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HAWAI‘I’S WORLD CLASS EVENTS CALENDAR July – December 2019

Please note that events are subject to change without notice. For the most complete and updated Hawai‘i calendar, please visit GoHawaii.com/Events. JULY 2019

¨ June 25-July 23, 2019 Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – Each summer the Hawaiʻi Performing Arts Festival brings some of the most talented young musicians from all over the world to Hawaiʻi Island for intensive study and performance training. The young musicians are able to perform with professional musicians under the guidance of some of the world’s most established teachers and mentors. Programs are catered to developing singers, professional fellows, young singers, collaborative piano fellows, directing fellows, and lifelong singers. For more information, visit www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.

¨ July 4, 2019 Ala Moana Fireworks (O‘ahu) – For the 28th consecutive year, Ala Moana Center, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2019 , will again present its spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show for O‘ahu residents and visitors. In addition to the aerial fireworks, launched from Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park, Ala Moana Center will also offer a weekend’s worth of live entertainment and a mall-wide shopping savings pass. For more information, visit AlaMoanaCenter.com.

¨ July 4, 2019 Kaua‘i Hospice Concert in the Sky (Kaua‘i) – This annual fundraiser event for Kaua‘i Hospice brings with it the largest July 4th aerial fireworks display on the island, alongside hula, music, rides, games, for-sale Kaua‘i-made products and an auction. Kaua‘i hotels and restaurants will provide great food for this popular event. For more information, visit KauaiHospice.org.

¨ July 13-14, 2019 Hale‘iwa Arts Festival (O‘ahu) – Discover and experience a broad spectrum of arts as local artists showcase their original masterpieces at this annual festival at Hale’iwa Beach Park on O‘ahu’s North Shore. The festival program includes visual and performing arts, chalk art events, children’s art displays and workshops in support of arts education programs in the North Shore community. For more information, visit HaleiwaArtsFestival.org.

¨ July 19-28, 2019

Kōloa Plantation Days (Kaua‘i) – Held in the south Kaua‘i district where Hawai‘i’s first sugar plantation was founded in 1835, this 10-day community celebration features a lively, family-oriented slate of events showcasing the area’s rich history and diverse multicultural traditions. Bring the family to celebrate all that is Kōloa and enjoy live

Hawai‘i’s World Class Events Calendar – July–December 2019

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music, dance, a rodeo, a parade and lots of multiethnic comfort food. For more information, visit KoloaPlantationDays.com.

¨ July 20-21, 2019 Prince Lot Hula Festival (O‘ahu) – This annual Hawaiian cultural event honoring beloved Hawai‘i monarch and hula enthusiast Kamehameha V (born Lot Kapuāiwa) brings hula practitioners and admirers together at ‘Iolani Palace for a two-day exhibition of dance performances from invited hālau hula (hula schools). In addition to hula, attendees enjoy local food, as well as Hawaiian games, lomilomi massages, and arts and crafts, including lauhala (pandanus) weaving, and kapa (bark cloth) and ipu (bottle gourd) making. For more information, visit MoanaluaGardensFoundation.org.

¨ July 20-21, 2019 Tropical Inspirations Quilt Show (island of Hawai‘i) – This two-day event showcases a display of more than 100 traditional Hawaiian- and island-inspired quilts. Volunteer docents at the Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum and Gallery will be on hand to answer questions about the quilts on display. Local quilt designers will also be in attendance to talk story about their designs. Attendees can visit a vendor mall featuring works by local artisans and Keiki Korner with children’s activities, including a stitching project. For more information, visit konahqm.org.

¨ July 21, 2019 Ukulele Festival Hawaii (O‘ahu) – Celebrating its 49th year in 2019, this free annual concert at Kapi‘olani Park in Waikīkī claims to be the largest ‘ukulele festival in the world, regularly attracting thousands for its slate of live performances. The musician lineup includes masters of the instrument from Hawai‘i and around the world, and a ‘ukulele orchestra comprised of more than 800 students. The festival also offers food booths and ‘ukulele informational displays. For more information, visit UkuleleFestivalHawaii.org.

