Maui Events in August

Events & Festivals on the island of Maui

06-06-2026

Tori C. Derrick

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

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.

Hula and live music at a Maui cultural festival

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)

More Info: 2026 Maui bon dance schedule

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Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival

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.

When: Saturday, August 22nd, 2026

Where: Royal Lahaina Resort, Kāʻanapali

More Info: gohawaii.com

Kapalua Bay on Maui's west side

Maui Calls (MACC Gala)

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.

When: Saturday, August 22nd, 2026

Where: Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului

More Info: mauiarts.org

Lahaina Wildfire Remembrance

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)

Sunset over the water on Maui

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.

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