August 31, 2019 – September 01, 2019:
Okinawan Festival (37th Annual). The Hawaii United Okinawa Association presents the 37th Annual Okinawan Festival at the Hawaii Convention Center on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, 2019. As Hawaii’s largest ethnic festival, the Okinawan Festival promises to be a weekend full of “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha,” including delicious food, great entertainment and lots of fun for people of all ages!
Hours: Saturday, August 31, 9AM-5PM and Sunday, September 1, 9AM-4PM
Admission: $2 per person, per day (cash only). Senior citizens 65 and over and children 12 and under will be free. Proceeds from the Okinawan Festival help support the Hawaii Okinawa Center and many cultural and community programs.
Parking: $10 at Hawaii Convention Center; overflow at McKinley High School with Festival shuttle service from 7AM on both days ($3). Carpooling, using city buses, taxis, Biki, rideshare services strongly recommended.
Festival Highlights: delicious food (including favorites like Andagi, Pig’s Feet Soup, Champuru and Yakisoba), hands-on cultural activities, cultural and historical exhibits, children’s games, arts and craft vendors, a country store, a bonsai exhibit and the sale of unique products from Okinawa.
Entertainment: The program will start at 9:30AM both days with special performances from Okinawa and local groups showcasing Okinawan dance, karate, taiko, and live music.
Bon Dance: Saturday, August 31, 5:30-9:30PM; largest indoor Bon Dance will be on Saturday only (some food booths to remain open).

August 29, 2019 – September 02, 2019:
Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races. The Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races have been held annually since 1971. Hosted by Kai Opua Canoe Club over the Labor Day holiday, this is the world’s largest long distance canoe race. The women’s and men’s 18-mile races follow a historically and culturally significant course running between Kamakahonu Beach in Kailua Bay and Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. Other races include double-hull canoe races, SUP races, OC1 and OC2 races, and teen long distance races. QLCR events also include the Historic Walking Tour through Kailua Village, International Paddlers Night, Paddling Talk Story, the Torch Light Parade, award ceremonies, and a traditional Hawaiian Luau. https://www.qlcanoerace.com/

August 24, 2019 – August 25, 2019:
Waikiki Artfest. The Waikiki Artfest features 75 of Hawaii’s fine artists and handcraft artisans who display their own artwork for sale, to include all types of jewelry, clothing, wood products, stained glass, ceramics, soaps and candles, quilts, photography, and lauhala products. We are located in Kapiolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, across from the entrance to the Honolulu Zoo. We are there both Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Admission is free, and we have live entertainment as well as great food available for our guests to enjoy. Please join us and celebrate the arts of Hawaii.

August 24, 2019:
Great Waikiki Beer Festival (5th Annual). Hawaii’s only beachfront beer festival returns with the 5th Annual Great Waikiki Beer Festival. The annual festival will offer tastings of more than 100 seasonal, local and craft beers from Hawaii and beyond. The resort’s culinary team will craft a selection of beer-friendly foods and top-notch performers will make the event an unforgettable evening in Waikiki on the resort’s Great Lawn. Attendees will rock out to the sounds of DJ Deniro, Shar Carillo, Lana Kei & Da Famili and the virtuosic Willie K. In addition, guests can look forward to a hard-hitting performance by Cash’d Out, covering the legendary songs of Johnny Cash. A portion of the proceeds from the 5th Annual Great Waikiki Beer Festival will benefit the Wounded Warrior Ohana, a Hawaii-based non-profit dedicated to caring for our nation’s injured military service members by providing enriching family activities for wounded warriors and their families. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/beer. 

