It’s July in the islands of aloha — here’s what not to miss!
You’ll see plenty of red, white and blue in Hawaii this month—and not just for the 4th of July. Tri-colored Hawaiian flags will wave for Lā Ho‘iho‘i ‘Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, on July 31, with many celebrations across the state the weekend before. Considered the first national holiday in Hawai‘i, it marks the end of a brief takeover in 1843 at the command of a rogue British lord. King Kamehameha III formally raised his kingdom’s flag again at a public ceremony in Honolulu’s Thomas Square, which will be the site of one of the biggest La Ho‘iho‘i ‘Ea festivals on July 28.
Feature photo: Oahu Keiki Hula, photo courtesy of Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition
Oahu
Two long-running hula festivals named for Hawaiian royalty showcase a range of ages and styles as well as lively marketplaces. The 48th annual Prince Lot Hula Festival is the largest noncompetitive hula event in the islands, presenting free performances by top halau (troupes) from around the state July 19 and 20 at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds in downtown Honolulu. The festival also includes food, arts and crafts, composition workshops and (this is key) free parking. Boys and girl dancers ages 6 to 12 will also charm the crowd—and stay up way past their bedtimes—in the group and solo hula competitions of the 50th anniversary Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Festival at the Blaisdell Center July 24-26. Open to the public, the center’s Exhibition Hall and Paikini Plaza will feature a free popup marketplace, historic artifacts from the Hawaii State Archives, live music and hula, and fashions by local designers.
Here are highlights of events around Oahu in July:
July 4
Ala Moana Center’s 4th of July festivities include live music by Kapena, Henry Kapono and other top island acts, DJs and children’s activities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., ending in time to catch the weekly 7:45 p.m. Friday fireworks show on the beach in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.
July 6-12
What would Waikiki be without the sound of ukuleles? You won’t have to wonder at the free Hawai‘i ‘Ukulele Festival July 13 at Kapiolani Park Bandstand. The event includes a multi-ethnic food court, arts and crafts, and performances by renowned and up-and-coming ukulele players. Not to be outdone, Waikiki Steel Guitar Week celebrates the iconic Hawaiian musical instrument and its music with free performances July 6-12 at Royal Grove Stage at Helumoa in the Royal Hawaiian Center. July 6 is also the start of Hula Grill Waikiki’s Steel Guitar Sundays, showcasing steel guitar performances from 10 a.m. to noon the first Sunday of the month.
July 4
The fourth annual Haleiwa 4th of July Fireworks and Community Festival will brighten your Independence Day (and night) with a car show, live music, food and drinks, and of course, pyrotechnics over the ocean. The free event takes place from 1 to 9 p.m. July 4 at Haleiwa Beach Park.
Maui
Flowers instead of fireworks fill the skies over two Kaanapali resorts this Fourth of July. The first helicopter drop of tropical petals takes place at noon over the pool deck of the Westin Maui, whose 4th of July Celebration also includes oceanfront barbecue 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., face painting and balloon twisting in the lobby 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and a wings-eating contest at the Food Truck at 1 p.m. Nearby, the Outrigger Kaanapali Beach hosts its own aerial flower shower at 2 p.m., while its family-friendly Flowerworks & Summer Fun event on the resort lawn and courtyard offers keiki activities, live music by Na Ali‘i Big Band, local vendors and barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Here’s what else to watch or nosh on the Valley Isle this month:
July 10-13
The 44th annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival pairs the beautiful setting of the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, with samplings of top vintages of Anderson Valley and Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Napa Valley Cabernet and Champagne at an array of events July 10-13. Celebrity chef cooking demos, vintner seminars, a grand tasting gala, a winemaker dinner, food pairings and other delectable experiences are available via individual tickets or a festival pass.
July 10
Hawaiian reggae star Paula Fuga performs at Ocean Organic Farm and Distillery in Kula on July 10. Part of the Upcountry Farm Dinner Series, the event also includes music by opening act Tempa & Naor, farm-to-table cuisine, craft cocktails (this is the home of Ocean Organic Vodka and sweeping bicoastal views.
