Every year, Hawaii bursts with color and energy thanks to unique festivals that honor local traditions, food, and music.
In 2025, I will experience some of the best Hawaiian festivals that truly capture the aloha spirit and showcase real Hawaiian heritage.
Whether I want to see lively parades, taste delicious island dishes, or listen to classic Hawaiian music, these celebrations promise unforgettable moments.
The Aloha Festivals bring together communities in Oahu, while the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival happens on the Big Island.
In 2025, I look forward to sharing the must-attend events that make each island come alive for visitors and locals.
If you’re planning a trip or want to learn about Hawaiian culture, keep reading for a guide to the top festivals happening in Hawaii throughout 2025.
Top Annual Hawaiian Festivals in 2025
Hawaiian festivals in 2025 will showcase the state’s vibrant culture and rich history.
Visitors and locals can enjoy colorful hula performances, traditional crafts, delicious foods, lively parades, and welcoming community events.
Merrie Monarch Festival
The Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo celebrates Hawaiian culture with the world’s most prestigious hula competition.
Each year, dancers from Hawaii and beyond gather to perform both ancient (kahiko) and modern (ʻauana) styles of hula.
This event honors King David Kalākaua, who revived Hawaiian arts.
During the festival, I watch incredible performances, see lei-making, and enjoy a parade with beautiful floats and decorated horses.
Hilo’s local shops and food stands join in, making the whole town festive.
Travel and accommodations fill up quickly for this festival, so I try to plan far ahead if I want to go.
Aloha Festivals
Aloha Festivals happen every fall and celebrate Hawaii’s spirit of aloha through music, dance, parades, and food.
Each island hosts its own unique events, but Oahu’s festivities in Waikīkī are especially big and colorful.
The Royal Court opens the festivals with leaders dressed in traditional clothing.
The Waikīkī Hoolaulea is a huge block party with live Hawaiian bands, hula troupes, and rows of local food vendors.
My favorite part is the Floral Parade, which features flowers, marching bands, stunning floats, and paʻu riders on horseback.
Aloha Festivals invite both locals and visitors to celebrate together, making everyone feel welcome.
To find these events, I check the Aloha Festivals schedule each year.
Honolulu Festival
Each spring, the Honolulu Festival gathers people from Hawaii, Japan, and countries around the Pacific Rim.
The main events take place in Honolulu, mostly near Waikīkī.
The festival promotes friendship and understanding among these cultures with educational exhibits, music, and dance performances.
I enjoy the grand parade through Waikīkī and the Nagaoka Fireworks show over the beach.
There are art displays, hands-on cultural activities for kids, live entertainment, and traditional Japanese taiko drumming.
Tasting foods from different countries makes this festival a treat for my taste buds.
You can find more details in the Honolulu Festival guide.
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival happens each November on Hawaii Island (the Big Island), mostly in Kailua-Kona.
Coffee farms and local businesses host ten days of activities to honor Kona coffee’s long history.
I tour coffee farms, attend barista workshops, and join cupping contests to taste different beans.
The festival features a lantern parade, craft booths, art displays, and a coffee picking contest.
It’s fun to join community meals and meet local farmers who have grown coffee for generations.
The event highlights how important coffee is to the economy and traditions of Kona.
For anyone who enjoys coffee, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival brings real community pride and flavor.
Unique Celebrations and Cultural Events
Hawaiian festivals in 2025 give everyone a chance to connect with local history, art, and food.
These gatherings help me experience aloha and learn more about the traditions rooted on Oʻahu and throughout Hawaii.
Prince Lot Hula Festival
The Prince Lot Hula Festival is one of Hawaii’s largest non-competitive hula events.
Each summer, hālau (hula schools) from all over the islands perform in honor of Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, who became King Kamehameha V.
The event usually takes place at the beautiful Moanalua Gardens in Honolulu, Oʻahu.
Dancers and musicians fill the gardens with hula kahiko (traditional) and hula ʻauana (modern) styles.
The festival also includes Hawaiian crafts, local food, and educational exhibits about Hawaiian culture.
Attending feels like stepping into the heart of the community.
The festival welcomes everyone, so even first-time visitors can learn the meaning of aloha.
Lei Day Celebration
Each year on May 1, the Lei Day Celebration honors the art of lei making and the spirit of aloha.
