Friday – Sunday, April 26 – May 5:
11^th Annual Ka`u Coffee Festival.  The festival celebrates its award-winning brew with a host of events showcasing the people and place that make the coffee so special. Come to Ka`u coffee country for ten days of visiting farms and roasters, coffee tasting, and enjoying local cuisine. Enjoy hiking in a rainforest to stargazing on a flat-topped mountain. Details subject to change.  Join Ka`u coffee farmers for the seventh annual Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center with more coffee tasting, music, dance, arts, crafts and food. Learn about the industry during Ka`u Coffee College.   Some events are free, while others have a fee. Times, venues, and fees vary per event.  Ho`olaulea to be held at Pahala Community Center, 1149 Kamani St., Pahala, Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission is free for the Ho`olaulea.  For more information and event schedule, visit www.kaucoffeefestival.com.

Friday & Saturday, April 26 & 27: 
Big Island Chocolate Festival.  The chocolate extravaganza includes a cacao plantation tour at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, a college culinary competition and several public foodie and agriculture-themed seminars. Activities culminate 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, with the indoor-outdoor festival gala.  Enjoy a host of sweet and savory culinary stations presented by top isle chefs, chocolatiers and confectioners. Fun chocolate activities include chocolate body painting. There will be food booths, unlimited wine and beer pours, a silent auction (for online silent auction April 20 – 27, visit www.biddingforgood.com, register now), dancing and more. Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, 62-100 Kauna`oa Dr., Waimea.   For more information and event schedule, visit www.BigIslandChocolateFestival.com.

Sunday – Saturday, April 21 – 27: 
The 56^th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival.  A week-long festival of cultural events including Hawai`i’s most prestigious hula competition at Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium. The festival begins with a Ho`olaule`a at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium behind the Stadium on Easter Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lots of music, food and fun. Don’t miss the by-invitation-only crafts fair that takes place beginning Wednesday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, with incredible fresh lei, cream-of-the-crop Hawaiian crafts, and free, live music performances by some of Hawai`i’s most beloved entertainers (Wednesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)  On Wednesday Ho`ike Night, there is a free hula exhibition at the Stadium, 6 p.m. (arrive very early to stand in line); Thursday is the solo Miss Aloha Hula competition, 6 p.m.; Friday & Saturday are the group Kahiko (ancient) and `Auana (modern) hula competitions, 6 p.m. A grand parade winds through downtown Hilo on Saturday 10:30 a.m. (Kilauea Ave., Keawe St., Waianuenue Ave., Kamahemaha Ave.) Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa St., Hilo.  For more information, visit www.merriemonarch.com.

Saturday, April 20:
Hakalau, HI. Botanical World Adventures Sponsors Free Easter Egg Hunt! Join Botanical World Adventures for their Fifth Annual Easter Egg Hunt with over 2,000 hidden eggs for keiki age two to eleven. Admission to the garden will be free for families attending the event on Saturday, April 20th starting at 10:00 a.m. Children can enjoy gathering the eggs and turning them in for candy or small prizes. There will also be drawings for free zipline, Segway and bike tours. Botanical World Adventures is located 16 miles north of Hilo at mile marker 16 on Highway 19. Additional information isavailable by calling (808) 963-5427; (toll free: 888-947-4753), and on the web at ZipIsle.com or BotanicalWorld.com

Friday, April 19: 
Silent Movie Night Surprise!  Tommy Stark will spin the Roulette Wheel of Stars and bring you one of 8 Great Classic Films from his collection accompanied by a live musical score performed on the Mighty Palace Pipe Organ.  Enjoy this one of a kind, one night only, joint fundraiser for the Palace Theater and the Hilo Theatre Organ Society.  Hilo Palace Theater, 38 Haili St., Hilo. 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.   For tickets and information, call the box office Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at (808) 934-7010, or visit www.hilopalace.com.

Sunday, April 14: 
Kokua Kailua Hulihe`e Palace Concert Series & Village Stroll.  Ali`i Drive along scenic Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona becomes a festive pedestrian-only walkway from 1 to 6 p.m. Enjoy music, artists, vendor booths, merchants and restaurants. At 4 p.m., there is a free Hawaiian music concert on the lawn at Hulihe`e Palace. Bring your own mat or chair and they will be checked for free while you stroll Ali`i Drive, Kailua Village (Kona).  For information, visit www.kvbid.org.

Saturday, April 13: 
Hula Kahiko Performance. Hula halau from across Hawai`i and beyond perform in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting at the kahua hula (platform) in the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, located just a short walking distance from the Volcano Art Gallery in Ka`auea. 10:30 a.m.  Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mat. Event is free, park fees apply. Date is subject to change; to confirm dates, call (808) 987-7288. Held in conjunction with the Hula Kahiko performances, enjoy a display of “Na Mea Hula” (all things hula). Visitors share in a variety of instruments, implements and lei styles that play an integral role in the life of the hula practitioner. This memorable demonstration is hands-on and family friendly.  Lanai of the Volcano Art Gallery. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  For more information call (808) 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Every Friday: 
Aloha Fridays at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.  A free hands-on demonstration lesson is given in a cultural craft that varies each week. Volcano Art Center Gallery porch in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Free (donations welcome); park entrance fees may apply. For information call (808) 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Every Tuesday: 
Kanikapila with Wes Awana and Friends.  Kanikapila jam sessions are open to all musicians.  Bring your own instrument and enjoy “garage style” jamming.  Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus, Great Room of the Admin Building, Volcanoes National Park. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, donations are gratefully accepted. Park entrance fees may apply. For information call (808) 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org. 

Every Tuesday Morning: 
BikeWorks Beach & Sport – Queens Marketplace. Free fun road ride for cyclists of all levels at 8:15 a.m. Rental bikes available. Get updates on all the BikeWorks activities on the Emily T Gail Show at http://espnhawaii.com/ under the lineup or visit http://www.bikeworkshawaii.com/. Queens Marketplace, Waikoloa Beach Rd. For information about other community rides and/or bike routes call BikeWorks at (808) 886-5000.