Our Guide: Honolulu Summer Festivals

Ah, summer—the time for vacations, barbecues, beach trips and holoholo days. In Hawai‘i, it’s also festival season, which means we can’t wait to dance around the yagura (tower) at bon dances, sample hot and fresh street foods, admire hula performances and so much more. With a variety of cultural celebrations to enjoy across Honolulu, here’s our roundup of can’t-miss summer festivals.

Keep an eye on this story—it’ll be updated throughout the summer as more info becomes available.

Photo: Courtesy of Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest

Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest

Saturday, July 1, 5 to 10 p.m.

This annual festival boasts Honolulu’s largest bon dance as well as cultural entertainment and local food and retail vendors.

Free, former Varsity Theatre parking lot and Coyne Street, 1106 University Ave., moiliilisummerfesthi.com, @moiliilifest

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 10th Annual Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest

Photo: Zane Persaud

Honolulu Surf Film Festival

July 6–30, various times

The Honolulu Surf Film Festival features a lineup of 28 surf films, which can be voted on at each screening in the Audience Choice awards, as well as the Surf Aloha Concert on Saturday, July 29, featuring Landon McNamara.

Varying ticket prices, Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S Beretania St., honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum

SEE ALSO: Mindy Eun Soo Pennybacker’s “Surfing Sisterhood Hawai‘i” Is a Literary Tidal Wave

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Prince Lot Hula Festival

Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The state’s largest noncompetitive hula celebration returns with performances by 12 hālau hula, a Hawaiian craft fair, cultural demonstrations, local foods and a concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band.

Free, Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, 650 S. King St., moanaluagardensfoundation.org

Photos: Courtesy of Fishcake (right), Erika Pascual (left)

Mini Matsuri Summer Festival

Saturday, July 22, 6 to 10 p.m.

Fishcake is hosting its first-ever Mini Matsuri to celebrate the spirit of summer through various art-making workshops, live performances, games, food trucks and more.

Free, Fishcake, 307C Kamani St., fishcake.us, @fishcakehawaii

Photo: Tien Enga

Comic Con Honolulu

Friday, Aug. 4, to Sunday, Aug. 6

The place to geek out about comics, anime, TV shows, games and more, Comic Con Honolulu gathers celebrity guests, cosplayers, artists and fans for a weekend of fun.

Online pre-registration: three-day membership, $70.

At the door: three-day membership, $75; Friday only, $40; Saturday only, $55; Sunday only, $55.

Children 10 and under get in free with adult membership.

Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., comicconhonolulu.com, @comicconhnl

Photo: Courtesy of Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Friday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All vendors must earn an official Made in Hawai‘i certification to qualify for this festival, so support local while shopping for food, drinks, home goods, art, clothing and more.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 4, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., madeinhawaiifestival.com, @madeinhi

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 29th Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Photo: Ross D. Hamamura, Courtesy of Korean Festival

Korean Festival

Saturday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find favorites like kalbi, kim chee and soju at the Korean Festival, along with a Korean food eating contest, a K-pop dance contest and more cultural activities.

Free, Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, 650 S. King St., koreanfesthawaii.com, @koreanfestival

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 19th Annual Korean Festival

Photo: Greg Yamamoto

Okinawan Festival

Saturday, Sept. 2, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With ‘ono food, cultural performances and exhibits, arts and crafts, and a bon dance, there’s so much to see and do when “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha” at the Okinawan Festival.

General admission (Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.): adults $10, seniors 65-plus $5. Early admission (Saturday and Sunday 9–10 a.m.) purchased online: adults $15, seniors 65-plus $10. Children 12 and under free. Free admission to the bon dance Saturday 5:30–9 p.m.

Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., okinawanfestival.com, @okinawanfestival

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 41st Okinawan Festival

Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

In-person Sept. 8–10

Online Sept. 11–18

Presented by the Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Cultural Foundation, the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival features queer cinema from Hawai‘i and across Asia, the Pacific and the West. This year will present Hawai‘i’s first LGBTQ+ boy love feature film My Partner.

$50 all-access pass, Doris Duke Theater at the Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., hglcf.org, @hrfilmfest

SEE ALSO: Honolulu’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival Returns

Photo: Courtesy of Aloha Festivals

Aloha Festivals

Royal Court Investiture Opening Ceremony: Saturday, Sept. 9, 4 to 6 p.m.

Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a: Saturday, Sept. 23, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Floral Parade: Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to noon

Aloha Festivals celebrate all things Hawaiian culture with vibrant regalia, hula and musical performances and a block party and parade in Waikīkī.

Free

Royal Court Investiture Opening Ceremony, location TBA

Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a and Floral Parade, Kalākaua Avenue

alohafestivals.com, @alohafestivals

Photo: Courtesy of Festa Italiana Hawai‘i

Festa Italiana

VIP Passaporto Italiano event: Friday, Sept. 15

Street festival: Saturday, Sept. 16

Where “Ciao” meets “Aloha,” Hawai‘i’s only Italian festival brings together Italian and Italian-inspired experiences, entertainment and flavors.

Ticketed VIP Passaporto Italiano event, Velocity Honolulu, 888 Kapi‘olani Blvd.

Free street festival in Kaka‘ako, Cooke Street

festaitalianahawaii.com, @festaitaliana

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to Festa Italiana