¨ July 22 - August 4, 2019 Asia Pacific Dance Festival (O‘ahu) – The two-week Asia Pacific Dance Festival features four concerts, a full slate of lecture and studio classes, a forum covering the festival’s thematic elements, talk-story sessions with visiting artists, a conference for dance scholars, and a culinary celebration featuring the cuisine of local chefs. The festival aims to celebrate dance and its prominent place in cultures throughout the world. For more information, visit Manoa.Hawaii.edu.

¨ July 27 - August 4, 2019 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (island of Hawai’i) – This year celebrating its 60th annual contest, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament combines five days of fishing off the beautiful Kona Coast with a slate of community and cultural events throughout its week of competition. More than 30 teams from around the world are expected to compete for the tournament’s coveted Governor’s Trophy at this year’s event. For more information, visit HIBTFishing.com.

¨ July 27-28, 2019 Experience Volcano Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – Long appreciated as one of the “hidden gems” of Hawaiʻi, Volcano Village is more than just a gateway to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The community has come together to host the first annual Experience Volcano Festival, a celebration of arts and culture that springs from this creative rain forest community, to showcase and share it with residents and visitors. This two-day event is free to the public and will feature art, food, music and performances. For more information, visit www.experiencevolcano.com.


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AUGUST 2019

¨ August TBD, 2019 Nā Hula Festival (O‘ahu) – One of Hawai‘i’s longest-running noncompetitive hula events, this festival, held annually at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand in Waikīkī, celebrates the artistry and grace of hula. Organized by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the event brings together respected kumu hula (hula teachers) from the community to hō‘ike (showcase) their hula students dedication to the dance. For more information, visit Honolulu.gov/Parks.

¨ August 4, 2019

Nā Pali Challenge (Kaua‘i)–A competition for six-person outrigger canoes charting a course along Kaua‘i’s Nāpali Coast – one of the most scenic coastlines in the world – this is the world’s only major long-distance canoe race featuring exclusively mixed-gender crews – six men and six women in each outrigger – changing team members every half-hour. For more information, visit KoaPaddler.org.

¨ August 3-4, 2019 Heiva i Kaua‘i Iorana Tahiti (Kaua‘i) – This international Tahitian dance and drum competition, held at Kapa‘a Beach Park, features unique, exciting and colorful solo and group performances, as well as traditional and contemporary Tahitian-style drumming. Multicultural workshops and exhibitions, and Tahitian singing performances are also featured. For more information, visit HeivaIKauai.com.

¨ August 8-18, 2019

Rainbow Film Festival (O‘ahu) – This annual cinema fest, celebrating its 30th annual series of screenings this year, is a celebration of community passion, creativity and diversity showcased through film, the arts and multiple events. Each year’s festival hosts more than 2,000 LGBTQ filmmakers, actors, Hawai‘i residents and visiting guests for a slate of buzzed about film offerings. Special events and exclusive appearances are scheduled throughout Honolulu in August, with film screenings happening at the Honolulu Museum of Art. For more information, visit hglcf.org.

¨ August 9, 2019

The Joy of Sake (O‘ahu) – One of the largest sake-tasting events held outside of Japan, this annual sake and culinary grazing dinner celebrates Hawai’i’s love of sake and good food. Sample sakes enjoyed by guests are submitted into the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a rigorous blind tasting competition. The evening also features sushi and other sake-complementing dishes from several popular Honolulu restaurants. For more information, visit JoyofSake.com.

¨ August 10, 2019

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival “Waikīkī Style” (O‘ahu) – As beloved a music genre and style of guitar musicianship in modern-day Hawai‘i as it ever was, slack-key guitar originated in the Islands in the 19th century with paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys). Founded in 1982, this festival celebrates and perpetuates the cultural importance of slack-key guitar, known locally by the Hawaiian name kī hö‘alu, which refers to the “loosened” or “slack” tuning of guitar strings. For more information, visit SlackkeyFestival.com.

¨ August 16-18, 2019 Made In Hawaii Festival (O‘ahu) – Popular with visitors and residents alike, this event, held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and Arena in Honolulu, features nearly 400 exhibitors showcasing food products, books, gifts, apparel, jewelry, arts and crafts,


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produce and even more home-grown products, all of it produced in Hawai‘i. Attendees also enjoy cooking demonstrations, live music and dance performances. For more information, visit MadeInHawaiiFestival.com.