August 21, 2019:
Kona Nui Nights. Kona Nui Nights is a free monthly event that honors and highlights Hawaiian language, music, and the art of hula.
The event starts at 6:00 pm and the doors will open at 5:30 pm. There is limited seating and a cash bar available at the event (Outside alcohol will not be permitted). If you are hungry before or after the show, be sure to stop by one of the fantastic Ward Village restaurants that are just steps away from the Ward Village Courtyard.
If you do not have tickets, there will be a standby line that will be able to enter at 6:00 pm. Free parking is available in the TJ Maxx parking garage or in the Ward Centre parking garage. https://www.wardvillage.com/

August 18, 2019 – August 22, 2019:
Uke Ohana Oahu. Imerse youself in five melodic days of Aloha, playing and composing Ukulele, experiencing the cultural traditions of the north shore of Oahu, enjoying delicious local foods and savoring the beauty of the land and sea scapes. Ukulele classes with world famous musicians will open up new possibilities of skill and pleasure for the ukulele enthusiast. Come join Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Kalei Gamiao, Bryan Tolentino and Walt Keale as Ohana embracing the unique qualitites of the Ukulele. Mornings of Ukulele classes, afternoons with excursions to Hawaiian cultural sites, followed by evenings of Kani Ka Pila under the stars. www.fullheartproductions.com

August 17, 2019:
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Kahala Mall. The 2019 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Kahala Mall Keiki Kine will be held on August 17, 2019 at Honolulu’s Kahala Mall in East O’ahu. This festival will begin at 1 PM and will feature Keiki NextGen steel guitar players and musicians age 10 and older from Alan Akaka’s Ke Kula Mele Hawaii School of Hawaiian Music, singing and playing Hawaii’s favorite Hawaiian music. This festival will be presented free to the public by Breezy Ridge Instruments and John Pearse Strings, Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) and the Kahala Mall. John Pearse strings and bars are used exclusively by the keiki steel guitarists performing at this festival.

August 17, 2019 – August 25, 2019:
Duke’s OceanFest. Duke’s OceanFest features a variety of ocean sports close to Duke Kahanamoku’s heart, including Longboard Surfing, Paddleboard Racing, Swimming, Tandem Surfing, Surf Polo, Beach Volleyball, and Stand-Up Paddling. The annual festival, held on the shores of Waikiki in August, celebrates Duke Kahanamoku’s life, his athletic contributions and his spirit that continues to live on. The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation is responsible for the continuing success of the OceanFest events. ODKF is a progressive, proactive organization whose board members are dedicated to serving Hawaii’s water sports community. The mission of the foundation is to support the development of individuals and organizations which perpetuate the spirit and legacy of Duke Kahanamoku. August 17 – 25, 2019. http://dukesoceanfest.com/

August 16, 2019:
Picnic on the Pier. Beat the end-of-summer blues! Join us again at our very last “Picnic on the Pier” 2019 Summer Series at the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Friday, August 16 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Pier Foxtrot-5 at Pearl Harbor.
The event includes prize giveaways, keiki (children) activities, free tours of the Mighty Mo (valued at $29 for adults), and live entertainment. BYOFD (Bring Your Own Food & Drink) to the event. Grills, tables, tents, umbrellas, glassware and glass bottles are prohibited. Food and craft beverages are also available for purchase from Tin Hut BBQ, Guadalajara Tacos, The Streetz food trucks, Jamba Juice, a pop-up beer tent and a Dole whip and shave-ice pop up tent.
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased online and are $10 for adults ($15 day of) and $5 for keiki (children) ages 4-12 ($10 day of). Tables with premium front views of the harbor are for sale at $150. This package accommodates admission for 8 and includes exclusive Mighty Mo swag. For those without base access, a complimentary shuttle will be available from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Pets are not permitted.

August 16, 2019 – August 18, 2019:
Made in Hawaii Festival presented by First Hawaiian Bank (25th Annual). Produced by the Hawaii Food Industry Association, this three-day festival is the state’s largest annual emporium of Hawaii-made products, featuring apparel and fashion accessories, food products, books, handicrafts and artwork, gifts, home accessories, plants, produce and more. Added attractions throughout the three-day festival are live stage performances by top Hawaii music artists as well as cooking demonstrations by some of the state’s top culinary artists. Friday & Saturday August 16 & 17, 2019 – 10am-9pm Sunday, August 18, 2019 – 10am-5pm Admission $7 For information visit www.madeinhawaiifestival.com