Fun things to do in Hawai‘i

A curated list of the best upcoming events in Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu.

Hawai‘i Island

Orchid Show and Sale

May 11 The Kona Orchid Society’s annual juried event is a great place to buy a Mother’s Day gift. Shop for orchids, along with dozens of other plants, including palms, succulents, and tropical exotics such as anthuriums and heliconias. Guests can also enjoy lectures, craft booths, and food truck fare. Tickets, $2; free for keiki under 12. Old Kona Airport pavilion, Kailua-Kona.

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival

FREE! June 1, 5–8 Move over, Kona! The Ka‘ū region has built a name for itself as a producer of gourmet coffee, too. Celebrate that with farm tours, a recipe and cooking competition, a rainforest hike and lunch ($60), and a stargazing and barbecue dinner ($60). The main event is the ho‘olaule‘a on June 8 with hula, live music, food booths, a craft fair, keiki activities, educational displays, guided coffee tastings, and brewing demonstrations. Various venues, Ka‘ū.

Hawaiian Cultural Festival

FREE! July 20 Enjoy live music, hula performances, and learn-by-doing exhibits and traditional crafts at this 40th annual event. Pack a picnic or buy food and nonalcoholic beverages there. Sun protection, a rain jacket, and a chair or ground mat are recommended. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit, Kaʻū (a 60-minute drive from the park’s main entrance).

Mauna Lani Culinary Classic

August 29–September 1 Celebrate Hawai‘i Island’s bounty with James Beard Award–winning chefs, renowned winemakers and mixologists, and Māla‘ai, the culinary garden of Waimea Middle School. Events include chef-led master classes, beachside tastings, and gourmet meals (the closing Culinary Classic Dinner pairs 7 courses with wine; kamaʻāina, $275). Tickets for classes start at $35. Mauna Lani, Kohala Coast.

Talk Story on the Land at Māhukona

FREE! September 7 Part of the Talk Story on the Land series of guided hikes, this 0.75-mile walk on uneven terrain transports guests hundreds of years back in time at Māhukona, a 642-acre, historically significant land parcel. Acquired by the nonprofit Hawai‘i Land Trust in December, it’s protected in perpetuity for coastal trail access and traditional Hawaiian practices. Some 175 archaeological sites have been identified here, including a heiau dedicated to the study of non-instrument navigation. Māhukona Navigational and Ecological Complex, North Kohala.

Kaua‘i

Kimberly Akimbo

May 10–26 In this play, a lonely teenager in suburban New Jersey suffers from a disease that causes her to age much faster than normal. In addition to looking like an elderly woman, she must deal with a dysfunctional family and the humor and heartbreak that come with young love. Although it won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical, the Kaua‘i Community Players’ production is not a musical. Performances are Thursdays through Sundays. Tickets, $20; $18 for seniors 62 and older; $15 for students. Puhi Warehouse Theater, Līhu‘e.

Taste of Hawaii

June 2 The “Ultimate Sunday Brunch” offers ‘ono all-you-can-eat fare from more than two dozen restaurants. Also on tap are live entertainment and an online silent auction of tours, jewelry, artwork, and gift certificates for golf, dining, and spa treatments. Tickets, $165, all-inclusive ($200 at the door). Smith’s Tropical Paradise, Kapa‘a.

Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival

September 22–28 This immersion in Hawaiian culture features a hula competition (solo and group dancers); a composers’ contest and concert; a craft fair of Hawai‘i-made and other products; workshops on oeoe (bamboo whistle) and ipu hōkiokio (nose flute); and a virtual religious service with music in English and Hawaiian. Admission to the craft fair is free; fees for other activities were still to be determined as of this writing. Various venues, Līhu‘e and Kapa‘a.

Maui

Seabury Hall Annual Craft Fair

May 11 About 80 crafters display wares ranging from art, jewelry, and clothing to lei, plants, and body care products. There will also be entertainment; a food court; a silent auction; and games, pony rides, a water slide, and other kids’ activities—all as a fundraiser for this private college preparatory school. Tickets, $10; free for keiki under 12. Seabury Hall, Makawao.

Maui Classical Music Festival

May 17, 20, 22, 24, 26 Chamber music programs span the Baroque period to 20th-century works. Spouses Katherine Collier, a pianist, and Yizhak Schotten, a violist, are the music directors. Schotten will perform in some concerts. Tickets, $35; $15 for students. Various venues in Makawao, Makena, Wailuku, and Hāna (the May 22 concert in Hāna is free).

Wa‘a Kiakahi Hawaiian Canoe Festival

FREE! June 2–4 In ancient times, canoes hand-carved from the trunk of a single tree were vital for transportation, trade, fishing, warfare, and recreation. This event celebrates the storied vessel with canoe rides, educational talks, and races involving 6-member crews from throughout the state. Kāʻanapali Beach, Kāʻanapali Beach Resort.

Makawao Stampede

July 3, 5–7 This event gallops into town with a free chili cook-off, a Bull Bash (bull riding), a concert by multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award–winning band Kapena, and a 2-day rodeo featuring calf roping, barrel racing, and bronc riding by contestants from throughout Hawai‘i. $50 for the Bull Bash and concert, and $40 per day for the rodeo. $20 for each event for children 5–12; free for keiki under 5. Oskie Rice Event Center, Makawao.

Seussical

July 12–14, 19–21, 26–28; August 2–4 Laugh at the antics of Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie LaBird, and other quirky Dr. Seuss characters who star in a musical comedy based on books by the famed author and cartoonist that have been kids’ bedtime favorites since the 1930s. Tickets start at $25. Historic ‘Īao Theater, Wailuku.

Altered Earth

FREE! August 27–October 19 This invitational exhibition spotlights 10 acclaimed ceramic artists from Hawai‘i and the mainland. Learn how the artists select clays and glazes and oversee the firing processes for their works, which include sculptures, vases, and vessels. Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului.

Movie Night Under the Stars at Sugar Beach Events

Monthly One weekend evening each month, family-friendly flicks such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Elf are screened under the stars on an oceanfront lawn. Food and beverages are available for sale; the menu changes to complement the movie’s theme (no outside food or drinks are allowed). Bring a light jacket, blankets, and beach chairs. $5 per person (online ticket reservations recommended). Sugar Beach Events, Kīhei.

Spring Sunflowers

Mid-May through late June Snap photos in sunflower fields bedecked with a swing, wicker chairs, a bathtub, and other props set against a backdrop of ocean and mountain views. Find just-picked sunflowers and grilled sunflowers, scones, sandwiches, li hing lemonade, and other goodies in the Country Market. Tuesdays—Sundays. Tickets, $12 at the door; $10 for kama‘āina. Waimānalo Country Farms, Waimānalo.

Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture

FREE! June 6–16 Since its inception in 1972, a different Pacific nation has hosted FestPAC every 4 years. For this 13th gathering, delegates from 28 Pacific nations convene in Hawai‘i to participate in 50-plus events; most are free and open to the public. Among them: films; storytelling; art exhibits; live music and dance performances; and a marketplace featuring jewelry, carvings, apparel, pottery, woven items, and other heritage art. Various venues, Honolulu.

Hawai‘i ‘Ukulele Festival

FREE! July 14 Take in performances by top ‘ukulele artists and enjoy keiki activities, a food court, and an Arts and Crafters Village selling books, apparel, jewelry, and other ʻukulele-inspired merchandise. Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand, Waikīkī.

Mixology Month

FREE! August 1–31 It’s ʻōkole maluna (bottom’s up) all month long! Sip specially priced cocktails and mocktails, cheer on competitors in the Battle of the Bartenders, and attend a concert honoring the late Don Ho. Born on August 13, 1930, the legendary crooner headlined a show at this shopping center for 7 years, beginning in 1963. International Market Place, Waikīkī.

Honolulu Intertribal Powwow

September 21–22 View performances of hoop and other traditional Native American dances; try Navajo frybread, made fresh on-site; and stop by the education tent to learn about issues of concern to Indigenous peoples. Artists from various tribes in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Washington state, and Canada will be selling their handmade wares. $5 per day; free for keiki 3 and under. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.

Hawaii Geek Meet

FREE! September 22 Astronomers, drone pilots, armored knights, Lego masters, ham radio enthusiasts, Star Wars stormtroopers—as this gathering proves, “geeks” have a wide range of skills, talents, and interests. Talk story, play with toys and gadgets, make new friends, and pick up a fun hobby. Magic Island, Honolulu.

FREE! indicates free admission to the event, but additional fees may be required. Be sure to designate a driver if you plan to drink alcohol.