¨ August 17, 2019 Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – Mai Tai enthusiasts won’t want to miss the 11th annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival held at Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona. Celebrate (and imbibe) the legendary cocktail and watch as more than 20 of the world's top bartenders mix it up in a battle for the title of World’s Best Mai Tai and a $10,000 cash prize. For more information, visit www.donsmaitaifest.com.

¨ August 17, 2019 Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys NFL Exhibition Game (O‘ahu) – The National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams will host the Dallas Cowboys at this pre-season exhibition game at Aloha Stadium, the first NFL exhibition game played at the O‘ahu venue since 1976. For more information, visit TheRams.com.

¨ August 17-18, 2019 The Spartan Race Presented by 24 Hour Fitness Hawaii Trifecta Weekend (O‘ahu) – This annual sports competition, held at Kualoa Private Nature Reserve, includes four race types – Sprint, Super, Beast and Ultra Beast – hosted over a single weekend. Participants can compete in individual races or take on the ultimate Spartan Trifecta Challenge: Sprint + Super + Beast. The race is designed to test participants’ physical and mental toughness. For more information, visit Spartan.com.

¨ August 17-25, 2019 Duke’s OceanFest (O‘ahu) – This weeklong festival features a full schedule of ocean sports events, including longboard surfing, paddleboard racing, tandem surfing, surf polo, stand-up paddleboarding and a beach volleyball tournament, all in honor of legendary Hawai‘i waterman and fest namesake Duke Kahanamoku. The week’s festivities culminate with a lei-draping ceremony at Kahanamoku’s Waikïkï statue commemorating his birthday. The fest is a fundraiser for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation’s college scholarship and athletic grants programs. For more information, visit DukesOceanFest.com.

¨ August 24-25, 2019 Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival (Maui) – The life and legacy of renowned Lahaina kumu hula Emma Farden Sharpe is honored in this daylong celebration of hula ‘auana (modern hula) and hula kahiko (traditional hula). In addition to hula performances, the festival also features hula-related exhibits, workshops, artisans and a lifetime achievement award named in honor of Farden Sharpe, a pillar of the local hula community. For more information, visit EFSHF.

¨ August 29 - September 2, 2019 Queen Liliʻuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races (island of Hawaiʻi) – The world’s largest long-distance outrigger canoe race welcomes thousands of international paddlers to the island’s Kona district for five days of racing. The event’s 18-mile signature race, happening Saturday, August 31, follows a historically and culturally significant course between Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark near Kailua Bay – once the site of King Kamehameha the Great’s residence – and Hōnaunau Bay near Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Related events include a historic walking tour, cultural fair, and torch-light parade. For more information, visit www.qlcanoerace.com.

¨ August 31 - September 1, 2019


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Okinawan Festival (O‘ahu) – From its humble beginnings to its current status as one of Hawai‘i’s premier ethnic festivals – now drawing more than 50,000 attendees – this annual event celebrates the Okinawan culture’s long history in Hawai‘i and its many contributions to Hawai‘i. The two-day event includes calligraphy, flower arrangement and traditional attire demonstrations alongside cultural performances and delicious Korean delicacies, including taco rice, andagi (deep-fried doughnuts) and the andadog (essentially, an Okinawan corndog). For more information, visit OkinawanFestival.com.

¨ August 31 - September 28, 2019 Aloha Festivals (O‘ahu) – Preserving the unique traditions of the Islands’ indigenous Hawaiian culture, the Aloha Festivals is a cultural showcase of the culture’s music, dance, history anc contributions to Hawai‘i. With events scheduled throughout September, the Aloha Festivals’ schedule includes pageantry, a floral parade and ho‘olaulea (celebration) in Waikīkī , music and hula performances, and many activities ideal for families. For more information, visit AlohaFestivals.com.

• August 31 – The Aloha Festivals’ Royal Court Investiture and Opening Ceremony, held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikīkī, features Hawaiian hula, chant and pageantry, and introduces the Aloha Festivals’ 2019 Royal Court.

