Big Island Events Calendar - Big Island, Hawaii

There’s always something to do in Big Island. Below is a list of the best events in Big Island.
Be sure to call ahead to confirm dates, times and other important information.

November 2004

VOLCANO ART CENTER Place: Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawaii's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary and performing arts. Under a cooperating agreement with the National Park Service, Volcano Art Center presents ongoing programs in the Park.

RANGER-LED PROGRAMS: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Ranger-led walks and hikes enrich your knowledge of the Park's resources and Hawaiian culture. Walks may be wheelchair accessible or may be longer hikes. The daily schedule of ranger presentations is posted each morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Kilauea Visitor Center.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Date: Tuesdays, Time: 7 p.m, Place: Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium
After Dark in the Park is a series of free evening programs on topics of geology, biology, Hawaiian culture and history.

MOOKINI HEIAU MONTHLY SITE VISITS AND WEED-PULLING WORK DAYS
Place: North Kohala, A wonderful opportunity to learn the oral history of this ancient Hawaiian temple with Kahuna Nui Leimomi Mookini Lum. The Mookini Heiau is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most famous heiaus in Hawaii. Free. Call: (808) 885-3633.

NELHA PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday (excluding holidays), Time: 10:00 a.m., Place: Keahole Point (one mile south of Kona Int'l Airport), Ocean technology pioneers harness Arctic-cold deep seawater for the future of mankind. Visit the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) recognized world-wide as a unique and innovative business, research and science technology park. Fee $5/person (children under age 8 free). For reservations call: (808) 329-7341 Ext. 233. For private group presentations call (808) 329-2861. Exhibit area available weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

KONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM TOURS
Date: Ongoing, Place: Kalukalu (14 miles south of Kailua-Kona), Offering a variety of guided tours and lectures including the Historic Kailua Village Walking Tour, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour, Captain Cook Lecture and more. For reservation & cost call (808) 323-3222.

MA LALO O KA PO LANI (UNDER THE NIGHT'S SKY)
Date: Third Saturday of every month, Time: 6:00 p.m., Place: Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. An innovative program of cultural experiences shared by members of our Hawaiian communities followed by the regular evening stargazing program. Call: David Byrne (808) 961-2180 or visit their site.

HAMAKUA COFFEE TOUR
Place: Honokaa (Hamakua Coast)
Share a unique morning with local hosts Netta and Wendall Branco on a tour of their estate coffee farm. Learn about the entire process from planting trees, harvesting the coffee "cherry", pulping, drying, husking to custom roasting. See several varieties of coffee trees, dry land taro plants, banana, and other tropical fruit and "talk story" with Netta and Wendell about the little known history of coffee on the Hamakua coast. $35/person (2 person min.) Call: (808) 775-0385.

HAWAIIANA IN HONOMU
Date: Every Saturday through December 18
Date: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Place: Honomu Gym, Honomu (Hamakua Coast)
Join Aunty Nona Beamer and friends for free classes and workshops in Hawaiian language, slack key guitar, ukulele, traditional crafts, lei making, and "talk story" with teachers and experts in all things Hawaiian. Call: Leilehua Yuen (808) 935-1722.

HULIHEE PALACE CONCERT
Date: November 2
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Hulihee Palace, Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona
Proudly presented by the Daughters of Hawaii and dedicated to King David Kalakaua. Also remembering Aunty Lei Collins and Charles"Bud" Dant . Enjoy Hawaiian music, singing and hula. Seating is limited so bring a beach mat or chair. Free. Call: (808) 329-9555.

HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND FESTIVAL - CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY
Date: November 3 - 7
Place: Kona and South Kohala Resorts
Celebrate diversity at the 5-day Hawaii's Big Island Festival. Cutting edge cuisine. Reserve wine tastings. Informative seminars. Spa treatments. Championship golf and ocean sports. Ancient Hawaiian culture and music. Local agriculture and specialty products. An abundance of inspiring activities hosted by the legendary resorts of the Kohala Coast. Call: Festival Toll-Free Hotline 1-866-424-FEST.

KE ALOHA NA KUPUNA (OUR BELOVED GRANDPARENTS)
Date: November 5 & 6
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place: King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel (Hotel lobby)
A free cultural program held the first Friday & Saturday of each month - come enjoy authentic Hawaiian craft exhibits, workshops, special events, music and "talk story". This month features a Feather Presentation & Workshop by MaryLou Kekuewa. Call: Uncle Kala (808) 324-0230.

KONA COFFEE CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Date: November 5 to November 14
Place: Kona Coast
Hawaii's oldest food festival celebrates over 170 years of Kona Coffee from 1828 to 2004. Featuring over 30 events at locations around the Kona Coast. Call: (808) 326-7820 or visit their site.

THE MUSIC & HISTORY OF HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR
Date: November 7
Time: 2:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Place: Volcano Arts Center, Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l. Park
A special lecture-demonstration sponsored by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Folk Arts Program with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Free. Call (808) 967-8222 or visit Volcano Art Center.

