Statewide holidays worth knowing about
Hawaiʻi observes several state holidays not found on the mainland — useful to know both for planning (some businesses and government offices close) and for genuinely understanding what's being celebrated.
King Kamehameha Day (June 11)
Honors Kamehameha I, who united the islands under a single kingdom in 1810 (see our history guide). Statues of Kamehameha across the islands are traditionally draped in massive lei for the occasion, and parades are held in Honolulu and on the Big Island.
Prince Kūhiʻō Day (March 26)
Honors Prince Jonah Kūhiʻō Kalanianaʻole, who served as Hawaiʻi's territorial delegate to the US Congress in the early 20th century and championed the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which set aside land for Native Hawaiian homesteading. Often marked with canoe races and cultural festivals.
Lei Day (May 1)
Covered in more depth in our lei traditions guide — a statewide celebration with lei-making contests and community festivals.
Merrie Monarch Festival (the week after Easter)
Covered in our hula guide — the world's most prestigious hula competition, held annually in Hilo.
Statehood Day (third Friday in August)
Marks Hawaiʻi's 1959 admission as the 50th US state. Observed with less uniform celebration than the other dates on this list — statehood remains a genuinely debated topic for some, tied to the sovereignty questions raised in our history guide.
Local festivals worth planning a trip around
- Aloha Festivals (various dates, statewide, historically September) — a decades-old tradition celebrating Hawaiian culture broadly, with parades and block parties on multiple islands.
- Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (November, Big Island) — timed to coincide with coffee harvest season, covered in our coffee farm tours guide.
- Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival (typically fall, multiple islands) — a major culinary event featuring both local and internationally known chefs.