The central gathering happens at Kapiʻolani Park in Honolulu, but festivities take place across Oʻahu and the other islands too.
The highlight is the lei contest, where skilled artists craft leis from native flowers, seeds, and ferns.
Judges award prizes for the most beautiful and creative arrangements.
I enjoy seeing how each lei tells a story and reflects the island’s natural beauty.
The day also features live Hawaiian music and hula performances.
Visitors can watch demonstrations and learn how to make their own lei.
This festival brings people of all backgrounds together to share Hawaiian tradition and hospitality.
King Kamehameha Day Celebrations
On June 11, Hawaii celebrates King Kamehameha Day to honor Kamehameha the Great, who unified the Hawaiian Islands.
Parades, music, and hula events fill the day throughout the state, with the largest celebrations in Honolulu.
The floral parade features colorful floats, pāʻū riders (women on horseback in traditional dresses), and marching bands.
The event starts in downtown and moves through the center of Oʻahu.
At the Kamehameha statue, people drape it with long strands of flower lei.
Community fairs and cultural showcases offer family-friendly activities and food.
This day reflects deep respect for Hawaiian history and pride in local identity.
You can learn more about the festivities on Hawaii Guide.
Waikiki Spam Jam
The Waikiki Spam Jam is one of the quirkiest and most beloved street festivals on Oʻahu.
Every spring, thousands gather in Waikīkī to celebrate Hawaii’s unique love for Spam, a staple in local cuisine since World War II.
Restaurants and food trucks serve creative Spam dishes—like Spam musubi, Spam tacos, and even Spam ice cream.
Live Hawaiian music and hula performances fill multiple stages.
Local vendors sell arts, crafts, and souvenirs.
I enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere and sampling new foods that mix tradition with creativity.
The festival partners with charities to support the community.
You can read more about what makes the Waikiki Spam Jam a must-experience event.
Regional Must-See Festivals Across the Islands
Each island in Hawaii hosts its own special events.
These festivals bring unique music, food, and culture together in unforgettable ways.
Whether I’m in a big city or a small coastal town, these gatherings give me a true taste of local life.
Festivals on Oʻahu
Oʻahu is home to some of the biggest and liveliest celebrations in Hawaii.
Honolulu hosts the Aloha Festivals, which fill the streets with parades, hula dancing, and a royal court in traditional wear.
I check the official Aloha Festivals schedule because events happen across the island.
Another favorite is the Waikiki Spam Jam.
This street festival features creative Spam dishes, live music, and local crafts.
Since crowds are big, I prefer arriving early.
Spring through fall is the peak time for events, so my calendar stays full during these months.
Big Island Events
On the Big Island, the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo stands out as the world’s top hula competition.
I enjoy watching both traditional and modern hula performances that attract big audiences from all over.
In Kona, the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival lets me try dishes from top chefs.
There are hands-on cooking classes, tasting events, and wine pairings.
The Big Island also hosts the Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival.
I admire cherry trees in bloom and see cultural performances representing Japanese and Hawaiian traditions.
Celebrations in Maui
Maui is famous for music, art, and community.
Each year, the Maui Film Festival lights up Wailea with outdoor movies under the stars.
The atmosphere is relaxed, and I often see local and international films with friends and visitors.
The East Maui Taro Festival in Hana is another highlight.
It centers around taro, one of Hawaii’s staple crops.
I sample taro-based foods, watch poi pounding, and enjoy traditional music.
There’s also the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, which celebrates this unique music style with free concerts in Lahaina and other towns across the island.
Kauaʻi Festival Highlights
Kauaʻi offers a more laid-back vibe, but the festivals here are just as memorable. Hanapepe’s Art Night transforms the town every Friday with galleries, street food, and live music.
I stroll through the open studios and talk directly to artists. In Līhuʻe, the Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival honors hula, chanting, and Hawaiian language.
I look forward to workshops and performances that celebrate traditional arts. The Kōloa Plantation Days share the island’s history through parades, storytelling, and cultural displays.
For more festival ideas, I check out this list of Kauaʻi events updated each year.
Traditional Hawaiian Music and Dance
I learn about Hawaiian culture through music and hula. These traditions keep Hawaiian heritage alive and let me experience the spirit of aloha at festivals.
