Thursday, October 15, 2026
Henry Kapono in Concert
5:00 PM Royal Kona Resort, Kailua-Kona
An intimate evening with the beloved Hawaiian musician on the Kona waterfront.
Big Island local events
Big Island local events.
This page lists current events across Hawaiʻi Island: festivals, concerts, lūʻau, community gatherings, and more, organized by region. It is refreshed weekly, so check back often for what’s coming up on the island.
Updated October 13, 2026
Event details change, so please confirm dates, times, and locations with the organizer before you go. Listings are sourced from BaseLocal, Kahilu Theatre, KONAWEB, Bandsintown, Songkick, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and organizer pages. You can also browse the BaseLocal Big Island events calendar for a wider, continuously updated listing.
Upcoming events
Kona / West Hawaiʻi
Sunday, October 18, 2026
29th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Kona Style
1:00–5:00 PM OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa, Kailua-Kona
A benefit concert for the Ki-hoʻalu Foundation featuring slack key guitar masters.
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Steel Pulse
7:00 PM KBXtreme, Kailua-Kona
The legendary reggae band performs live on the Kona coast.
November 6–15, 2026
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Multiple events Kailua-Kona and Hōlualoa
The island’s longest-running festival celebrates Kona coffee with a lantern parade, a coffee and art stroll, and the Festival Hoʻolauleʻa.
Friday, November 6, 2026
The Green
6:00 PM KBXtreme, Kailua-Kona
Hawaiian reggae band The Green performs live with Likkle Jordee on the same bill.
Friday & Saturday, November 6–7, 2026
ʻAha Kuauli Workshops
9:00 AM–5:00 PM Kailua-Kona
A two-day workshop event in Kailua-Kona.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Dave Abear’s A Very Jerry Band
7:00 PM KBXtreme, Kailua-Kona
Dave Abear’s A Very Jerry Band performs live at KBXtreme.
Friday, November 13, 2026
Pulley & El Sancho – Hawaii
6:00 PM Kona Elks Lodge, Kailua-Kona
Punk rock band Pulley headlines a Hawaii show with El Sancho at the Kona Elks Lodge.
Sunday, December 6, 2026
Iration
6:00 PM KBXtreme, Kailua-Kona
The California reggae-rock band brings their tour to the Kona coast.
Upcoming events
Kohala Coast
Friday & Saturday, October 16–17, 2026
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival, Island of Hawaiʻi
Multiple events Mauna Kea Resort, Kohala Coast
Celebrity-chef culinary events on the Kohala Coast, including the Cuisines of the Sun Golf Classic and the Smoked, Shucked & Cured tasting.
Tuesday, October 13 · Tuesday, December 1 · Friday, December 4, 2026
Mauna Kea Lūʻau
4:45 PM Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Lūʻau Grounds, Kohala Coast
The signature oceanfront lūʻau at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with Hawaiian music, hula, and a traditional feast.
Saturday, October 31, 2026
The Enchanted Dragon: Potions & Spells Dance Party
5:00–10:00 PM Blue Dragon Tavern & Cosmic Musiquarium, Kawaihae
An immersive Halloween audio-visual experience presented by Hōkū Sessions, with DJ OverFlow, Frequent.See, and Felipon. A costume contest with prizes plus an immersive light show with fog, lasers, and 3D projections. Presale tickets are $33 through October 15, then $55, with only 111 available; the ticket includes a fizzy, hydrating (non-alcoholic) potion.
Sunday, November 15, 2026
Paniolo BBQ & Slack Key Celebration
See listing for time Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa
A paniolo-style barbecue with live slack key guitar at Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Friday, November 27 · Monday, December 21 · Friday, December 25 · Monday, December 28, 2026
Mauna Lani Festive Lūʻau
See listing for time Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Kohala Coast
Holiday-season lūʻau with Polynesian entertainment at Mauna Lani.