• September 14 – The Aloha Festivals’ Keiki Ho‘olaule‘a hosts free kid-friendly activities, demonstrations, performances and more at Pearlridge Center shopping mall.

• September 21 – The 67th annual Aloha Festivals Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a, one of Hawai‘i’s largest annual block parties, features local-favorite food, music and entertainment right on the resort area’s main drag, Kalākaua Avenue, which is blocked off for the event.

• September 28 – The 73nd annual Aloha Festivals Floral Parade showcases a colorful procession of horseback riders, hula dancers, marching bands and fresh-flower-bedecked floats, on a route winding through Waikïkï.

SEPTEMBER 2019

¨ September TBD - October TBD, 2019

Festivals of Aloha Maui Nui Style (Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i) – Throughout September and October, Festivals of Aloha events on Maui, Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i – the neighboring Hawai‘i islands collectively called Maui Nui – will honor Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with a parade, ho‘olaule‘a, poke-recipe contest, keiki (children’s) crafting, and a mu‘umu‘u and aloha shirt contest. Events will also feature live entertainment and tasty eats. For more information, visit FestivalsofAloha.com.

¨ September 1, 2019 Kaua‘i Marathon and Half-Marathon (Kaua‘i )– This 26.2-mile marathon and 13-mile half-marathon aims to keep runners inspired with a course often running alongside Kaua‘i’s sparkling blue ocean waters, inviting white sand beaches and emerald rainforests. Proceeds from the event are donated to local charities supporting the community. For more information, visit TheKauaiMarathon.com.

¨ September 1-21, 2019 Hawai‘i Island Festival, 30 Days of Aloha (island of Hawai’i) – This annual festival celebrates Hawaiian culture and traditions with a month of activities and events featuring music, dance and more. Signature events include the Ms. Aloha Nui Pageant, the Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto and Storytelling Competition, the Waimea Paniolo Parade and Ho‘olaulea, and a poke-recipe contest. For more information, visit HawaiiIslandFestival.org.


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¨ September 7, 2019 Lā ‘Ulu Breadfruit Day (Maui) – Lā ‘Ulu – Hawaiian for "Breadfruit Day" – is a free daylong event at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens celebrating the harvest season for Hawaiian ‘ulu (breadfruit). The annual event also spotlights traditional Hawaiian agriculture, the many products made from Hawai‘i native and canoe plants, and the culinary and historical culture of 'ulu. Culinary creations, cooking demonstrations and horticultural information from Hawai'i and the Pacific Rim offered at the event aims to promote the cultivation and use of 'ulu in everyday cooking. For more information, visit Mnbg.org.

¨ September 7, 2019 Taste of the Hawaiian Range Gala and Agriculture Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – Held in Waimea, the Taste of the Hawaiian Range is a one-day festival celebrating the local farmers, ranchers and chefs of Hawaiʻi Island. Daytime festival events agricultural-themed activities, like education exhibits, demonstrations and food vendors, before culminating with an evening culinary gala from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. showcasing locally produced food. Daytime festival events are free to the public, and tickets for the Tasting Gala go on sale July 1. For more information, visit www.tasteofthehawaiianrange.com.

¨ Septmeber 14, 2019 Pailolo Challenge (Maui, Moloka‘i) – The Pailolo Challenge is a body-challenging 26-mile downwind canoe race from D.T. Fleming Beach Park on Maui to Kaunakakai Pier on Moloka‘i. The race annually attracts neighbor island, mainland and international athletes for a one-of-a-kind experience crossing the ocean channel separating both islands. For more information, visit Pailolo.com.

¨ September 20-22, 2019 AVP Hawai‘i Open (O‘ahu) – The Association of Volleyball Professionals returns to the Islands for a second-consecutive year to host this international invitational bringing together top male and female beach volleyball athletes for competition. For its 2019 event, AVP plans to create a beach-festival experience for fans alongside Fort DeRussy Beach Park in Waikīkī. For more information, visit Avp.com.

