February
NFL Pro Bowl - first Sunday in February, the National Football League's pro players compete in this annual gridiron all-star game at the Aloha Stadium
Chinese New Year - late January / early February, one of the biggest celebrations in Honolulu's Chinatown
Narcissus Festival - around Chinese New Year, a cultural festival including cooking, cultural fair and a queen pageant
The Great Aloha Run - third Monday in February on President's Day, a race involving thousands of runners from the Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium
March
Hawaii Challenge International Sportkite Championship - first weekend in March, kite flyers from around the world compete at Kapiolani Park in the oldest event of its kind in the world
Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade - March 17th, this annual celebration of Ireland's St. Patrick is set in Waikiki (Fort DeRussy to Kapiolani Park) and consists of lots of bagpipe playing and celebrating throughout the day
Annual Easter Sunrise Service - late March/early April, a gathering for the Easter sunrise services in the wonderful National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater
April
Honolulu International Bed Race Festival - mid-April, a popular fund raiser carnival with games and rides for the kids and a bed pushing race through Honolulu's streets to raise money for local charities
May
Annual Lei Day Celebration - May 1st, an annual holiday for Hawaiians that features lei-making contests and pageantry
Memorial Day - late May, held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl by the US armed forces to recognize fallen soldiers
June
King Kamehameha Hula Competition - third weekend in June, perhaps the most famed hula competition held in the Neal Blaisdell Center, with participating dancers coming from as far away as Japan
July
Fourth of July Fireworks - July 4th, the annual day of independence celebrations take place at the Desiderio and Sills Field, Schofield Barracks, and consists of lots of games, food and fireworks
Walter J. McFarlane Regatta and Surf Race - early July, a regatta for outrigger canoes consisting of numerous events
Hawaii International Jazz Festival - mid-July, a jazz festival featuring many popular artists, jam sessions and evening concerts held in the Sheraton Waikiki
August
Hawaii State Fair - early August, held in the Aloha Stadium, this event features entertainment, cultural exhibits, Hawaiian agricultural products and local food
Duke Kahanamoku Beach Doubles Volleyball Championship - mid-August, teams must register in advance at this oldest running beach volleyball competition in Hawaii
September
Waikiki Rough-Water Swim - Labor Day, this popular swim from Sans Souci Beach to Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki is for competent swimmers only as it is in the open ocean
Na Wahine O Ke Kai - last weekend in September, an exciting international outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Waikiki
October
Intertribal Powwow - early October, held in Thomas Square in downtown Honolulu, the event marks Native American culture and features arts and crafts, entertainment and displays by the American Indian Pow-Wow Association
November
World Invitational Hula Festival - early to mid-November, a dancing competition for dancers from various countries held in the Waikiki Shell
December
Honolulu Marathon - early December, a marathon race including more than30,000 competitors
New Years Eve - December 31st, a veritable feast of parades and partying around the streets of Honolulu |
