Things to do / Travel Guide
Locals celebrate their rich heritage throughout the year all over the Big Island. Many of these events are free of charge to attend. Below, we list by month some of the main events that take place around the Big Island.
March
The Kona Stampede Rodeo has been held since 1964. It showcases the talent of the local cowboys and ranchers, known as paniolos. The rodeo is free to attend.
April
The Merri Monarch Festival is a week-long event in Hilo that has been held for about 40 years. It typically features art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, and a parade that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii. Another integral part of the festival is a three-day hula competition, which has received worldwide recognition for its historic and cultural significance. Event highlights include the Easter Sunday music festival and the following Saturday's big Merrie Monarch Royal Parade through downtown Hilo. Except for the hula competition, all events are free to attend.
June
June 11th, King Kamehameha Day, is a Hawaiian State holiday that marks the birth of Hawaii's first king. The major parades and celebrations are held in the area of his birth, North Kohala, and in Hilo. In North Kohala, events are held in Hawi and Kapaau.
September
The Queen Liliuokalani Outrigger Canoe Race, held over the Labor Day weekend, is the world's largest long-distance canoe race. It's a two-day racing event, complete with a torchlight parade, a dance, and an awards luau. No less than 2,500 competitors from around the world, usually participate in the various races. The lengthy 18-mile ocean course runs between Kailua and Honaunau.
The Aloha Festival's mission is to “preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture and to celebrate the diverse customs and Aloha Spirit of Hawaii.” The festival takes place in events throughout the island and includes parades and street fairs.
October
The Big Island's Ironman Triathalon is the event that actually created the three-discipline sport. It has been held here since 1981. The 2.4-mile swim takes place in Kailua-Kona Bay, is followed by a 112-mile bike race from Keauhou to Hawi and back, and finishes with a full 26.2-mile marathon run from Keauhou to Keahole Point to Kailua-Kona.
The Hawaii International Film Festival is a multi-island event that draws tens of thousands of participants at over 100 film screenings. For detailed admission costs, visit the Hawaii International Film Festival website.
November
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates one of the most successful crops on the Big Island, grown locally since 1828. This 10-day festival is filled with more than 30 community events honoring the multi-ethnic heritage of Kona coffee pioneers and their gourmet brew. Visitors can enjoy coffee-picking contests, tastings, ethnic foods, two parades, a scholarship pageant, farm tours, art exhibits, and outdoor concerts.
The Big Island Festival is a five-day-long event showcasing fine wines and island cuisine, agriculture, local art, health and wellness, golf, and Hawaiian history and culture. The events are centered around the resorts of South Kohala.
December
The Waimea Christmas Parade in early December, while snow-free, features big rigs and a steam locomotive, as well as farmers and local organization.
Year-Round
Hawaiian music and hula concerts are held once a month, all year round, at the Hulihee Palace in Kailua-Kona.
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