Your Guide to the Perfect 4th of July Weekend in Honolulu: June 29–July 5, 2023
See Iam Tongi perform at Turtle Bay, get a tarot reading, watch a breakdancing competition and eat fresh andagi at Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest.
Photo: Courtesy of Our Kaka‘ako
Salt Summer Nights
Friday, June 30, 6 to 10 p.m.
Pau hana at The Barn on Friday night in Kaka‘ako, where you’ll be serenaded by local performers Pono Kaeo, Kapono Wong and the evening’s headliner Ten Feet. Drinks will be served up by the Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, and Salt shops will be open. All ages are welcome, and so are your pets.
Family-friendly, free, The Barn at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 327 Keawe St., saltatkakaako.com, @saltourkakaako
Ride, Shop, Dine and Play at Aloha Stadium
Saturday, July 1, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, July 2, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In honor of the rail reaching Aloha Stadium this weekend, more than 400 vendors will pop up at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace, and the food court will have plenty of local grinds. You can also visit the nearby 50th State Fair, so check its website for hours and ticket info. All parking gates are cash only, and the stadium asks that you keep pets at home.
Family-friendly, general admission $2 for ages 12 and up, kama‘āina and active military with valid ID $1, free for ages 11 and under, Aloha Stadium, 99-400 Salt Lake Blvd., alohastadium.hawaii.gov, @alohastadiumhi
SEE ALSO: Our Guide: 50th State Fair 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest
Mō‘ili‘ili 10th Annual Summer Fest and Bon Dance
Saturday, July 1, 5 to 10 p.m.
Get ready for the biggest bon dance celebration in Honolulu. The dance will start at 6 p.m., but arrive early to grab food from 20 local vendors serving festival favorites like andagi, mochi, natto pasta and teppanyaki. Retail vendors like Eden in Love and Sumofish will also be there so you can do some shopping. Free parking will be available at the UH Mānoa campus from 4 to 11 p.m., with complimentary shuttle services to and from the festival.
Family-friendly, free, 1100 University Ave., moiliilisummerfesthi.com, @moiliilifest
SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 10th Annual Mō‘ili‘ili Summer Fest
Photo: Courtesy of Dean Treml, Red Bull
Red Bull Honolulu City Cypher
Saturday, July 1, 5 to 9 p.m.
Red Bull Breaking Competition One is a global one-on-one breaking competition inviting any breakers in Honolulu to show off their skills. Red Bull hosts more than 60 qualifier events and programs in 30 locations, and at the end, thousands of breakers compete at the Red Bull World Final. The top three girls and boys from this event will advance to the next round at the Midwest Regional in Minneapolis in late July. Breakers must be ages 16 and up to compete. A shuttle will be available from the parking lot starting at 4:30 p.m.
General Admission $5, U.S.S. Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor, 63 Cowpens St., redbull.com, @redbullbcone
Photo: Courtesy of Waimea Valley
July Moon Walk
Saturday, July 1, 8 to 10 p.m.
Waimea Valley will open its doors in the evening so guests can experience the botanical garden in the moonlight. Moon walkers will be led by a staff member in groups of 50. The first walk starts at 8 p.m. and admission closes at 8:30 p.m. It’s about three-quarters of a mile to the waterfall, and all other trails will be closed. No food or drinks are allowed inside the valley, but there is a dining area before you enter. Tickets are available online and at the ticket booth until 5 p.m. the day of the moonwalk or until sold out.
Family-friendly, $10 for ages 4 and up, Waimea Valley, 49-864 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, waimeavalley.net, @waimeavalleyoahu
SEE ALSO: Our Family Guide: Waimea Valley on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of WCIT Architecture, Turtle Bay Resort
‘Ohana Day at Turtle Bay
Saturday, July 1, and Sunday, July 2, 3 p.m.
Don’t miss your chance to see Iam Tongi outside a phone or TV screen—this is his first concert at home since his victory on American Idol Season 21. Also performing are Spanbreezie, Kapena, Likkle Jordee, Paula Fuga and Natural Vibrations split between the two days. Plus, enjoy a fireworks show in honor of 4th of July, food trucks, vendor booths and plenty of cocktails to go around. Buy your ticket online before the event to save. VIP admission includes a premium viewing area, an exclusive entry line and dedicated bars and bathrooms. Children ages 5 and under are free.
Family-friendly, ages 5 and up $39 plus fees for both nights, day of show $50; VIP $89 plus fees, day of show $100; Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, turtlebayresort.com, @turtlebayresort
Ho‘omau Hawai‘i Market
Saturday, July 1, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 2, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Founded by the woman behind Mahina Made, the Ho‘omau Hawai‘i Market is dedicated to showcasing other Native Hawaiian-owned businesses and local shops that share the mission of highlighting their connection to Hawaiian culture through passion and creativity. This is your chance to support 50+ local businesses, including Keālia Organics, David Shepard Hawai‘i and Momona Swim. VIP ticket holders receive exclusive shopping times, discounts, validated parking and a canvas tote designed by Punky Aloha for the event.
Family-friendly, $5, VIP $55, ages 12 and under are free, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., hoomauhawaiimarket.com, @hoomauhawaiimarket
SEE ALSO: Mahina Made—A Local Lifestyle Brand Rooted in Hawaiian Culture
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Second Annual Hale‘iwa Fourth of July Fireworks and Car Show Festival
Tuesday, July 4, noon to 8 p.m.
Hosted by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, this event will feature everything you and your keiki could ask for, including a vintage car show, food, crafts and retail vendors, plus live music, hula, bounce houses, face painting and even a robotics competition. To put a cherry on top of a fun-filled day, the fireworks will start at 8 p.m., which more than 15,000 people came to watch last year. The festival is held at a public park, so there will be space nearby to take a break from all the hullabaloo. Get there early since parking will fill up quickly.
Family-friendly, free, Hale‘iwa Beach Park, 62-449 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, haleiwajuly4thfestival.com
Super Full Moon Market
Monday, July 3, 4 to 8 p.m.
Fishcake, a dynamic décor and furniture store in Kaka‘ako, hosts this unique event that aligns with the full moon. There will be a variety of vendors, such as Human Design Hawai‘i and Island-Boy, and you can get your portrait done by The Auracle. The evening will also be packed with vintage alohawear for both men and women, polaroid photography sessions, tarot reading and much more.
Free, Fishcake, 307c Kamani St., fishcake.us, @fishcake
Left: Lissette Yamase of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, a portrait artist who uses charcoal. Right: Anthony Watson, a carver of Palauan ancestry. Photo: Courtesy of Floyd K. Takeuchi
7 Degrees North: The Arts of Micronesia
Wednesday, July 5, to Thursday, July 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Closed Mondays
This exhibition will feature both contemporary and traditional Micronesian art by artists of Micronesian ancestry who live in Hawai‘i. This exhibit is the first of its kind in three decades in Honolulu and will showcase work from Lissette Yamase, a portrait artist who uses charcoal, Anthony Watson, a carver, and Eric Cano, a graphic artist, and more.
Free, Downtown Art Center, 1041 Nu‘uanu Ave., downtownarthi.org, @downtownartcenter
