Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival

View on map
Cultural & TraditionalKailua-Kona
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsWhat sets this festival apart is its
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival in Kailua-Kona

The Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival is a three-day gathering on Kamehameha Day weekend at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona. Now in roughly its second decade, it brings together hula, Samoan fireknife dance, Tahitian dance workshops, and a wearable-arts fashion show to mark Hawaii Island as a meeting point of Pacific and Asian cultures, alongside a cultural marketplace and food booths.

Kailua-Kona sits on the leeward coast of Hawaii Island, a resort town built where Native Hawaiian royalty once kept residence and where waves of immigrant labor from China, Japan, the Philippines, Okinawa, Korea, and later Samoa and Tonga settled to work sugar and coffee land.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets this festival apart is its deliberate blending of Pacific and Asian traditions in one program rather than treating them separately

02

The mystery stays covered

The opening night pairs an aha pule (prayer protocol) with a hula hoike featuring halau from across Hawaii Island

03

The city starts moving

Saturday's Le Kaua Ailao World Fireknife Competition draws champion Samoan fireknife dancers, while a wearable-arts runway show spotlights Pacific and Asia designers who weave heritage into contemporary fashion

04

The water draws everyone in

The Olelo Kamau interactive marketplace adds hands-on cultural education, including sign-up workshops in siva afi (Samoan fire dance) and Tahitian drumming, so visitors participate rather than just watch

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival opens with an aha pule prayer protocol before any performances begin

Water and renewal

Living ritual

observing Hawaiian cultural order

The sacred route

Living ritual

The Le Kaua Ailao World Fireknife Competition follows the Samoan ailao afi tradition of dancing with a machete-like knife lit at both ends

The local code

Living ritual

a discipline with roots in ancient Samoan war-club performance later adapted for competitive display

Tradition 5

Living ritual

The Olelo Kamau marketplace pairs vendor stalls with structured cultural teaching

Tradition 6

Living ritual

including guided siva afi and Tahitian drumming sessions rather than passive demonstration

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

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

Warm, humid coastal weather year-round: light resort or aloha wear, sundresses, or collared shirts for daytime; a few dressier pieces if attending the ticketed fashion show or evening...

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

Kailua-Kona, HI

Nearest airportKOA — Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole
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.
FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival?

Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival is listed for June. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Kailua-Kona, 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?

Kailua-Kona, 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 URLhikuauli.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →