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2026 Events and Festivities
Maui's August is quieter than its winter and spring festival season, and that's part of the appeal. The month belongs to Obon — Buddhist temples across the island light their lanterns on weekend evenings — alongside a cluster of West Maui hula and arts events around the 22nd. Here's what's worth planning around.
Obon (Bon Dance) Season
Obon honors ancestors with circle dancing, taiko, lanterns, and food booths, and visitors are welcome to join in. Maui's August dances are among the most moving in the state: the Lahaina Community Bon Dance returns to the Lahaina Jodo Mission grounds on Friday, August 14 — a profound milestone for a town still rebuilding after the August 2023 fire. Upcountry, Kula Shōfukuji Mission dances Saturday, August 15, and Pāʻia Rinzai Zen Mission follows Saturday, August 22. Dates and times can shift, so confirm with the temple.
When: Friday & Saturday evenings through August 2026
Where: Buddhist temples across Maui (Lahaina, Kula, Pāʻia)
This free West Maui hula festival honors the late kumu hula "Aunty" Emma Farden Sharpe with a day of performances, keiki activities, workshops, and local artisans on the resort lawn at Kāʻanapali. It's an easygoing, family-friendly way to watch hula up close without a ticket.
The Maui Arts & Cultural Center's signature gala is back for its 28th year — an evening of Maui chef pūpū, boutique wines, live music, and "Uniquely Maui" auctions that fund the center's arts and education programs. It's a ticketed fundraiser and the dressiest night on the island's August calendar.
August 8 marks three years since the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. The day is a solemn, community-led time of remembrance — paddle-outs, music tributes, and private gatherings — not a visitor event. If you're on Maui that week, the kindest thing you can do is give West Maui families space, support local businesses, and follow the community's lead on where it's appropriate to be.
When: Saturday, August 8th, 2026
Where: Lahaina / West Maui (community-led)
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 flag it as a practical note rather than a celebration. For visitors it mostly means a three-day weekend with government offices, courts, and public schools closed.
When: Friday, August 21st, 2026
Where: Statewide
August on Maui is more about quiet tradition than headline festivals — lean into the bon dances and the Aug 22 hula and arts events for the real island texture. A couple of common mix-ups worth clearing up: the long-running Maui Film Festival in Wailea ended its run in 2025 (the new Wailuku Film Festival is a June event), the Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival's Maui leg is in October, and the East Maui Taro Festival in Hāna is an April event — none of them fall in August.
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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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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