Saturday, March 23:  2nd Annual Big Island Chocolate Festival.  This sweet and distinctive festival celebrates chocolate. Taste creations by the top chefs and chocolatiers of the Big Island along with fine wines and hand-crafted ales, live music and dancing, silent auction and more. Fee.  Fairmont Orchid, 1 North Kaniku Drive, Kamuela. 5:30 p.m. to 10 […]

Sunday, March 24:  Lavaman Waikoloa Triathlon.  The 15th Annual Lavaman Triathlon Festival features an Olympic distance 10K-run, 40K-bike and 1.5K-swim open to individuals and relay teams of all ages and abilities, plus 5-K sunset fun run, health and fitness expo, awards party and beach barbeque.  Waikoloa Beach Resort, 69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Kamuela.  7 a.m. […]

March 31 thru April 6:  50th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival.  Hawai`i’s most venerable hula celebration and competition with week-long festivities including exhibitions, musical entertainment, arts and crafts fairs and the Miss Aloha Hula Competition, kahiko (ancient) and auana (modern) hula competitions. Except for the hula competition, events are free.  Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa […]

Every Tuesday: Featuring the new Emily T Gail Show which is found at www.espnhawaii.com under “Lineup” on the homepage.  Sponsored by Aloha - Big Island Visitor Guide, Emily “talks story” with recreational, high school and professional athletes, along with coaches, parents, organizers, and members of print and broadcast media. She talks about golf, running, swimming, […]

Tuesday – Monday, April 2 – 8: Kalani Hula Heritage Festival. Held in conjunction with the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, this week-long event celebrates Hawaiian culture with traditional songs, chants, myths, crafts, language, plant uses and hula - in both kahiko (ancient) and auana (post 1860) forms.  Kalani Oceanside Retreat in Puna, 12-6860 Kapoho Kalapana […]

Every Tuesday:  Tea for Tuesdays.  Join JoAnn Aguirre, tea educator and member of the Hawaii Tea Society, for an hour of tea talk, a delicious scone and a cuppa, in a special tribute to all young girls, and to women's contributions to the world of tea.  Tea for Tuesdays is a one hour program and […]

Every Wednesday and Friday:  Hilo Farmers Market.  Find a colorful selection of locally grown exotic fruit, vegetables, herbs, island jams and jellies, macadamia nuts and delectable baked goods. Big buckets of orchids and anthuriums line the stalls. Wind chimes, etched glass and koa wood treasures fill the craft section. You can even find local t-shirts, […]

Every Wednesday:  Hawai`iana Live.  A 45-minute cultural tourism program hosted by Leilehua Yuen. It features live on stage presentations that share the history and traditions of the Hawaiian culture through storytelling, film, music, oli and hula. Topics and films change weekly as the program revolves around the Hawaiian lunar calendar, and surprise guests and musicians […]

Thursday – Saturday, April 4-6:  20th Annual Hawaii Arts, Crafts and Food Festival.  Celebrate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai`i's people and its environment. The Festival showcases over 100 of the finest artisans, crafters and food vendors.  Sangha Hall, 398 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hourly prizes, demonstrations and performances. For […]

Every Friday:  Aloha Fridays at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.  A free hands-on demonstration lesson is given in a cultural craft that will vary from week to week. Held at VAC Gallery porch in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  All events are free (donations welcome); park entrance fees apply. For information call […]