OHANA STYLE LOMILOMI CLASS
Date: November 12 - 14
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Place: Hilo
This ohana (family) style 3-day workshop will be presented by lomilomi master, Kapuna Papa K. Kepilino, who is well known as a lomi practitioner and instructor. The workshop will teach the basic techniques of lomilomi and the breath of Ha. Attendance is limited. Call: (808) 959 2258.

ALOHA FRIDAY
Date: November 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
Time: Nov. 12, 13, 19, 20 at 7:30 pm; Nov. 14 & 21 at 4:00 pm
Place: UH Hilo Theatre, 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo
Reflecting made-in Hawaii humor, this play by Lee Cataluna explores what happens to the motley crew working at Menehune Cable Company when the company is sold to that boogie man, the mainland conglomerate. Call: (808) 974-7310.

HAMAKUA ARTISANS' GUILD STUDIO TOUR
Date: November 13 & 14
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Place: Honokaa area (Hamakua Coast)
Open studio tour held by 5 studios with 12 artists. Live demonstrations and hand's on activities including glass blowing, wood turning, wheel thrown and hand-built pottery and silk painting. Finished pieces for sale. Maps available. Call: Jan Dean (808) 775-0401.

AN OLD HAWAII NIGHT
Date: November 20
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: Waikoloa Marriott, 69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa
A fundraiser for Family Support Services of West Hawaii. Live and silent auction of Hawaiian treasures plus a fun filled elegant evening with dinner and music entertainment. This year’s theme, “Under a Hula Moon,” will recreate fabulous days of times past. Tickets $75. Reservations required. Call: Family Support Services (808) 326-7778.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY
Date: November 20 & 21 and November 26 to 28
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Place: Volcano Arts Center, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Christmas in the Country Begins! Special holiday celebrations include demonstrations and print and books signings by artists and authors, plus a fine selection of quality handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season. Free (Park entrance fees apply). Call: (808) 967-7565 or visit their site

ANNUAL INVITATIONAL WREATH EXHIBIT BY ISLAND ARTISTS
Date: November 20 - January 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Place: Volcano Art Center, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Choose from a fine selection of quality handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season. Call (808) 967-7565.

December 2004

VOLCANO ART CENTER
Place: Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawaii's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary and performing arts. Under a cooperating agreement with the National Park Service, Volcano Art Center presents ongoing programs in the Park. For this month's programs, please visit Volcano Art Center's Calendar of Events.

RANGER-LED PROGRAMS: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Date: Daily
Ranger-led walks and hikes enrich your knowledge of the Park's resources and Hawaiian culture. Walks may be wheelchair accessible or may be longer hikes. The daily schedule of ranger presentations is posted each morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Kilauea Visitor Center. Call: (808) 985-6000 or visit their site.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Date: Tuesdays
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium
After Dark in the Park is a series of free evening programs on topics of geology, biology, Hawaiian culture and history. For more information, please visit their site.

MOOKINI HEIAU MONTHLY SITE VISITS AND WEED-PULLING WORK DAYS
Place: North Kohala
A wonderful opportunity to learn the oral history of this ancient Hawaiian temple with Kahuna Nui Leimomi Mookini Lum. The Mookini Heiau is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most famous heiaus in Hawaii. Free. Call: (808) 885-3633.

NELHA PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday (excluding holidays)
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Keahole Point (one mile south of Kona Int'l Airport)
Ocean technology pioneers harness Arctic-cold deep seawater for the future of mankind. Visit the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) recognized world-wide as a unique and innovative business, research and science technology park. Fee $5/person (children under age 8 free). For reservations call: (808) 329-7341 Ext. 233. For private group presentations call (808) 329-2861. Exhibit area available weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

KONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM TOURS
Date: Ongoing
Place: Kalukalu (14 miles south of Kailua-Kona)
Offering a variety of guided tours and lectures including the Historic Kailua Village Walking Tour, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour, Captain Cook Lecture and more. For reservation & cost call (808) 323-3222.

MA LALO O KA PO LANI (UNDER THE NIGHT'S SKY)
Date: Third Saturday of every month
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station
An innovative program of cultural experiences shared by members of our Hawaiian communities followed by the regular evening stargazing program. Call: David Byrne (808) 961-2180 or visit their site.

HAMAKUA COFFEE TOUR
Place: Honokaa (Hamakua Coast)
Share a unique morning with local hosts Netta and Wendall Branco on a tour of their estate coffee farm. Learn about the entire process from planting trees, harvesting the coffee "cherry", pulping, drying, husking to custom roasting. See several varieties of coffee trees, dry land taro plants, banana, and other tropical fruit and "talk story" with Netta and Wendell about the little known history of coffee on the Hamakua coast. $35/person (2 person min.) Call: (808) 775-0385.

ANNUAL INVITATIONAL WREATH EXHIBIT BY ISLAND ARTISTS
Date: November 20 - January 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Place: Volcano Art Center, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Choose from a fine selection of quality handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season. Call (808) 967-7565.

HAWAIIANA IN HONOMU
Date: Every Saturday through December 18
Date: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Place: Honomu Gym, Honomu (Hamakua Coast)
Join Aunty Nona Beamer and friends for free classes and workshops in Hawaiian language, slack key guitar, ukulele, traditional crafts, lei making, and "talk story" with teachers and experts in all things Hawaiian. Call: Leilehua Yuen (808) 935-1722.

KE ALOHA NA KUPUNA (OUR BELOVED GRANDPARENTS)
Date: December 3 & 4
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place: King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel (Hotel lobby)
A free cultural program held the first Friday & Saturday of each month - come enjoy authentic Hawaiian craft exhibits, workshops, special events, music and "talk story". This month features Hawaiian Christmas Wreaths by Ke Aloha Na Kupuna. Call: Uncle Kala (808) 324-0230.

PASSPORT TO INTERNATIONAL CULTURES
Date: December 4
Place: Kings' Shop at Waikoloa Beach Resort (Kohala Coast)
A fantastic mix of Hawaiian arts and crafts, hula performances, food and live entertainment will be featured during this celebration of Hawaii's rich cultural heritage. Call: (808) 886-8811.

44TH ANNUAL WAIMEA CHRISTMAS TWILIGHT PARADE & ALL-DAY FESTIVAL
Date: December 4
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Waimea (from historic Church Row to the Parker Ranch Center)
Na Ohana Kuaaina-The Families of the Country" is the theme of the twinkling holiday procession that steps off at 6 p.m. Call: Patti Cook (808) 937-2833.

AMAHL & THE NIGHT VISITORS PLUS MESSIAH CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Date: December 4 & 5
Time: Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 5 at 4:00 p.m.
Place: UH Hilo Theatre, 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo
Conducted by Maestro Ken Staton, the University Chamber Singers, University/Community Chorus, UH-Hilo Dance Ensemble and the Houlu Pila Chamber Orchestra will come together to present an exciting event of seasonal music, drama and dance. Call: (808) 974-7310.

HAWAIIAN LOMILOMI
Date: December 6 - 9
Place: Sky Ranch, Kealakekua (South Kona)
A culturally rich hands-on workshop where you can learn Lomilomi Massage, Hooponopono, Hula, Pule, Hawaiian Hot Stones, and more! Instructors Nancy Kahalewai, LMT, with Kumu Leinaala Brown, LMT, Kumu Elele Aunty Mahealani, and others. $395 includes 3 nights accommodation. Call: (808) 968-8100 or visit their site.

AUDUBON SOCIETY’S ANNUAL BIRD COUNT
Date: December 14 through January 5
Place: Big Island
The Christmas Bird Count is a coast-to-coast annual bird census. Volunteers count every bird and bird species over one calendar day. Birds are indicators of the overall health of the environment. Christmas bird count data in any given area can provide valuable insight into the long-term health of bird populations and the environment. If you want to do something good for birds and meet other "bird people" call (808) 528-1432 for more information.

HULIHEE PALACE CONCERT
Date: December 19
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Hulihee Palace, Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona
Proudly presented by the Daughters of Hawaii and dedicated to Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Enjoy Hawaiian music, singing and hula. Seating is limited so bring a beach mat or chair. Free. Call: (808) 329-9555.

17TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT: WINTER IN THE RAINFOREST
Date: December 22
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Kilauea Military Camp Theater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
This is Volcano Art Center's yearly holiday gift of family entertainment to the community, featuring local talent, good cheer, and an audience sing-along. Free (calabash donations welcome). Call: (808) 967-8222 or visit their site.

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
Date: December 24
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Place: Kilauea Military Camp Chapel, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Readers Richard Uejo and Emma McAlexander join with the Volcano Festival Chorus and the audience in this popular annual event. Call: Tom McAlexander (808) 985-7192.

HAWAIIAN DRUM CARVING WEEK
Date: December 26 - January 2
Place: Onekahakaha Beach (Hilo)
Spend a week carving a traditional Hawaiian drum on Hilo's Onekahakaha Beach from the day after Christmas to the day after New Year with Keoni Aweau Turalde, a native Hawaiian artisan from a long line of seafaring master craftsmen. Renowned for his gift as a master carver of pahu niu (sharkskin-topped drums carved from coconut wood), Turalde teaches from a traditional cultural perspective, with chants, prayers, and protocols woven throughout the week, & the work. Call: Connie Rios (808) 244-4940.

TRADITIONAL MOCHI (RICE CAKE) POUNDING FOR NEW YEAR
Date: Friday, December 31
Place: Wailea Village (Hamakua Coast)
Plan a unique Christmas this year in Hawaii in the quiet little village of Wailea at Akiko's Buddhist Bed and Breakfast. Join them for the 7th annual mochi-zuki celebration - making traditional rice cakes the "old-fashioned" way. The oldtimers share their stories of plantation era times and everyone takes their turn at pounding the glutinous sticky rice for good luck. Fire building starts at 6 a.m. to steam the rice. Event goes until about 2 p.m. with hearty local style lunch for $5. Great Fun!! Call: Miss Akiko (808) 963-6422 or email msakiko@aloha.net for reservations

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information on major events happening across the state.
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