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Hawaiʻi Island Summer Guide 2026: Top Experiences

Hawaiʻi Island Summer Guide 2026: Top Experiences

Fourth of July fireworks in Hawaii.

Photo by Shutterstock.

Festivals & Events

9th Annual Hawaiʻi Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival

June 5-7

A 3-day celebration of Hawai'i Island and Hawaiian culture. Includes a fashion show, hula hō'ike, firkenife competition, live music, food and more. Hosted at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort.

4th of July in Waikoloa

July 4

Family celebration at Queens' Marketplace with live music, games and face painting all day long.

Independence Day Pool Parties

July 4-10

Pool parties and festive events at Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. Fireworks on fourth of July.

Hawai'i Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival. Photo courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

Hawai'i Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival. Photo courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

Summer BBQ Bash with Jack Arnold

July 17

6-9 p.m.

Fairmont Orchid's Summer BBQ is hosted by grill-master Jack Arnold with live-fire cooking stations, chef-curated tastings, live music from Kalaʻe & Kalena Parish and more.

Located at the Fairmont Orchid (Kohala Coast)

Summer Celebrations & Culinary Pop-Ups at Kona Village

June – August

A rotating series of monthly pop‑ups featuring award‑winning chefs and acclaimed mixologists from across the U.S. hosted at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort.

June 26–27 — Chef Kevin Fink of Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group.

4th of July Weekend — Hawaiʻi‑born pioneer of modern cocktail culture Julie Reiner takes over Shipwreck Bar with 4th of July BBQ featuring family-friendly activities.

August 28–29 — The Peach Crease Club from Denver, led by husband‑and‑wife bar veterans Alex Jump and Stuart Jensen, will host a pop‑up at Shipwreck Bar and Island Roots.

Monthly — Paniolo Pāʻina: Experience the rich heritage of Hawaiian ranching through an evening of food, music and storytelling. The outdoor gathering features a buffet‑style dinner prepared in a wood‑fired kitchen, alongside live music, hula and fire dancing.

Weekly — Pūlehu Night: Sunset dinner and live music at Kahuwai Cookhouse with live-fire cooking stations, inspired by the tradition of pūlehu – a time of gathering, abundance, and connection.  

Located at Kona Village, A Redwood Resort

To book summer dining experiences at Kona Village email: konavillage.dining@rosewoodhotels.com

Hawaiʻiloa Lūʻau

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Orchid.

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Orchid.

Every Saturday

5:30 p.m. — Lū’au dinner buffet and hula performance featuring Samoan fire knife dancing.

Located at the Fairmont Orchid (Kohala Coast)

Queens’ Culinary Market

2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month

4-7 p.m.

Local produce, artisans, and food at Queens’ Marketplace in Waikoloa.

Keauhou Farmers Market

Every Saturday

8 a.m. to noon

Locally grown produce and goods at Keauhou Shopping Center in Kailua-Kona.

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A family on a boat in Hawaii.

Photo by Tor Johnson, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Top Summer Activities

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Orchid.

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Orchid.

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