¨ September 20 - Ocotber 6, 2019 Hawai‘i’s Woodshow, Nā Lā ‘au o Hawai‘i 2019 (O‘ahu) – This annual show spotlighting the works of Hawai‘i’s most skilled woodworkers includes furniture, musical instruments, carvings, sculpture and more. The Woodshow’s opening reception offers opportunities to purchase woodworks while taking in live music, food, woodworking demonstrations and an awards ceremony. The rest of the two-week exhibit offers visitors a chance to talk with woodworkers and learn from educational displays. This year’s Woodshow will include its third annual Innovation + Imagination Challenge, a competition for student woodworkers. For more information, visit HawaiiForest.org.

¨ September 22, 2019 Na Wahine o Ke Kai (Moloka‘i, O‘ahu) – Founded in 1979, this prestigious women’s Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu canoe race has flourished over the years and now attracts paddlers from around the world. The public is invited to celebrate and honor the endurance, devotion and sportsmanship of competitors at the event’s start and finish lines – Hale o Lono Harbor on Moloka‘i and Duke Kahanamoku Beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on O‘ahu, respectively – as more than 70 women’s teams race across the challenging Kaiwi Channel separating both islands. For more information, visit NaWahineOKeKai.com.

¨ September 22-28, 2019 Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival (Kaua‘i )– Named in honor of the flower and green berry of the treasured mokihana tree, found only in Kaua‘i’s forests, this weeklong festival


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celebrates Hawaiian culture and its history on the island through music, educational lectures and hula competitions. For more information, visit MalieFoundation.org.

¨ September 24, 2019 Chinese Moon Festival (Maui) – Chinese culture in Hawai‘i is celebrated during four Chinese Festivals, held quarterly at the century-old Wo Hing Temple Museum in the heart of Lahaina's Historic District. The Chinese Moon Festival is free and open to the public, the festivals include a lion dance; a ribbon dance; a tea garden; music performances featuring traditional instruments; demonstrations of calligraphy, herbs and Chinese knot tying; food booths; kite making, children’s cultural craft activities and more. For more information, visit LahainaRestoration.org.

¨ September 26-29 2019 HawaiiCon (island of Hawai‘i) – This four-day sci-fi convention at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay features panel discussions, interactive workshops, movie screenings, costume contests, robotics demonstrations, hula instruction, live entertainment, and local food, art and tech vendors. Invited celebrity guests for panels at the family-friendly convention include stars of science fiction TV series and movies, comic book artists, and world-renowned scientists, educators, authors and cultural leaders. For more information, visit Hawaiicon.com.

¨ September 29, 2019 Honolulu Century Ride (O‘ahu) – Hawai‘i’s largest cycling event features a wonderfully scenic bike course – a100-mile route covering much of the coastline of O‘ahu’s south and southeast shore from Kapi‘olani Park in Waikīkī and around Lē‘ahi (aka Diamond Head State Monument); through Hawai‘i Kai, Waimānalo, and finally Kailua, before heading back to Kapi‘olani Park. For more information, visit HBL.org.

¨ September 29, 2019

Maui Ukulele Festival (Maui) – The annual Maui Arts and Cultural Center event features a full afternoon of ‘ukulele musicianship and tasty food. Attendees are invited to bring their lawn chairs or roll out a blanket on the center’s lawn to enjoy the talents of Maui’s top ‘ukulele players. For more information, visit UkuleleFestivalHawaii.org.

OCTOBER 2019

¨ October 5-27, 2019 Hawai‘i Food and Wine Festival (island of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, Maui) – Annually featuring a roster of renowned Hawai‘i and international chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers, this series of culinary events on three islands showcases the extraordinary diversity of multicultural cuisine and excellent locally grown-and-raised ingredients found in Hawai’i. Dishes presented at each festival event highlight the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood and meats. For more information, visit HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com.

¨ October 19, 2019 Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival (O’ahu) – Hawai‘i’s largest LGBTQ community event is a jam-packed daylong event highlighted by the Honolulu Pride Parade –winding through Waikïkï from Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park to Kapi‘olani Park – and the Honolulu Pride Festival, which promises live music, inspirational speeches and fun activities. For more information, visit HawaiiLGBTLegacyFoundation.com.

