Island Celebrations: Your Guide to Hawai‘i’s Must-Attend Festivals and Events

From cultural celebrations and culinary feasts to ocean sports and artistic showcases, late summer and early fall in Hawai‘i come alive with an eclectic array of festivals and events that celebrate the islands’ rich heritage, diversity, and natural beauty. Whether you're savoring Korean street food under the stars in Honolulu, cheering on world-class paddlers crossing the Kaiwi Channel, or dancing through Waikīkī during the vibrant Honolulu Pride Parade, there's something for everyone to experience and enjoy. Here’s your guide to the must-attend festivals and happenings across the islands from August through October 2025.

August 2, 2025 - 21st Annual Korean Festival — All are invited to celebrate the Korean culture in Hawaiʻi at this annual festival, organized by the Korean American Foundation Hawaii and Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce, supported by dozens of community organizations and businesses. Held at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds at Honolulu Hale, the festival offers attendees a taste of Korean culture through its food, dance, art, music and entertainment. The festival will close the day with a KPOP Celebration by Moobek (aka DJ Y.U.P) and Yumi. KoreanFestHawaii.com

August 15-17, 2025 - Made In Hawai‘i Festival – Popular with visitors and residents, the annual Made In Hawai‘i Festival shopping event at the Hawai‘i Convention Center is set for August 15 through 17 this year and will feature over 400 exhibitors showcasing food products, books, gifts, apparel, jewelry, arts and crafts, produce and more — all of it made in Hawai‘i. Festival attendees also enjoy cooking demonstrations, live music and dance performances. MadeInHawaiiFestival.com

August 16-24, 2025 - 2025 Duke’s OceanFest — All events in this nine-day ocean sports festival happen in the offshore waters and sands of Waikīkī’s beaches in honor of legendary Hawai‘i waterman and fest namesake Duke Kahanamoku. The festival’s full schedule of ocean sports events includes surfing, outrigger canoe paddling, swimming, surfboard water polo, foil surfing, beach volleyball and more, culminating with a lei-draping ceremony at Kahanamoku’s Waikīkī statue to commemorate his birthday. The fest is a fundraiser for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation’s college scholarship and athletic grants programs. DukesOceanFest.com

August 23, 2025 - Makalauna Festival — This annual festival honors the legacy of slack-key guitar legend Charles Philip “Gabby” Pahinui, affectionately known as “Pops.” The event features an opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m., followed by musical performances and tributes from 5 to 8 p.m. celebrating Hawaiian music and culture in a vibrant Waikīkī setting. WaikikiBeachWalk.com/Events-And-News

August 30 - September 1, 2025 - Okinawan Festival — One of the state’s premier cultural festivals, this annual event celebrates the Okinawan culture’s long history in Hawai‘i and its many contributions to the cultural fabric of the Islands. Celebrating its 43rd year, the two-day festival at the Hawai‘i Convention Center welcomes residents and visitors to experience Okinawan cuisine, cultural and historical exhibits, arts and crafts, children’s games and lots of Okinawan entertainment. OkinawanFestival.com

September 1, 2025 - 54th Annual Waikīkī Roughwater Swim — A respected Labor Day tradition since 1970, this iconic 2.38‑mile (3.84 km) open‑water race starts at Sans Souci Beach, winding past the War Memorial Natatorium and finishing near Kaimana Beach Hotel. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., swimmers from around the world tackle Pacific swells in one of America’s top open‑water races. WaikikiRoughWaterSwim.com

September 2, 2025 - 80^th Anniversary of the End of World War II — On September 2, the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the Battleship Missouri Memorial will unveil a brand-new interactive exhibit experience. Pathway to Peace will take visitors through an immersive journey exploring the pivotal events surrounding the USS Missouri’s historic involvement in World War II and the experiences of her sailors. In honor of sailors who served on the Mighty Mo, the exhibit will also spotlight crew stories through personal artifacts, belongings and archival film footage. USSMissouri.org

September 4–26, 2025 - Collectors Art Sale at Downtown Art Center — Discover a curated showcase of original works by Hawai‘i artists at the annual Collectors Art Sale. Held in downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown’s arts district, the sale offers a diverse range of pieces — including paintings, sculpture, textiles and ceramics. With accessible price points and a creative atmosphere, the sale is a fantastic opportunity to support the local arts community. DowntownArtHI.org 