Cultural Performances
Every festival I visit in Hawaii features cultural performances that showcase the heart of Hawaiian music. I often see live bands play instruments like the ukulele, slack-key guitar, and pahu drums.
Chanting groups perform mele (songs) about history, family, and the land. Many events set up outdoor stages where local artists share old and new songs.
The energy feels joyful, and I sense a strong connection between performers and the audience. Festivals such as the Honolulu Festival draw big crowds for music and dancing.
These shows often include both Hawaiian songs and music from other Pacific cultures. Parades fill the streets with performers in colorful traditional clothing.
I look forward to hearing the sound of chanting echo through the streets. Traditional games and dances sometimes happen alongside these performances.
Hula Showcases
Hula stands at the center of Hawaiian festivals. Whenever I see a hula showcase, I notice the meaning behind every movement.
Dancers use their hands and bodies to tell stories about love, legends, and nature. At events like the Merrie Monarch Festival, I watch groups—from young kids to elders—perform both hula kahiko (ancient style) and hula ʻauana (modern style).
The dances use chants or songs, each with its own story and purpose. Costumes stand out with grass skirts, flower leis, and sometimes feathered adornments.
Hula showcases often invite the crowd to join in or learn simple moves. I enjoy when everyone sways to the rhythm because it shows aloha and the strength of Hawaiian heritage.
Festivals host contests and workshops where judges rate dancers on skill, storytelling, and respect for tradition. These events help hula survive as a living art form.
If you want to know which Hawaiian festivals feature these experiences, the top Hawaiian cultural festivals are great places to start.
Hands-On Experiences and Workshops
I dive into local traditions at Hawaiian festivals. Meeting new people, joining workshops, and trying crafts helps me understand the community spirit that makes these events special.
Cultural Workshops
Cultural workshops let me take part in Hawaiian customs. When I join these sessions, I learn traditional arts like hula dancing, lauhala weaving, and native games.
Instructors share stories behind each craft, teaching me the meaning and values tied to each activity. Many festivals offer small group workshops that feel friendly and interactive.
Locals show me step-by-step how to pound poi or play the stone-rolling game ‘ulu maika. Sometimes, instructors wear native dress to make the experience more meaningful.
I meet others who care about keeping these traditions alive. These workshops help visitors like me connect with the culture in a hands-on way.
For more info about these experiences, this article on workshops and classes on the Big Island is helpful.
Lei-Making Demonstrations
Watching and taking part in lei-making demonstrations is a highlight for me. Lei-making is about more than stringing flowers; it shows respect and aloha.
At the Hilo Lei Day Festival, I learned to weave flowers, leaves, and shells into leis with guidance from local experts. A typical session starts with a short talk about the types of plants used.
Then, I try making my own lei. The focus is always on using local materials and traditional styles.
These workshops welcome all ages and skill levels. Some festivals even turn lei-making into friendly contests.
At the end, I often walk away with my own handmade lei—a true souvenir and memory from the event. To find out more, check the Hilo Lei Day Festival’s details for next year.
Trash Fashion Show
One event I look forward to is the Trash Fashion Show. This unique show brings together community spirit and creativity, turning recycled materials into wearable art.
Designers—many students or local artists—create bold outfits from items like plastic bottles, cans, and newspapers. Before the show, short workshops let me help make accessories or learn upcycling tricks.
These sessions remind me how important it is to be mindful of waste while celebrating Hawaii’s beauty. The performance feels lively, with models walking the runway to cheers.
It’s exciting to see everyday trash turn into eye-catching designs. This show encourages everyone to think about protecting the land and keeping the island clean.
Culinary Delights and Local Flavors
Food festivals in Hawaii let me learn about Hawaiian culture while tasting delicious local cuisine. I explore dishes unique to the islands, sample treats made with fresh ingredients, and join fellow food lovers at memorable gatherings.
Local Cuisine Tastings
When I visit Hawaii’s food festivals, I look forward to local cuisine tastings. These events serve classic Hawaiian plates like poke, kalua pork, laulau, lomi salmon, and poi.
Many tastings feature fusion cuisine that blends Hawaiian flavors with influences from Japan, the Philippines, and China. At the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, I see top chefs prepare signature dishes on-site.
