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A Travel Advisor’s Guide to Hawai‘i’s Heritage Events
This Fall, we invite you to explore a selection of places, events, and festivals that celebrate Hawai‘i’s rich multicultural traditions. These experiences provide your clients with opportunities to deepen their connection to the Islands through culture, community, and history.
Kaua‘i
The Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival offers an immersive week of hula and music workshops, educational presentations, and a popular hula competition and craft fair. It is an excellent choice for clients eager to engage with Hawaiian culture and language in a hands-on setting. The Eō e Emalani Festival commemorates Queen Emma’s historic 1871 journey to the mountain forests of Kōkeʻe. Clients will enjoy a day of hula performances and historical reenactments that bring Hawai‘i’s royal heritage to life.
O‘ahu
In downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown district, the Mid-Autumn Festival honors a traditional Chinese holiday marking the harvest season’s end. Clients can experience an evening of lantern parades, lion dances, martial arts, cultural performances, and authentic cuisine. Encourage travelers to attend the Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival, which honors the deity, Lono, and the start of the fall harvest season. This full-day celebration features Polynesian sports competitions, live music, hula performances, and local food.
Maui
The annual Hula o Nā Keiki competition, at the OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, showcases the artistry of keiki (children) hula dancers ages six to 17, performing both kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) hula. For a lively evening outing, recommend Wailuku First Friday, a monthly street festival filled with art, live entertainment, food trucks, and local products that highlight the island’s creative spirit.
Hawai‘i Island
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is a 10-day celebration of the district’s famed coffee and agricultural traditions. Clients with culinary interests will enjoy tastings, cupping competitions, farm tours, art strolls, food events, and a festive town ho‘olaule‘a (celebration). Also suggest a visit to the Paniolo Heritage Center at Pukalani Stables in Waimea, where visitors can learn about the history and legacy of Hawai‘i’s paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture. | |
