Activities & Attractions

Oahu Calendar of Events:
 

January
     Morey World Bodyboarding Championship at Banzai
     Pipeline;  Competition is determined by the best wave
     selection and maneuvers on the wave.  (early January)
     Call:   808-396-2326

     Ala Wai Challenge @ Ala Wai Park;  An all-day event
     features ancient Hawaiian games, like ulu maika
     bowling  round stone through pegs), oo ihe (spear  
     throwing at an upright target), huki kaula (tug of war)
     and a 1/4 mile outrigger canoe race.  It's also a great
     place to hear Hawaiian music.  (last weekend in
     January)  Call:  808-923-1802

February
     Narcissus Festival in Honolulu; takes place around the
     Chinese New Year.  A cultural festival that includes a
     queen's pageant, cooking demonstrations & a cultural 
     fair.  (Early February)  Call:  808-533-3181
   
     NFL Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium; features the National
     Football League's best pro players playing in this
     annual allstar game. (early February)  www.nfl.com or 
     Call:  808-486-9300

     Sand Castle Building Contest @ Kailua Beach Park;
     Students at the Univ of Hawaii School of Architecture
     compete against professional architects to see who
     can build the best, most unusual and most outrageous
     sand sculpture.  Call: 808-956-7225

     Punahou School Carnival in Honolulu;  This event has
     everything you can imagine in a school carnival from
     high speed rides to homemade jellies.  
     Call:  808-951-7877

     Buffalo's Big Board Classic @ Makaha Beach;  This
     contest involves traditional Hawaiian surfing, long
     boarding and canoe surfing.  (Feb or March depending
     on surf)  Call:  808-951-7877

March
     Hawaii Challenge International Sportkite
     Championships @ Kapiolani Park;  The longest running
     sportkite competition in the world attracts top kite
     pilots from around the globe.  (first weekend in
     March)  Call:  808-735-9059

     Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waikiki; from Ft
     DeRussy to Kapiolani Park  Bagpipers, bands, clowns
     and marching groups parade throught the heart of
     Waikiki with lots of Irish celebrating all day long. 
     (March 17)  Call:  808-524-0722

April
     Annual Easter Sunrise Service @ National Cemetary of
     the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater;  For a century, people    
     have gathered at this famous cemetary for Easter  
     sunrise services.  Call:  808-566-1430

     Honolulu International Bed Race Festival;  This popular
     fundraiser event allows visitors a small taste of
     Honolulu with food booths sponsored by local

     restaurants, live entertainment, a keiki (childrens')
     carnival with games and rides and a race through the
     streets of Honolulu with runners pushing beds to
     raise money for local charities.  (mid April) 
     Call 808-696-2424

May
      May Day Celebration;   Lei Day in Hawaii is celebrated
      with lei-making contests, pageantry, arts and crafts
      and the real highlight, a Brothers Cazimero concert at
      the Waikiki Shell. (May 1)
      Call:   808-924-8934 or 808-524-0722

      World Fire-Knife Dance Championships and Samoan
      Festival @ Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie;  Junior
      and adult fire-knife dancers from around the world
      converge on the center for one of the most amazing
      performances you'll ever see.  Authentic Samoan food
      and cultural festivities round out the fun.  (mid May) 
      www.polynesianculturalcenter.com   or
      Call: 808-293-3333

June
      King Kamehameha Celebration; is a state holiday with
      a massive floral parade, hoolaulea (party), Hawaiian   
      music and much more.  (1st weekend in June) 
       Call:  808-586-0333

      King Kamehameha Hula Competition @ Neal Blaisdell
      Center;   This is one of the top hula competitions in   
      the world with dancers from as far away as Japan. 
      (3rd weekend in June)  Call:  808-586-0333

     Taste of Honolulu @ Civic Center Grounds;  Hawaii's 
      premier outdoor food festival features tastes from 30
      restaurants as well as entertainment, beer & wine
      tastings, cooking demos a gourmet marketplace and
      childrens' activities.  (end of June)
     www.easterseals.org   Call:  808-536-1015

July
     Hawaii International Jazz Festival @ Sheraton Waikiki;
     This festival includes evening concerts and daily jam 
     sessions plus scholarship giveaways, the Univ of
     Southern California jazz band and many popular jazz &
     blues artists.  (mid July) Call:  808-941-9974

     Prince Lot Hula Festival @ Moanalua Gardens;  
     Authentic ancient & modern hula as well as
     demonstrations and arts & crafts are some of the
     things you'll encounter at this festival. 
     (third Sunday in July)  Call:  808-839-5334

     Ukulele Festival @ Kapiolani Park Bandstand;    This
     free concert has some 600 kids (ages 4-92) strumming 
     the ukulele.  Hawaii's top musicians all pitch in.  (Last 
     Sunday in July) www.ukulele-roysakuma.com 
     Call:  808-732-3739
 

     Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition @ Neil
     Blaisdell Center;  More than 500 Keiki (children) 
     representing 22 halau (hula schools) from the islands
     compete in this dance fest.  (last weekend in July or 
     early August)  Call:   808-521-6905

August
     Hawaii State Farm Fair @ Aloha Stadium;   The annual 
     state fair is a great one:  It features displays of Hawaii
     agricultural products, educational & cultural exhibits,
     entertainment and local-style food.  (early August) 
     Call:  808-531-3531

     Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival @ Sheraton Waikiki;
     The best of Hawaii's folk music (slack-key guitar)
      performed by the best musicians in Hawaii.  It's 5
      hours long and FREE. (third Sunday in August) 
      Call:  808-239-4336

September
      Aloha Festival  Parade; & other events celebrate
      Hawaiian culture and friendliness.  (early-mid
      September) www.alohafestivals.com  
      Call:  808-545-1771

 

October

      Haunted Lagoon; Polynesian Cultural Center
      Hawaii's premier haunted attraction.  Promising to be 
      an unforgettable night of thrills and excitement, this
      spooky canoe ride twists through the PCC lagoon
      under dark bridges and past ominous shadows where
      terrifying creatures await. www.polynesia.com

 

      Family Halloween Event;

      Kawailoa Ranch 61-676 Kam
      Hwy., Haleiwa - Free and fun for the whole family -
      Rides, food, and entertainment (808)637-4224

November
      Hawaii International Film Festival;  This cinema festival
      with a cross-cultural spin features film-makers from
      Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US.  (first two weeks in
      November)  www.hiff.org   Call:  808-528-FILM

 

      Triple Crown of Surfing @ North Shore;   The world's
      top professional surfers compete in events for more 
      than $1million in prize money.  (November -
      December)      www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com  
      Call:  808-638-7266

December     

      Festival of Trees;  This downtown display of one-of-a-
      kind decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and
      decorations benefits Queen's Medical Center.  The 
      lighting takes place the first or second week of 
      December.  Call:  808-547-4371    

       Honolulu Marathon;  This is one of the largest
       marathons in world with more than 30,000
       competitors.  (second Sunday in December)  
       www.honolulumarathon.org  Call:  808-734-7200    

       Aloha Bowl @ Aloha Stadium;   A Pac-10 team plays a
       Big 12  team in this nationally televised collegiate
       football classic.  (Christmas Day) 
       www.alohagames.com   Call:  808-545-7171    

        Rainbow Classic @ Univ of Hawaii;  Eight of the best
        NCAA basketball teams compete at the Special
        Events Arena.  (week after Christmas) 
        Call:  808-956-6501