Calendar of Events

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Back to HawaiiHawaii Calendar of Events

Please note that, as with any schedule of upcoming events, the following information is subject to change; always confirm the details before you plan your trip around an event. For a complete and up-to-date list of events throughout the islands, check out www.calendar.gohawaii.com.

January

Morey World Bodyboarding Championship, Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu. Competition is judged on the best wave selection and maneuvers on the wave. Call tel. 808/396-2326. Early January.

PGA Kapalua Mercedes Championship, Kapalua Resort, Maui. Top PGA golfers compete for $1 million. Call tel. 808/669-2440; www.kapaluamaui.com. Early January.

Sony Open, Waialae Country Club, Oahu. A $1.2-million PGA golf event featuring the top men in golf. Call tel. 808/734-2151. January 9 to January 15, 2006.

MasterCard Championship, Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kona, Big Island. Formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, this is the season-opening competition for golfers who have won a Senior PGA Tour event. Call tel. 800/417-2770 or 808/325-8000; www.pgatour.com. Late January.

Ka Molokai Makahiki, Kaunakakai Town Baseball Park, Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai, Molokai. Makahiki, a traditional time of peace in ancient Hawaii, is re-created with performances by Hawaiian music groups and hula halau, ancient Hawaiian games, a sporting competition, and Hawaiian crafts and food. It's a wonderful chance to experience the Hawaii of yesteryear. Call tel. 800/800-6367 or 808/553-3876; www.molokai-hawaii.com. Late January.

Ala Wai Challenge, Ala Wai Park, Waikiki, Oahu. This all-day event features ancient Hawaiian games, like ulu maika (bowling a round stone through pegs), oo ihe (spear throwing at an upright target), huki kaula (tug of war), and a 1/4-mile outrigger canoe race. It's also a great place to hear Hawaiian music. Call tel. 808/923-1802. Last weekend in January.

Senior Skins Tournament, Gold Course, Wailea Golf Courses, Maui. Longtime golfing greats participate in this four-man tournament for $600,000 in prize money. Call tel. 800/332-1614; www.seniorskinswailea.com. Played during Super Bowl weekend.

Hula Bowl Football All-Star Classic, War Memorial Stadium, Maui. An annual all-star football classic featuring America's top college players. Call tel. 808/874-9500; www.hulabowlmaui.com. Ticket orders are processed beginning April 1 for the next year's game. Late January.

Chinese New Year, Maui. Lahaina town rolls out the red carpet for this important event with a traditional lion dance at the historic Wo Hing Temple on Front Street, accompanied by fireworks, food booths, and a host of activities. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9175. Also on Market Street in Wailuku; call tel. 808/270-7414. On Oahu a big celebration takes place in Chinatown; call tel. 808/533-3181 for details. January 29, 2006, starts the year of the dog.

Narcissus Festival, Honolulu, Oahu. Taking place around the Chinese New Year, this cultural festival includes a queen pageant, cooking demonstrations, and a cultural fair. Call tel. 808/533-3181 for details.

Whalefest Week, Maui. This event celebrates Maui's best-known winter visitors, the humpback whales. Activities include seminars, art exhibits, sailing, snorkeling and diving tours, and numerous events for children. Call tel. 808/667-9175 or 808/879-8860; www.calendarmaui.com. Late January or early February.

February

NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Oahu. The National Football League's best pro players square off in this annual gridiron all-star game. Call tel. 808/486-9300; www.nfl.com. As we went to press, the date for 2006 was still pending.

Waimea Town Celebration, Waimea, Kauai. This annual 2-day party on Kauai's west side celebrates the Hawaiian and multiethnic history of the town where Captain Cook first landed. This is the island's biggest event, drawing some 10,000 people. Top Hawaiian entertainers, sporting events, rodeo, and lots of food are on tap during the weekend celebration. Call tel. 808/245-3971. Second or third week of February.

Sand Castle Building Contest, Kailua Beach Park, Oahu. Students from the University of Hawaii School of Architecture compete against professional architects to see who can build the best, most unusual, and most outrageous sand sculpture. Call tel. 808/956-7225.

