Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: Sept. 18–24, 2025

Celebrate all things banana, picnic in style, watch a rubber duckie race, see a deliciously fun opera and more.

4 hours ago

Laura Dornbush,

Photo: Courtesy of Slow Food O‘ahu

Ka Mai‘a Ho‘olaule‘a Banana Festival

Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Go bananas about all things banana. Taste a dozen varieties of the canoe crop, listen to a lecture on best growing practices, craft and weave with banana fibers and shop for your own plant to take home. Plus, you can get in on the action by submitting your most creative dish in The Great Banana Cook-off (no banana bread allowed)!

Family-friendly, $10 online presale, $12 at the door, free for keiki under 12, Windward Community College, 45-720 Kea‘ahala Rd., Kāne‘ohe, slowfoodoahu.com, @slowfoodinhawaii

Photos: Courtesy of Afro Aloha

DRIPNIQ Picnic + Music Festival

Saturday, Sept. 20, 5 p.m.

This is not your average picnic. Fashion and music collide to celebrate the African diaspora’s influence on global culture. You’re invited to dress in your boldest look, lounge under the stars, listen to live DJs, shop local vendors, as well as snack and sip from gourmet food trucks, bars and stylish lounges.

21+, $70 general admission, $115 VIP admission, Bishop Museum Great Lawn, 1525 Bernice St., Kalihi, afroaloha.com, @afroaloha

Photo: Courtesy of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai‘i

Great Hawai‘i Rubber Duckie Race

Saturday, Sept. 20, 1:20 p.m.

Watch 20,000 rubber duckies race down the Ala Wai for United Cerebral Palsy’s annual fundraiser. Adopt a duck—or a few!—for a chance to win a slew of prizes, including a trip to Japan. Enjoy pre-race festivities, duckie adoptions and a motorcycle show at McCully Shopping Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Family-friendly, $5 per duck, $30 pack of five ducks plus a T-shirt, $100 VIP pack of 40 ducks plus a T-shirt, Ala Wai Canal, behind the Hawai‘i Convention Center, ucpahawaii.org, @unitedcerebralpalsyhawaii

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Opera Theatre

Night of 1,000 Julias

Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. (sold out)

Hawai‘i Opera Theatre is popping up in a new location for three shows this fall, and the first is an ode to Julia Child. You’re encouraged to dress up as the iconic chef and TV personality (think: wigs and aprons!) for the comedic performance.

$75, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1611 Kewalo St., Makiki, hawaiiopera.org, @hawaiioperatheatre

Photo: Courtesy of Aloha Festivals

Aloha Festivals Ho‘olaule‘a

Saturday, Sept. 20, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The month-long Hawaiian cultural event continues with its fan-favorite Waikīkī block party, which closes down Kalākaua Avenue for the night. This year, expect more than 100 craft and food vendors and five entertainment stages with hula and tunes ranging from contemporary, high-energy acts to traditional Hawaiian music.

Family-friendly, free, Kalākaua Avenue, Waikīkī, alohafestivals.com, @alohafestivals

Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush