BIG ISLAND SUMMER 2019 EVENTS:
6/8/19, King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade – Kona
6/11/19, North Kohala King Kamehameha Day Celebration – Kapa’au
6/11/19, Kamehameha Festival, Hilo
6/11/19, Tommy Bahama Big Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament, Mauna Lani
6/15/19, Putt Putt Golf for Boys, Kings Shops Lakeside Putting
6/29/19, Hilo Brewfest, Hilo
6/29/19 – 6/30/19, Annual Cultural Festival, Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau
6/30/19, Kona Marathon, Waikoloa Beach Resort
7/4/19, Independence Day Parade & Fireworks, Kailua-Kona
7/4/19, Family Fourth & Rubber Duckie Race, Waikoloa Beach Resort
7/4/19, Parker Ranch Annual 4th of July Horse Races & Rodeo, Parker Ranch Waimea
7/4/19, Hilo Bay Blast, Hilo
7/27/19 – 7/28/19, Experience Volcano Festival, Volcano Village
8/17/19, Don’s Mai Tai Festival, Royal Kona
8/17/19 – 8/18/19, Relay for Life, Kona
8/29-9/2, Queen Lili’uokalani Outrigger Races, Kona
9/7/19, Taste of the Hawaiian Range Festival & Gala, Waimea
9/26/19 – 9/29/19, Hawaiicon, Sheraton Kona
SUMMER 2019 HIGHLIGHTS
KING KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION PARADE/HO’OLAULEA
June 8, 2019
Adorned in the flowers and colors of the Hawaiian Islands, regal pa’u riders on horseback will represent each of the eight islands, led by their respective princesses and the pa’u queen. The floral parade will also feature hula halau, equestrian units, marching bands, and more. The parade begins at Walua Road and Alii Drive at 9am, and travels through Kailua Village to Palani Road past the pier, ending at noon. After the parade, enjoy a free Hawaiian music concert and arts & crafts fair at Hulihe’e Palace. There will be food, hula and a silent auction, as well.
NORTH KOHALA KAMEHAMEHA DAY CELEBRATION
June 11
Lei Draping at the statue of King Kamehameha in Kapa`au, and a traditional Pa’u Parade, with horses and riders adorned in flowers and colors representing each Hawaiian Island. The parade will travel from downtown Hawi to Kamehameha Park in Kapa’au. There will also be a Ho’olaule’a (crafts fair) at Kamehameha Park, where you can eat local food, see masters create traditional arts and crafts, watch beautiful hula dancers and listen to award-winning Hawaiian musicians.
KAILUA-KONA 4TH OF JULY PARADE & FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA
July 4
The annual Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade will begin at 6:00pm at the Kekua’okalani Gym, proceed along Ali’i Drive, and finish at the Royal Kona Resort. There will be seven announcer stations throughout the parade. This year our Grand Marshall is LTC Loreto V. Borce Jr. Commander at U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa Training Area. Fireworks over Kailua Bay will follow the parade at 8:00pm.
FAMILY FOURTH/ANNUAL RUBBER DUCKIE RACE
July 4
Waikoloa Beach Resort. The free, all-day event features nonstop entertainment, balloon art, carnival games and treats for all ages, at Kings’ Shops, Queens’ MarketPlace, and Waikoloa Bowl. The Annual Rubber Duckie Race is a major fundraiser for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i (UCPA). Waikoloa Bowl will feature live entertainment as the afternoon winds up, and at 8:00 p.m., the fireworks extravaganza begins. Guests staying in Waikoloa Beach Resort hotels and condominium properties are encouraged to “stroll to the Bowl” and enjoy the walk while avoiding traffic. Beach mats or chairs are welcome for open lawn seating in Waikoloa Bowl. Drones, pets, coolers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. This is a non-smoking event.
48th ANNUAL QUEEN LILI’UOKALANI LONG DISTANCE OUTRIGGER CANOE RACES
August 29 – September 2
The Queen Lili’uokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races welcomes more than 2,500 outrigger canoe paddlers from all over the world to Kona for its signature 18-mile long distance race, the world’s largest long distance outrigger canoe race, which is slated for August 31st. Other official race events unfold throughout the weekend. Free to the public.