Summerfest

Erin's Events for July 2009

Whether you have a proper summer “break” or not, July is one of those months during the year that just feels like vacation. Smack in the middle of summer, every free moment is spent around town or outdoors with family and friends.

With a huge selection of activities and festivities to take part in, all kicked off by a long Fourth of July Weekend, the month is sure to be a fun and relaxing one across the State of Hawaii.

Kauai:

• Fourth of July Celebrations
  • Kekaha Town: Head to the west side of Kauai on July 3^rd and 4^th, for two days of Fourth of July inspired family fun at the Faye Ballpark in Kekaha. Enjoy activities, entertainment, crafts, ono food, cultural displays, and games, topped off by a fireworks show on the evening of the 4^th. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Friday July 3^rd and again at 6 a.m. on Saturday the 4^th. Admission is free. Call 808-346-2342 for more info.
  • 20^th Annual Concert in the Sky: July 4^th bring your most comfortable beach chairs blankets and mats and grab a spot on the lawn at Vidinha Stadium soccer field in Lihue for an evening of games, live entertainment, delicious food from Kauai’s top hotels and of course, a fireworks show not to be missed to cap off the evening. Gates open at 4 p.m. Advance admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and $15 for adults and $7 for children at the gate. For more information call 808-245-7277 or go to www.kauaihospice.org.
• 1^st Annual Kauai Kau Wela Festival is being held on Friday, July 10^th and Saturday, July 11^th at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, in honor of the people and culture of Hawaii and Polynesia. The event starts at 10 a.m. on both days and will highlight Hawaiian and Tahitian song, dance, activities, food, crafts, prizes and more! For more information contact Ilima Rivera at 808-822-5929. Admission is free.
• 25^th Annual Koloa Plantation Days Festival: In 1835 the first sugar plantation was established in Koloa town on Kauai, bringing with it a wealth of culture, diversity and growth. Began 25 years ago on the plantations 150^th year anniversary, the Koloa Plantation Days Festival celebrates the towns sugar cane heritage as well as its present-day vitality. The festival spans over 9 days starting July 18^th until July 26^th, and is packed full with over 20 events and activities to partake in such as rodeos, parades, coastal hikes, tennis and golf tournaments, a luau, family movie night and much, much more. For more information and a complete list of scheduled events go to http://www.koloaplantationdays.com.
• Kauai Music Festival: If you are musically inclined don’t miss out on the opportunity to be discovered at the Kauai Music Festival being held on July 29^th through August 1^st at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort. The four day celebration to honor the art of songwriting includes learning how to write songs, one-on-one consults and a chance to be heard by some of the best in the music industry. Registration is limited so be sure to sign up asap! Go to http://www.kauaimusicfestival.com/site/index.php for more information.

Oahu:

• Fourth of July Celebrations
  • Aloha Tower Marketplace: July 3^rd head down to the Aloha Tower Marketplace for its annual pre-independence day celebration on Friday, July 3^rd. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and end with an incredible fireworks display over the Honolulu Harbor at 8:45 p.m. Leading up to that, enjoy live entertainment, a fashion show and a plethora of food and drink specials from the resident restaurants. Admission is free, call 808-566-2337 for more information.
  • Maunalua Bay: Join family and friends in Hawaii Kai to celebrate the 4^th with live entertainment, ono food, activities for the keiki, and of course a not-to-be-missed fire works show at 8 p.m.
  • Start out your independence day in a healthy way by participating in the 4^th of July 5K and Children’s 1 Mile Fun Run being held at Sills Field at Scholfield Barracks. Be there to register from 6:45 until 8:45. The Adult 5K run will begin at 9 a.m. with the Keiki Fun Run beginning at 10 a.m. Call Jim Perry at 808-655-9650 for more information.
  • The 4^th Of July Fireworks Show at Ala Moana is amongst the 25^th largest in the nation, launching fireworks from three separate platforms! Bring comfortable seating and settle in on the Makai-Ewa top parking deck (first come first serve) for live entertainment from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. when the real show begins. Festivities will continue on throughout the weekend at the shopping center with live entertainment and shopping specials. Call 808-955-9517 for more information.
  • Spend the 4^th of July in Kailua for their annual Independence Day festival. The day begins with a parade at 10 a.m. from Kainalu Elementary School and ending at Kailua District Park, and ends with a fireworks display off of Kailua Beach Park starting at 8 p.m. For more information call 808-261-7997.
• The Contemporary Museum in Makiki is hosting ArtSpree, an all-day arts festival on Saturday, July 11^th. The whole family is welcome to participate in hands-on art activities, enjoy live music and entertainment, yummy food and art exhibits. Take advantage of the opportunity to also take a stroll through the exquisite gardens and the museums galleries as well. Admission is free, the event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Call 808-526-1322 for more information.
• Games and rides and cotton candy oh my! The Hawaii State Farm Fair is being held on July 18^th and 19^th at the Bishop Museum and is sure to be packed with nothing but the best in food, games, booths, activities, entertainment and more. The fair will go from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information go to www.hfbf.org or call 808-848-2074.
• Follow the music to the 39^th Annual Ukulele Festival being held on Sunday, July 19^th at the Waikiki Bandstand in Kapiolani Park from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Enjoy performances by Ukulele virtuosos from Hawaii and around the world as well as a group of over 800 students! Of course there will also be yummy food booths, ukulele display booths and chances to win an ukulele. Free to the public, there will also be free shuttle service from Kapiolani Community College. For more information go to http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org.