Upcoming events
Waimea / North Kohala
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Tomáš Kubínek – Certified Lunatic
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
Award-winning physical comedy and wonder from the acclaimed solo performer.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Makana in Concert
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
The virtuoso slack key guitarist and singer-songwriter performs live.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Script & Sip
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A relaxed evening of play readings and conversation with drinks at Kahilu Theatre.
Friday & Saturday, October 23–24, 2026
Dark Side of the Beach
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A live Pink Floyd tribute performed on the Big Island.
Sunday, November 1, 2026
“Kahilu – The Gift of Place” Film Screening
Screening Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A film screening celebrating Waimea’s historic Kahilu Theatre.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival All Access Pass
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
HIFF brings festival films and programming to Waimea with an all-access pass.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
The Navigator (film)
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A film screening at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.
Friday, November 13, 2026
W.M. Keck Observatory Astronomy Talk with Dr. John Grunsfeld
7:00 PM · Free Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A free talk with the former NASA astronaut and physicist.
Friday, November 13, 2026
Brittni Paiva
7:00 PM Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
The award-winning ʻukulele virtuoso performs in Waimea.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
24th Annual ʻUkulele & Slack Key Guitar Festival
Evening performance Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A celebration of Hawaiian music with ukulele and slack key guitar masters, featuring Taimane and Brittni Paiva.
Friday, November 20, 2026
Celebration of Laughs Tour
Evening performance Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A night of comedy at Waimea’s premier performing arts venue.
Sunday, November 29, 2026
Waimea Community Chorus Christmas Concert
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
A festive holiday program from the Waimea Community Chorus.
Friday, December 4, 2026
The Blind Boys of Alabama
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
The legendary gospel group brings their holiday tour to Waimea.
Thursday, December 10, 2026
Whose Live Anyway?
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
The improv comedy show from the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Kalani Peʻa
See listing for time Kahilu Theatre, Waimea
The Grammy-winning Hawaiian musician performs in Waimea.
Every Wednesday
Hāmākua-Kohala Health Kūpuna Circle
9:30–11:00 AM Tutu’s House, Waimea
A weekly gathering for kūpuna (elders) hosted by Hāmākua-Kohala Health.
Upcoming events
Hilo & Hāmākua
Sunday, October 18, 2026
A Taste of Hilo
1:00–3:00 PM Sangha Hall, Hilo
A food-and-beverage fundraiser featuring more than 30 island tastemakers.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Big Island Slack Key Guitar Festival – Hilo Edition
12:00–6:00 PM Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo
A free afternoon of slack key guitar at Hilo’s civic auditorium.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Hawaiʻi Island Festival of Birds
9:00 AM–5:30 PM Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hilo
A bird fair with conservation talks, expert speakers, and a free public hour in the afternoon.
Thursday–Sunday, November 12–15, 2026
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF 46) at Palace Theater
Screenings Palace Theater, Hilo
The 46th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival brings screenings to downtown Hilo’s historic Palace Theater.
Saturday, November 28, 2026
Kabaka Pyramid
7:00 PM Hilo Town Market, Hilo
Reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid performs live at Hilo Town Market.
Saturday & Sunday, December 5–6, 2026
Nā Mākua Invitational Christmas Gift Fair
See listing for time Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Center, Hilo
A holiday gift fair featuring locally made crafts and gifts.
December 21, 23–24, 26–28 & 30, 2026
ʻOhana Winter Fun at ʻImiloa
10:00 AM–2:00 PM ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo
Family-friendly winter activities and planetarium fun during the school break.
Monday, December 28, 2026
Natural Vibrations
6:00 PM Naniloa Crown Room, Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hilo
Hawaiian reggae band Natural Vibrations performs with DMotion and Dirty Roots.
Refreshed weekly
Know an event we should add next week?
This page is updated weekly with current Big Island events. If you’re hosting or know of a local event, or you’d like help planning a move around the island’s calendar, reach out.
REALTOR® · RS-87584 · HI · Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Island Lifestyle