¨ October 12, 2019


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IRONMAN World Championship (island of Hawai’i) – The most prestigious challenge in the multirace sport of triathlon, this championship race annually invites 1,900 of the world’s top triathletes to the Kona Coast to compete for the sport’s top honor. With a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon run to contend with – plus tough ocean waves and a blisteringly hot lava dessert as challenges – triathletes face a course and competition like virtually no other in the world. And if you’re in Kailua-Kona, you can catch it all. For more information, visit IronMan.com.

¨ October 12, 2019 Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i (Kaua‘i) – Each year, kumu hula and their student dancers converge in Kōke‘e State Park for a daylong celebration honoring Hawai‘i’s beloved Queen Emma and her journey to the forested mountain area at the pinnacle of the island’s Nāpali Coast. There, they pay tribute to the queen’s humanitarian spirit and her love of hula with dances dedicated to her and the Kōke‘e landscape she was so enamored of. Attend to experience a day of authentic and powerful hula. For more information, visit Kokee.org.

¨ October 13 , 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Moloka‘i Hoe (Moloka‘i, O‘ahu) – One of the world’s most esteemed team long-distance outrigger canoe races, the Moloka’i Hoe draws more than 1,000 paddlers from around the world to take on the unforgiving waters of the Kaiwi Channel separating the islands of Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. The race spans 38-plus miles of open ocean from Moloka‘i’s west side Hale o Lono Harbor to Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikīkī. For more information, visit MolokaiHoe.com.

¨ October 13, 2019 Maui Marathon, Relay, Half-Marathon, 10K, 15K (Maui) – This collection of road races sends runners – depending on the length of their chosen course – across a mixture of Maui terrain, from its scenic central plain to its westside coastline-winding Honoapi‘ilani Highway, at times coming within 50 feet of the Pacific Ocean. For more information, visit MauiMarathon.com.

¨ October 18, 2019

Kaua‘i Chocolate and Coffee Festival (Kaua‘i) – This annual festival, held in the island’s historic westside town of Hanapēpē, celebrates all things Kaua‘i-grown chocolate and coffee, with lots of opportunities for sampling. In addition, fest attendees will find educational displays, workshops, entertainment and exhibitor booths featuring a variety of chocolate and coffee products. The fest also features live entertainment, a silent acution, children’s activities and more. For more information, visit KauaiChocolateandCoffeeFestival.com.

¨ October 24-28, 2019

Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds (island of Hawai‘i) – This annual collection of bird-related nature adventures, film screenings, food events and even a bird fair invites island visitors and residents to discover and celebrate the diversity of native Hawaiian birdlife and the habitats that support them. Attendance supports the Hawai’i Island Coast-to-Coast Birding Trail and the Hawai’i Wildlife Center. For more information, visit BirdFestHawaii.org.

¨ October 25-28, 2019 Traditional Tattoo Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – The Kohala Institute is hosting the first-ever Traditional Tattoo Festival to celebrate the ritualistic and ceremonial practice of traditional tattooing from Pacific and Arctic cultures including Hawaiian, Inuit, Filipino, and more. The inspiration for the festival goes beyond the current tattoo trends


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to illuminate the deep cultural origins of this practice as well as the perpetuation and innovation of the original traditions. The four-day festival includes a one-day cultural event open to the general public featuring music, dance, kapa, wood carving, lauhala, and demonstrations of traditional tattooing. For more information, visit www.gohawaii.com/islands/events/traditional-tattoo-festival.

¨ October 26, 2019

XTERRA Kapalua Trail Run (Maui) – Runners of all ages and skill levels can experience the renowned off-road course of the invite-only XTERRA World Championship on this multilevel – there are 3.3-, 5- and 10-kilometer courses – trail run winding through dense forests, over rugged mountain passes and alongside scenic coastline views on Maui’s northwest coast. For more information, visit XterraPlanet.com.

¨ October 27, 2019 XTERRA World Championship (Maui) – This extreme-sport triathlon tests the endurance of qualified athletes from more than 20 countries on a Maui course noted for its varied topography and weather conditions. The course begins with a 1.5K swim, followed by a 32K bike ride on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, and ends with a 10.5K trail run along forest trails and beach sand. For more information, visit XterraPlanet.com.