Maui:

• Fourth of July Celebrations
  • July 4^th: For a spectacular fireworks show, the place to be on Maui is Lahaina town for a free concert starting at 5 p.m., followed by a waterfront fireworks show at 8 p.m. Want to change it up a bit? Take a boat tour out to watch the fireworks from the ocean! Some of them even have a special dinner cruise just for the occasion. Here are two possible options: Trilogy - http://www.sailtrilogy.com/pages/specials_4thJuly2009.php?g or Pacific Whale Foundation Eco Adventures: http://www.pacificwhale.org/mauiecocruises/cruise.php?&page=holiday&id=1&action=setDate&yyyymm=200907#1
  • For a slightly different take on the usual Independence Day traditions head to the Oskie Rice Arena for the 54th Annual Makawao Rodeo on July 2^nd through the 5^th. Admission is free on Thursday and Friday during the qualifying runs and there is a slight admission (no more than $15) on Saturday and Sunday for the Bull Bash and Rodeo. For more information call 808-572-8954. Festivities start at 9 a.m. on Thurs and Fri, Bull Bash is at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the Rodeo begins on Sat and Sun at 1 p.m.
  • The 44^th Annual Paniolo Parade celebrating “The Original Cowboys” is happening in conjunction with the Makawao Rodeo on Saturday, July 4^th from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. The parade will begin at the Veteran’s Cemetary and end at the Mayor Eddie Tam Community Center. Parking will not be available in town, but parade-goers can park at Oskie Rice Arena and take the free shuttle down to the parade.
• Head to sunny Lahaina July 31^st and August 1^st for the Lahaina Plantation Days Celebration in honor of the plantation era that once thrived in this area. Festivities are being held at the Old Pioneer Mill site from 4 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and will include live music, food, keiki games, and exhibits of the old days on the plantation. As a special treat Front Street is being re-created with old favorites such as Liberty Restaurant that will be serving “fry soup,” movies at Pioneer Theater, specialty pies from the Banyan Inn, and much more.

Big Island:

• Fourth of July Celebrations
  • Gear up for the 4^th at the 47^th Annual Parker Ranch Independence Weekend Rodeo being held July 3^rd from 9 a.m. until noon. Cheer on action-packed rodeo events for both adults and children as well as indulge in ono food and much more. For more information call 808-885-5669 or go to http://parkerranch.com/Press-Releases/664/annual-parker-ranch-independence-weekend-rodeo-scheduled-for-friday-july-3.
  • Looking for something a bit more mellow this Independence Day weekend? The 1^st Annual Volcano Pottery Sale is being held up at the Volcano Garden Arts Gallery on July 4^th and 5^th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Peruse the work of various potters from all over the Big Island and stop in for a gourmet lunch at the newly opened Café Ono. For more information go to www.ryhpottery.com/current_news or call 808-985-8530.
  • Head to Waikoloa for the Waikoloa Beach Resorts annual Rubber Duckie Race & 4^th of July Extravaganza. Spend the day on the Kohala Coast participating in games, listening to live entertainment, giving it your best shot in the rubber duckie race and finally enjoying a fireworks show set to live music played by the Air Force Band of the Pacific. For more information go to http://waikoloabeachresort.com/big-island-activities-events?g
  • Enjoy watching the Kailua-Kona Community 4^th of July Parade and Celebration starting at 5:30, followed by a fireworks show over Kailua Bay at 8:30. For more information and a map of the parade go to http://konaparades.com/Kona_Parades/Independence_Day_Parade.html
  • Remember what Independence day is really about, by granting freedom to all of the young honu that are raised in captivity at the Mauna Lani Resort, in preparation for release back into the wild. A truly touching event to be a part of. The release begins at 10:30 and lasts until noon, with fun festivities to follow.
• Experience the rich culture of Hawaii at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s Annual Cultural Festival on July 11^th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Enjoy Hawaiian music, hula, and craft sales as well as demonstrations by cultural practitioners. For more information go to http://www.fhvnp.org or call 808-985-6011 or 985-6153. The event is free, although regular park fees to apply.
• Fishing Tournaments
  • 21^st Annual Firecracker Open Marlin Tournament is the second qualifying event of the Maui Jim Hawai Marlin Tournament Series that is held on the Big Island each year. Winner receive cash prizes. For more information go to www.konatournaments.com or contact Tropidilla Productions at 808-327-1440.
  • At the 18^th Annual Skins Marlin Derby the only fish that qualify are Marlins weighing in between 500 and 1,500lbs! For more information call 808-557-2615.
  • The HIBT 50^th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is being held in Kona on July 20^th through the 24^th and is all about garnering prestige amongst your fellow fishermen. Teams from Hawaii and around the world participate, looking to catch Pacific blue marlin in order to win the coveted HIBT’s Governor’s Trophy. Most of the fish that are caught during the tournament are tagged and released in an effort to promote conservation. For more information go to www.hibtfishing.com or call 808-836-3422.