Home / Oahu Events / Oahu Events in May
Paradise Cove is not just another luau, it’s a full production with lots of activities and entertainment that some others tend to lack. Kick off the afternoon with some Mai Tai’s and join in the celebration and festivities!
A Luau is a celebration for enjoying each other’s company, play traditional Hawaiian games, watching a Kalua Pork Imu ceremony take place, participate in a hukilau of pulling in a large fishnet from the ocean, listening to live local music, and being entertained throughout the night with many Polynesian and Hula performances.
Head to Ko’olina beach lagoon #3 for a day of Hawaiian music and local art display & sale! Along the arching sidewalk you find close to 40 artist displaying their artwork for viewing and sale…perfect for special gifts! There will also be Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and ukulele musicians playing during the duration of this event.
If you’re around on a Saturday morning, get yourself over to the KCC Farmers Market on the side of Diamond Head.
This festival market goes beyond produce and features some Oahu’s great pop-up restaurants, and other fun food creations such as Ono Pops and roasted locally seasoned corn ears. This is also an opportunity to find island flowers, fresh local fruits, nuts, delicious sauces and other creations.
There is a free ongoing live music concert series called Ku Ha'aheo that is held at the Waikiki Beach Walk every Tuesday afternoon. This event features the award-winning musical duo, KAMANAWA, comprised of Blaine Kia and Kalei Kahalewai, along with the talented dancers from the hula organization known as Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie.
Kū Haʻaheo showcases the traditional and classic dances of the hula art form, and is a heartfelt show rooted in sharing the spirit of Aloha. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the beautiful and unique culture of Hawaii through music and dance.
May Day Lei Day has long been a celebrated tradition backdating to 1927. This is a great day to bring the family out to the Kapiolani Park Bandstand and watch endless performances, a Lei Court Investiture, live Hawaiian music, and see a vast display of different types of lei's for viewing and purchase.
May Day Waikiki is a tribute to the old school Waikiki beach boys, memories and music. This celebration is a commemorative event that highlights moments in history and traditions of the beach boys and their legacy. Along with the celebration will be free canoe rides, games, and featured live Hawaiian music, including Henry Kapono and special guest.
Hawaiian Airline's presents great May Day performance at the Bishop Museum Great Lawn. Star musical performance will be given by Robert Cazimero and musician artist like Manu Boyd, Kamalei o Līlīlehua & Kainani Kahaunaele.
. A May Day Lei Day contest will take place with cash
prizes.
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Join the Polynesian Cultural Center as they celebrate the world of Samoa. This festival is a day and evening demonstration of cultural knowledge of Samoan traditions, including coconut husking, basket weaving, and a fire-knife championship contest with death defying tricks.
There are always ongoing performances at the International Market Place, but the Royal Hawaiian Band will be a special treat. Do a little shopping and show up early for this performance as it will get crowded and be hard to get a good viewing spot.
First Friday is an evening art walk that takes place in Chinatown Honolulu. This is a popular fun event that takes place every 1st Friday of each month. Surrounding merchants of art galleries, shops, restaurants and bars are known for opening up their doors, pouring wine and providing food to those stopping by.
Most neighborhood shops will have maps of participating merchants. The event ends at 9 PM, but the fun continues into the night with thousands of people flocking into the streets.
Also participating in the free art viewing and festivities is the Hawaii State Art Museum (free from 6 PM to 9 PM)
Join the Filipino Community as they put a grand parade show, featuring Miss Filipina Hawaii, marching bands, decorated floats, and other participants, as they march the streets.
Explore Filipino culture represented in food booths, music, games, dances, artwork and crafts. There will also be educational, business/social, and health services to explore.
The non-stop entertainment begins shortly after the parade from 10 AM to 4 PM. This is a great family day to enjoy for everyone to enjoy!
Start off the day with a good deed, and participate in a
collective
effort cleaning up trash and removing debris from the Waikiki Beach area. The fun start in the morning and end before
lunch…can’t make it any easier! There should also be some
goodies
and snacks available to those who participate by sponsors. Make sure to
sign
up below…
Join the Cinco de Mayo celebration downtown in an organized block party. The set up includes multiple stages with DJ’s spinning into the evening. The crowd alone will be quite entertaining, but there will also be neat art venues, lots of food, a taco eating contest, a car show, and dance floors looking for some company!
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Don't get too lost in the Dole Plantation Maze, as you'll want to be on time for their benefit Luau, supporting Waialua High & Intermediate School Robotics Program. Keep the tradition going and the fundraising going. They have raised over $100,000 for the program so far!
Sunset on the beach is code for movie night on the beach. It's a grand experience to watch a movie on a 50 foot screen with your toes in the sand. Southwest Airlines has sponsored a once-a-month series. Arrive early to enjoy the pre-entertainment show, get a bite to eat from the participating food booths, and most importantly reserve a spot on the beach. Moana will be the featured movie of the evening...
