Events & Activities in Mauna Kea, HI
March
LAVAMAN TRIATHLON
Features a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 10k run. It was voted the Best Post-Race Party in Triathlon!
KONA BREWERS FESTIVAL
This annual festival promotes craft brewing and 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
A 10.8-mile and 3.1-mile fun run along the ocean, through tropical rainforests, past rushing waterfalls, and along black lava beaches to finish at the historic Hilo Bayfront in one of the world's most scenic marathons!
April
MERRIE 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.
MAOLI ARTS MOVEMENT
Held from April through June, this takes place in Hawaiʻi in order to celebrate and showcase the work of contemporary Hawaiian artists and designers.
May
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.
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!!
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.
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.
July
MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a cultural event that began in 1964 and is held in Hilo, Hawaii featuring a premier hula competition. The festival honors Hawaii's last reigning King, David Kalakaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts.
4th OF JULY FIREWORKS
A patriotic parade, which runs down Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona is set to start at 6pm. This year’s parade theme is “A Salute to Our Hometown Heros.” The firework show over the bay is set to start at 8pm.
HAWAII PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival brings some of the most talented young musicians from Hawaii, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Europe to Hawaii Island each summer for intensive study and performance training, affording young artists the opportunity perform with professional musicians under the guidance of some of the world’s most established teachers and mentors.
VOLCANOS ‘OHI’A LEHUA HALF MARATHON
Come and join us for the Volcano’s ‘OHI’A Lehua Runs. The race will begin/end in Volcano Village. The course will take runners up Wright Road through a beautiful ‘OHI’A Forest with scenic views of Mauana Kea and Mauna Loa.
August
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK FEE-FREE DAY
(4TH) Honoring the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act there wilL be no entrance fee to the Park today.
(25TH) Honoring the birthday of the National Park Service there will be no entrance fee to the Park today.
EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL
The festival will include a 5K and half-marathon run, activities such as community art projects, blown glass demonstrations, local vendors, live music and more.
September
QUEEN LILIUOKALANI CANOE RACE
The Queen Lili’uokalani Long-Distance Canoe Races are the world’s largest outrigger canoe races.
KA’U COFFEE TRAIL RUN
From Keiki to Kupuna, the Ka’u Coffee Trail Run is a challenging course that meanders over Pahala’s unpaved trails. It is the perfect race venue, through coffee fields and macadamia nut groves. The Ka’u Coffee Mill’s 1,900 acres feature courses from 50K, Half Marathon, and 5k distances. Please join us for the southernmost trail run in the United States! The run is done entirely on private property, 1900 acres of coffee fields. Lots of wide-open space for everyone!
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK FEE-FREE DAY
Honoring Public Lands Day there will be no entrance fee to the Park today.
October
IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Professional and age-group triathletes from around the world dream of racing on IRONMAN's main stage- the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The very best will embark on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit.
November
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK FEE-FREE DAY
Honoring Veterans Day there will be no entrance fee to the Park today.
KONA COFFEE CULTURAL FESTIVAL
For almost two centuries, Kona-grown coffee has been a well-regarded delicacy among coffee aficionados throughout the world. Light, delicious, and carrying a distinctive taste, authentic Kona Coffee is as sought-after as any Hawaiian export. It’s a unique crop to the United States and can be grown only on the western side of the Big Island perfectly situated along the slopes of fertile volcanic mountains, shielded from excess sunlight and in a unique microclimate that provides the perfect amount of precipitation.
100% PURE KONA COFFEE HALF MARATHON
Come and join us for our sixth annual “shot” at the 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon! Run the scenic coast of Kailua-Kona down Ali’i Drive to the infamous “Pit” at the “End of the World”. Enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean as you complete the half marathon distance and celebrate with a cup of coffee!
December
KEAUHOU FARMERS MARKET
Farmers' market in Kahaluu-Keauhou, Hawaii on Saturday mornings. Located in Keauhou Shopping Center.
5K JINGLEBELL BEACH RUN
Join us for the Big Island’s premier 5k event. The 5k event encourages participation from all fitness levels and running backgrounds. You will have a blast – especially with the holiday costumes – a perfect addition to your holiday season! And for you parents out there…be sure to get your kids ready for ‘Santa’s Keiki Dash” – a popular fun Kona running event for children 6 & under! (50-yd, 100-yd, & 200-yd events).
KAILUA-KONA CHRISTMAS PARADE
Fun Christmas Parade along Ali’i Drive in Kailua Kona is held typically during the second week of December.