April Events in Hawaii
By Shanon Searls
With mostly sunny days and still without the throngs of tourists who come to Hawaii during the summer break, April is one of the best months to visit Hawaii! The weather is mild, with daytime temperatures averaging in the high 70s and low 80s and nighttime temps in the upper 60s. Except for the Easter week period, April can offer travelers value, with lower airfares and nightly villa rates.
The people of Hawaii also love to celebrate music, food and culture year-round, so you will find fun celebrations on every island, including the well-known Merrie Monarch Festival held every year on the Big Island of Hawaii, where Exotic Estates has plenty of amazing Big Island villas!
If you are one of the lucky people to be traveling to Hawaii this month, we have compiled a list of fun events to consider while you are relaxing in paradise!
Mele Mei – All Islands
Mele Mei is the celebration of Hawai’i’s music, culture, and hula dancing! Events are held from April through June at various hotels and venues on the beach and statewide.
You can find musical celebrations featuring traditional Hawaiian music, island reggae and even some rock-and-roll! Mele Mei has something for everyone and events are featured weekly.
Merrie Monarch Festival – The Big Island
The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place annually during the week following Easter. The 2017 festival will be held April 16-22, 2017 and features an exciting week-long calendar of cultural events including Hawaii's most prestigious hula competition at Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium in Hilo.
Starting on Easter Sunday, the festival will kick-off with a Ho'olaule'a on Moku Ola (Coconut Island). On the following Wednesday, there is a free exhibition night at the stadium that begins at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday, you can experience the solo Miss Aloha Hula competition, one of our favorite events in Hawaii! On Friday and Saturday, there are also many hula competitions and then there is a grand parade through Hilo-town on Saturday morning.
One of Hawaii’s most popular events, don’t miss this exciting celebration of Hawaiian culture!
Kapalua Celebration of the Arts – Maui
From April 14-16th, The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua will host Hawaii’s most celebrated Artists, educators, speakers and entertainers during the 25th Annual Celebration of the Arts.
Experience hands-on art projects, demonstrations and exhibitions, and various films, panels, and music and dance performances. Considered one of Hawaii’s main cultural events, don’t miss this chance to celebrate the history and culture of Hawaii!
Luapahoehoe Music Festival – The Big Island
On April 8, 2017, take your family and friends to the 12th annual Laupahoehoe Music Festival! This event is held in the efforts to help raise funds to support the Laupahoehoe School and is an alcohol-free event.
From 10 am -3 pm on Saturday, enjoy various Hawaiian musicians and Hula performers, along with food, games, and handmade crafts. Savor a taste of Hawaii and Pan-Asian cooking, as the food offered ranges from Kalua Pork to Thai selections, as well as coffees, teas, lemonades and even Hawaiian shaved ice. There are also several craft booths and carnival style games!
24th Annual Ha’iku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival – Maui
This is a fun local family event that allows you to mix with the local Maui community. The 24th Annual Ha`iku Ho’olaule’a (Roughly pronounced “Hi-koo Ho-o-l-au-lay-a” a fun tongue twister for Mainlanders!) and Flower Festival is held to benefit Haiku Elementary School and the Haiku Community Association and Boys & Girls Club. This event will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Haiku Elementary School in Haiku, Maui, and is free to all participants.
The event is open to both the Maui community and visitors alike, and everyone is invited to spend the day enjoying live entertainment, culinary delights from local Hawaiian restaurants and the experience the famous Haiku bake sale!
There is also one of the largest silent auctions on Maui, featuring floral design and lei making contests, a Haiku historical display, and plenty of activities for Keiki (young kids)!
15th Annual Waikiki Spam Jam Festival
The Waikiki Spam Jam is a popular street festival that celebrates Hawaii’s love of Spam, which is a canned meat from Hormel Foods.
If you have not already traveled to Hawaii, it doesn’t take long to notice that there is Spam at all grocery and convenience stores, many restaurants and even in most homes! You’ll notice spam musubi, a giant spam sushi snack, for sale at 7 Elevens across the islands. This street festival is fun for all ages, and visitors can enjoy a taste from Hawaii’s top restaurants, free entertainment (with two stages offering music and shows), and a variety of Hawaiian retailers.
Benefiting the Hawaiian foodbank, the event is a quirky, uniquely Hawaiian cultural celebration that the whole family can enjoy.
No matter where you rented your Exotic Estates' villa this April, we can help you find the best events that Hawaii has to offer. Talk to your Hawaii Villa Specialist today and see what events you can participate in during your stay!