Punahou School Carnival, Punahou School, Honolulu. This event has everything you can imagine in a school carnival, from high-speed rides to homemade jellies. All proceeds go to scholarship funds for Hawaii's most prestigious high school. Call tel. 808/944-5753. Mid-February.

The Great Aloha Run, Oahu. Thousands run 8 1/4 miles from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium. Call tel. 808/528-7388. Presidents' Day (third Mon in Feb).

Buffalo's Big Board Classic, Makaha Beach, Oahu. This contest involves traditional Hawaiian surfing, long boarding, and canoe-surfing. Call tel. 808/951-7877. Depending on surf conditions, it can be held in February or March.

March

Run to the Sun, Paia to Haleakala, Maui. The world's top ultra-marathoners make the journey from sea level to the top of 10,000-foot Haleakala in 37 miles. Call tel. 808/573-7584 or 808/741-2726; www.virr.com. Generally late March.

Hawaii Challenge International Sportkite Championship, Kapiolani Park, Oahu. The longest-running sportkite competition in the world attracts top kite pilots from around the globe. Call tel. 808/735-9059. First weekend in March.

Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Waikiki (Fort DeRussy to Kapiolani Park), Oahu. Bagpipers, bands, clowns, and marching groups parade through the heart of Waikiki, with lots of Irish-style celebrating all day. Call tel. 808/524-0722. March 17.

Kona Brewer's Festival, King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Luau Grounds, Kailua-Kona, Big Island. This annual event features microbreweries from around the world, with beer tastings, food, and entertainment. Call tel. 808/334-1133. Second Saturday in March.

Prince Kuhio Day Celebrations, all islands. State holiday. Various festivals throughout the state celebrate the birth of Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, who was born on March 26, 1871, and elected to Congress in 1902. Kauai, his birthplace, stages a huge celebration in Lihue; call tel. 808/826-9272 for details. Molokai also hosts a daylong celebration; call tel. 808/553-5215 to learn more.

April

East Maui Taro Festival, Hana, Maui. Taro, a Hawaiian staple food, is celebrated through music, hula, arts, crafts, and, of course, food. Call tel. 808/248-8972; www.tarofestival.org. Early April or late March.

Buddha Day, Lahaina Jodo Mission, Lahaina, Maui. Each year this historic mission holds a flower festival pageant honoring the birth of Buddha. Call tel. 808/661-4303. First Saturday in April.

Annual Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Celebration of the Arts, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui. Contemporary and traditional artists give free hands-on lessons. Call tel. 808/669-6200. The 4-day festival begins the Thursday before Easter (Apr 13-16, 2006).

Annual Easter Sunrise Service, National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater, Honolulu, Oahu. For a century, people have gathered at this famous cemetery for Easter sunrise services. Call tel. 808/566-1430. April 16, 2006.

Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, Hilo, Big Island. Hawaii's biggest hula festival features 3 nights of modern (auana) and ancient (kahiko) dance competition in honor of King David Kalakaua, the "Merrie Monarch" who revived the dance. Tickets sell out by January 30, so reserve early. Call tel. 808/935-9168. The week after Easter (Apr 16-22, 2006).

David Malo Day, Lahainaluna High School, Lahaina, Maui. This daylong event with hula and other Hawaiian cultural celebrations commemorates Hawaii's famous scholar and ends with a luau. Call tel. 808/662-4000. Mid-April.

Honolulu International Bed Race Festival, Honolulu, Oahu. This popular fund-raiser event allows visitors a small taste of Honolulu, with food booths sponsored by local restaurants, live entertainment, a keiki (children's) carnival with games and rides, and a race through the streets of Honolulu with runners pushing beds to raise money for local charities. Call tel. 808/696-2424. Mid-April.

Ulupalakua Thing! Maui County Agricultural Trade Show and Sampling, Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Winery, Ulupalakua, Maui. The name may be long and cumbersome, but this event is hot, hot, hot. It features local-product exhibits, food booths, and live entertainment. Call tel. 808/875-0457. Last Saturday in April (Apr 29, 2006).

May

Outrigger Canoe Season, all islands. From May to September nearly every weekend, canoe paddlers across the state participate in outrigger canoe races. Call tel. 808/261-6615, or go to www.y2kanu.com for this year's schedule of events.

