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2026 Events and Festivities
August is one of the Big Island's busiest months for events. Kona's blue water hosts a legendary marlin tournament, the Kohala Coast holds a major Hawaiian cultural festival at Puʻukoholā Heiau, and Obon dances run every weekend from Hilo to Waimea. Here's what's worth planning around.
Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament
The HIBT is one of the oldest big-game fishing tournaments in the world, drawing international tag-and-release teams to Kona's legendary billfish grounds each August. You don't need to fish to enjoy it — the daily weigh-ins along the Kailua-Kona waterfront are free to watch and a window into the sport that put Kona on the map.
Hoʻokuʻikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Held at Puʻukoholā Heiau — the massive war temple King Kamehameha I built on his path to uniting the islands — this free festival draws hula hālau and cultural practitioners from across the state. Expect a hoʻokupu (offering) ceremony, hula performances, and living-practitioner demonstrations of lauhala weaving, kapa, featherwork, and traditional games. Admission and parking are free.
When: August 15th-16th, 2026
Where: Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae (South Kohala)
The Big Island's plantation-era Buddhist temples host bon dances every Saturday evening through August, from Hilo and the Hāmākua Coast to Kona, Hāwī, and Waimea. They're free, welcoming, and a genuine slice of island community life — taiko, circle dancing around a yagura, lanterns, and homemade food. Confirm individual temple dates, as they shift from year to year.
When: Saturday evenings through August 2026
Where: Buddhist temples islandwide (Hilo, Hāmākua, Kona, Kohala, Waimea)
The third Friday of August is a Hawaiʻi state holiday marking the islands' 1959 admission as the 50th U.S. state. It remains a contested anniversary for many Native Hawaiians, so we note it as a practical heads-up rather than a celebration. For visitors it mainly means a three-day weekend with state and county offices and public schools closed.
If you're staying into the Labor Day weekend, Kona hosts what organizers bill as the world's largest long-distance outrigger canoe race, with thousands of paddlers racing between Kailua Bay and Hōnaunau in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani. It technically lands in early September, but it's the natural bookend to a late-August Kona trip.
August rewards Big Island travelers who plan a little — Puʻukoholā's Establishment Day Festival (Aug 15-16) and the bon dances are the cultural heart of the month, while Kona's billfish tournament brings the ocean-sports energy. A few things readers often expect in August but won't find: the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is a November event, A Taste of the Hawaiian Range lands in fall, and the Parker Ranch rodeo in Waimea runs over Labor Day weekend in early September.
Trades are breezy right now with scattered showers on the windward side and mountains; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Tomorrow stays breezy with the same pattern.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is still uncertain. If it comes closer, expect heavier rain over a longer stretch; if it stays farther out, impacts will be shorter and lighter. Winds will increase late this week, with potential gusts over 70 miles per hour on the highest summits.
Plan your leeward beach time and snorkeling for today through Tuesday. Save summit drives and offshore water sports for after Saturday, and check updates daily as this develops.
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Trade winds are pushing across Maui right now and staying breezy through tomorrow. Windward slopes and peaks will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. Rough seas mean a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain. Late this week, winds will increase across Maui, with summit gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph on Haleakala. The Big Island—especially Hilo and Puna—faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding if the storm tracks close.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling work best today through Tuesday. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday.
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Trades are kicking today with moderate wind and rough seas. Windward slopes will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain, but the Big Island faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding, especially in the Hilo and Puna areas. Summit winds could exceed 70 mph late in the week. Check forecasts daily as the situation develops.
Leeward snorkeling and beach time work well through Tuesday. Save summit drives and windward hikes for today or tomorrow, and avoid offshore water sports and high elevations Thursday through Saturday.
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Voice
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Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
Created with AI from this HawaiiGuide page and read by a computer-generated voice. Double-check fees, hours, and reservations on the full page before you head out. Hawaiian pronunciation is tricky for synthesized speech and a few words may land slightly off; mahalo for your patience as we keep refining.
Mele and Kani are computer-generated voice options chosen for clarity and warmth.
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