Honolulu’s historic Chinatown is celebrating the 50th Lunar New Year with Chinatown 808’s annual Festival & Parade on Saturday, running from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at ʻAʻala Park and along N. Beretania Street, with the parade starting at 4:30 p.m. from the Hawaiʻi State Capitol lawn. The event will feature lion and dragon dances, martial-arts demonstrations, festival queens, and a variety of family-friendly activities for keiki.
Where The Action Is And When It Starts
The festival footprint runs along N. Beretania Street between Maunakea and ʻAʻala streets, with stages and rows of vendors centered in ʻAʻala Park. Parade participants will step off from the State Capitol lawn and march down Hotel Street to River Street, led by Grand Marshal Sen. Karl Rhoads, per GoHawaii. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the ʻAʻala Park stage; check the full schedule and map on the Chinatown 808 site.
ASB Perks And Keiki Zone
American Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor and will host an ASB Keiki Fun Zone featuring free bounce houses, an activities booth, a prize wheel and a Buy Local Hawaii village that offers exclusive discounts to ASB Visa debit card holders at participating merchants. The bank notes that attendees can pick up activity cards and redeem small gifts as part of its festival programming. See American Savings Bank for details on merchant offers and booth hours.
On The Ground: Lions, Food And Bike Valet
Event listings indicate the festival will feature more than 40 food, craft and retail vendors, along with a pony-and-donkey petting area and a mini-horse petting zoo. Live entertainment is scheduled on multiple stages throughout the day. The Hawai‘i Bicycling League will provide free bike valet at ʻAʻala Park, and street closures are planned on Beretania and Hotel streets in the afternoon to make room for the parade route. For travel tips and a basic itinerary for families, organizers point attendees to local event guides and listings.
Why The February 14 Date Still Hits The Lunar Mark
Lunar New Year in 2026 begins on Feb. 17, and Hawaiʻi’s celebrations blend Chinese customs with local practice. Families clean homes to sweep away bad luck, wear red for prosperity and feed the lions for blessings, traditions that often stretch across a roughly 15 day season. That extended timeline helps explain why Chinatown’s festival, even on Feb. 14 this year, remains a key moment for the community to gather and prepare for the holiday week that follows. For background on the holiday and local customs, see HAWAIʻI Magazine.
"The horse symbolizes strength, energy and perseverance, qualities that reflect our community’s spirit," Leonard Kam, president of Chinatown 808, said in a statement to HAWAIʻI Magazine. Organizers hope the milestone year draws both longtime attendees and newcomers to Chinatown for food, performances and fundraising for local societies.
If you want a prime viewing spot along the parade route, plan to arrive early, stake out your stretch of sidewalk and settle in. Consider biking if you can, since the free bike valet at ʻAʻala Park opens before the parade and can save time on parking. For the full vendor list, stage schedule and up to the minute notices, visit Chinatown 808.
