Honolulu’s homegrown shopping spectacular is officially on the calendar. The Made in Hawai‘i Festival will return to the Hawai‘i Convention Center this summer, running Aug. 20-23, with organizers shifting to evening-only buyer and preview hours on Thursday and Friday while construction at the venue wraps up. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale Aug. 1.
Dates, venue and who's running it
According to the Made in Hawai‘i Festival, this year’s event will once again set up shop at the Hawai‘i Convention Center from Aug. 20-23 and is produced by the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association. The festival is billed as one of the state’s largest retail marketplaces, with organizers saying it routinely draws hundreds of vendors and pulls in a sizable crowd from across the islands.
New schedule and construction
As reported by Aloha State Daily, the 2026 festival will feature two evening shopping sessions to kick things off: a Huaka‘i by Hawaiian VIP buying party on Thursday, Aug. 20 from 6:30 to 10 p.m., and a preview night on Friday, Aug. 21 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. General admission hours follow on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MIHF spokesperson Olena Heu told the outlet, "Due to active and ongoing construction at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, vendors and guests will not have access onsite until after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays," a restriction that led planners to push weekday entry into the evening while keeping longer hours on the weekend.
Economic impact and community giving
Aloha State Daily noted that "A record-breaking MIHF drew approximately 70,000 attendees and generated approximately $10 million in sales in 2024." The festival’s planning materials describe MIHF as a major sales weekend for local makers, and organizers say the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association, the Servco Foundation and ticket buyers together contributed $30,000 last year to the Hawai‘i Foodbank and The Food Basket’s DA BUX program. MIHF says it plans to team up with the food banks again this year, according to the Made in Hawai‘i Festival.
Changes after last year's lines
Last year’s record turnout came with a catch: long waits and lines that spilled into nearby streets, a crowd control headache noted by local outlets and in hours-long lines into Waikiki. That coverage captured organizers’ public apology after attendees endured extended waits. Sponsors including Hawaiian Airlines have since spotlighted a redesigned entry route along the Ala Wai Promenade and a Kupuna Rest Station aimed at giving seniors and guests with mobility challenges a more comfortable experience.
What to know before you go
Festival organizers are urging shoppers to buy tickets early, expect the heaviest crowds on Saturday, and factor in limited weekday access to the convention center before the evening. Ahead of opening day, keep an eye on the event’s social channels (official handle: @madeinhi) and the festival website for vendor spotlights, performance schedules and any last-minute changes as the August weekend approaches.
