Our Guide: Honolulu Summer Festivals

Looking for fun things to do with friends and family? Eat, drink, dance and celebrate culture throughout the summer.

August 19, 2024

Andrea Lee,

Ah, summer—the time for vacations, barbecues, beach trips and holoholo days. In Hawai‘i, it’s also festival season, which means we can’t wait to dance around the yagura (tower) at bon dances, sample hot and fresh street foods, admire hula performances and so much more. With a variety of cultural celebrations to enjoy across Honolulu, here’s our roundup of can’t-miss summer festivals.

Keep an eye on this story—it’ll be updated throughout the summer as more info becomes available.

Photo: Courtesy of Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest

Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest

Saturday, July 6, 5 to 10 p.m.

This annual festival boasts one of Honolulu’s largest bon dance as well as cultural entertainment and local food and retail vendors.

Free, former Varsity Theatre parking lot and Coyne Street, 1106 University Ave., moiliilisummerfesthi.com, @moiliilifest

Photo: Zane Persaud

Honolulu Surf Film Festival

July 11 to Aug. 4, various times

The Honolulu Surf Film Festival features a lineup of 16 surf films as well as shorts, which can be voted on at each screening in the Audience Choice awards.

$15 general admission, $12 for members, Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Prince Lot Hula Festival

Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The state’s largest noncompetitive hula celebration returns with performances by 12 hālau hula, a Hawaiian craft fair, cultural demonstrations, local foods and a concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band.

Free, Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, 650 S. King St., moanaluagardensfoundation.org

Photographer: Ross D. Hamamura Rdhphoto.net

Photo: Ross D. Hamamura, Courtesy of Korean Festival

Korean Festival

Movie Night: Friday, Aug. 2, 6 to 9 p.m.

Festival: Saturday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Find favorites like kalbi, kim chee and soju at the Korean Festival, along with a performance by K-pop group Spia, a Korean food eating contest, a K-pop song and dance contest and more cultural activities. The night before the main festival, there will also be a movie night featuring Night of the Assassin held at Ward Theatre with a special appearance by actor Shin Hyun-joon.

Free, Kaka‘ako Mauka Gateway Park, 235 Cooke St., koreanfesthawaii.com, @koreanfestival

Made In Hawaii 2022 Photo By Anthony Consillio Ac 217

Photo: Courtesy of Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Friday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All vendors must earn an official Made in Hawai‘i certification to qualify for this festival, so support local while shopping for food, drinks, home goods, art, clothing and more.

$8, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., madeinhawaiifestival.com, @madeinhi

Photo: Andrea Lee

Okinawan Festival

Saturday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (early admission at 9 a.m.)

Sunday, Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (early admission at 9 a.m.)

With ‘ono food, cultural performances and exhibits, arts and crafts, and a bon dance, there’s so much to see and do when “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha” at the Okinawan Festival.

$15 early admission ($10 for seniors), $10 general admission ($5 for seniors), Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., okinawanfestival.com, @okinawanfestival

Photo: Tien Enga

Comic Con Honolulu

Friday, Sept. 6, to Sunday, Sept. 8

The place to geek out about comics, anime, TV shows, games and more, Comic Con Honolulu gathers celebrity guests, cosplayers, artists and fans for a weekend of fun.

Online pre-registration: three-day membership $75.

At the door: three-day membership $75; Friday only $55; Saturday only $65; Sunday only $55.

Children 10 and under get in free with adult membership.

Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., comicconhonolulu.com, @comicconhnl