Oahu Events Calendar: Athletics, Celebrations, and Festivals

Are you planning a trip to Paradise? Try to catch an island event while you’re here!

After living in Oahu for nine years, I learned that the island is not just about beautiful beaches and fantastic hikes. It also has a lineup of events that are fun ways to get a feel for its spirit.

They range from heart-stopping sports competitions to mouthwatering food festivals, and a lot more. There’s always something going on!

I’m here to walk you through these events, one festivity at a time. I’ll give you the scoop on where to be and what to see. Whether you’re here for the surf or the subculture, make sure you’re catching the best on offer.

Start by looking through the calendar so you can see what’s happening during your time on the island. Click the blue link for more info!

Events by Month 🌺

Date or Month	Event	Location	When
First Friday of every month	First Friday Art Walk	Honolulu’s Chinatown (map download)	From 5pm – 9pm 🎙️
January	New Year’s Celebrations	Island-wide	We start early and stay late! 🎆
	Sony Open	Wai‘alae Country Club	Rounds start at 7 or 8am (schedule) ⛳
	Lexus Pipe Pro	Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach 🏄‍♀️	Starts around 7:45am (scheduling info)
February	POW! WOW! HAWAII	Kaka‘ako district	Evenings after 6pm, afternoon on Sunday🎨
	Great Aloha Run	Begins across from Aloha Tower	Start line ceremonies begin at 6:30am 🏃🏽‍♀️
March	Honolulu Festival	Waikīkī	Events begin early and go all day. (See event schedule)🏃🏽‍➡️
	Prince Kuhio Day	Island-wide 🌺	Stay tunes for 2025 parade times
Spring	Kawaii Kon	Hawaii Convention Center	Find a schedule of events on their site
April	Waikiki SPAM JAM	Waikiki	Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 4pm to 10pm 🐷
	Annual Wahiawa Pineapple Run	Wahiawa	Check-in starts at 4:30am. Run starts at 6am🍍
	” I Love Kailua” Town Party	Downtown Kailua, Oahu	Sunday April 27, 2025, 11am-4pm🏖️
April – August	Hawaii Polo Club	Waialua🏇🏽	Schedule will be posted on the site
May	Lei Day Celebration	Kapi‘olani Park	May 1 from 9am-5pm🌸
	Parade of Farms	Various farms on Oahu 🧑🏼‍🌾	Tour times vary; the 2025 schedule will be posted
	Lantern Floating Hawaii	Ala Moana Beach Park 🏮	The event begins at 6:30pm
June	Mango Jam Honolulu 🥭	Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, Honolulu	June 20, 21 2025, Fri. 4:30-9pm; Sat. 10am-9pm
	Pan-Pacific/ Hula Festivals	Island-wide	June 13-15, 2025; Schedule will be posted.
	King Kamehameha Floral Parade and Hoʻolauleʻa	Parade starts at Vidihna Stadium up Rice Street to Historic County Bldg	June 14, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m🐎
July	July 4 Celebrations	Island-wide	Near sunset 🎇🧨
	Prince Lot Hula Festival	Honolulu 🌸	Stay tuned for date and time!
August	Made in Hawaii Festival	Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu	Aug 15-17; Fri.10am-8pm; Sat. 9am-5pm; Sun. 9am-5pm🍤
	Duke’s Oceanfest	Waikiki	2025 schedule will be posted⛵
September	Kailua Fall Festival	Hahani Street, Kailua	From 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.🌭
	Aloha Festivals: • Presention of the Royal Court • Waikiki Hoʻolauleʻa • Floral Parade	Kalakaua Avenue Waikiki, Ala Moana, The Royal Hawaiian	Throughout September; Stay tuned for more info as it comes up 🎵
Late October/Early November	Hawaii Food and Wine Festival	Various locations in Honolulu	Oct 30-Nov 2; schedule will be posted🌏
November	Kalakaua Festival	Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki 🍣	Stay tuned for 2025 schedule details
Late November to early December	Vans Triple Crown of Surfing	Oahu’s North Shore	Nov.12-Dec.20, 2024; schedule info🏄
December	Honolulu Marathon	Between Downtown Honolulu and Hawaii Kai🏃	Dec.28, 2024 at 5am
	Honolulu City Lights	King Street Honolulu	Opening night/ parade Dec.7, 5:30-10pm🎄
	Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace	Blaisdell Exhibition Hall	Dec. 14 10am-8pm Dec.15 10am-5pm🎁
December 14, 2024 – March 13, 2025	Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational	Waimea Bay, North Shore	Holding: December 14, 2024, to March 13, 2025 🏄‍♀️

