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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.
Dry conditions on Oʻahu today, with breezy wind in exposed areas. Drier weather continues through Wednesday as moisture clears out.
A medium-sized northwest swell will bring elevated surf to north and west-facing shores tonight through Sunday morning—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. Winds remain breezy through Sunday, easing slightly Monday and Tuesday before picking up again Wednesday. A Small Craft Advisory is active through Monday morning for most coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Scattered showers arrive Thursday into Friday.
South and west shore beaches work well through Sunday for calmer conditions. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're drawn to bigger waves.
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Skies are drying out across Maui today through Wednesday as moisture clears. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed and terrain-favored spots.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell moves in—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then strengthen again Wednesday. The next chance of scattered showers arrives Thursday through Friday.
If you're heading to the beach, south and west shores are your best bet through Sunday. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're into bigger waves.
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Mostly clear and dry today on the Big Island, with noticeably breezy winds in exposed areas and terrain-favored spots. That breeze continues through Sunday.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell arrives—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. South shores stay small. A Small Craft Advisory covers most coastal waters through Monday morning due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive statewide Thursday to Friday.
Head to the south and west shores for beach and snorkeling through Sunday. If bigger waves interest you, the north shore has surf to watch tonight into Sunday morning.
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Drier air is moving in through Wednesday. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed areas.
Tonight into Sunday morning, a medium-sized northwest swell will push elevated surf onto the north and west shores—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive Thursday or Friday.
Hit the south and west shores for swimming and snorkeling through Sunday. If you want to watch big waves, the north shore is worth a look tonight into Sunday morning.
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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.
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