Waikīkī is gearing up for a full weekend of music, hula and bon dance as the 43rd Pan-Pacific Festival rolls back into town from Friday through Sunday. The free, three-day celebration stretches from Ala Moana to the heart of Waikīkī, blending a massive block party with an oceanfront hula showcase and a sunset parade down Kalākaua Avenue. Stages, food booths and cultural demonstrations will pop up from the Kūhiō Beach hula mound all the way to Ala Moana Center.
Festival kickoff and main events
According to Pan-Pacific Festival, the Pan-Pacific Hoʻolauleʻa block party takes over Kalākaua Avenue on Friday evening, with the street closed between Seaside and Uluniu avenues and lined with stages, food booths and a bon dance. The festivities run through Sunday, wrapping up with the Pan-Pacific Parade stepping off in the late afternoon along the Kalākaua corridor toward Kapiʻolani Park. The festival site lays out performance times and venue maps for anyone plotting their weekend route.
Performers, visitors and vendors
Reporting by HAWAIʻI Magazine notes that organizers are expecting more than 1,000 visitors from Japan and over 2,500 local performers and participants. That same coverage reports the free weekend drew an estimated 57,000 attendees to Waikīkī and Ala Moana in 2025. HAWAIʻI Magazine also highlights Nā Hōkū Award nominees Kaʻimi Kaʻanoʻeau, Tiara Gomes and Ei Nei among the lineup. The Hoʻolauleʻa is set to feature more than 50 food, gift and locally made craft vendors, giving the crowds plenty to sample and shop between sets.
Hula festival and performing arts
The Pan-Pacific Hula Festival will unfold at the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound, where hālau from Hawaiʻi and visiting groups from Japan share oceanfront performances throughout the weekend. Over at Ala Moana Centerstage and the International Market Place, the Performing Arts Showcase brings rotating sets of taiko, Okinawan eisa, Hawaiian music and contemporary island acts. Daily schedules and stage locations are listed on the festival site, according to Pan-Pacific Festival.
Parade route and city logistics
The Pan-Pacific Parade forms late Sunday afternoon and marches along Kalākaua Avenue from Fort DeRussy toward Kapiʻolani Park, with road closures that will disrupt normal driving and parking through the Waikīkī corridor. Visitors are encouraged to use transit or arrive early if they want a front-row view. GoHawaii's event listing outlines parade times and suggests public transit options for attendees. For maps, volunteer signups and any last-minute updates, organizers point people to the official event page and local tourism notices.
Local tips
If you are heading out, expect crowds. Most stages are walkable from Ala Moana and Waikīkī hotels, and TheBus routes plus the Skyline rail are a lot less stressful than circling for a parking spot. Local guides recommend claiming parade viewing spots near the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider early in the afternoon to avoid the thickest crush of spectators. For practical advice on where to watch and how to get around, check the festival guide at Hawaii Guide.
