Korean Festival Hawaiʻi

The 22nd annual Korean Festival is a one-day celebration of Korean culture in the islands — K-pop and traditional performances, taekwondo demos, and a long row of food vendors serving kalbi, mandoo, and kimchi. Note the venue: it has moved to Kapiʻolani Park (not Honolulu Hale, where older listings still point).

When: Saturday, August 8th, 2026

Where: Kapiʻolani Park, Waikiki

More Info: koreanfesthawaii.com

Duke's OceanFest

Eleven days of amateur ocean sports take over Waikiki in honor of Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer who carried surfing to the world. Expect longboard contests, a one-mile ocean swim, beach volleyball, SUP races, and adaptive surfing, most of it free to watch from the sand. The festival is timed around Duke's August 24 birthday, when a sunrise lei-draping is held at his statue on Kuhio Beach.

When: August 14th-24th, 2026

Where: Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

More Info: dukefoundation.org

Made in Hawaiʻi Festival

The 32nd annual Made in Hawaiʻi Festival is the largest local-products marketplace in the islands — hundreds of vendors selling island-made food, crafts, art, fashion, and gifts, with live entertainment and cooking demos. Heads up on the venue: it is now at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, not the Blaisdell Center where it ran for years.

When: August 20th-23rd, 2026

Where: Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Honolulu

More Info: madeinhawaiifestival.com

Obon (Bon Dance) Season

Hawaii's Obon is unlike anywhere else. From mid-June through August, Buddhist temples across Oʻahu host community bon dances on weekend evenings — taiko drums, lantern-lit circle dancing around a yagura tower, and some of the best temple food you'll find. Visitors are genuinely welcome to join the dancing. August venues fill out the calendar across ʻAiea, Pearl City, Waipahu, and beyond; check the live schedule for the current week's temples.

When: Weekend evenings through August 2026

Where: Buddhist temples across Oʻahu

More Info: 2026 Obon schedule (JCCH)

Waikīkī Roughwater Swim

One of the oldest and most respected open-ocean swims in the country, the Waikīkī Roughwater Swim sends swimmers on a 2.4-mile course from Sans Souci (Kaimana) Beach to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It's a great spectator morning even if you're not racing — the start and finish are easy to watch from shore.

When: Sunday, August 30th, 2026, 8:30 AM

Where: Sans Souci / Kaimana Beach, Waikiki

More Info: waikikiroughwaterswim.com

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's observed as a day off rather than a celebration — and it remains a contested anniversary for many Native Hawaiians, so we mention it as a practical note rather than an event. For visitors it mainly means a three-day weekend with state and county offices, courts, and public schools closed.

When: Friday, August 21st, 2026

Where: Statewide

August packs Oʻahu's calendar with ocean tradition and community energy — Duke's OceanFest is the anchor, but the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, Korean Festival, and Obon season give visitors a real window into island life beyond the beach. Looking just past the month, the Okinawan Festival lands Labor Day weekend (Sept 5-6) at the Convention Center if you're staying into early September.