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.