Oahu EventsHawaii Festivals & Events: Introduction | Oahu Events | Maui Events |Big Island Events | Kauai Events 
Special events and festivals are plentiful on Oahu. Not unexpected considering that Oahu is America's gateway to the Pacific and the most-visited island in the Hawaiian chain.
The following Oahu events are either unique to Oahu or are celebrated in a special way. Everyone is welcome to partake in the fun. Most of the events are free or almost free.
If you don't find any Oahu events that are of any particular interest, and you have sufficient time to sort through all of the events, check out the Calendar of Hawaii Festival and Events. The calendar is updated frequently and includes detailed information on all of the Oahu events and festivals (big or small) happening on the island.
January Oahu Events Sony Open in Hawaii. The Sony Open, the PGA TOUR's first full-field event of the season, attracts 144 of the world's greatest golf professionals to Waialae Country Club. The tournament is the largest charity sports event in the Hawaiian Islands.
Morey World Bodyboarding Championship. This Banzai Pipeline competition on the North Shore is determined by the best wave selection and maneuvers. Call (808) 396-2326. Early January.
Narcissus Festival. Sponsored by the Chinese Chamber of Hawaii, the Narcissus Festival is the Chinese community's celebration of the Lunar New Year in Hawaii. The Narcissus Festival includes a Narcissus Queen Pageant, Coronation Ball, Chinatown Open House with traditional lion dances dancing throughout Chinatown, and a Fashion Show. Events run in Honolulu from Janurary through March.
Moanikeala Hula 'Auana Dance Festival. The host culture of Hawaii is the featured island group for January at the The spotlight shines on the island hula dancers, young and old, as they share their skills in this annual exhibition of dance.
Turtle Bay Championship. The Turtle Bay Championship is the first full field event of The PGA CHAMPION'S TOUR. The Turtle Bay Championship offers a $1.5 million purse. The Turtle Bay Championship includes several opportunities for businesses and individuals to mix with the PGA Champions Tour's finest, including a two-day 36-hole Pro-Am competition. Annual Aloha State Square and Round Dance Festival. Square Dancers from all around the world join with Hawaii dancers to enjoy a week of "Friendship Set To Music". Events on the island of Oahu include a Luau, local dancing, Festival workshops, evening dances, and a Whale Watching Cruise.
Ala Wai Challenge Canoe Festival. Held the third Sunday in January, this outrigger canoe festival takes place along the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki. The Ala Wai Challenge is a fun, family event for the whole community (all ages). Experience ancient Hawaiian games such as ulu maika (bowling a round stone through pegs), oo ihe (spear throwing at an upright target), huki kaula (tug of war), and a 1/4-mile outrigger canoe race. It's also a great place to hear Hawaiian music.
February Oahu Events
NFL Pro Bowl. The National Football League's annual all-star game takes place at Oahu's Aloha Stadium near the beginning of the month.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, a big celebration takes place in Honolulu's Chinatown. For more information, call (808) 533-3181.
Sand Castle Building Contest. Students from the University of Hawaii School of Architecture compete against professional architects, at Kailua Beach Park, to see who can build the best, most unusual, and most outrageous sand sculpture. Call (808) 956-7225 for more details.
Punahou School Carnival. This event has everything you can imagine in a school carnival, from high-speed rides to homemade jellies. All proceeds go to scholarship funds for Hawaii's most prestigious high school. Call (808) 944-5753.
The Great Aloha Run. Thousands run 8 1/4 miles from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium. Call (808) 528-7388. Presidents' Day (3rd Mon in Feb).
Buffalo's Big Board Classic. This Makaha Beach contest involves traditional Hawaiian surfing, long boarding, and canoe-surfing. Call (808) 951-7877. Depending on the surf, it can be held in February or March.
