The 11 Best Events on O‘ahu in March 2019
Two reasons to run, local comedy giants and a Hōkūle‘a-inspired symphony performance take center stage this month.
FESTIVAL
Wanderlust
Thursday, February 28–Sunday, March 3
Photo: COURTESY OF WANDERLUST FESTIVAL / MELISSA GAYLE
Try stand-up paddleboard, aerial and horse yoga, meditate on the beach, learn to grow organic food, listen to lectures and the music of Corinne Bailey Rae, all with a kombucha in your hand, at this four-day inspiration fest.
Turtle Bay Resort, $20–$420, wanderlust.com
SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to Wanderlust O‘ahu 2019
FITNESS & SPORTS
HONOLULU Family Fun Run
Saturday, March 2 | 7–9 a.m.
PHOTO: GREGORY YAMAMOTO
Princesses and superheroes will kick-start this run around Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island. Missed the deadline to register online? Head to the race early and stop by the registration booth. We’ll be taking last-minute sign-ups starting from 5:30 a.m.
Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park, 1201 Ala Moana Blvd., $20–$25, hnltix.com
SEE ALSO: HONOLULU Family’s Guide to Getting Ready for a 5K in Hawai‘i
COMEDY
Augie T’s Last Stand
Saturday, March 2 | 6 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of blaisdell center
This time it’s really happening. Augie T closes out his farewell-to-stand-up tour with local comedy giants Andy Bumatai and Frank DeLima. For the end of his 27-year stand-up career, the comedian promises his characteristic clean humor, some of his greatest hits and more than a few last laughs.
Blaisdell Arena, $10–$60, blaisdellcenter.com
SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2019 Honolulu Festival
CULTURE
Honolulu Festival
Friday, March 8–Sunday, March 10 | Various times
Photo: courtesy of honolulu festival foundation
The website may proclaim the Honolulu Festival as “an attractive event to your Hawaiian vacation,” but there is a lot for locals to enjoy at the 25th annual celebration. Performers from around the world, but mostly Japan, will dance, play music and create crafts. The food is always a draw, as are the keiki games. And you won’t want to miss the Sunday parade, which ends with a giant fireworks show in Waikīkī.
Hawai‘i Convention Center, Waikīkī and other locations, free, honolulufestival.com
SEE ALSO: Best of the Fests: O‘ahu’s 21 Annual Ethnic Festivals
FITNESS
North Shore Triathlon
Saturday, March 9 | 6:15 a.m.
Photo: Getty Images
Fat Tuesday is March 5, so you can carbo-load with malassadas (or not) before this 15.25-mile triathlon on the North Shore. Tackle the first triathlon of the year alone or as a team, or register for the less competitive Beach Cruiser category. Just don’t feel bad if a middle schooler blazes past you. Last year’s top youth contender, 14-year-old Jayden Golden from ‘Ewa, completed the course in just 1 hour, 45 minutes.
Mokulē‘ia Beach Park, $105–$130, northshoretriathlon.com
SEE ALSO: 10 Hawai‘i Races to Watch in 2019
THEATER
Something Rotten at Diamond Head Theatre
Friday, March 22 to Sunday, April 14 | Times vary
Photo: Courtesy of Diamond Head Theatre
DHT says it’s the first community theater to perform this Broadway spoof of Shakespeare, musical dramatics and more. We can’t wait to see it.
Diamond Head Theatre, $15–$50, diamondheadtheatre.com
SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2019 Honolulu Biennial’s Immersive Art Event
CULTURE
Prince Kūhiō Parade
Saturday, March 23 | 9:30 a.m.
PHOTO: courtesy of wikipedia
Grab a spot near Queen’s Beach to watch the parade pass by, then walk over to the ho‘olaule‘a at Kapi‘olani Park in honor of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole.
Kalākaua Avenue, free, princekuhiofestival.com
SEE ALSO: 5 Free Events in Honolulu in March 2019
CONCERT
Thomas Rhett’s “Very Hot Summer Tour”
Saturday, March 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Photo: courtesy of blaisdell center
Technically, it’s spring, but we won’t quibble about when this country star stops in Honolulu.
Blaisdell Arena, $49.50–$119.50, blaisdellcenter.com
SEE ALSO: 7 Can’t-Miss Honolulu Concerts to See in March 2019
PREMIERE
Ho‘āla (To Awaken)
Thursday, March 28 | 7:30 p.m
When Hōkūle‘a returned home, part of the celebration was a seven-minute original composition by Roosevelt High graduate and UH professor Michael Thomas-Foumai. This month, his complete work Rise Hawaiki debuts, chronicling the voyages of the canoe through music. The world premiere brings together the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra and choirs from UH Mānoa and Kapi‘olani and Windward community colleges to bring to life words inspired by interviews with crew members Eddie Aikau, Sam Low, Nainoa Thompson and others.
Blaisdell Concert Hall, $29–$59, hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org
SEE ALSO: For more events in March, visit honolulumagazine.com’s online calendar
FOOD
Noodle Festival Hawai‘i
Saturday, March 30 | 3–9 p.m.
Photo: Getty Images
Slurp up the atmosphere and be ready for splashback at this food vendor-packed street fair at Ward Village.
Auahi Street, free, noodlefesthawaii.com
Aloha to Super CW
Photo: Aaron k. Yoshino
For more than a decade, Christa Wittmier was the heart of Honolulu’s nightlife scene. The blogger, DJ and promoter brought her exuberance, giant smile and passion for connecting people to events including Pow! Wow! Hawai‘i, and HONOLULU’s BrunchFest and Rose Soirée in 2018. In January, she died after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Read more about the always super CW, here.
Looking for fun new ways to experience the city? HONOLULU’s got you covered with HNLTix, your brand-new local resource for all things social—fundraisers, concerts, comedy shows, expos and everything in between. Discover your next can’t-miss event, share your favorites with friends, or promote your own event and sell tickets online. To see what’s coming up next in Honolulu, visit HNLTix.com.
Find more events at honolulufamily.com/calendar and honolulumagazine.com/calendar.
