Ein Prosit! Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest on O‘ahu
Check out 11 places around the island to celebrate with German beer, bratwurst and plenty of lederhosen.
Oktoberfest at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako. Photo: Alexander Gates
Oktoberfest began as a Bavarian tradition to celebrate a prince’s wedding. Now it has spread around the world as a celebration of great German beers, food and music—even in the middle of the Pacific. There are some changes to this year’s lineup of festivals around Honolulu, so plan accordingly. Grab a stein and bring your empty belly!
Howzit Brewing Oktoberfest
Saturday, Sept. 12
Free entry, pay as you go
One of Hawai‘i’s newest breweries is joining the celebration for the first time this year. Tenth anniversary limited-edition Teku stein-style glass mugs will be available for purchase ($25 including first pour), to be filled with three different German beers: hefeweizen, pilsner and dunkel.
Oktoberfest at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako
Saturday, Sept. 19 and 26, 5 to 9 p.m.
Free entry, pay as you go
The popular event from Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room spans consecutive Saturdays and features stein-hoisting competitions (6 to 8 p.m.) with prizes. Look for the largest selection of German beers in Hawai‘i from classics such as Ayinger, Spaten and Paulaner. The first 96 people each night get a free stein. German brats will be available from Village Bottle Shop, with pretzels and other baked goods for sale from Aloha German Bakery. Wear your best lederhosen and dirndl with dancing shoes because dance music by Mike Lewis & Friends featuring The Matterhorns will be playing both evenings.
Hana Koa Brewing Oktoberfest Kick Off Celebration
Starts Saturday, Sept. 19
Free entry, pay as you go
Hana Koa’s kickoff celebration starts Sept. 19 with the release of its annual Hammershlager Festbier and Foundling Dunkel Lager. German-inspired food will be available, including a schweinebraten plate ($28) of slow-roasted pork shoulder with mustard gravy, sauerkraut and warm potato salad, available only Sept. 19. Every day from the 19th to Oct. 3, you’ll find beer brat hot dogs ($10) with fixings and knotted soft pretzels ($6.50).
Waikīkī Brewing Co. Beer & Food Releases
Starts Saturday, Sept. 25
Pay as you go
Waikīkī Brewing’s brewhouse remodel means it won’t be hosting a parking lot party this year, but four new Oktoberfest beers, the largest locally brewed selection on O‘ahu, will celebrate the season. The flight-and-pint bundle ($19) makes a return: receive 4-ounce pours of Munich-Style Helles Lager, German-Style Festbier, Munich Dunkel Lager and Traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen, then choose a full pint of your favorite (pints purchased separately are $9). Also starting Sept. 25 and going for a few weeks are German food specials. The Festbier is on tap to try now, with a matching limited edition T-shirt available for purchase. Growler fills of all four beers will be $28.
Kailua Fall Festival
Saturday, Sept. 26, 5 to 10 p.m.
Free entry, party bus wrist band ($22), or VIP for priority entry and seating ($65)
Kailua’s annual block party and trolley crawl is back, with free entry to the street festival and concert for the whole family, including pets. If you’re drinking, upgrade to a wristband that grants access to Windward side bars, including Lava Bar, Kailua Town Pub, Big City Diner, Uahi Grill, Banyans, Bottleheads and Lanikai Brewing. A party bus is included between venues. VIP tickets include guaranteed seating and discounts at some venues. See website for parking, transportation and entry details. This event is family-friendly with keiki activities as well.
Oktoberfest 2026 at Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks
Saturday, Sept. 26, 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Early entry ($25), Late entry ($30), Race ($30)
Open to military/DOD ID holders and their guests, this family-friendly event includes traditional German beer, food and music by the 25th Infantry Division Band, plus a Keiki Root Beer Festival, Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest competition, keg competitions and bounce houses. The evening starts with a Wurst 5K Fun Run with pretzels, brats and chocolate cake to eat along the way ($25 registration, $30 late).
Beer Brats at Beer Lab Hawai‘i
Starts Thursday, Oct. 1
The Hall at Pearlridge and Puck’s Alley locations only
Pay as you go
Beer Lab is joining the fun by hosting a Sausage Fest at two locations. Beginning Oct. 1, find homemade beer brats and other German-inspired food dishes and mega beer mugs for extra big pours!
Aloha Beer Co. Oktoberfest 2026
Friday, Oct. 2, 5 to 10 p.m.
Aloha Beer Co. takes advantage of its open-air beer garden in Kaka‘ako to celebrate the season. The Friday night party features the Aloha Fest Bier limited release, available in $25 keepsake steins ($10 refills all night). A Drindl & Lederhosen Contest will award the best dressed. Watch while enjoying Oktoberfest food menu specials.
Oktoberfest 2026 at Hale Koa Hotel
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Ticket presale $68–$78
Returning indoors to the Banyan Tree Showroom, this festival is open to active, retired, US military and DOD ID holders and their guests. It also sells out quickly, so book tables in advance. The event features a large selection of favorite German foods like sauerbraten, schweinshaxe, bratwurst and more, plus a few German beers. A live German band plays songs for dancing all night, with breaks for stein-hoisting competitions.
Lanikai Brewing Oktoberfest Celebration in Kailua
Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Free entry, pay as you go
Lanikai Brewing is celebrating Oktoberfest with a full-day celebration at its biergarten-themed taproom in Kailua. Three German-style beers will be tapped: a märzen, a helles and a hefeweizen. There’ll also be non-alcoholic drink specials, an apfelschorle and lemon spezi. German-inspired food items will be available all day, but the highlight is the inaugural “Brat Boss” competition at 6 p.m. Competitors will have 10 minutes to eat as many brats as they can, and the winner gets a $100 gift card, a crown and bragging rights. Register online by Sept. 10. Entrants receive an exclusive T-shirt and swag.
Oktoberfest 2026 Star of the Sea Church
Friday, Oct. 25, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets ($90 cash or check only)
staroftheseahonolulu.com/oktoberfest
Adorned in Hofbrauhaus decorations, the church’s cafeteria is transformed into a venue to drink, eat and dance the night away. A German buffet by Chef Stefan is paired with German beers on tap as well as German wine, both included in the price. Mike Lewis & the Matterhorns will play polka and other lively tunes and be joined by German dancers and other musicians throughout the evening.
Other bars and breweries will be celebrating too—check out food and beer specials at Off the Wall and other places around town. Remember, Oktoberfest isn’t just an excuse to drink beer. It’s an excuse to drink a lot of beer! And keep an eye out for local breweries releasing Oktoberfest beers this year. Prost!
Alexander B. Gates, a BJCP Certified Beer Judge and Cicerone Certified Beer Server, is a regular contributor to Frolic Hawai‘i. @alohastatebeer