Hawaii Pearl Open and Pro-Am Golf. Watch the pros at the Pearl Country Club in Aiea. Top professional and amateur golfers from Japan and America. Free Admission. CALL (808) 487-3802
Annual Sugar Sharks Run. 10K Run - Start is at St. Michael's School parking lot on Goodale Ave in Waialua, heads out to Mokuleia than track through picturesque Waialua Town, around Wailaua Sugar Mill and finishes at St. Michael's School parking lot. Contact: (808) 637-7772.
Cherry Blossom Festival. This Japanese celebration, which covers the entire month and spills over into March, features team ceremonies, mochi pounding and drumming. Most activities occur on Oahu.
Hawaiian Ladies Open. This LPGA tour golf tournament takes place in mid-February at Oahu's Kapolei Golf Course.
March Oahu Events
Hawaii Challenge International Sportkite Championship. Kapiolani Park hosts the longest-running sportkite competition in the world, attracting top kite pilots from around the globe. Call (808) 735-9059. First weekend in March.
Honolulu Festival. Held during the second weekend in March, this festival includes plays, street performances, kite making, Japanese dancing and a parade through Waikiki.
Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Bagpipers, bands, clowns, and marching groups parade through the heart of Waikiki (Fort DeRussy to Kapiolani Park), with lots of Irish celebrating all day. Call (808) 524-0722. March 17.
April Oahu Events
Honolulu International Bed Race Festival. This popular Mid-April event provides visitors a small taste of Honolulu, with food booths sponsored by local restaurants, live entertainment, a keiki (children's) carnival with games and rides, and an offbeat wheeled-bed race that runs along Kalakaus Ave to Kapiolani Park. Call (808) 696-2424.
Annual Easter Sunrise Service. For a century, people have gathered at the famous Punchbowl Crater (National Cemetery of the Pacific) in Honolulu for Easter sunrise services. Call (808) 566-1430.
May Oahu Events
May Day. Known as Lei Day in Hawaii, the first day of May finds everyone wearing leis. The festivities include lei-making contests, pageantry, and arts and crafts. Oahu crowns a lei queen at Kapiolani Park. Call (808) 924-8934 or (808) 524-0722.
World Fire-Knife Dance Championships and Samoan Festival. In Mid-May, at the Junior and adult fire-knife dancers from around the world converge for one of the most amazing performances you'll ever see. Authentic Samoan food and cultural festivities round out the fun. Call (808) 293-3333.
Memorial Day at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). The armed forces hold a ceremony recognizing those who died for their country. Begins at 9 am. Call (808) 532-3720.
Molakai Challenge. Held in late May, this 32-mile kayak race crosses the treacherous Kaiwi Channel from Kaluakoi Resort, Molokai to Koko Marina, Oahu.
50th State Fair. Complete with games, rides as well as exhibits, the fair runs for four weekends from late May through June at Aloha Stadium.
June Oahu Events
Pan-Pacific Festival. Held the first weekend in June, this Japanese-American festival features marching bands, costumed performers and other street entertainment throughout Honolulu and a parade to Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.
King Kamehameha Day. This state holiday is celebrated on June 11 or the nearest weekend, with events on all islands. There is a massive floral parade from downtown Honolulu to Kapiolani Park, hoolaulea (party), and much more. On Oahu, the statue of Kamehameha is ceremoniously draped with leis. Call (808) 586-0333 for Oahu events.
King Kamehameha Hula Competition. This is one of Hawaii's biggest hula contest, with dancers from as far away as Japan. The hula contest is held at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu near the end of June. Call (808) 586-0333.
Taste of Honolulu. Hawaii's premier outdoor food festival features tastings from 30 restaurants, as well as entertainment, beer and wine tastings, cooking demos, a gourmet marketplace, and children's activities. Call (808) 536-1015. End of June.
July Oahu Events
Fourth of July Fireworks. You will find a free day-long celebration at the Schofield Barracks, with entertainment, food, and games, ends with a spectacular fireworks show. Call (808) 656-0110.
