Wednesday · 8 AM – 3 PM
Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival is listed for Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at Waimea Valley in Haleiwa, Oahu, 8 AM – 3 PM.
Waimea Valley is managed by Hi'ipaka LLC, a nonprofit established following the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' acquisition of the property in 2006, and hosts the Makahiki Festival each November to mark the traditional Hawaiian period of the same name. Historically, Makahiki began when the Pleiades constellation rose at sunset and was observed as a season of peace, communal games, and the honoring of the god Lono. Coverage of the festival at the valley dates to at least 2017.
The centerpiece is the Te Moana Nui Games, a Polynesian athletic competition featuring coconut tree climbing, fruit-carrying foot races, stone lifting (hapai pohaku), and wrestling. A 2019 edition drew approximately 40 competitors from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand. Visitors can also participate in traditional Hawaiian games — ulu maika (disc bowling), oo ihe (spear throwing), and moa pahee (dart sliding) — while local hālau perform hula and live music plays throughout the day. Local vendor booths are also part of the program.
- Hula performances by local hālau and live music throughout the day
- Visitor-participation traditional Hawaiian games: ulu maika, oo ihe, and moa pahee
- Free admission for active and retired military on Veterans Day
Parking & access: Optional shuttle service available ($10 one-way, $20 round-trip).
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Good to know
When is Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival?
Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 8 AM – 3 PM.
Where is Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival?
You'll find Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival at Waimea Valley, Waimea Valley, 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI in Haleiwa, Oahu.
What should I know about parking or access?
Optional shuttle service available ($10 one-way, $20 round-trip).
Should I confirm Waimea Valley Makahiki Festival before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on https://www.waimeavalley.net/events/makahiki; https://hiaudubon.org/events/makahiki-festival-waimea-valley/. Event dates and times can change, so confirm with the host before you go.
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.
Sources: source; source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.