Cultural festival · Kapaʻau, Big Island
Kohala King Kamehameha Day Hoʻolauleʻa 2026
Hosted by King Kamehameha Celebration Commission
- When
- Jun 11, 202611 AM – 4 PM
- Where
- Kapaʻau, Big IslandGet directions
- Host
- King Kamehameha Celebration Commission
Sources
Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go. Historical dates reflect advertised schedules; a past date alone does not confirm the event took place.
Date
- Thursday, June 11, 2026, 11 AM – 4 PM
What to expect
North Kohala is Kamehameha I's ʻāina hānau (birthplace), making this the most culturally significant King Kamehameha Day celebration statewide. The community-led event features a sunrise ceremony, traditional lei draping at the historic statue in Kapaʻau, a floral parade along Akoni Pule Highway, and an afternoon hō'olauleʻa with Hawaiian music and local food.
Plan your visit
- Food & vendors
- Food and community festivities at Kamehameha Park after the morning lei draping and parade.
- Parking & access
- Kohala lei draping and parade run earlier the same morning before the park celebration; expect road, parking, and traffic constraints around Kapaʻau.
Farmers markets this weekend
Plan your weekend on Big Island
While you’re out for Kohala King Kamehameha Day Hoʻolauleʻa, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
About cultural festivals
Hawaii's cultural festivals gather food, performing arts, craft, and community across a weekend or longer. Many trace to the islands' Japanese, Okinawan, and broader Asia-Pacific communities and feature taiko, hula, bon dance, and street-food booths.
Some are free block parties and some are ticketed convention-center markets. Come for the performances and stay for the food booths, craft vendors, and local-product marketplaces.
- Check admission before you go — marketplace and convention-center events may charge entry.
- Parking fills early — rideshare or transit is usually easier.
- Schedules and venues can shift year to year; confirm before you go.
What’s worth a trip this weekend
One email a week: the makers worth seeking out, pop-ups, and Hawai‘i cultural events worth planning around.