Hawaii Scottish Festival and Highland Games

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Cultural & TraditionalHonolulu
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsIn its documented years, the festival
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Hawaii Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Honolulu

The Hawaiian Scottish Festival and Highland Games was a real, decades-long annual event in Honolulu organized by the Hawaiian Scottish Association, featuring Highland athletics, piping and dance competitions, and a Scotch tasting. Archived versions of the organization's website confirm the festival ran at least into 2020, when it was canceled due to COVID-19, but its official website has since become an inactive, for-sale domain, so current or recent activity could not be confirmed.

The Hawaiian Scottish Festival and Highland Games grew out of the Hawaiian Scottish Association, a community group formed to give Hawaii residents of Scottish descent, along with anyone drawn to Scottish culture, a place to gather.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

In its documented years, the festival combined traditional Highland heavy athletics with cultural programming rarely found together in Hawaii: a Highland Dance Competition, the Aggie Wallace Solo Piping Competition, a Scotch tasting, and clan tables where Hawaii residents with Scottish ancestry could connect with their family's clan society

02

The mystery stays covered

A note on the organization's 2020 website referred to the planned 2021 event as the 40th Annual Festival and Games, indicating the event began around 1980 or 1981 and had run for roughly four decades by the time of the pandemic

03

The city starts moving

The venue moved over the years, from McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park to Jefferson Elementary School near Kapahulu Avenue, close to Kapiolani Park and Waikiki

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Documented festival tradition centered on Highland heavy athletics such as caber toss and stone put

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a judged piping competition (the Aggie Wallace Solo Piping Competition)

The sacred route

Living ritual

and a Highland dance competition

The local code

Living ritual

alongside clan tables where Hawaii's Scottish descendants could identify with a specific ancestral clan

Tradition 5

Living ritual

A separate pre-festival Scotch tasting event

Tradition 6

Living ritual

called the Grand Scotch Tour in at least one recent year

Tradition 7

Living ritual

functioned as a standalone fundraiser ahead of the main weekend

Tradition 8

Living ritual

The organization used the Scottish Gaelic toast slainte in its public communications

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Historically, attendees mixed casual Hawaii wear, such as shorts, aloha shirts, and sundresses, with participants and spectators in traditional Scottish dress, including kilts, tartan...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map21.31 N, 157.86 WOpen in Google Maps

Honolulu, HI

Nearest airportHNL — Daniel K. Inouye
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Honolulu via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Honolulu, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearHistorically, attendees mixed casual Hawaii wear, such as shorts, aloha shirts, and sundresses, with participants and spectators in traditional Scottish dress, including kilts, tartan sashes, and sporrans for competitors and clan representatives; comfortable outdoor clothing and sun protection suited the Honolulu spring weather when the event was typically held.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Hawaii Scottish Festival and Highland Games?

Hawaii Scottish Festival and Highland Games is listed for April. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Hawaii Scottish Festival and Highland Games take place?

The festival is listed in Honolulu, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Honolulu, HI

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLhawaiianscottishassociation.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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