Hawaii Event Calendar: Fun, Free, and Seasonal!

The Hawaii event calendar is full of free fun.  Personally, I probably wouldn’t plan my Hawaii vacation specifically around any of these events.  But if I was already going to be here having fun, and the event dates fell within my itinerary dates, then I’d go check them out for sure!  I’m always glad to take advantage of free entertainment and experiences.

This Hawaii calendar of events is also intended to be a good resource for the local residents who want to get out and have some fun with other people…

Hawaii event calendar weekly activities:

Family Fishing at Hoomaluhia: Every weekend at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe is free catch and release fishing with all the tackle provided.

Royal Hawaiian Band: Hear the kings’ band perform live on most Fridays (weather permitting) at the Iolani Palace grounds and/or on some Sundays at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.

Hawaii event calendar monthly activities:

Kamaaina Sundays at Iolani Palace: Before annexation by the United States, much of the recorded Hawaii history centered on the monarchy.  Now, on one Sunday of each month, kama’aina can tour the royal palace for free.

Hawaii State Art Museum: This Hawaiian art museum offers free admission daily and special events on the first Friday, second Saturday, and last Tuesday of every month.

• First Friday Honolulu: A monthly hullabaloo for Hawaii’s hipsters, featuring entertainment, arts, and culture at shops and restaurants throughout Chinatown.

Home Depot Kids Workshop: This activity can be done at any Home Depot anywhere, so it’s probably not what you want to do during your Hawaii vacation; but local residents may enjoy this family-friendly activity.

Hawaii event calendar annual activities:

January/February:

Chinese New Year: Gung Hee Fat Choy!  The Hawaii celebration of Chinese New Year is a blast!  Watch a parade, lion dances, dragon dances, and other cultural displays in Chinatown.

Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational: When the surf gets truly monstrous, Eddie would go.  And you should be at Waimea Bay to witness it!

Whale Watching Hawaii: Primarily from January to March, look for spouts or playful splashing about!  Without even trying, I’ve seen whales from land on Oahu’s north, south, and west shores.

March:

Honolulu Festival: Enjoy a full weekend of arts, entertainment, education, exercise, crafts, and culture celebrating our Asia-Pacific influences.

Whale Watching Hawaii: Primarily from January to March, look for spouts or playful splashing about!  Without even trying, I’ve seen whales from land on Oahu’s north, south, and west shores.

April:

Healthy Kids Day at Bishop Museum:  For local residents and military, the YMCA sponsors a free healthy living event one Saturday every year at the Bishop Museum.

Waikiki Spam Jam: Only in Hawaii can you find an event dedicated to that canned meat we all love to eat!  Try a Spam musubi and catch some free entertainment.

May:

Lei Day: It’s May Day on the Hawaii event calendar!  Celebrate the traditional floral festival with a uniquely Hawaiian appeal.

Lantern Floating Hawaii: Launch a floating luminary in remembrance of those who have passed-on at one of the largest and most-unique memorials in the nation!

June:

Kamehameha Day: Commemorate the great king who united the Hawaiian Islands with a lei draping ceremony, floral parade, and hoolaulea!

Pan Pacific Festival: Celebrate Hawaii’s unique blend of Pacific and Asian cultures with three days of hula festivals, arts and events.

Twilight Summer Concert Series at Foster Botanical Garden: A few weeks of Thursday evening entertainment will get you grooving in the garden!

  

Bon Dance: Celebrate a Japanese Buddhist festival with ethnic eats and dancing!  There’s a different festival almost every weekend at one of the many temples around the island!

July:

Twilight Summer Concert Series & Midsummer Night’s Gleam at Foster Botanical Garden: The Thursday evening entertainment continues, followed by a family event finale!

Prince Lot Hula Festival: Catch the biggest and best non-competitive hula event in Hawaii.  Located at Moanalua Gardens.

 

Bon Dance: Celebrate a Japanese Buddhist festival with ethnic eats and dancing!  There’s a different festival almost every weekend at one of the many temples around the island!

August:

Duke’s Oceanfest: Thrill to eight days of water sports celebrating the life of Hawaii’s ambassador of aloha – the greatest waterman who ever lived!

Bon Dance: Celebrate a Japanese Buddhist festival with ethnic eats and dancing!  There’s a different festival almost every weekend at one of the many temples around the island!

Fall:

Hawaii's Woodshow: For two weeks each fall, Hawaii woodworkers put the best of their craft on display (and possibly even for sale).

September:

Aloha Festivals: Re-live the days of the Hawaiian monarchy with a cultural reenactment of Hawaii’s royal court and celebrations in their honor.

October:

Aloun Farms Pumpkin Patch: Visitors and local residents will enjoy hay rides and hand-picking their Halloween pumpkins fresh from the field.

November:

Triple Crown of Surfing: See the world’s greatest professional surfers battle monster North Shore Oahu waves in the Reef Hawaiian Pro and the first half of the Vans World Cup of Surfing!

December:

Triple Crown of Surfing: See the world’s greatest professional surfers battle monster North Shore Oahu waves in the second half of the Vans World Cup of Surfing and the Billabong Pipe Masters!

Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational: When the surf gets truly monstrous, Eddie would go.  And you should be at Waimea Bay to witness it!

Honolulu City Lights: Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say!  But don’t take Bing Crosby’s word for it – check out the city’s dazzling seasonal décor!  See Santa kicking-back local style – an annual holiday tradition!

Kapolei City Lights: Enjoy the city’s festive holiday lights and decorations display without having to drive into downtown Honolulu traffic.

Gingerbread village: If you’re here in December, check out the creative confections filling half of the lobby at the Sheraton Kaiulani Hotel.

This is not a complete list of every activity on the Hawaii event calendar.  Frankly, there are just too many to list.  But these represent a selection of events that are fun, free, and sure to be of interest to local residents or most anyone planning a Hawaii vacation.

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