Annual Lei Day Celebrations, various locations on all islands. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, celebrated with lei-making contests, pageantry, arts and crafts, and the real highlight, a Brothers Cazimero concert at the Waikiki Shell. Call tel. 808/924-8934 or 808/524-0722 for Oahu events (tel. 808/597-1888 for the Brothers Cazimero show); tel. 808/886-1655 for Big Island events; tel. 808/879-1922 for Maui events; or tel. 808/245-6931 for Kauai events. May 1.

World Fire-Knife Dance Championships and Samoan Festival, Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, Oahu. Junior and adult fire-knife dancers from around the world converge on the center for one of the most amazing performances you'll ever see. Authentic Samoan food and cultural festivities round out the fun. Call tel. 808/293-3333; www.polynesianculturalcenter.com. Mid-May.

International Festival of Canoes, West Maui. Celebration of the Pacific islands' seafaring heritage. Events include canoe paddling and sailing regattas, a luau feast, cultural arts demonstrations, canoe-building exhibits, and music. Call tel. 888/310-1117; www.calendarmaui.com. Mid- to late May.

Molokai Ka Hula Piko, Papohaku Beach Park, Kaluakoi, Molokai. This daylong celebration of the hula takes place on the island where it was born. It features performances by hula schools, musicians, and singers from across Hawaii as well as local food and Hawaiian crafts, including quilting, woodworking, feather work, and deer-horn scrimshaw. Call tel. 800/800-6367 or 808/553-3876; www.molokai-hawaii.com. Third Saturday in May (May 20, 2006).

Memorial Day, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl, Honolulu, Oahu. The armed forces hold a ceremony recognizing those who died for their country, beginning at 9am. Call tel. 808/532-3720. Memorial Day (last Mon in May).

June

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Kahului, Maui. Great music performed by the best musicians in Hawaii. It's 5 hours long and absolutely free. Call tel. 808/239-4336 or e-mail kahokuproductions@yahoo.com.

King Kamehameha Celebration, all islands. This state holiday features a massive floral parade, hoolaulea (party), and much more. Call tel. 808/586-0333 for Oahu events, tel. 808/329-1603 for Big Island events, tel. 808/667-9175 for Maui events, tel. 808/553-3876 for Molokai events, and tel. 808/245-3971 for Kauai events, or visit www.state.hi.us/dags/kkcc. June 10, 2006.

Maui Film Festival, Wailea Resort, Maui. Five days and nights of screenings of premieres and special films, along with traditional Hawaiian storytelling, chants, hula, and contemporary music. Call tel. 808/579-9996; www.mauifilmfestival.com. June.

King Kamehameha Hula Competition, Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Oahu. This is one of the top hula competitions in the world, with dancers from as far away as Japan. Call tel. 808/586-0333; www.state.hi.us/dags/kkcc. Third weekend in June (June 17-18, 2006).

Taste of Honolulu, Civic Center Grounds, Honolulu, Oahu. Hawaii's premier outdoor food festival features tastings from 30 restaurants, as well as entertainment, beer and wine tastings, cooking demos, a gourmet marketplace, and children's activities. Call tel. 808/536-1015; www.easterseals.org. June 24, 2006.

Makana Aloha Performing Arts Competition, Molokai. Free competition featuring Hawaiian song and dance, with Hawaiian food, arts and crafts, and games for kids. Call tel. 808/552-2800; www.molokaievents.com. Last Saturday in June (June 24, 2006).

July

Parker Ranch Rodeo, Waimea, Big Island. This is a hot rodeo competition in the heart of cowboy country. Call tel. 808/885-7311 or go to www.rodeohawaii.com.

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, Kona, Big Island. The best of Hawaii's folk music (slack-key guitar) performed by the best musicians in Hawaii. It's 5 hours long and absolutely free. Call tel. 808/239-4336 or www.hawaiianslackkeyguitarfestivals.com.

Makawao Parade and Rodeo, Makawao, Maui. The annual parade and rodeo event have been taking place in this upcountry cowboy town for generations. Call tel. 800/525-MAUI or 808/572-2076.