Small plate tastings let me sample a variety of foods, from fresh seafood to tropical desserts. I enjoy talking with chefs about local ingredients and learning how traditions shape today’s dishes.
Tasting sessions often include live music, craft drinks, and open-air settings that celebrate the islands’ welcoming atmosphere.
Farmers Market Events
I love going to Hawaiian farmers market events, where I meet local farmers and buy the freshest produce. These markets fill with ripe pineapples, papayas, mangoes, avocados, and colorful greens.
Specialty booths offer honey, macadamia nuts, jams, and local coffee. Many festival farmers markets have cooking demos by local chefs.
These demos show me ways to prepare and blend these ingredients at home. I try quick bites made right there, like taro chips and grilled corn with a sprinkle of Hawaiian sea salt.
Some markets host cultural workshops where I can watch or join traditional practices like lei-making or hula dance. Every visit supports local agriculture and teaches me about the flavors that shape Hawaiian dishes.
Shave Ice Treats
No festival in Hawaii feels complete without shave ice. I love the fine, fluffy ice covered in bright tropical syrups.
Popular flavors include lilikoi (passion fruit), mango, guava, and classic rainbow. Some stands add a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the bottom or finish with sweetened condensed milk on top for extra creaminess.
I often find shave ice stands between music stages and craft tents. It’s my favorite snack for cooling off in the sun.
Sometimes, local vendors add mochi bits or fresh fruit for toppings. I always try a new flavor combo at each festival since the syrups often use local fruit.
Kona Brewers Festival
The Kona Brewers Festival on the Big Island is a highlight for anyone interested in craft beer and local food. Set in Kona, this festival features over 100 different craft beers, hard seltzers, and ciders from Hawaii and beyond.
I sample creative brews while tasting festival bites from local chefs and restaurants. Menus highlight dishes like fresh poke bowls, grilled fish, smoked meats, and tropical desserts.
Many events pair drinks with Hawaiian-inspired small plates so every taste stands out. The festival’s live music and waste-free focus create a relaxed, eco-friendly day.
When I visit, I feel like part of a community that celebrates good food, great drinks, and Hawaii’s welcoming culture.
Planning Your 2025 Hawaii Festival Adventure
Attending Hawaii’s festivals in 2025 means more than sightseeing—it’s about joining local traditions, exploring unique cultures, and sharing in Hawaii’s famous aloha spirit. With careful planning, I can make my trip smooth, full of must-have experiences, and memorable.
Festival Travel Tips
When I plan my Hawaii festival adventure, I start by checking festival dates early. Many top events, like the Merrie Monarch Festival and the Made in Hawaii Festival, sell out months in advance.
Booking flights and hotels early helps me get better prices and the best locations. I pack light and bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and reusable water bottles.
I also keep a rain jacket handy since Hawaii’s weather can change quickly. Navigating between islands takes planning.
I look for inter-island flights if I want to see festivals on more than one island. Renting a car helps if the venue is outside the main towns.
A handy checklist for my trip looks like this:
- Confirm festival dates and ticket details
- Reserve flights and accommodations
- Plan transportation on the islands
- Pack essentials for comfort and weather
Must-Have Experiences for Your Bucket List
Some festival moments in Hawaii belong on any bucket list. Watching live hula at the Merrie Monarch Festival is one of my favorites.
This annual event in Hilo highlights Hawaii’s dance traditions and lets me experience the community spirit up close. When I visit the Made in Hawaii Festival, I sample local food, shop for handmade goods, and see live art demos.
The Greek Festival of Hawaii is another unique experience where I enjoy Greek food and music in a Hawaiian setting. Here’s what I always make time for:
- Hula and music shows at key festivals
- Food tastings and local treats
- Cultural demonstrations and workshops
- Meeting local artists and performers
Celebrating the Aloha Spirit
The aloha spirit shines at every festival I attend. It means more than friendliness.
It’s about respect, kindness, and joining the local community. I learn a few Hawaiian greetings and follow local customs.
I join group activities, such as lei-making workshops. Sharing a meal at an event helps me feel part of the community.
When I can, I volunteer to experience the welcoming atmosphere. Festivals give me a chance to give back.
I support local businesses by shopping at craft booths. Eating at food stalls also supports the community spirit.