2 days of direct and resale sellers representing jewelry, make up, clothing, collectibles, toys, and treasures from Japan & Korea.
There are always ongoing performances at the Ala Moana Center Stage, but the Royal Hawaiian Band will be a special treat. Do a little shopping and show up early for this performance as it will get crowded and be hard to get a good viewing spot.
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
The Bishop Museum has started a second Friday of each month After Hours event. The campus remains open into the evening, but they also create a party scene on their great lawn area, with live music, food trucks, games, and some fun art exhibitions. Each month has a different theme that alters the scene and vibe a little, and you can always count on it being a fun time!
This one's for the keikis and the whole family! Buy a ticket to day of fun and help support Kapi'olani Medical Center's campaign for Hawaii's children! Festivities will take place at the Disney's Aulani Resort and on the beachfront of Ko Olina's Kohola Lagoon #1.
Get ready for a line up of fun including live music, balloon artist, face painting, and lot's of other activities. Don't miss the Disney and Pixar movies begin played on the beach at sunset.
A day full of direct and resale sellers representing jewelry, make up, clothing, collectibles, toys, and treasures from Japan & Korea.
Enjoy a popup market with lots of Made in Hawaii booth. Everything from art creations to custom jewelry to locally crafted furniture…and lots of food booths along the way. Shop and support the local community!
A great way to thank and celebrate mom is taking her to the Moana Surfrider for an open air lavish buffet in the beachhouse veranda. There will be nice variety of island recipes that will be conjured up by several chefs onsite. Reserve seating before it sells out...
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Treat mom to a Mother’s Day brunch on a cruise around the Waikiki coastline! Hard to top this one…with live Hawaiian entertainment and lots of activities, including lei making and hula lessons.
The Taste of Hawaii brunch buffet will feature a specially prepared
roast beef, teriyaki chicken, lomilomi salmon, miso glazed fish of the
day, as well as dessert and champagne. The 2 ½ hour cruise
will
depart from the Aloha Tower Marketplace, on Pier 8.
How about treating mom to a special Mother’s Day brunch in the Waimea Valley botanical Gardens! Enjoy a nice prime rib brunch with the trimmings and extra sides, including Lemon Herb Chicken, Asian Style baked fish of the day, Ginger Pork Spareribs, Sautéed Garlic Vegetables, Ahi Poke, dessert, and much more!
There will be 2 seating’s to choose from: 10 AM or 12:30 PM with live music, special performance by Na Wahine O Ka Hula Mai Ka Pu’uwai. Feel free to stroll mom through the gardens and up to the grand Waimea waterfall.
Head to Ko’olina beach lagoon #3 for a day of Hawaiian music and local art display & sale! Along the arching sidewalk you find close to 40 artist displaying their artwork for viewing and sale…perfect for special gifts! There will also be Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and ukulele musicians playing during the duration of this event.
Every 3rd Friday of the month a special night market takes place in Kailua around downtown Kailua. Join the fun and festivities into the evening. There will be lots of local arts and crafts, food booths, and entertainment.
Where better to have a craft and gift fair, than in an outdoor shopping center. There will be over 60 vendors selling everything from crafted jewelry, art work, electronics, clothing, food creations, and lots of handcrafted goods. With free parking and food vendors on site cooking up a storm, it's hard to pass up!
Stroll over to the Royal Hawaiian Center for a pop up spring market. the shopping center will be surrounded with local artist, merchants, food vendors, and entertainers. This is your chance to purchase locally made items, enjoy great local eats, and enjoy Hawaiian entertainment. One evening only!
Cinema in the Park is a free monthly event that takes place every 2nd Wednesday in Kaka’ako. While movie night is free, you must RSVP and enter with tickets. Blankets are permitted but beach chairs are not. Grab a bite to eat, some drinks, and most importantly a seat to enjoy the festivities and entertainment.
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Head to the North Shore for some festival fun in Haleiwa. The streets will be lined with local artist, merchants, food vendors, and entertainers. This is your chance to purchase locally made items, enjoy great local eats, and enjoy Hawaiian entertainment. One day only!
The Frolic Poke Festival is back! Enjoy live music and entertainment while walking around and sampling different poke styles and creations from about a dozen different Hawaiian poke makers, including Redfish Poke Par, Paradise Poke, Nico’s Fish Market, Fort Ruger, Hula Grill, and Foodland. Be on the lookout for a Poke Fast Pass that will help get you to the front of each line for more samplings.
Every 3rd Saturday of the month a special night market takes place in Kailua around Ulunui St & Auliki St. Join the fun and festivities into the evening. There will be lots of local arts and crafts, food booths, and entertainment.
The Hau'oli Festival in Waikiki is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and music that takes place annually in Oahu. The festival brings together some of Hawaii's most talented musicians, dancers, and artisans, providing a platform for them to showcase their skills and celebrate their heritage.
Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, including traditional hula performances, contemporary Hawaiian music, and local food and drink vendors. The festival aims to promote awareness and appreciation of Hawaiian culture while providing a fun and memorable experience for visitors and locals alike.