14th Annual Lanai Pineapple Festival, Lanai City, Lanai. Celebrates Lanai's history of pineapple plantations and ranching and includes a pineapple eating contest, pineapple cooking contest, entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and fireworks. Call tel. 808/565-7600; www.visitlanai.net. First Saturday in July (July 1, 2006).

Kapalua Wine and Food Festival, Kapalua, Maui. Famous wine and food experts and oenophiles gather at the Ritz-Carlton and Kapalua Bay hotels for formal tastings, panel discussions, and samplings of new releases. Call tel. 800/KAPALUA; www.kapaluaresort.com.

Fourth of July Fireworks, Desiderio and Sills Field, Schofield Barracks, Oahu. A free day-long celebration, with entertainment, food, and games, ends with a spectacular fireworks show. Call tel. 808/656-0110.

Turtle Independence Day, Mauna Lani Resort and Bungalows, Kohala Coast, Big Island. Scores of endangered green sea turtles, which have been raised in captivity, race down to the sea each year when they're released from the historic fish ponds at Mauna Lani. Call tel. 808/885-6677; www.maunalani.com. July 4.

Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Music Festival, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island. One of the Big Island's best food and wine festivals features Hawaii's top chefs (and a few mainland chefs) showing off their culinary talents, wines from around the world, and an excellent jazz concert with fireworks. Not to be missed. Call tel. 808/886-1234; www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com. Weekend closest to July 4th.

Hawaii International Jazz Festival, Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu. This festival includes evening concerts and daily jam sessions plus scholarship giveaways, the University of Southern California jazz band, and many popular jazz and blues artists. Call tel. 808/941-9974. Mid-July.

Prince Lot Hula Festival, Moanalua Gardens, Honolulu, Oahu. Authentic ancient and modern hula, as well as demonstrations and arts and crafts are some of the things you'll encounter at this festival. It's a good alternative to April's much better known (and much more crowded) Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Call tel. 808/839-5334. Third Sunday in July (July 16, 2006).

Ukulele Festival, Kapiolani Park Bandstand, Waikiki, Oahu. This free concert features a ukulele orchestra of some 600 students (ages 4-92). Hawaii's top musicians all pitch in. Call tel. 808/732-3739; www.roysakuma.net. Last Sunday in July (July 30, 2006).

Crater Rim Run and Marathon, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island. Some 1,000 runners from around the globe line up to compete in 5-, 10-, and 26-mile races over uneven lava terrain, up the walls of volcanic craters, and through lush rainforests. Call tel. 808/967-8222. Late July.

Quiksilver Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race. Some 70 participants from an international field journey to Molokai to compete in this 32-mile race, considered to be the world championship of long-distance paddleboard racing. The race begins at Kaluakoi Beach on Molokai at 7am and finishes at Maunaloa Bay, Oahu around 12:30pm. Call tel. 808/638-8208. Mid- to late July.

August

Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition, Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Oahu. More than 500 keiki (children) representing 22 halau (hula schools) from the islands compete in this dance fest. The event is broadcast a week later on KITV-TV. Call tel. 808/521-6905. Early August or last weekend in July.

Hawaii State Farm Fair, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Oahu. The annual state fair is a great one: It features displays of Hawaii agricultural products (including orchids), educational and cultural exhibits, entertainment, and local-style food. Call tel. 808/531-3531. Early August.

Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, Kailua-Kona, Big Island. One of the world's most prestigious billfish tournaments, the HIBT attracts teams from around the globe. Call tel. 808/329-6155; www.konabillfish.com.

Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site Anniversary Celebration, Kawaihae, Big Island. This is a weekend of Hawaiian crafts, workshops, and games. Call tel. 808/882-7218. Mid-August.

Admissions Day, all islands. Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. The state takes a holiday (all state-related facilities are closed) on the third Friday in August (Aug 18, 2006).

Style Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, Sheraton Waikiki, Oahu. The best of Hawaii's folk music (slack-key guitar) performed by the best musicians in Hawaii. It's 5 hours long and absolutely free. Call tel. 808/239-4336 or e-mail kahokuproductions@yahoo.com. Third Sunday in August (Aug 20, 2006).

