Hawaii Songwriting Festival

View on map
MusicKona
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsUnlike large commercial music conferences
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Hawaii Songwriting Festival in Kona

The Hawai'i Songwriting Festival is a real, active songwriting conference held each year at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast of Hawai'i Island, roughly 30 minutes from Kona International Airport. Run by a nonprofit formerly known as the Kaua'i Music Festival, it moved from Kauai to the Big Island in 2015 and brings songwriters of all experience levels together for workshops, mentoring, and industry panels each September.

The Hawai'i Songwriting Festival did not begin on the Big Island at all.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Unlike large commercial music conferences, the Hawai'i Songwriting Festival is small, family-run, and entirely volunteer-led, which organizers say creates an intimate setting where beginners and working professionals mix freely over a few days on the Kohala Coast

02

The mystery stays covered

Attendees are assigned to small mentor-led workshop groups of 10 to 15 people that rotate daily, plus one-on-one speed mentoring sessions with music-industry professionals, panels on publishing, licensing, and writing for film and television, and a judged annual songwriting competition that names first, second, and third place finishers

03

The city starts moving

The festival funds scholarships named for musicians connected to Hawaii and the mainland, including the Henry Kapono Foundation Scholarship and the Jason Mraz Foundation Scholarship

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's defining custom is the small-group songwriting workshop

Water and renewal

Living ritual

where each attendee shares an original song with 10 to 15 peers and a rotating mentor and receives direct feedback

The sacred route

Living ritual

repeated daily with a new mentor and group assignment

The local code

Living ritual

Speed mentoring formalizes one-on-one access to visiting music-industry professionals in strict 15-minute slots

Tradition 5

Living ritual

The event also carries forward a lineage from its earlier life as the Kaua'i Music Festival

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and its scholarship program

Tradition 7

Living ritual

named for musicians connected to Hawaii such as Henry Kapono and touring artist Jason Mraz

Tradition 8

Living ritual

ties the conference to the islands' broader songwriting and slack-key guitar traditions

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Use Kona transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Casual resort wear suits the setting: aloha shirts, sundresses, shorts, and sandals for daytime sessions, with a slightly dressier layer for evening showcase concerts; comfortable clothing...

Safety

Hawaii Songwriting Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Kona, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

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

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map19.64 N, 156.00 WOpen in Google Maps

Kona, HI

Nearest airportKOA — Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole
TransportUse Kona transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Kona, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

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 Kona via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kona, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual resort wear suits the setting: aloha shirts, sundresses, shorts, and sandals for daytime sessions, with a slightly dressier layer for evening showcase concerts; comfortable clothing matters most since much of the day is spent sitting in workshop circles.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 Songwriting Festival?

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

Where does Hawaii Songwriting Festival take place?

The festival is listed in 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?

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