Big Island Events
Mauna Kea Resort and the Island of Hawai‘i play host to endless activities and events. Check out some of our favorites. You can see a full list of Big Island events here or Mauna Kea Beach Hotel events here.
To learn more about an event, contact our Concierge at 808.880.3490
**Due to COVID-19, some events may not be available. Please check with our concierge team.
January
PGA Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
This event kicks off the PGA Championship Tour every year at the Hualalai Resort Golf Club.
The Waimea Ocean Film Festival
This festival brings a high-powered and non-stop schedule of film, speakers, filmmaker Q&As, exhibits, special events and important conversation to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi every January
Kona Annual Surf Film Festival
A local surf film festival showing surf films from around the world.
February
Panaewa Stampede Rodeo
The Panaewa Stampede Rodeo is a three-day rodeo that highlights the Paniolo skills of our local cowboys, cowgirls, keiki and traveling rodeo contestants in traditional cowboy events, plus three events that are unique to Hawai’i.
Laupehoehoe Music Festival
The annual Laupahoehoe Music Festival hosts an exceptional lineup of Hawaiian entertainers. Grammy recognized rising stars, veteran masters and top local bands come together for a day of nonstop music and hula, island style!
Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival
This popular festival celebrates Japanese traditions and culture and includes cherry blossom viewing, music, demonstrations, exhibits, crafts, entertainment, ethnic foods, a farmers’ market and visiting performers and artisans from Japan.
March
Kona Brewers Festival
This annual festival promotes craft brewing an microbreweries in Hawaii. Expect about 60 craft beers from Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland, plus gourmet food.
Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
Big Island ukulele enthusiasts can strum along and play their part with a great lineup of ukulele masters.
Big Island International Marathon
10.8 mile and 3.1 mile fun runs along the Pacific Ocean, through tropical rainforests, past rushing waterfalls and along black lava beaches to finish at the historic Hilo Bay front in one of the world most scenic marathons!
April
Lavaman Triathlon Waikoloa
Features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run. It was voted the Best Post-Race Party in Triathlon!
Merry Monarch Festival
This is the most sought-after event on the Big Island! It is a one week-long hula celebration and competition with festivities including exhibitions, musical entertainment, arts and crafts fairs and the Miss Aloha Hula Competition and kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula competitions.
MAMo: Maoil Arts Month
This month long celebration held annually in the month of May celebrates the depth, breadth, and diversity of the Native Hawaiian arts community.
Lavaman Triathlon Keauhoa
Features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run, and is closed by the now famous beach party at the outrigger Keaohou beach resort.
May
Big Island Chocolate Festival
Did you know Hawaii is the only state where cacao can be grown? The Festival encompasses seminars, demonstrations, a student chef competition, a professionally judged cacao bean taste off, a fun and festive gala fundraiser and a silent auction.
Ka’u Coffee Festival
Featuring a Coffee tasting presentation, a Ka‘u coffee recipe contest, music, hula, farm tours and many stands offering local food, coffee and crafts!!
May Day is Lei Day! Festival
The free annual event includes a lei contest, lei making demonstrations, hula performances, guided forest tours with cultural protocols for harvesting lei materials, talk story sessions, orchid and native plant sales, and food booths.
Big Island Film Festival
This “Talk Story” film festival is a celebration of independent narrative filmmakers and their short and feature films.
June
Kamehameha Festival (Hilo) and Parade (Kona)
The Kamehameha Day celebration was first established in 1871 as a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and always takes place on June 11th.
Rohto Ironman 70.3 Hawaii
This half ironman triathlon around Honu is part of the official qualifier series for the Ironman World Championship held on the island in October.
Kona Marathon & Family Fun Runs
An estimated 1,800 runners of all ages and abilities will be competing for prize money, participating for health and enjoyment, and raising money for charity.
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival
Every June & July this month-long festival brings between 20 and 30 concerts to the Big Island spread over ~10 venues in Waimea, Hilo, Honoka’a and all along the Kohala coast. Many of the concerts are free to the public.
July
Parker Ranch Independence Day Rodeo
See real Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) in action at this rodeo!
