Honolulu’s event calendar mixes Hawaiian cultural celebrations, world-class surf contests, and food festivals. Here are the major annual events with dates, locations, and what to expect.
Honolulu Events and Festivals: Winter (January to March)
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (November-January)
The Super Bowl of professional surfing held on Oahu’s north shore. Three events at three legendary breaks: the Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park (November), the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach (late November to early December), and the Billabong Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline (December). The Pipe Masters is the main event, typically running December 8-20, with a holding period that waits for the best swells. Free to watch from the beach. About a 1-hour drive from Waikiki; parking is extremely limited, so arrive by 7 AM or park at Waimea Bay and walk. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay runs only when wave faces exceed 12 meters (40 feet) , it has only been held 10 times since 1984, most recently in January 2023.
Honolulu Festival (March)
Three-day celebration of Pacific Rim cultures held the second weekend of March. The highlight is the Grand Parade down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki on Sunday evening, featuring taiko drummers from Japan, lion dancers, and float processions. The festival also includes cultural performances at Hawaii Convention Center and Ala Moana Center, plus craft fairs and a fireworks finale over Waikiki Beach. All events are free. Draws about 30,000 attendees.
Honolulu Festival (Prince Kuhio Day, March 26)
A state holiday honoring Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, the “Citizen Prince” who served in Congress and established the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Events include a commemorative service at his statue on Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, cultural demonstrations, and canoe regattas. Most state and county offices close.
Honolulu Events and Festivals: Spring (April to May)
Waikiki Spam Jam (Late April)
Hawaii consumes more Spam per capita than any other US state (over 7 million cans annually). This one-day street festival on Kalakaua Avenue features 20+ restaurants serving Spam dishes , Spam musubi, Spam sliders, Spam fried rice, Spam and pineapple skewers. Free entry; food tickets are US$3-8 per item. 25,000 to 30,000 attendees. Benefits the Hawaii Foodbank. Held on a Saturday in late April, typically 4 PM to 10 PM.
Lei Day (May 1)
A statewide celebration of the lei tradition, centered at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. The main event is the Lei Day Celebration from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, with lei-making competitions (over 100 entries), hula performances, Hawaiian music, and food vendors. The next day, contest-winning leis are placed on the tombs of Hawaii’s monarchs at the Royal Mausoleum in Nuuanu. Free entry. Coincides with May Day, so expect bigger-than-usual crowds at Kapiolani Park.
Mele Mei (May)
A month-long celebration of Hawaiian music across Oahu, with concerts ranging from traditional slack-key guitar to contemporary ukulele virtuosos. Events happen at venues across Honolulu, including the Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki, the Hawaii Theatre, and the Waikiki Shell. Individual show tickets range from US$25 to US$75. The Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s Grammys) cap the month at the Hawaii Convention Center. Schedule published at melemei.com by February each year.
Honolulu Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
King Kamehameha Celebration (June 11)
State holiday honoring the king who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. The main event in Honolulu is the King Kamehameha Floral Parade, starting at 9 AM from Iolani Palace and proceeding through Waikiki. The signature sight: a pa’u queen riding sidesaddle on horseback, leading a procession of riders representing each Hawaiian island, all draped in flower leis and representing island-specific colors (yellow for Oahu, pink for Maui, green for the Big Island). A lei draping ceremony at the King Kamehameha statue on King Street (across from Iolani Palace) happens earlier in the morning , the statue is covered in 5.5-meter (18-foot) flower lei that take volunteers days to create. Free to watch.
Prince Lot Hula Festival (July)
Hawaii’s largest non-competitive hula event, held on the third Saturday of July at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center grounds near Honolulu Hale. Over 20 halau (hula schools) perform kahiko (ancient) and auana (modern) hula from 9 AM to 4 PM. Free entry. Bring a beach chair or mat for seating; food vendors on-site serve Hawaiian plate lunches. This festival has run since 1978.
Duke’s OceanFest (August)
A week-long celebration of Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer and father of modern surfing, held around his birthday (August 24). Events include surf competitions at Queen’s Surf Beach, paddleboard races, swimming events, and a lei draping ceremony at the Duke statue on Kuhio Beach. Most events are free to watch. Surf competitions draw pro and amateur surfers from across the world. The week typically falls in the third or fourth week of August.
Honolulu Events and Festivals: Fall (September to November)
Aloha Festivals (September)
Hawaii’s largest cultural celebration, running throughout September with events across all islands. In Honolulu, the highlight is the Waikiki Hoolaulea (a giant block party on Kalakaua Avenue, typically the third Saturday, 6 PM to 10 PM) and the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade from Ala Moana Park to Kapiolani Park (typically the last Saturday, starting 9 AM). The parade features pa’u riders, marching bands from Japan and the mainland US, and floats covered in native flowers. The festivals draw over 100,000 attendees across all events. Free. The 2026 theme was “E Ho’olako Ka La Hui” (Provide for the Community). Check alohafestivals.com for exact dates each year.
Hawaii Food and Wine Festival (October-November)
A two-week culinary festival with 10+ events across Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. In Honolulu, events include wine dinners at high-end restaurants (Morimoto Asia, Roy’s, Stripsteak), rooftop tastings, and a large-format “Cuisine of the Sun” event at the Hawaii Convention Center. Individual event tickets run US$95 to US$350. Over 100 chefs participate, about half from Hawaii and half from the mainland US and Asia. Benefits local agricultural and culinary education programs. Dates vary but center around late October.
Honolulu City Lights (December)
For more on planning your trip to Honolulu, see our month-by-month weather breakdown, best time to visit guide, things to do in Honolulu, neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide, where to stay by area and budget, practical travel tips, and complete Honolulu travel guide.
The month-long holiday display at Honolulu Hale (city hall) opens on the first Saturday of December with a tree-lighting ceremony, live entertainment, and a parade of decorated city vehicles. The 15-meter Norfolk pine tree, lit with 150,000 lights, stays illuminated nightly through New Year’s Day. Inside the courtyard, a 5-meter wreath and holiday displays draw families for photos. Free. Open daily from 8 AM to 11 PM during the season.
