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Events on Oahu
January
Watch top athletes compete in the Morey
World Bodyboarding Championships. Usually held in the first
weeks of January, it is one of the most highly anticipated
sporting events in Hawaii. It is held in the Banzai Pipeline,
in the famed North Shore of Oahu. Another event is the Ala Wai Challenge is a quarter-mile canoe race that is designed
to test the endurance of competitors. There are also ancient
Hawaiian games as well as music to increase the festivities.
In celebration of Oahu’s diverse culture, the Chinese New
Year is also held every January in Chinatown. Lion dances,
a narcissus and bonsai exhibit, food and pageants are only
some of the entertainment featured in this event.
February
The NFL Pro Bowl takes place during the
first Sunday of February in the Aloha Stadium. Players from
the National Football League take it to the arena to showcase
their prowess. Aside from this, there is also the Great
Aloha Run, which is an 8.5 mile race that runs from the
Aloha Tower to the Aloha Stadium.
The Punahou School, a private school, hosts the Punahou
School Carnival. For two days, rides, food and artwork from
the top island artists are showcased. Also, there is
the Buffalo's Big Board Classic, a surfing competition held
on Makaha Beach, Oahu. See top surfers participate in a
sport that is uniquely Hawaiian.
March
The Hawaii Challenge International Sportkite
Championship is the longest-running sportkite competition
in the world. Every March, the top kite pilots from all
over the world troop to Kapiolani Park to showcase their
skills. For those looking for a more laidback activity,
there is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Held every March
17, the parade is a long one, running from Fort DeRussy
to Kapiolani Park.
There is also the Prince Kuhio Celebrations. It is a state
holiday which honors Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Events featuring
food booths, live music, and flower parades are held all
over Hawaii.
April
The Annual Easter Sunrise Service is held
every April. People go to the National Memorial Cemetery
of the Pacific to hear Easter Service. The Kamehameha Schools
Song Festival is also held every third Friday in April.
The talents of high school students are showcased through
a choir competition held at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
May
The Annual Lei Day Celebrations
are held
every May in Hawaii. Lei-making contests and demonstrations,
exhibits, and food booths are only some of the activities
to look forward to. The main attraction in this event is
a concert presenting the Brothers Cazimero, considered as
the kings of Hawaiian music, at the Waikiki Band Shell.
For even more excitement, there is the
World
Fire-Knife Dance Championships and Samoan Festival. As part
of the We Are Samoa Festival, fire-knife dancers from around
the world gather at the Polynesian Cultural Center to showcase
their talents.
The Memorial Day celebration is also held
every May. A ceremony honoring those who gave their lives
for the country is held at the National Memorial Cemetery
of the Pacific in Punchbowl, Oahu.
June
Come the first weekend of June, the entire
state of Hawaii comes alive with the King Kamehameha Celebration.
The highlights of the event are a flower parade, food booths,
and live entertainment. There is also the King Kamehameha
Hula Competition, which is one of the most prestigious hula
competitions in the world.
For food lovers, there is the Flavors of Honolulu,
which is a three-day outdoor food and wine festival. Get
the chance to sample the fare of some of the best restaurants
from all over the island for a minimal fee. There is also
live entertainment and children’s activities to increase
the fun.
July
There is nothing more beautiful that seeing
the Fourth of July Fireworks against the clear Oahu sky.
Leading up the excitement is day filled with games, food,
and live music. There is also the Hawaii International Jazz
Festival showcasing popular jazz acts. In another testament
to Oahu’s love of music, the Ukulele Festival is also held
on the last Sunday of July. A free concert by Hawaii’s best
players highlights the event.
Another July event is the Prince Lot Hula
Festival, where ancient and modern hula demonstrations are
shown. There are also arts and crafts activities for those
who want to get in touch with their creative side.
August
August sees Oahu celebrate a tradition that
is undoubtedly Hawaiian. The Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula
Competition is a dance competition with up to 500 participants.
There is also the Hawaii State Farm Fair, which has agricultural
products, exhibits, and entertainment. The Hawaiian Slack-Key
Guitar Festival completes the appeal to the senses. People
are treated to performances by some of Hawaii's best slack-key
guitarists.
September
The Aloha Festivals are held in the month
of September. The party is taken to the streets with parades,
street festivals and Waikiki’s famous street party. One
of Hawaii’s longest events, the Aloha Festival runs from
mid-September to October, with each island holding its own
roster of activities.
October
One of the most prestigious sporting events
in the world is the Molokai Hoe, a 40-mile outrigger contest.
Spectators can see the endurance and prowess of the athletes
as they maneuver across the channel from Molokai to Oahu.
November
Film enthusiasts are treated with the Hawaii
International Film Festival. Movie makers from as far away
as Asia gather in Oahu to show their masterpieces. The movies
are screened all over Hawaii. For those who want to experience
something more distinctly Hawaiian, there is also the Vans
Triple Crown of Surfing series. Professional big-wave surfers
from around the world head to the famous North Shore to
compete for more than $1 million in prize money and the
chance to be champion in this prestigious event.
December
With more than 30,000 participants, the
Honolulu Marathon is one of the biggest events
on the island.
Get the chance to watch or even join in one of the most
grueling sporting events in the country. Then there is
also the Festival of Lights, which is held during early December.
To welcome the holiday season, there is an Electric Light
Parade as well as 40-foot Christmas tree that usher in the
festivities.
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