Transpacific Yacht Race. In odd-numbered years, sailboats leave southern California on the July 4 weekend and arrive in Honolulu 10 to 14 days later. The race has been held for nearly a century.
Hawaii International Jazz Festival. Held over four consecutive nights in mid-July at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu. The festival includes evening concerts and daily jam sessions plus scholarship giveaways, the University of Southern California jazz band, and many popular jazz and blues artists. Call (808) 941-9974.
Prince Lot Hula Festival. Held at Oahu's Moanulua Gardens, this festival attracts hula competition from Hawaii's major hula schools. It's a good alternative to April's much better known (and much more crowded) Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Call (808) 839-5334. Third Saturday in July.
Ukulele Festival. This free concert at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki has some 600 kids (ages 4-92) strumming the ukulele. Hawaii's top musicians all pitch in. Call (808) 732-3739. Last Sunday in July.
August Oahu Events
Hawaii State Farm Fair. The annual state fair at the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu features displays of Hawaii agricultural products (including orchids), educational and cultural exhibits, entertainment, and local-style food. Call (808) 531-3531. Early August.
Obon. This special season, which is celebrated around the islands in July and August, is marked by tradional Japanese dances to honor deceased ancestors. The final event is a floating lantern ceremony at Waikiki's Ala Wai Canal.
Ki Hoalu Festival. This five-hour long festival at the Sheraton Waikiki features some of Hawaii's top slack-key (folk music) guitarists in a free concert at Ala Moana Beach Park. Call (808) 239-4336 for details. Third Sunday in August.
Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition. More than 500 keiki (children) representing 22 halau (hula schools) from the islands compete in this dance festival at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. KITV-TV broadcasts this event week later. Call (808) 521-6905. Early August or last weekend in July.
September Oahu Events
Na Wahine O Ke Kai. Hawaii's major annual women's outrigger canoe race starts at sunrise at Kaluakoi on Molokai, and ends 40 miles later at Waikiki's Fort DeRussy Beach. It's held near the end of the month.
October Oahu Events
Na Molokai Hoe. Hawaii's major men's outrigger canoe race starts shortly after sunrise on Molokai and finishes at Waikiki's Fort DeRussy Beach about five hours later. Teams from Australia, Germany and the US mainland join Hawaiian teams in this annual competition, first held in 1952. It takes place early in the month. Call (808) 261-6615.
Princess Kaiulani Commemoration Week. Held throughout the third week in October, this event honors Hawaii's last princess with festivities, hula shows, and other activities in Waikiki.
November Oahu Events The Triple Crown of Surfing. These three professional competitions (Hawaii Pro, World Cup of Surfing, and Pipeline Masters) draw the world's top surfers to Oahu's North Shore to compete for than $1 million in prize money. These extremely popular Oahu events begin in November and run through December, with the exact dates dependent on when the surf's up.
December Oahu Events
Pearl Harbor Day. In commemoration of the Japanese attack on Oahu, special ceremonies are held at the USS Arizona Memorial on December 7.
Festival of Lights. The mayor throws the switch to light up the 40-foot-tall Norfolk pine and other trees in front of Honolulu Hale. Call (808) 547-4397. Early December.
Festival of Trees. This downtown Honolulu display of one-of-a-kind decorated trees, wreaths, and decorations benefits Queen's Medical Center. The lighting takes place the first or second week of the month. Call (808) 547-4371.
Honolulu Marathon. The third-largest marathon in the USA, some 30,000 competitors, is run on the second Sunday of the month along a 26-mile course from the Aloha Tower to Kapiolani Park. One of the more popular Oahu events.
Aloha Bowl. On Christmas day, a Pac-10 team plays a Big 12 team in this nationally televised collegiate football classic at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu. Call (808) 545-7171.
Rainbow Classic. Eight of the best NCAA basketball teams compete at the Special Oahu Events Arena. Call (808) 956-6501. The week after Christmas.
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