Your Insider Guide to the 2025 ‘Iolani Fair

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

The annual school fair is back, boasting an intergalactic theme of Cosmic Craze. Squeal with delight on rides by E. K. Fernandez, win prizes at the Midway Games, make crafts in the Keiki Kountry tent, shop the General Store, bid on the silent auction and much more.

Come hungry because this fair is famous for its fantastic food lineup featuring everything from carnival classics, like giant turkey legs and waffle dogs to new specials, such as Asato Family Shop’s Cosmic Cookie sherbet flavor, charcuterie cups, seafood rolls and Dole Whip. In fact, ‘Iolani School’s Fair made history as the first fair in Hawai‘i to be featured on Cooking Channel’s Carnival Eats in 2019.

All the food and fun is for a good cause. Proceeds from the fair benefit travel opportunities for the private school’s 2,200 students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Click to the information you want to explore:

• Where and When
• How to Pay
• What to Do
• What to Eat
• Tips

SEE ALSO: Things to Do on O‘ahu in April 2025

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

Where and When

The fair takes place at ‘Iolani School in Mō‘ili‘ili on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, from noon to 10 p.m.

Where to Park

Parking is available at Kaimukī High School for $5 with no in-out privileges. The lot will be open on Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

How to Pay

Admission to the fair is free. Rides, games, food and activities are paid with scrips, which are 50 cents each. E.K. Fernandez rides range from 8 to 10 scrips, games range from 5 to 6 scrips per play and keiki games and activities range from 2 to 10 scrips. Scrips can be purchased with cash, credit or debit cards.

These booths will accept credit and debit payments in addition to scrip.

• Logo Shop
• ‘Ohana Quilters (handmade quilts)
• Plants
• Sweets & Treats (featuring jams, jelly, baked goods and snacks)

What to Do

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

Games

Play games galore across three tents and collect prize coupons to redeem at The Trading Post. Games include Air Ball, Bank Shot, Break the Plate, Dragon Treasure, Fast Cat Baseball, Frog Bog, Pringles Toss and many more.

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

Keiki Activities

At the Keiki Kountry tent, young fairgoers can play games, like Ducky Dash, Garden Dig, Go Fish, Horse Wrangler and Wagon Wheel. Get glam with hair and body glitter, glitter tattoo and friendship bracelet stations. There are also arts activities, including crafting sensory bottles, slime and deco fans. Heads-up: due to construction on a new student center, there will not be a petting zoo nor pony rides this year.

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

Rides

Carnival favorite EK Fernandez will be there with six family rides. Only scrips will be accepted.

• Balloon Race – 8 scrips
• Dizzy Dragons – 8 scrips
• Lolli Swings – 8 scrips
• Magic Maze – 8 scrips
• Super Slide – 8 scrips
• Zero Gravity – 10 scrips

General Store

Score homemade mango and liliko‘i jams and jellies, kimchee, baked goods and quilts at the General Store. Lei po‘o and plants as well as ‘Iolani Fair and exclusive ‘Iolani School logo items will also be for sale.

Silent Auction

This year’s silent auction will be online only. The auction will go live on Wednesday, April 23, and end on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. Winning bidders can pick up their items from the fair office on Saturday, April 26, from 8 to 10 p.m. or Sunday, April 27, from 9 to 10 a.m.

SEE ALSO: Your Guide to Farmers Markets on O‘ahu

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

What to Eat at the ‘Iolani Fair

Fill up on all of your fair favorites like the huli beef sandwich, gumbo and Okinawan soba noodles, but save room for this year’s new items, including Mochisadas, a mash-up of malasadas and mochi donuts. For healthier options, head over to the Gourmet Tent for quinoa on mixed greens and tofu poke salad.

Food Booth Menu

*New for 2025

• BBQ
  • Spicy Pork*
  • Korean-Style BBQ Chicken*
  • Combo (Spicy Pork and Chicken)*
• Fries
  • Truffle Garlic Fries
  • Plain Fries
• Onion Rings
• Teri Hamburger
• Teri Cheeseburger
• Huli Beef Sandwich With Au Jus
• ‘Iolani Waffle Dog
• Local Bowls
  • Orange Chicken*
  • Kalua Pork and Cabbage
• Malasadas
  • Mochisadas*
  • Mochisadas with Custard Filling*
• Asato Family Shop Sherbets – Cosmic Cookie
• Okinawan Noodles
• Pizza
  • Pepperoni Pizza Slice
  • Cheese Pizza Slice
• Smoothies
  • Strawberry Cream
  • Cookies and Cream
• Jumbo Smoked Turkey Legs
• Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Gourmet Tent

• Mains
  • Seafood Roll
  • Southwest Chicken Wrap
  • Quinoa on Mixed Greens
  • Tofu Poke Salad
  • Charcuterie Cup
• Desserts
  • Chocolate Cake
  • Dole Whip
  • Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding
• Drinks
  • Coffee Jelly
  • Cosmic Lemonade
  • Italian Cream Soda
  • Milk Tea

Photo: Courtesy of ‘Iolani School

Tips

1. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to stay protected during the day.
2. Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated and refill at the water stations on campus.
3. Tote bags or small backpacks are great for carrying your purchases, game prizes or fair finds. There is also a Will Call booth to stash your stuff.
4. Restrooms are located throughout the campus. There will also be portable restroom stations near the seating tent and Keiki Kountry tent.
5. Bring a blanket or mat if you’d like to sit and eat on the field. Otherwise, there will be a tent with tables and seating and plenty of open areas on the field to relax.
6. Parking can fill up quickly, so consider carpooling or using rideshare services.

‘Iolani Fair, April 25 and 26, noon to 10 p.m., ‘Iolani School, 563 Kamoku St., iolanifair.org, @iolani_school