Hawaiian International Bill-fishing Tournament
This week-long event is know as the “Grandfather of all big game fishing tournaments”!!
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival
This festival is created to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and promote appreciation of traditional values.
August
Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival
This annual event attracts aficionados of this renown tropical mix cocktail from around the world! Enjoy a farmers market, food from Big Island restaurants and live entertainment along with mai tai sampling.
September
Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Race
The Queen Lili’uokalani Long-Distance Canoe Races are the world’s largest outrigger canoe races.
Mealani’s Taste Of Hawaii Range
Over 30 of the state’s top chefs dazzle diners with delectable dishes using grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, goat, mutton and wild boar—plus fresh island fruit and veggies.
Big Island Style Slack Key Guitar Festival
“Slack Key” is the Hawaiian trademark method of tuning and playing the guitar.
October
Hilo Way Finding Festival
This festival celebrates the historic sailing feats of the pacific peoples that used celestial navigation, and is also organized to revive and expand skills and interest in long distance canoe voyaging.
Ford Ironman World Championship
Every year, tens-of-thousands of triathletes apply for a place but only 1800 get to participate to get that coveted title: Iron Man!
Black and White Night
Downtown Hilo’s biggest annual strolling party with numerous live music venues, fashion shows, a treasure hunt through town, free food, author & artist receptions. Everyone dresses in black and white, from shorts and T-shirts to gowns and suits to enter the “Best Dressed Black & White Contest” for cash prizes.
November
Black and White Night
Downtown Hilo’s biggest annual strolling party with numerous live music venues, fashion shows, a treasure hunt through town, free food, author & artist receptions. Everyone dresses in black and white, from shorts and T-shirts to gowns and suits to enter the “Best Dressed Black & White Contest” for cash prizes.
Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival
A multi-day event celebrating hula and the hula arts, this festival features hula hālau (troupes) from Hawaii, Japan and elsewhere competing in kūpuna (senior), kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula divisions.
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
With nearly 50 events over 10 days there’s something for everyone, from coffee drinkers to connoisseurs to multi-generational families. Festival signature events include a Coffee & Art Stroll, Cupping Competition, Farm & Mill Tours, International Lantern Parade or explore Kona coffee country’s cafe’s, shopping and community with a self-guided driving tour brochure.
EXPLORE Mauna Kea Beach Resort
Experience Mauna Kea Beach Hotel like never before by becoming involved in more ways than one in the local activities. From special events to photo sessions, there is so much to do while visiting Mauna Kea!
EXPLORE Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Experience The Westin Hapuna like never before. From special events to incredible dining, there is so much to do!
MANTA Thanksgiving Menu
Experience Thanksgiving at MANTA while visiting Hawai‘i!
December
Annual Big Island Craft & Gift Fair
This large fair, sponsored by Hawaii Art & Craft, will showcase vendors throughout the state.
Jingle Bell Beach 5K Fun Run
The Annual Jingle Bell Beach Run has grown into the largest 5k run/walk on the Big Island. This fun and festive holiday-themed event starts and finishes along the stunning oceanfront setting of historic Ali’i Drive at the Coconut Grove Marketplace.
Holualoa Music and Light Festival
Witness the lighting of the town Christmas tree, listen to musicians perform Christmas music thru the evening at stages around the village, and receive treats from the galleries and shops in this charming little artists’ colony in the middle of Kona coffee country. Santa will show up too!
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Tuesday, December 31st — Join us on the Beachfront Lawn and enjoy a delicious buffet complemented with live entertainment under the stars. Continue the fun with our New Year’s Eve Afterparty! Call (808) 882-5707 for Reservations. Click here to see the full menu and details.
Kanikapila & Kau Kau Night Market
December 29th — Enjoy a ‘Taste of Mauna Kea’ as each booth will feature the culinary creations of our Mauna Kea Beach Hotel chefs. Click here to see the full menu and details.
Hau Tree Lunch
Enjoy a taste of Mauna Kea by trying Hau Tree for lunch! Click here to see the full menu and details.
Festive Season Evening Dining Schedule
Enjoy the festive season in Mauna Kea by experiencing an evening out.