NOVEMBER 2019

¨ November 1-10, 2019 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (island of Hawai‘i) – One of Hawai‘i’s longest-running food festivals, this 10-day java-enriched celebration honors the farmers, culture and rich history surrounding the Kona district’s world-famous coffee. Attendees checking out the fest’s multitude of events enjoy coffee tastings, cupping competitions judging Kona’s best coffee, farm and mill tours, coffee art exhibits, an evening lantern parade through historic Kailua-Kona, food events and more. For more information, visit KonaCoffeeFest.com.

¨ November 6-9, 2019 Poipu Food and Wine Festival (Kaua‘i) – The fourth annual edition of this three-day Kaua‘i culinary event aims to kick-off with the Kauai Culinary Market and Chef Challenge, with a focus on Kaua‘i-procured ingredients and chef talent. The fest’s second-day In the Kitchen series of cooking classes at participating restaurants will focus on food education and cooking skills. Its third-day Flavors of Poipu event will feature live performances by Kaua‘i musicians, local delicacies served street-food style, andchef demonstrations. Attend one, two or all three days. For more informantion, visit poipufoodandwinefestival.com.

¨ November 9, 2019 Old Koloa Sugar Mill Run (Kaua‘i) – This annual morning of 5K, 10K and half-marathon runs, and a non-competitive 5K walk, sets participants off on courses meandering throughout the sunny south shore Kaua‘i district of Köloa . The run is organized by the Rotary Club of Kauai as a fundraiser for scholarships for local students attending the University of Hawai’i Kaua‘i Community College. For more information, visit OldKoloaSugarMillRun.org.

¨ November 16, 2019 Chinese Hertitage Festival (Maui) – The last of the four Chinese Festivals held at Wo Hing Museum in the heart of Lahaina's Historic District. Nestled between restaurants and shops, the iconic 100 year old Wo Hing Museum and grounds is a testament to Hawaii's respect for culture and tradition. As in years past, the public flocks to these free, authentic events to experience the sights, sounds, tastes and educational activities


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including the lion dance, ribbon dance, tea garden, music played on traditional instruments, presentations, demonstrations of calligraphy, herbs and Chinese knot tying, food booths, kite making, kid's cultural craft activities and more, visit LahainaRestoration.org

¨ November 21, 2019 Kaua‘i Old Time Gathering (Kaua‘i) – A celebration of the traditional music styles of North America and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as an opportunity for musicians and music aficionados to experiment in multiple musical styles on a variety of instruments, this event includes workshops, classes and jam sessions focused on everything from fiddle and banjo, to washtub bass and Hawaiian falsetto singing. For more information, visit KauaiOldTime.com

¨ November 24, 2019 XTERRA Trail Run Worlds (O‘ahu) – This 21-kilometer world championship of trail-running is a half-marathon event featuring an off-road course traversing hills, flatlands and streams within scenic Kualoa Ranch on O‘ahu’s verdant Windward Coast. The run is non-qualifying and open to participants of all ages, all of whom will be treated to picturesque views of the ocean and the ranch’s majestic (and Hollywood-famous) Ka‘a‘awa Valley lands. For more information, visit XterraPlanet.com.

¨ November 25-27, 2019

Maui Jim Maui Invitational – Hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, this college hoops invitational has been widely hailed by sports writers and fans as one of the best early-season college basketball tournaments in the U.S., regularly attracing some of the nation’s top-ranked NCAA teams. Matchups happen in front of a reliably jubilant crowd at the Lahaina Civic Center. For more information, visit MauiInvitational.com.

¨ November 11 – December 20, 2019 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (O‘ahu) –This World Surf League season-ending trio of professional surf competitions on the famed surf breaks of O’ahu’s North Shore is near always the final proving ground in deciding the sport’s annual world champion. Head to the North Shore on days when competitions get the green light and you’ll catch the best big wave surfers in the world performing at their highest level. For more information, visit TripleCrownOfSurfing.com.

