September Calendar
September Events on the Big Island
QUEEN LILIʻUOKALANI BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION – HILO
📍Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Hilo
September 2, 2026 • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Celebrate Queen Liliʻuokalani's birthday with mass hula, Hawaiian music, cultural demonstrations, Hawaiian games, a flower drop, food trucks, children's activities, and a traditional tea ceremony. Free family-friendly event.
For more details – https://www.konaweb.com/calendar/
PANIOLO PRESERVATION SOCIETY 25TH ANNIVERSARY & KA MEA KANU ʻAI – NĀʻĀLEHU
📍Nāʻālehu Theatre, Nāʻālehu
September 2–3, 2026 • Times vary
A special celebration honoring 25 years of paniolo preservation, featuring a Paniolo BBQ, slack key music, storytelling, and community activities celebrating Hawaiʻi's ranching heritage.
For more details – https://www.paniolopreservation.org/
QUEEN LILIʻUOKALANI LONG DISTANCE OUTRIGGER CANOE RACE – KAILUA-KONA
📍Kailua Pier, Kamakahonu & Kona Coast
September 3–7, 2026 • Times vary
One of Hawaiʻi's biggest outrigger canoe racing traditions brings paddlers from around the world to Kona for several days of races and ocean activities honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani.
For more details – https://qlcanoerace.com/
LABOR DAY – HAWAIʻI
📍Big Island-wide
September 7, 2026 • State Holiday
Labor Day is a federal and Hawaiʻi state holiday, creating a long weekend that coincides with the Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Race in Kona.
For more details – https://labor.hawaii.gov/
40TH ANNUAL HAWAIʻI KŪPUNA HULA FESTIVAL – KONA
📍Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Keauhou
September 9–10, 2026 • Programs begin at 5:00 PM
A beloved cultural festival featuring kūpuna hula performers from Hawaiʻi and beyond, along with a craft fair and special performances celebrating Hawaiian culture and tradition.
For more details – https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/divisions/elderly-activities/elderly-recreation-services-ers/kupuna-hula-festival-14934
HAWAIʻI SONGWRITING FESTIVAL – KOHALA COAST
📍Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
September 10–12, 2026 • Times vary
A three-day celebration of songwriting featuring workshops, seminars, collaboration opportunities, songwriting competitions, and performances with musicians and industry professionals.
For more details – https://www.hawaiisongwritingfestival.com/
PANIOLO FESTIVAL WEEK – WAIMEA
📍Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island
September 14–19, 2026 • Times vary
A week-long celebration of Hawaiʻi's paniolo heritage featuring community events, cultural activities, food, music, and the annual Waimea Paniolo Parade.
For more details – https://www.alohafestivalsislandofhawaii.com/
PANIOLO BINGO NIGHT – WAIMEA
📍Waimea
September 14, 2026 • 5:00–10:00 PM
A fun community night featuring bingo, prizes, country entertainment, and a country impersonator contest as part of Paniolo Festival Week.
For more details – https://www.alohafestivalsislandofhawaii.com/paniolo-bingo
74TH ANNUAL WAIMEA PANIOLO PARADE & HOʻOLAULEʻA – WAIMEA
📍Waimea Park to Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park
September 19, 2026 • Parade at 10:00 AM; Hoʻolauleʻa follows
A colorful celebration of Hawaiʻi's paniolo heritage featuring pāʻū riders, equestrian groups, floats, marching units, community organizations, and a festival with Hawaiian music, food, artisans, cultural demonstrations, and keiki activities.
For more details – https://www.alohafestivalsislandofhawaii.com/
ʻULU FESTIVAL – SOUTH KONA
📍Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook
September 19, 2026 • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
A free community celebration of ʻulu (breadfruit) featuring chef demonstrations, cultural and ethnobotanical exhibits, agroforestry education, keiki activities, local makers, and an ʻulu marketplace.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/events/ulu-festival
ʻULU HOʻOLAULEʻA – BREADFRUIT CELEBRATION
📍South Kona & various Hawaiʻi Island locations
September 20–24, 2026 • Times vary
A week-long celebration exploring breadfruit through cultural programs, workshops, food, agriculture, research, and community gatherings. Events include the ʻAha ʻUlu, Global Breadfruit Summit, and ʻUlu Culinary Showcase.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/events/ulu-festival
OTHER SEPTEMBER SCHEDULES
RICHARDSON'S ROUGHWATER SWIM – HILO
📍Richardson Ocean Park, 2349 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo
September 12, 2026 • Check-in begins at 8:30 AM
A long-running open-water swimming event at Richardson Ocean Park attracting swimmers of different ages and abilities.
For more details – https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/6832/3318
HAWAIʻI KEIKI RODEO – HILO
📍Hilo area
September 2026 • Date & time TBA
A youth-focused rodeo celebrating Hawaiʻi's paniolo traditions through horsemanship, rodeo skills, and family activities. Hawaiʻi County Parks & Recreation lists the event among its September activities.
For more details – https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/
QUEENS' CULINARY MARKET – WAIKOLOA
📍Queens' Marketplace, Waikoloa Beach Resort
Every other Tuesday • Times vary
A community market featuring local food, farmers, artisans, specialty products, and island-made goods.
For more details – https://www.queensmarketplace.com/
KONA VILLAGE'S PŪLEHU NIGHT – KONA
📍Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort
Every Thursday • Evening
Enjoy a Hawaiian-style evening featuring food, live entertainment, and an island-inspired atmosphere along the Kona Coast.
For more details – https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/kona-village
KEAUHOU FARMERS MARKET – KONA
📍Keauhou Shopping Village, Kailua-Kona
Every Saturday • Morning
Shop for locally grown produce, tropical fruit, prepared foods, crafts, flowers, and other Hawaiʻi-made products.
For more details – https://www.keauhoushoppingcenter.com/
ONGOING SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK PROGRAMS – VOLCANO
📍Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Throughout September 2026 • Times vary
Explore the park through ranger programs, cultural demonstrations, guided walks, scenic overlooks, and educational activities focused on Hawaiʻi's volcanic landscape and Hawaiian history.
For more details – https://www.nps.gov/havo/
MANTA RAY NIGHT SNORKEL – KONA COAST
📍Kona Coast & Keauhou Bay
Throughout September 2026 • Evening tours
Experience one of the Big Island's most popular ocean adventures with guided nighttime snorkeling alongside manta rays.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island
KONA COFFEE FARM TOURS – KONA COFFEE BELT
📍South Kona & Kona Coffee Country
Throughout September 2026 • Times vary
Visit local coffee farms for tours, tastings, roasting demonstrations, and a closer look at Hawaiʻi's famous Kona coffee-growing tradition.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island
BIG ISLAND FARMERS MARKETS – ISLAND-WIDE
📍Hilo, Kona, Waimea, Pāhoa, Keaʻau & surrounding communities
Throughout September 2026 • Days & times vary
Discover fresh tropical produce, local coffee, baked goods, flowers, prepared foods, crafts, and locally made products at markets around the island.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island/events
BEACH & OCEAN ADVENTURES – BIG ISLAND WIDE
📍Kona Coast, Kohala Coast & South Kona
Throughout September 2026 • Times vary
Enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, sunset cruises, and other ocean adventures while exploring Hawaiʻi Island's coastline.
For more details – https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island
SEPTEMBER 2026 HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES
Labor Day — September 7, 2026
Queen Liliʻuokalani Birthday — September 2, 2026
Aloha Festivals / Paniolo Festival Week — September 14–19, 2026
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