September

Aloha Festivals, various locations statewide. Parades and other events celebrate Hawaiian culture and friendliness throughout the state. Call tel. 800/852-7690, 808/545-1771, or 808/885-8086, or visit www.alohafestivals.com for a schedule of events.

Aloha Festivals Poke Recipe Contest, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and Mauna Kea Beach Resort, Kohala Coast, Big Island. Top chefs from across Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, as well as local amateurs, compete in making this Hawaiian delicacy, poke (pronounced po-kay): chopped raw fish mixed with seaweed and spices. Here's your chance to sample poke at its best. Call tel. 808/885-8086.

Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races, Kailua Pier to Honaunau and back, Big Island. Some 2,500 paddlers from all over Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Canada, and the Pacific vie in the world's longest canoe event. Call tel. 808/329-7787. Labor Day weekend (Sept 1-3, 2006).

A Taste of Lahaina, Lahaina Civic Center, Maui. Some 30,000 people show up to sample 40 signature entrees of Maui's premier chefs during this weekend festival, which includes cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and live entertainment. The event begins Friday night with Maui Chefs Present, a dinner/cocktail party featuring about a dozen of Maui's best chefs. Call tel. 888/310-1117; www.visitmaui.com. Second weekend in September (Sept 9-10, 2006).

Na Wahine O Ke Kai, Molokai to Oahu. Women's 32-mile canoe race. Watch the sunrise and the start of the race beginning at 7am on Sunday morning. The finish line fronts the shores of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Call tel. 808/259-7112; http://holoholo.org/wahine. Mid-September.

Maui Marathon, Kahului to Kaanapali, Maui. Runners line up at the Maui Mall before daybreak and head off for Kaanapali. Call tel. 808/871-6441; www.mauimarathon.com. Sunday in mid-September.

LifeFest Maui, Kapalua, Maui. An all-new health-and-wellness 3-day event featuring lectures and panel presentations by leaders in the health-and-wellness field (Dr. Deepak Chopra, Bob Greene, Dr. Julian Whitaker, and others), plus ocean sporting events, fitness activities, a health-and-wellness expo, and sumptuous culinary gala dinners. Call tel. 800/KAPALUA; www.lifefestkapalua.com.

October

Emalani Festival, Kokee State Park, Kauai. This festival honors Her Majesty Queen Emma, an inveterate gardener and Hawaii's first environmental queen, who made a forest trek to Kokee with 100 friends in 1871. Call tel. 808/245-3971.

Aloha Classic World Wavesailing Championship, Hookipa Beach, Maui. The top windsurfers in the world gather for this final event in the Pro Boardsailing World Tour. If you're on Maui, don't miss it -- it's spectacular to watch. Call tel. 808/575-9151.

Hamakua Music Festival, Hamakua, Big Island. This event features a surprisingly eclectic mix of well-known musicians, ranging from blues and jazz to rock 'n' roll, Hawaiian, and even classical. Call tel. 808/775-3378. Early October.

Maui County Fair, War Memorial Complex, Wailuku, Maui. The oldest county fair in Hawaii features a parade, amusement rides, live entertainment, and exhibits. Call tel. 800/525-MAUI or 808/244-3530. First weekend in October.

Molokai Hoe, Molokai to Oahu. The course of this men's 40-mile outrigger contest runs across the channel from Molokai to finish at Fort DeRussy Beach in Waikiki. Call tel. 808/261-6615; www.molokai-hawaii.com. Mid-October.

Ironman Triathlon World Championship, Kailua-Kona, Big Island. Some 1,500-plus world-class athletes run a full marathon, swim 2 1/2 miles, and bike 112 miles on the Kona-Kohala coast of the Big Island. Spectators can watch the action along the route for free. The best place to see the 7am start is along the seawall on Alii Drive, facing Kailua Bay; arrive before 5:30am to get a seat. The best place to see the bike-and-run portion is along Alii Drive (which will be closed to traffic; park on a side street and walk down). To watch the finishers come in, line up along Alii Drive from Holualoa Street to the finish at Palani Road/Alii Drive; the first finisher can come as early as 2:30pm, and the course closes at midnight. Call tel. 808/329-0063; www.ironmanlive.com. October 21, 2006.