DECEMBER 2019

¨ December 2019

Honolulu City Lights (O‘ahu) – Experience the spirit of the holiday season (minus the chill of pre-winter) at the City and County of Honolulu’s official Christmas tree and winter wonderland display. Hosted annually on the grounds of the Honolulu Civic Center, the monthlong Honolulu City Lights celebration stocks the area with large-scale Christmas displays, Christmas trees and wreaths, children’s rides, food trucks, and, most famously, mammoth effigies Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele – Hawai‘i-style takes on Santa and Mr. Claus. Make plans to attend the Honolulu City Lights tree-lighting ceremony and kick-off, too, and you’ll enjoy live entertainment, an electric light parade, and the first lighting of downtown Honolulu office-building Christmas displays. For more information, visit HonoluluCityLights.org.

¨ December TBD, 2019 Hawai‘i Bowl (O‘ahu) – This annual college football bowl game at Aloha Stadium is usually set for Christmas Eve or the days just before, featuring a team from the NCAA’s Mountain West conference and its Conference USA or Pac-12 conferences. The first Hawai‘i Bowl was played in 2002, with the University at Hawai‘i at Mānoa Hawai‘i


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Warriors football team making the most appearances – eight, as of 2018 – ever since. For more information, visit HawaiiBowl.com.

¨ December 7, 2019 Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade (island of Hawai‘i) – Celebrating its 58th year this December, expect to see a brigade of festively lit trucks carrying Waimea residents – ranging from keiki to kūpuna (elders) – representing area churches, schools, community organizations, ranches and businesses. Kids can expect to find Santa Claus both somewhere in the parade and at Parker Ranch Center’s Fireside Food Court at parade’s end. For more information, visit WaimeaTown.org.

¨ December 6-31, 2019

Festival of Lights/Lights on Rice Parade (Kaua‘i) – Kaua‘i officially leaps into the holiday season with this annual kick-off of Festival of Lights, the island’s monthlong evening Christmas display on the grounds of the Kaua‘i County Building in Līhu‘e. Again officially opening Festival of Lights will be the Lights on Rice Parade, a electric light parade on Līhu‘e main drag Rice Street, featuring floats, marching bands, live music and festive Christmas caroling. For more information, visit KauaiFestivalofLights.com.

¨ December 8, 2019 Honolulu Marathon (O‘ahu) – The fourth largest marathon in the U.S. begins its 26.2-mile route in downtown Honolulu before sunrise, sending runners through metro-Honolulu and Waikïkï, then along O‘ahu’s south shore to Hawai‘i Kai before turning back and finishing in Waikïkï at Kapi‘olani Park. Runners enjoy a large sampling of city views throughout, including passes alongside the beaches of Waikïkï and over the slopes of Lē‘ahi (aka Diamond Head State Monument). For more information, visit HonoluluMarathon.org.

¨ December 13-15, 2019 Hawai’i Island Steel Guitar Festival (island of Hawaiʻi) – The family-friendly festival is free, open to the public, and features performances by Hawaiʻi steel guitar masters, private workshops, and jam sessions where festival guests can play steel guitar alongside the masters. For more information, visit www.hawaiisteelguitarfestival.com.

¨ December 22, 23, 25, 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (O‘ahu) – Held annually at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Honolulu, this early-season Division 1 college basketball tournament hosts eight teams for 12 games. The family-friendly tournament includes three days of tournament play, practices and related events. For more information, visit DiamondHeadClassic.com.

¨ December 31, 2019 2019 New Year’s Eve Celebration at Po‘ipū Beach Park (Kaua’i) – Ring in the new year and celebrate at one of the world’s most beautiful beaches at this family-friendly event, which annually includes an outdoor movie screening, ‘ono (delicious) eats from beachside food trucks and, of course, a sky-lighting fireworks show over the beach. For more information, visit www.PoipuBeach.org.

-pau- Disclaimer: Events listed in this calendar are subject to change without notice. For a complete listing of events, please visit GoHawaii.com/events.


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Special note to media: The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, one of the eight consonants of the (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakö [ä] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as Läna‘i). However, HVCB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

hawai‘i’s world class events calendar july – …media.gohawaii.com/en/assets/file/press...

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