Oahu Events Across the Island

Now that you’ve seen what sorts of goings-on you can find around Oahu, here are a few more details about each one. Spoiler: The SPAM Jam’s my favourite!

Cultural, Arts, & Fun Festivals

• New Year’s Celebrations
Oahu is the ultimate place to spend New Year’s Eve! Fireworks displays, parties, and cultural events create an electric atmosphere. Wherever you are on the island, your Oahu New Year celebration will be unforgettable.

• POW! WOW! HAWAII
This one happens in February around Valentine’s week, in Honolulu’s trendy Kaka‘ako district. It’s all about transforming spaces with massive murals and art installations by artists from all over.

• Honolulu Festival
This happens in March and is a big deal, with a mix of Asian, Pacific, and Hawaiian cultures. Expect lots of local art, music, and a colourful parade through Waikīkī.

• Prince Kuhio Day Celebrations
March honours Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, a beloved Hawaiian leader. The month of celebrations includes parades, cultural performances, and community events that pay tribute to his legacy and contributions to Hawaii.

• “I Love Kailua” Town Party
Kailua’s my town! A day full of live music, local eats, and unique crafts all locally made. Walk through the stalls and pick up everything from handmade jewelry to island-inspired artwork, in a warm, laid-back atmosphere.

• Lei Day Celebration
On May 1st – “May Day” in Hawaii – at Kapi‘olani Park, this event is dedicated to the art of lei making. There’s also plenty of food, hula dancing, and live music. There’s a lot of joy in celebrating Island culture!

• Pan-Pacific Festival/ Pan-Pacific Hula Festival
This festival celebrates the variety of cultures of the Pacific Rim through music, food, and art. It’s a must if you’d love to experience the melting pot of all the traditions that make up Oahu’s identity. And the best of hula!

• King Kamehameha Floral Parade
The King Kam Floral Parade honours Hawaii’s first king with a merry, creative parade of floats, music, and performers. The island-style procession lets you see the beauty of Hawaiian culture and the spirit of Oahu in living colour.

• 4th of July Celebrations Independence Day on Oahu! Fireworks, parades, and community parties. From Ala Moana Beach to Waikiki, North Shore to Lanikai and beyond, the island lights up with patriotic cheer. Be a part of it!

• Prince Lot Hula Festival
This is an incredible chance to enjoy the beauty of hula. The best Hālau hula (hula groups) from the Hawaiian Islands meet to honour the art. The festival celebrates the deep cultural significance of hula in Hawaiian heritage.

• Made in Hawaii Festival
Shop for handmade crafts, local food, and unique gifts, and support local artisans at the festival. Meet the creators there’s so much skill and vision here! And take home the perfect keepsakes from your trip.

• Kailua Fall Festival
This is a day packed with activities like games and face painting, Hawaiian music, and lots of food. Explore craft booths with quality handmade items, and enjoy shows that display the community’s many talents.

• Aloha Festivals

• Royal Court Investiture & Opening Ceremony: This event kicks off the Aloha Festivals with a formal introduction of the Royal Court. It’s a formal ceremony full of hula and chant.It takes place at The Royal Hawaiian.

• Waikiki Hoʻolauleʻa: The Waikīkī Hoʻolauleʻa is Hawaii’s largest annual block party, stretching along Kalākaua Avenue. It’s a fun evening with local food, live music, and entertainment, giving everyone a chance to experience Hawaiian culture up close.

• Floral Parade The parade moves from Ala Moana Park through Kalākaua Avenue to Kapi‘olani Park. You’ll see beautiful floats covered in Hawaiian flowers, performances, and horseback riders celebrating the island’s natural beauty.

