We happen to think any day’s a great day to be on the Big Island, and we don’t need a calendar to prove it. But there are some times annual events and interesting happenings to make your visit even more special. The year starts off in the middle of whale watch season, progresses to the prestigious Merrie Monarch hula competition in the spring, heats up during Hawaii International Billfish Tournament in the summer, and slides into Aloha Festivals and the Ironman World Cup Triathlon in the fall. Take a look, and if your meeting or incentive falls during a Big Island special event, be sure it’s included on your program’s itinerary.
05/01/2008 - 07/12/08 Featherwork of Hawaii
05/23/2008 - 09/01/08 Dark Side of the Moon
06/14/2008 - 08/30/08 O-Bon Dances
07/02/2008 - 07/30/08 Hawaiiana Live
07/03/2008 - 07/05/08 July 4th Funfest
07/04/2008 - 07/05/08 Bonsai Exhibit
07/04/2008 July 4th Kailua-Kona Independence Day
07/04/2008 Great Waikoloa Rubber Ducky Race & 4th of July Extravaganza
07/04/2008 Annual Parker Ranch Rodeo
07/04/2008 Turtle Independence Day
07/06/2008 - 07/27/08 Mala Hooona Auao
07/07/2008 - 07/28/08 Niaulani Nature Walk / Forest Tour
07/07/2008 - 07/31/08 Educational Tours at NELHA
07/08/2008 “Ruins in the Landscape: Southeast Asia's Archaeological Parks”
07/10/2008 - 06/27/08 Hawaii Performing Arts Festival
07/11/2008 - 07/31/08 Brush Paintings on Silk Exhibit
07/12/2008 Explore the Hidden Forest
07/12/2008 Hawai`i Volcanoes Cultural Festival
07/12/2008 Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Tour
07/13/2008 Aloha Sundays
07/19/2008 - 07/20/08 Big Island Hawaiian Music Festival
07/20/2008 Volcano Forest Work Day
07/26/2008 Keauhou Market and Chef’s Presentations
07/26/2008 26th Annual Kilauea Volcano Runs
07/27/2008 Daifukuji Orchid Club Annual Show
08/04/2008 - 08/08/08 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament
08/08/2008 - 08/10/08 56th Annual Hilo Orchid Society Show & Sale
08/08/2008 - 08/29/08 Abstract Only! Art Show
08/09/2008 Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Tour
08/12/2008 “Restoring Kahuku’s Natural Resources”
08/15/2008 - 10/15/08 Contemporary Photographs of the Nisei in Hawaii
08/15/2008 Hawaii’s World Heritage Festival
08/16/2008 International Haari Boat Festival
08/16/2008 - 08/17/08 Establishment Day Hawaiian Festival
08/16/2008 - 09/01/08 Waiomina Centennial Celebration
08/23/2008 - 11/20/08 Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
08/23/2008 Waikoloa Koi Day
08/30/2008 - 08/31/08 Malama Punalu‘u
08/30/2008 - 09/30/08 Aloha Festivals
08/30/2008 - 08/31/08 Parker Ranch Round-up Rodeo
08/30/2008 - 09/01/08 Queen Lili‘uokalani Canoe Races
09/01/2008 - 09/30/08 Hawaii Island Festival – 30 Days of Aloha
09/04/2008 - 11/13/08 3D Hitchhikers Exploration of the Milky Way
09/05/2008 - 09/07/08 Weekend of Hawaiian Culture
09/05/2008 - 09/06/08 12th Annual “Run For Hope”
09/06/2008 - 09/07/08 Holistic Hawaii Wellness and Green Living Expo
09/13/2008 Mauka Food and Fun Festival
09/21/2008 International Day of Peace Festival
09/23/2008 - 09/24/08 Chefs and Agriculture Conferences
09/28/2008 He Hali‘a Aloha No Ka Queen Lili‘uokalani Festival
10/02/2008 - 10/04/08 Lau Hala Weaving Conference
10/03/2008 A Taste of the Hawaiian Range
10/03/2008 - 10/24/08 Big Island Wood Exhibit
10/06/2008 - 10/11/08 Navigation Festival
10/11/2008 Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship
10/12/2008 W. M. Keck Observatory Open House
10/15/2008 - 10/18/08 Waikoloa Women’s Golf Challenge
10/17/2008 - 10/18/08 Hawaiian Lomilomi Conference
10/18/2008 Hulihee Palace Benefit
10/18/2008 "OBAKE” – Ghost stories
10/25/2008 Hamakua Alive
10/26/2008 Halloween Spooktacular
10/31/2008 - 01/31/09 Hawaii: A Place Apart
11/05/2008 - 11/09/08 Moku o Keawe International Hula Festival
11/07/2008 - 11/09/08 Piko Indigenous Artists Gathering
11/07/2008 Black & White Night
11/07/2008 New Waves at NELHA Luncheon and Tour
11/07/2008 - 11/16/08 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
11/08/2008 Annual Drum and Percussion Festival
11/22/2008 Bay Concert
11/22/2008 - 01/04/09 Invitational Wreath Exhibit
11/23/2008 - 11/29/08 Christmas in the Country
11/29/2008 - 11/30/08 Na Lima Hana Holiday Craft Fair
12/03/2008 - 12/06/08 He Huaka I E Pana Ai Ke Ea
12/05/2008 Christmas Tree Lighting
12/06/2008 Robo Fest
12/06/2008 Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade and All-Day Festival
12/17/2008 VAC Annual Holiday Concert – Yuletide Aloha
12/28/2008 Wailea Village Historic Preservation – Mochi Pounding