The Bishop Museum will be promoting an immersive festival for visitors to explore Hawaiian traditions through a showcase of both traditional and contemporary art, dances, fashion, stories and poetry, mouthwatering cuisine, and enchanting music. There will be an ongoing lineup of performances throughout the day.
Do you have what it take to be a triathlon competitor? Or maybe show up to watch and cheer on these amazing athletes of all ages and groups. Either way this will be a long but fun day of races taking place in and out of Ala Moana Beach Park!
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Enjoy the open air market at SALT with local vendors selling Hawaii made goods, and artist representing their artworks. Live music starts early with multiple bands in the lineup.
Enjoy a popup market with lots of Made in Hawaii booth. Everything from art creations to custom jewelry to locally crafted furniture…and lots of food booths along the way. Shop and support the local community!
There are always ongoing performances at the Ala Moana Center Stage, but the Royal Hawaiian Band will be a special treat. Do a little shopping and show up early for this performance as it will get crowded and be hard to get a good viewing spot.
Head to Ko’olina beach lagoon #3 for a day of Hawaiian music and local art display & sale! Along the arching sidewalk you find close to 40 artist displaying their artwork for viewing and sale…perfect for special gifts! There will also be Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and ukulele musicians playing during the duration of this event.
Kick off the evening with a grand buffet dinner in Waimea Valley, followed with a self guided moonlit walk in the botanical gardens. This is a great way to start the weekend with a memorable night!
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
As we launch into the summer, the 50th State Fair kicks off as well. This is a grand ongoing event out at the Aloha Stadium for the whole family to enjoy!
There will be lots of games, rides, food booths, and entertainment to explore. Included in the entertainment will be a petting zoo, the Amazin Anastasini Circus, new featured rides, and some other surprises.
Over 75 artist will be displaying all types of neat art creations in Kapiolani Park (across from the Honolulu Zoo). Make a point to stop by this free entertaining event. There will also be lots of food booths along with great Hawaiian music entertainment.
Location - Bandstand area in Kapiolani Park, Waikiki
Time - 9 AM to 4 PM Sat & Sun
Cost - Free
Learn more - Handcrafters Artisans Alliance
Spending an evening with some of the best Hawaiian musicians for a night of honoring achievements of excellence. Televised awards will be given for many recognized music categories, including best group, male & female vocal singers of the year, and best song.
There are always ongoing performances at the Ala Moana Center Stage, but the Royal Hawaiian Band will be a special treat. Do a little shopping and show up early for this performance as it will get crowded and be hard to get a good viewing spot.
One of 3 races for the 2018 Tropical Triple Crown! Here’s a great way to kick off your Memorial Day weekend, with either a 5k or 15k race through Kapiolani Park, around Diamond Head and down Waikiki and back. Medals for the 3 men and women in 16 different divisions. And race/event shirts for everyone registered before April 15th…not guaranteed after.
Ring in the Memorial Day Weekend, and jump on board a special night cruise that's setting sail into the evening. Look forward to a gourmet buffet, live music, and drinking champagne with lots of dancing. This will be a fun night!
Make sure you secure your tickets early as this will sell out!
One of the biggest car shows in Hawaii is taking place in Hawaii Kai, with close to 300 cars on display. Along with side vendors and live entertainment, there will be a car parade showing off their assets!
The Floating Lantern Ceremony is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful and moving events of the year! It’s an evening dedicated to honoring lost loved ones and promoting hope for the future!
More than 40,000 folks turn out for an all day celebration that carries into the evening with the lighting of the 6000 floating lanterns, that sail off into the Pacific from Ala Moana Beach.
There will be a stage with ongoing live music and performances during the day, and Floating ceremony that will start around 6pm with a Taiko performance, followed by the a traditional ceremony for the floating lanterns. Arriving extra early and taking public transportation is highly recommended.
There are always ongoing performances at the Ala Moana Center Stage, but the Royal Hawaiian Band will be a special treat. Do a little shopping and show up early for this performance as it will get crowded and be hard to get a good viewing spot.
This is a special treat if you can make it! Bring a lawn chair & picnic basket, and enjoy a live performance by Hawaii Symphony Orchestra in a beautiful park.
HoMA Red Carpet - Endless Space - Celebrate under the stars!
Art After Dark takes place at the Honolulu Museum on the last Friday of each month except Nov & Dec. This is a really fun event that allows you to explore the art and grounds after hours to the groove of a spinning DJ, popup bars and yummy appetizers being served by StreetGrindz and Pig in the Lady. Enjoy drinks made by Free Spirit Mobile Bartenders
The Royal Hawaiian Band has ongoing performances around Honolulu, including Kapiolani Park and at the Iolani Palace. Bring your beach blankets, lounge chairs, the family, and set up a picnic and enjoy the concerts taking place.
Make sure to review upcoming June Events as well...
Also check out Ongoing Oahu Shows & Entertainment.
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