Kauai Events in August

Events & Festivals on the island of Kauai

Tori C. Derrick

06-06-2026

Tori C. Derrick

President & certified Hawaii travel expert with 15+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.

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2026 Events and Festivities

Kauai keeps a slower August calendar than the other islands, and that suits the Garden Isle. The month's two anchors — a Tahitian dance competition on the east side and the county fair — are joined by Kauai's always-on traditions: Friday art nights and morning farmers markets. Here's what's worth planning around.

A community festival on Kauai

Heiva I Kauaʻi Iaorana Tahiti

Kauai's signature Tahitian dance and drumming competition fills Kapaʻa Beach Park for a weekend of solo and group ʻōteʻa and aparima, plus cultural workshops and Polynesian food and craft vendors. It's a genuinely fun, low-key way to spend a beachside day. There's a small admission at the gate; kids 12 and under are usually free.

When: August 1st-2nd, 2026, 9 AM-5 PM

Where: Kapaʻa Beach Park, Kapaʻa

More Info: heivaikauai.com

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Kauaʻi County Farm Bureau Fair

Kauai's biggest annual fair takes over Vidinha Stadium over the Statehood Day weekend — E.K. Fernandez carnival rides, 4-H livestock shows, orchid and produce competitions, food booths, and live entertainment. It's a classic small-town county fair and a fun night out for families. The Farm Bureau hadn't posted official 2026 dates at the time of writing, so confirm before you build a plan around it.

When: Expected August 21st-24th, 2026 (confirm closer to the date)

Where: Vidinha Stadium, Līhuʻe

More Info: kauaicountyfarmbureau.org

Nāwiliwili Harbor near Līhuʻe on Kauai

Hanapēpē Friday Art Night

Every Friday evening, the historic west-side town of Hanapēpē opens its galleries and lines its main street with local artists, food trucks, live music, and craft vendors. It's been running since 1997, costs nothing to wander, and makes a charming, low-pressure evening — well worth the drive west.

When: Every Friday in August 2026, 5-8 PM

Where: Hanapēpē town (west side)

More Info: hanapepe.org/art-night

Kauaʻi Sunshine Markets

The county-run Sunshine Markets are the best place on Kauai to taste the island's farms — produce-only stalls with rock-bottom prices, running year-round in a different town most weekdays (Kōloa on Mondays, Līhuʻe on Tuesdays, Kapaʻa on Wednesdays, and more). Arrive a few minutes early; vendors can't sell until the start whistle, and the best stuff goes fast.

When: Weekly, year-round (varies by town)

Where: Kōloa, Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Hanapēpē, Kīlauea, Kalāheo

More Info: kauai.gov Sunshine Markets

A river and green cliffs in Kauai's lush interior

Statehood Day (State Holiday)

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 mention it as a practical note rather than a celebration. For visitors it mostly means a three-day weekend with state and county offices and public schools closed.

When: Friday, August 21st, 2026

Where: Statewide

August on Kauai is about the small, real things — a Tahitian dance competition on the sand, a county fair, a Friday night of art in Hanapēpē. A few events readers often expect this month actually fall later: the Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival and the Kauai Marathon are both September, Kōloa Plantation Days runs in July, and the island's bon dance season wraps up in July rather than carrying into August like the other islands.

Tori C. Derrick

Published by: Tori C. Derrick

President & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 15+ years of experience in Hawai'i tourism.

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