September 6, 2025 - Waikiki Street Jam — Join in for a night of local apparel and accessories, handmade jewelry and crafts, and local street food, fruit and drink vendors, all supporting local makers and highlighting O‘ahu's creative spirit. The event also brings together Hawai‘i musicians and dancers for performances. In partnership with Honolulu Juice Factory, a portion of the event’s proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Hawaii. MillWoodOhanaProductions.com 

September 6, 2025 - 49^th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow — Representatives of multiple Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native communities will gather at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island to share and perpetuate their cultures, educate attendees, and spread positivity and inclusivity. HTCHawaii.org

September 6, 20 & 27, 2025 - Aloha Festivals — Aloha Festivals is a showcase of Hawaiian music, dance, history and the culture’s contributions to the Hawai‘i community. Aloha Festivals events are scheduled throughout September and include royal pageantry, a floral parade and a ho‘olauleʻa (celebration) in Waikīkī with music and hula performances and family-friendly activities. AlohaFestivals.com

September 13, 2025 - Honolulu Community Gardens 50th Anniversary Celebration — The City and County of Honolulu is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu Community Garden Program this year at Foster Botanical Garden in Downtown Honolulu. The event is free, open to the public and will include community garden information, educational activities, product vendors, food trucks and entertainment. Parking will be available on streets surrounding Foster Botanical Garden and other locations. Honolulu.gov/DPR

September 28, 2025 - Aloha Fun Ride — The Aloha Fun Ride event follows the Honolulu Century Ride and is designed to welcome a wider audience — especially youth and families — to O’ahu’s largest cycling event. Its routes head around Lē‘ahi (aka Diamond Head State Monument) offering stunning ocean and city views. For a 5-mile ride, cyclists can turn around at Fort Ruger Park or continue down Kāhala Avenue to Wai‘alae Beach Park before heading back to create an 8-mile ride. HBL.org

September 28, 2025 - Na Wahine O Ke Kai — With support from the O‘ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, Salt +Air and Nexstar Media Group, this long-distance outrigger canoe competition gathers 1,000-plus paddlers from around the world to cross the rugged Kaiwi Channel separating Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. The competition and its broadcast spotlight the race’s athletes and perpetuate the Hawaiian cultural tradition of long-distance outrigger paddling for future generations. The public is invited to celebrate at the race’s finish line with live music and an awards presentation at Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. NaWahineOKeKai.com

October 12, 2025 - Molokaʻi Hoe 2025 — The Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will again present the Molokaʻi Hoe long-distance outrigger canoe race this year. Join the finish-line celebration of this prestigious 38-mile Kaiwi Channel race from Molokaʻi to O‘ahu for live music and an awards presentation on Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. MolokaiHoe.com

October 16-30, 2025 - 45th Annual Hawaiʻi International Film Festival — Presented by Halekulani hotel, this annual film festival presents a full screening schedule of works from Hawai‘i’s filmmaking community, a world-class slate of international films, and  film-industry events on Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and the island of Hawai‘i. A schedule of in-theater screenings will be announced in the months ahead. HIFF.org

October 17 - November 2, 2025 - 15th Annual Hawai‘i Food and Wine Festival — Annually featuring a heaping slate of renowned Hawai‘i and international chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirit producers, this series of culinary events on O‘ahu, Maui and the island of Hawai‘i showcases the extraordinary diversity of Hawai‘i multicultural cuisines and locally grown-and-raised ingredients. Dishes presented at each event highlight the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood and meats. HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com

October 18, 2025 - Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival — Hawai‘i’s largest LGBTQIA community event is a daylong celebration highlighted by the Honolulu Pride Parade — winding through Waikīkī from Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park to Kapi‘olani Park — and the Honolulu Pride Festival, which promises live music, craft and merchandise vendors, a resource fair and more. HawaiiLGBTLegacyFoundation.com

October 25, 2025 - Kāhuli Festival — Join Bishop Museum for its annual Kāhuli Festival, celebrating the vital role of Hawaiian land snails in preserving biodiversity. The family-friendly event runs from 3 to 9 p.m. and features hands-on workshops, live talks by conservationists, interactive booths, live snail exhibits, art displays and cultural performances. Blending education and entertainment, the festival offers immersive opportunities to learn about endangered snail species and support community-driven conservation. BishopMuseum.org