Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: Jan. 8–14, 2026
Attend a pop culture expo, celebrate the new year, watch a pageant, explore an art museum and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Pop Con
Hawai‘i Pop Con
Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Whether you’re a Pokémon fanatic, sports cards collector or cosplay enthusiast, surround yourself with all things pop culture at this two-day expo. Dress as your favorite character, meet legendary comic writers and artists, trade cards and shop local vendors.
Family-friendly, $15 single-day pass, $25 weekend pass, free for keiki 6 and under, Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, 777 Ward Ave., Kaka‘ako, hawaiipopcon.com, @hawaiipopcon
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Photo: Courtesy of Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i
New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival
Sunday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate the year of the horse with your favorite local and Japanese new year’s traditions at this long-standing community event. Eat soba, andagi and taiyaki, watch sumo and mochi pounding demonstrations, fold origami, learn shodo calligraphy and shop local vendors. Make sure to grab a lucky fukubukuro bag too!
Family-friendly, free, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, 2454 S. Beretania St., Mō‘ili‘ili, free parking and shuttle from Washington Middle School, jcchawaii.org, @jcchawaii
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Narcissus Queen Pageant
Sunday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.
Cheer on eleven contestants and find out who will be crowned. The participants of Chinese descent are judged on their conversation skills, talent performance, modeling poise and response to an interview question. Now in its 76th year, the pageant is put on by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and highlights Hawai‘i’s rich Chinese heritage.
$47.50, Hawai‘i Theatre Center, 1130 Bethel St., Chinatown, hawaiitheatre.com, @narcissusqueenpageant
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Da Hui Backdoor Shootout
Holding period now through Friday, Jan. 16
Witness some of the world’s best surfers ride barrels at Banzai Pipeline in this four-day team contest. Held in memory of Duke Kahanamoku, the invitation-only event includes competitors such as Jamie O’Brien, Moana Jones-Wong and Kelly Slater. Check Instagram to find out if the conditions are a ‘go’ for the day. You can watch in person or tune in to the live feed on Spectrum Hawai‘i Surf Channel 1020 and on Surfline.
Family-friendly, free, ‘Ehukai Beach Park, Hale‘iwa, huioheenalu.org, @huioheenalunorthshore
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Photo: Courtesy of the Honolulu Museum of Art
Reopening of HoMA Art Galleries
Open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Things are looking a little different at the Honolulu Museum of Art. If it’s been a while since your last visit, stop in to see the reinstallation of its European and American galleries, which have been painted in stunning new colors and enriched with new stories about the art. You’ll see favorite works by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, James McNeill Whistler and Piero di Cosimo to name a few.
Family-friendly, $25 general admission, $15 kama‘āina admission, free for youth under 18, Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S Beretania St., Mō‘ili‘ili, honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum
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Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