July 1
The 25th annual Lanai Pineapple Festival on July 1 features the sweet spiky fruit in a cooking contest but it’s also a paean to the people of the former “Pineapple Island.” Held from 2 to 9 p.m. in Lanai City’s Dole Park, the free festival includes food, arts and crafts, children’s games and activities, Filipino dance, hula, tai chi and tae kwon do demonstrations, and live music, headlined by Anuhea at 7:30 p.m and followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.
Hawaii Island
It’s impossible to predict if Kilauea’s Halemaumau will still be putting on its spectacular shows of fountaining lava in late July, but the sixth annual Experience Volcano Festival provides plenty of other easons to check out the village next to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Runners can compete in scenic 5K and half-marathon races in Volcano’s Ohia Lehua Runs on July 26, while Volcano Golf Course hosts arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, kids activities, live music, hula and other cultural performances from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 26 and 27. Local restaurants offer special happy hours, too.
Here are more highlights for July on Hawaii Island:
July 19
Get a little sweet and sticky at the 15th annual Mango Festival July 19 at oceanfront Hale Halawai on Alii Drive. The free event ncludes mango tastings, expert panels and demonstrations, local arts and crafts, vegan food, hula and other live entertainment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July 4
The Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort think it’s just ducky to raise funds for the United Cerebral Palsy Association while enjoying Independence Day fun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 4. The festivities includes watermelon- and shave ice-eating contests, live music, kids’ activities, a scavenger hunt, duck waddling and duck calling competitions and the 33rd annual Great Waikoloa Rubber Duckie Race, where sponsors of the thousands of rubber ducks floating across the resort lake can win hotel stays, dolphin experiences, gift baskets and other donated prizes.’
July 25-27
Thousands of colorful orchids, including rare species and spectacular hybrids, go on display at Edith Kanakaole Stadium during the Hilo Orchid Society Annual Sale & Show. The state’s largest such flower show includes eye-catching exhibitions, expert panels and sales of local food as well as orchids from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 27.
Kauai
Official 4th of July fireworks are in short supply on the island, since the traditional show at Vidinha Stadium in Lihue had to be canceled due to its renovation. Fortunately, you can still view a daytime aerial display of flowers cascading from a helicopter over the Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort. The Flowerworks show takes place at 9:30 a.m. July 4; resort guests can gather the blossoms for a free lei-making workshop at 10 a.m. with cultural practitioner Maka Herrod. Everyone can enjoy the Kaua‘i Made Craft Fair, home to edible treats as well as handmade treasures, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Here are other fun events on Kauai this month:
July 8
The second Tuesday of the month means it’s time for Puppy Hour at Hale Lihue, the community center on Rice Street in downtown Lihue. A fundraiser for Kauai Humane Society (the island’s only animal shelter), the event allows you to meet adorable adoptable puppies from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while treating yourself to coffee drinks, baked goods and Spam musubi from the in-house Ha Coffee shop.
July 26
The 14th annual Hanalei Bay Swim Challenge on July 26 features five races in the bay’s typically calm and clear summer waters, including two kids divisions, for ages 8 and under and ages 9 to 12. The 1,000- and 3,000-meter races give awards to the top three swimmers in eight different age groups, while swimmers using masks and fins (but no snorkels) can compete in an all-ages 3,000-meter race.
July 18-27
The 40th annual Koloa Plantation Days festival July 18–27 brings a cavalcade of family-friendly events celebrating the history and multiethnic culture of Koloa, where Hawaii’s first successful sugar plantation was founded in 1835. In addition to the signature parade July 26, a variety of venues offer historic tours and walks, storytelling, hula, taiko drumming, music, arts and crafts, children’s activities and lots and lots of food. You can offset some of the calories July 27, with a 1K Keiki (children’s) Run and Family Fun Run/Walk distances of 5K, 10K and 10 miles.
