Ukulele Festival Hawaii

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MusicHonolulu
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's claim to being the original
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Ukulele Festival Hawaii in Honolulu

Ukulele Festival Hawaii traces back to 1971, when Roy Sakuma, then a groundskeeper at Kapiolani Park, organized a free concert to showcase the instrument he loved. It has grown into what organizers describe as the world's largest international ukulele festival, still offered free to the public in Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, with sister events on Waikoloa, Kauai, and Maui, drawing student ensembles, virtuoso soloists, and guest performers from around the globe each year.

In 1971, Roy Sakuma was working as a groundskeeper at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, but his real passion was the ukulele, an instrument he had studied and taught since childhood.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's claim to being the original ukulele festival is well documented: Roy Sakuma started it as a single free concert in Kapiolani Park decades before ukulele festivals became common worldwide, and the event still returns to that same park every year rather than moving to a ticketed venue

02

The mystery stays covered

Roy and his wife Kathy built a nonprofit around the festival that funds college scholarships for young people and runs a Play Along program inviting participants anywhere in the world to learn and perform the year's theme song alongside the Honolulu concert

03

The city starts moving

The festival has also spun off satellite editions on Hawaii Island (in Waikoloa), Kauai, and Maui, so the tradition of free, all-ages ukulele concerts now spans multiple islands rather than a single stage

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival keeps its founding format intact: a free public concert in the same Kapiolani Park where Roy Sakuma first held it

Water and renewal

Living ritual

opened to student players from local ukulele schools before professional and guest performers take the stage

The sacred route

Living ritual

a structure meant to put beginners and masters in front of the same audience on the same day

The local code

Living ritual

The Play Along tradition extends that community spirit globally

Tradition 5

Living ritual

inviting anyone

Tradition 6

Living ritual

to learn that year's chosen theme song and perform it in step with the Honolulu concert

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

For Ukulele Festival Hawaii, plan transport around the exact Honolulu venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable outdoor concert attire works well, such as shorts, a t-shirt or aloha shirt, and sandals; a sun hat is common given the open-air, midday park setting.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Ukulele Festival Hawaii, stay near the part of Honolulu you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map21.31 N, 157.86 WOpen in Google Maps

Honolulu, HI

Nearest airportHNL — Daniel K. Inouye
TransportFor Ukulele Festival Hawaii, plan transport around the exact Honolulu venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Ukulele Festival Hawaii, stay near the part of Honolulu you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

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 July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable outdoor concert attire works well, such as shorts, a t-shirt or aloha shirt, and sandals; a sun hat is common given the open-air, midday park setting.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 Ukulele Festival Hawaii?

Ukulele Festival Hawaii is listed for July. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Ukulele Festival Hawaii 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 URLukulelefestivalhawaii.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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