Halloween in Lahaina, Maui. There's Carnival in Rio, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and Halloween in Lahaina. Come to this giant costume party (some 20,000 people show up) on the streets of Lahaina; Front Street is closed off for the festivities. Call tel. 808/667-9175. October 31.

November

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, Kauai Marriott Resort, Lihue, Kauai. The best of Hawaii's folk music (slack-key guitar) performed by the best musicians in Hawaii. It's 5 hours long and absolutely free. Call tel. 808/239-4336 or e-mail kahokuproductions@yahoo.com.

Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Kailua-Kona, Big Island. Celebrate the coffee harvest with a bean-picking contest, lei contests, song and dance, and the Miss Kona Coffee pageant. Call tel. 808/326-7820 or go to www.konacoffee.com for this year's schedule.

Big Island Festival, Kona-Kohala coast, Big Island. One of the state's largest festivals honors its largest island. It lasts 5 days and nights, celebrating the Big Island's cultural diversity with lots of foodie events, excellent Hawaiian music, golf and sport activities, spa extravaganzas, agricultural products, and exhibits and cultural activities. Call tel. 866/424-FEST; www.bigislandfestival.com. Sometime in November.

Hawaii International Film Festival, various locations throughout the state. This cinema festival with a cross-cultural spin features filmmakers from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the United States. Call tel. 808/528-FILM; or visit www.hiff.org. First 2 weeks in November.

MasterCard PGA Grand Slam, Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course, Kauai. Top golfers compete for $1 million in prize money. Call tel. 800/PGA-TCKT or 888/744-0888; www.pga.com. Late November.

Triple Crown of Surfing, North Shore, Oahu. The world's top professional surfers compete in events for more than $1 million in prize money. Call tel. 808/638-7266; www.triplecrownofsurfing.com. Held between Friday, November 17, and Wednesday, December 20, whenever conditions are best.

December

Festival of Trees, Honolulu, Oahu. This downtown display of one-of-a-kind decorated trees, wreaths, and decorations benefits Queen's Medical Center. Call tel. 808/547-4371. The lighting takes place the first or second week of December.

Old-Fashioned Holiday Celebration, Lahaina, Maui. This day of Christmas carolers, Santa Claus, live music and entertainment, a crafts fair, Christmas baked goods, and activities for children takes place in the Banyan Tree Park on Front Street. Call tel. 888/310-1117; www.visitlahaina.com. Second Saturday in December (Dec 9, 2006).

Festival of Lights, all islands. On Oahu, the mayor throws the switch to light up the 40-foot-tall Norfolk pine and other trees in front of Honolulu Hale, while on Maui, marching bands, floats, and Santa roll down Lahaina's Front Street in an annual parade. Molokai celebrates with a host of activities in Kaunakakai; on Kauai the lighting ceremony takes place in front of the former county building on Rice Street, Lihue. Call tel. 808/547-4397 on Oahu, tel. 808/667-9175 on Maui, tel. 808/567-6361 on Molokai, and tel. 808/828-0014 on Kauai. Early December.

Honolulu Marathon, Honolulu, Oahu. This is one of the largest marathons in the world, with more than 30,000 competitors. Call tel. 808/734-7200; www.honolulumarathon.org. Second Sunday in December (Dec 10, 2006).

Aloha Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Oahu. A Pac-10 team plays a Big 12 team in this nationally televised collegiate football classic. Call tel. 808/545-7171. Christmas Day.

Rainbow Classic, University of Hawaii, Manoa Valley, Oahu. Eight of the best NCAA basketball teams compete at the Special Events Arena. Call tel. 808/956-6501. The week after Christmas.

First Night, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui, and Kailua-Kona, Big Island. Hawaii's largest festival of arts and entertainment takes place on two different islands. For 12 hours, musicians, dancers, actors, jugglers, magicians, and mimes perform. Afterwards, fireworks bring in the new year. Alcohol-free. Call tel. 808/326-7820 on the Big Island, or tel. 808/242-7469 on Maui. December 31.

First Light, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui. Major films are screened at this festival (past films have included The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Mystic River, Aviator, Hotel Rwanda, and many others). Not to be missed. Call tel. 808/579-9996, or visit www.mauifilmfestival.com. End of December and early January.