• Kalakaua Festival This high-energy festival honours Hawaii’s culture through its music, dancing, and grinds. Join in the fun and experience the assorted traditions that make up the fabric of Oahu.

• Honolulu City Lights
Honolulu City Lights is all about the magic of Christmas. King Street downtown transforms into a festive wonderland! The dazzling light displays, live entertainment, and food kiosks create a memorable evening.

• Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace
This is an epic annual Christmas market, held at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. You’ll find all kinds of unique crafts and gifts. Its the perfact place to take care of your Christmas list and pick up some authentic souvenirs of your trip.

Sports for Spectators and Participants

• Sony Open: Swing by the Wai‘alae Country Club in January to catch this high-profile golf tournament.

• Great Aloha Run It’s not just a race; it’s a community celebration. Walk, jog, or run the stunningly scenic 8.15-mile course through some of Oahu’s most beautiful landscapes.

• Annual Wahiawa Pineapple Run: Every April, sprint through a pineapple field in a scenic 10k run that’s as fun as it is challenging.

• Polo Matches: Full of skilled horsemanship as teams compete in a fast-paced game. Dress up to enjoy the social atmosphere. There are picnics and often themed events like “hat day” to add to the fun.

• Dukes Oceanfest
Named after Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, this is the ultimate celebration of ocean sports in Hawaiian culture. There’s a mix of water sports, including kitesurfing, sailing, kayaking, surf competitions, and more.

• Honolulu Marathon: In December, the streets of Honolulu fill with people from all corners of the globe for this 26.2-mile challenge. Join in – walk, jog, or run!

Big Wave Surf Competitions

• Lexus Pipe Pro: Hosted at the iconic Banzai Pipeline, this competition features elite professional surfers tackling one of the world’s most famous and dangerous waves. Pipeline isn’t signed – go to Ehukai Beach!

• Hurley Pro at Sunset Beach February 12 – 23, 2025 (cancelled)
A part of the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, this event showcases top surfing talent at Sunset Beach, one of the most challenging waves on the North Shore.

• Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
From late November to early December, the North Shore is the place to be to watch top surfers in action. These 3 events happen at Haleiwa Alii Beach, Sunset Beach, and Banzai Pipeline.

• The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
This Waimea Bay invitational competition runs only when the waves consistently reach 40 feet. It’s held to celebrate the legacy of legendary surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau.

December – March is the holding period, and the hope is that the waves will be big enough to hold the event during this time. That’s only happened 10 times in ‘the Eddie’s‘ history.

Ono Grinds (‘delicious food’ in Hawaii)

• Waikiki SPAM JAM: In April, Waikiki turns into a street party celebrating all things Spam with food stalls and live music. There are also crafts and merchandise, cultural performances, and live entertainment. It’s a fun one!

• Parade of Farms: In May, this is a fun behind-the-scenes look at Oahu’s agriculture with tours of local farms. There are food tastings, craft and food booths, family activities, and more.

• Mango Jam Honolulu: In June, downtown Honolulu celebrates everything mango with food, entertainment, and crafts. Enjoy crafts booths, cultural exhibits, and contests.

• Hawaii Food and Wine Festival: Late October or early November brings this culinary carnival, with dishes from renowned international chefs. It emphasizes local ingredients, showcasing the rich agricultural diversity of Hawaii.

Other Unique Events

• Kawaii Kon: For those who love comics and cosplay, spring is when this event brings together fans at the Hawaii Convention Center. It’s three days of fun, films, and workshops.

• Lantern Floating Hawaii: A beautiful event at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day where people float lanterns at sunset in memory of loved ones.

Monthly Highlights

• Every First Friday, check out Chinatown for the Honolulu Art Walk. An evening of art, shopping, exhibitions and restaurants with special events and live entertainment.

All of these events show off the spirit of Oahu. You can dive into the local culture, enjoy some sports, or eat your way around the island. They’re fun times to meet locals and visitors alike.

And in between festivals, there’s so much to do around the island! Seek out the best beaches for snorkelling. Or take in a few of the events at Waimea Valley.

And of course, you don’t want to miss your chance to experience an authentic luau. Take advantage of every minute on this spectacular island!

Happy travels!

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