Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [6]
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WAIMEA TOWN CELEBRATION mid-Feb
For two days Waimea (Click here) on Kaua’i hosts over 10,000 folks for the island’s biggest festival – with canoe and foot races, a rodeo, lei and hula competitions, live music and much more.
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GREAT MAUI WHALE FESTIVAL Feb
Maui celebrates its famous humpback whales with a diverse slate of events throughout the month (www.mauiwhalefestival.org), including a fun run, parade, whale count and kids’ activities.
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MARCH–APRIL
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CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Mar
Though there are cherry blossom celebrations island-wide, this Japanese-culture festival is biggest in Honolulu (for details, see http://cbfhawaii.com). Events begin in February, but the biggies – the Heritage Fair and Festival Ball – are in March.
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HONOLULU FESTIVAL mid-Mar
For three days, this festival (Click here) in Honolulu and Waikiki promotes the harmony of Pacific Rim cultures; it’s a uniquely Hawaiian blend of Japan, Tahiti, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, the US and more, culminating in a huge parade.
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MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL from Easter Sun
The Big Island’s renowned Merrie Monarch Festival starts on Easter Sunday in Hilo (Click here). This week-long celebration of Hawaiian culture culminates in the Olympics of hula competitions; hula doesn’t get any better. Reserve your hotel room early!
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EAST MAUI TARO FESTIVAL weekend in Apr
On Maui, the Hawaiian town of Hana throws its biggest party (Click here) for two days in April. It’s a great introduction to Native Hawaiian culture, with outrigger canoe races, poi (fermented taro) making, hula dancing and lots of Hawaiian music.
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WAIKIKI SPAM JAM late Apr
How much does Hawaii love Spam? Apparently, residents consume seven million cans a year. This one-day festival (Click here) probably accounts for 10,000 all by itself, prepared hundreds of ways. Thankfully, there’s no Spam-eating contest!
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MAY–JUNE
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MAY DAY LEI DAY May 1
Across Hawaii, the ancient, beautiful tradition of lei making gets its own day on May 1. On Kaua’i, Lihu’e holds a festival and competition (Click here), and Hilo on the Big Island (Click here) hosts lei demonstrations, hula and more.
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MOLOKA’I KA HULA PIKO mid-May
According to oral history, Moloka’i is the birthplace of hula, and this three-day hula festival (Click here) is one of the best on the islands for its sacred, traditional hula performances and Native Hawaiian ho’olaule’a (celebration).
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INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CANOES 2 weeks in May
Lahaina hosts Maui’s biggest cultural event (Click here), which features master carvers from around the Pacific carving outrigger canoes, then launching them. There are lots of festivities, but don’t miss the Parade of Canoes.
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PAN-PACIFIC FESTIVAL 1st weekend in Jun
True to its name, this three-day festival in Honolulu and Waikiki (Click here) combines celebrations of Japanese, Hawaiian and South Pacific cultures, with hula, taiko drumming, a craft fair and a block party.
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KING KAMEHAMEHA HULA COMPETITION early Jun weekend
For traditional hula, this is one of Hawaii’s biggest contests (Click here), with hundreds of dancers.
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JULY–AUGUST
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INDEPENDENCE DAY Jul 4
Across the islands, Fourth of July celebrations inspire fireworks and fairs, but the most fun is had at the July 4 rodeos held in the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy)–friendly towns of Waimea on the Big Island (Click here) and Makawao on Maui (Click here).
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PINEAPPLE FESTIVAL Jul 4
This festival (Click here), celebrating Lana’i’s special relationship