website.
April – Merry Monarch Festival
This is the most sought-after event on the Big Island! It is a one week-long hula celebration and competition with festivities including exhibitions, musical entertainment, arts and crafts fairs and the Miss Aloha Hula Competition and kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula competitions. Expect most hotels to be full at the island so plan ahead if you are interested in some world-class hula. For more info call 808-935-9168 or visit their website.
April – Puna Music Festival
A two-week event coinciding with the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the Puna Music Festival focuses on music and hula. Classes and presentations include mele, oli, ʽauana and kahiko hula, vocals, ʽukulele/guitar, huna, and excursions . Local artisans will share their knowledge
and native crafts. For more info call 808-965-0468 or visit their website.
April – MAMo: Maoil Arts Month
This month long celebration held annually in the month of May celebrates the depth, breadth, and diversity of the Native Hawaiian arts community with a month long of different events including amongst others exhibits and local art markets! For more info check their website.
May – Ka’a Coffee Festival
If coffee gets you going, then go to this popular festival celebrating the bean in Hawaii Island’s beautiful Ka’u district. Featuring a Coffee tasting presentation, a Ka’u coffee recipe contest, music, hula, farm tours and many stands offering local food, coffee and crafts!! Entry is free, for more info visit their website.
It is also possible (and a great excursion) to visit some Kona coffee farms yourself. More information: Visit a Kona Coffee farm yourself.
May – May Day is Lei Day! Festival
This free family event is for residents and visitors of all ages to join in the creative and cultural tradition of making and wearing lei, which is deeply rooted in the Hawaiian culture. The annual event includes a lei contest, lei making demonstrations, hula performances, guided forest tours with cultural protocols for harvesting lei materials, talk story sessions, orchid and native plant sales, and food booths. For more info call 808-967-8222 or visit their website.
May – Big Island Film Festival
This “Talk Story” film festival is a celebration of independent narrative filmmakers and their short and feature films. It is an international film festival which celebrates narrative filmmakers and narrative films. With three movie venues, food and beverage events, workshops, celebrities, and Hawaiian music and culture, it’s rapidly gaining an international reputation! For more info call 808-883-0394 or visit their website.
May – Puna Music Festival
The Puna Music Festival celebrates the music of Hawai’i, and the undying spirit of Puna. The ten-day festival will feature top Hawaiian artists, as well as local talent. More information at the Puna music festival website.
June – Kamehameha Festival
This Festival is part of the larger Kamehameha Day celebration that was first established in 1871 as a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha the Great (c. 1758-1819) who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 to became Hawai‘i’s first King.
The festival features features a ho‘olaule‘a with top Hawaii recording artists, hula hālau, various cultural presentations, Hawaiian chant competition, dance of the warrior exhibition, food, and art and crafts booth. For more info call 808-989-4844 or visit their website.
June – Rohto Ironman 70.3 Hawaii
This half ironman triathlon around Honu is part of the official qualifier series for the Ironman World Championship held on the island in October. Athletes start the day with a swim in the crystal blue waters of Hapuna Beach State Park along the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. Then they take on the challenging 56 mile bike course on the legendary Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. The day finishes with a 13.1 mile run through paradise. For more info visit their website.
June – Kona Marathon & Family Fun Runs
An estimated 1,800 runners of all ages and abilities will be competing for prize money, participating for health and enjoyment, and raising money for charity. The start and Finish are at the Keauhou Beach Resort just south of Kailua-Kona and you can compete in a complete marathon, 1/2 marathon, 10k, 5k, and a family run. For more info visit their website.
July – Big Island Hawaiiana Music Festival (Hilo)
Enjoy authentic Hawaiian music – including ukulele, slack key and steel guitar – and falsetto singing at this always popular two-day event featuring artists from around Hawaii. Call 808-935-9085 or visit their website for more information.
July – Parker Ranch Independence Day Rodeo
See real Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) in action at this rodeo! For info call 808-885-7311 or visit their website.
July – Hawaiian International Bill-fishing Tournament
This week-long event is know as the “Grandfather of all big game fishing tournaments”!! It has been around more than 50 years now, and was first organized only 2 days after Hawaii officially became a state in 1959. For more info visit their website.
July – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival
This festival is created to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and promote appreciation of traditional values. Cultural practitioners lead demonstrations and provide hands-on learning opportunities for a wide variety of Hawaiian crafts, games, and foods. For more information visit their website.
August – Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival
This annual event attracts aficionados of this renown tropical mix cocktail from around the world! Bartenders compete for title of Best Mai Tai and a $10,000 cash prize, and you can also enjoy a farmers market, food from Big Island restaurants and live entertainment along with mai tai sampling. For more info visit their website.
August – Lavaman Triathlon Keauhoa
Features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run, and is closed by the now famous beach party at the outrigger Keaohou beach resort. For more info visit their website.
September – Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Race
The Queen Lili’uokalani Long-Distance Canoe Races are the world’s largest outrigger canoe races. The event features single hull, double hull and individual races along with a torchlight parade, dance and luau awards ceremony. For more info call 808-334-9481 or visit their website.
September – Breadfruit Festival
To tell the story of Hawai’i Island’s long history with breadfruit (‘ulu) with the intention of building upon this history to bring ‘ulu back into common use. A Breadfruit Festival will be held on September 24, 2011, at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in South Kona. For more info visit their website.
September – Mealani’s Taste Of Hawaii Range
Over 30 of the state’s top chefs dazzle diners with delectable dishes using grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, goat, mutton and wild boar—plus fresh island fruit and veggies. Attendees looking for culinary adventure can taste and enjoy all the cuts of grass-fed beef—everything from tongue to tail. The event originated in Waimea on the Big Island, where the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) rides the range and greened-over volcanic cinder cones are dotted with grazing cattle. For more info, visit their website.
September – Kona Style Slack Key Guitar Festival.
“Slack Key” is the Hawaiian trademark method of tuning and playing the guitar. At this free music festival fifteen of the best slack-key artists
from Hawaiʽi and the Big Island will perform. For more info call 808-226-2697 or visit their website.
September – He Hali‘a Aloha No Ka Queen Lili‘uokalani Festival
This festival celebrates the birthday of Hawai‘i’s beloved Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawai‘i and features Hula
performances by worldwide hula hālau (schools). For more info call 808-961-8706.
September – Annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace.
The tranquil Hāmākua Coast town of Honoka‘a organizes a parade featuring bands, floats, clubs, school groups, performance artists and dancers to honor the United Nations International Peace Day. For more info call 808-640-4602 or visit their website.
October – Hilo Wayfinding Festival
Are you intrigued by the ancient arts of navigating and wayfinding that enable the ancient pacific islanders to find their way in thousands of square miles of ocean? This festival celebrates the historic sailing feats of the pacific peoples that used celestial navigation, and is also organized to revive and expand skills and interest in long distance canoe voyaging. Free activities include panel presentations and workshops led by Hawai‘i’s master canoe navigators. For more info call 808-969-9704 or visit their website.
October – Ford Ironman World Championship.
There is no bigger day for a triathlete than the day of the Ford Ironman World Championship. It is the race that defined the sport as it came of age, and continues to be the defining race for any avid triathlete. It features 2.4 mi. swim, 112 mi. bike and 26.2 mi. run. Every year, tens-of-thousands of triathletes apply for a place but only 1800 get to participate to get that coveted title: Iron Man! For more info visit their website.
November – Big Island Farm Fair in Kona
Farm fair to promote and educate the community about Hawaii’s agriculture industry. Includes agriculture displays, country market, ice cold watermelon, a keiki corral, livestock exhibit, and last but not least, a pianolo grill serving local agricultural products such as teriyaki beef & grass fed beefburgers! Kona Fair Website.
November – Black and White Night
Downtown Hilo’s biggest annual strolling party with numerous live music venues, fashion shows, a treasure hunt through town, free food, author & artist receptions. Everyone dresses in black and white, from shorts and T-shirts to gowns and suits to enter the “Best Dressed Black & White Contest” for cash prizes. For more info call 808-935-8850 or visit their website.
November -Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival
A multi-day event celebrating hula and the hula arts, this festival features hula hālau (troupes) from Hawaii, Japan and elsewhere competing in kūpuna (senior), kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula divisions. Master instructors teach workshops and cultural classes throughout the event. For more info call 808-886-8822 or visit their website.
November – Moku O Keawe Kapa Festival
Kapa is the traditional Hawaiian art of bark cloth production and design. The event centers around a three-day kapa workshop for both expert and beginner kapa artists. Hawaiian arts, Hawaiian music, hula performances and food will create a festive atmosphere. Visitors can try their hand at kapa making as well. For info call 808-323-3318.
November – Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Since its inception in 1970, the Festival has sought to preserve, perpetuate and promote Kona’s unique 183-year coffee heritage. With nearly 50 events over 10 days there’s something for everyone, from coffee drinkers to connoisseurs to multi-generational families. Festival signature events include a Coffee & Art Stroll, Cupping Competition, Farm & Mill Tours, International Lantern Parade or explore Kona coffee country’s cafe’s, shopping and community with a self-guided driving tour brochure. For more info visit their website.
It is also possible (and a great excursion) to visit some Kona coffee farms yourself. More information: Visit a Kona Coffee farm yourself.
November – Hawaii Healing Garden (and mange) Festival
The Hawaii Healing Garden Mango Festival celebrates Hawai’I Island’s culture, culinary excellence, healing arts, and features an eco-fashion show, great organic food, cultural presentations, music & entertainment, and the Mango Garden with mango tasting and recipe contests, mango grafting demonstrations and plant sale. A special fund raiser dinner allow celebrity chefs, farmers, visitors and mango lovers to mingle. For more info visit their website.