Every year, the Aloha State plays host to a variety of music and dance festivals that provide a wealth of opportunities to take in some of the unique genres and styles of Hawaii.
Hawaii is known for offering a unique culture to U.S. mainland travelers with no need for a passport, and the events listed below offer the opportunity to see world-class versions of some of the most in-demand visitor experiences such as hula and ukulele shows.
The Merrie Monarch Festival is one of the most exclusive annual hula competitions in the world, and will hold its 56th installment April 21 to 27. At the core of the festival on Hawaii Island is the prestigious three-day hula competition, but the week-long affair also includes several free events open to the public, such as the hoolaulea (block party), Hawaii Arts Fair and a parade through downtown Hilo. Tickets frequently sell out for the competitions, and it's best to plan well in advance for Merrie Monarch.
The Moanalua Gardens Foundation sponsors the Prince Lot Hula Festival, a non-competitive exhibition and fair entering its 42nd year. This year the event takes place at Honolulu's Iolani Palace July 20-21. The opening day includes an awards ceremony honoring a hulu master followed by a lineup of troupes performing both kahiko (ancient) and auana (contemporary) hula. The second day includes a Hawaiian craft fair, cultural demonstrations, and more dance.
Mele Mei, an annual celebration of Hawaii's music, hula and culture, runs from April through June with events at various hotels, venues and public spaces. There are ukulele, steel guitar, slack key, island reggae and rock concerts, traditional Hawaiian music and many other types of performances. The Na Hokuhanohano Awards, Hawaii's version of the Grammys, is a Mele Mei highlight, bringing out luminaries of Hawaiian music for a night of awards and performances.
The ukulele was first produced in Hawaii in the late 1800s by Portuguese immigrants who fashioned the instrument based on the similar braguinha from their homeland, and the Ukulele Festival Hawaii celebrates its 49th year in 2019. Hawaiian virtuoso player Roy Sakuma and his sponsors organize the largest ukulele festival of its kind in the world, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The main program in Honolulu (July 21) includes a free, five-hour concert showcase with some of the world's top players, other well-known musicians, top Hawaiian entertainers, and a ukulele orchestra of more than 800 students. Additionally, there are offshoot festivals on the Island of Hawaii at Waikoloa Beach Resort (March 2) and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului (September, date TBA).
While not exclusively music or dance events, both the Aloha Festivals and Honolulu Festival offer the opportunity to catch hula, ukulele and other performances. The statewide Aloha Festivals are the largest Hawaiian cultural celebration in the United States. More than 100,000 people attend the various events each year, with a premier showcase of Hawaii's music, dance and history. Highlights include the Keiki Hoolaulea with two days of free children's activities, demonstrations and performances and the 67th installment of the Waikiki Hoolaulea, the state's largest annual block party featuring local food, music and entertainment.
The Honolulu Festival will celebrate a quarter century of merriment March 8-10. The annual event hosts an array of activities celebrating Hawaiian and Pacific Rim cultures, including a hula dinner party, Aloha Dance Convention, educational activities, an arts and craft fair, live entertainment, a grand parade and a fireworks show over Waikiki.