Top 10 things to do on Big Island for May 30-June 5: Kaʻū Coffee Festival, Justin Morris & Company, Hilo Pride Kick-Off Party and more

Let’s see, Big Island. What’s on the agenda for the upcoming weekend and next week?

Well, there’s still time to catch the last few events of the 2025 Kaʻū Coffee Festival, including the finale Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday.

Pahala Community Center will host a full day of live music, hula, local food and crafts, keiki activities, educational displays, guided coffee tastings and farm and mill tours, plus more.

The historic Palace Theater in downtown Hilo is hosting a stop on Justin Morris & Company’s “Stardust Revival” Hawai‘i State Tour at 7 p.m. Saturday for anybody who enjoys a mix of vintage tone, psychedelic jams, heavy hooks, group harmonies and rock-n-roll revival accompanied by a musical light show and visuals.

And Hilo is kicking off Pride Month with an aerial arts extravaganza at The Airhouse on Kalākaua Street in downtown Saturday night, too.

You can countdown to midnight and June 1 by boogying the night away with tunes by DJs while ambient aerial gogo happens overhead and drinks in-hand. It’s sure to be an epic way to ring in the most colorful and diverse time of year.

There are also art exhibits, concerts, workshops and at least one other festival to enjoy.

Here is our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for May 30-June 5.

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No. 1 — “INSIDE” (Hilo, on view through July 25)

When: 6 p.m. Friday opening reception

Location: East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, 141 Kalākaua St.

This exhibit presents an urgent and compassionate portrait of pa‘ahao, bringing to life the hope and resilience of incarcerated people. Through the humanitarian efforts of community advocates Kai Markell, Kim Kamaluʻokeakua Moa, Kahu Kaleo Patterson, Robert Chang and Yola Monakhov Stockton, photographs, installations, videos, drawings and writings on display give voice to a group often rendered invisible. Special guests from Turtle Island incarcerated filmmaker Louis Sále of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and scholar Tria Blu Wakpa, in collaboration with incarcerated Oglala Lakota elder, artist and writer George Blue Bird, will also be featured.

More info: Visit the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center website or call 808-961-5711.

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No. 2 — Volunteer Work Day at Liliʻuokalani Gardens (Hilo, May 30)

When: 8 a.m. to noon

Location: Liliʻuokalani Gardens, 49 Banyan Drive

Join Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens at the end of this week to help retrieve loose stones from Waihonu Pond, which will be stockpiled for later use in June as stonemasons continue to repair walls around the edge of pond. Wear water shoes for protection. Gloves and bottled water will be provided. If enough volunteers show up, some might be asked to remove mud from the corner near the concrete makaha and relocate it to improve the foundation soil level at the stone setting in the meadow. Shovels, buckets and a wagon will be provided. Meet on the Lihiwai Street side of the park at the pond near the concrete makaha.

More info: Contact Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens at 808-895-8130 or via email at folghilo@gmail.com.

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No. 3 — 2025 Kaʻū Coffee Festival (Pāhala, May 30-31)

When: Various times

Location: Various locations

Come celebrate Kaʻū’s rich heritage, vibrant culture and award-winning coffee with live music, hula, farm tours and, of course, plenty of incredible coffee. There’s just 3 days left, but that doesn’t mean all the fun has been had. Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Aikāne Plantation Coffee Farm. There’s also Kaʻū Star Gazing at 5:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Coffee Mill on Friday. And the week of fun and festivities comes to a close with the main event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday during the Kaʻū Coffee Festival Hoʻolauleʻa at Pahala Community Center, a full day of live music, hula, local food and crafts, keiki activities, educational displays, guided coffee tastings and farm and mill tours, plus more.

More info: Visit the Ka‘ū Coffee Festival website or call 808-928-8558.

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No. 4 — Justin Morris & Company “Stardust Revival” Hawai‘i State Tour 2025 (Hilo, May 30)

When: 7 p.m.; doors, box office and concessions open at 6 p.m.

Location: Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.

Justin Morris & Company’s sound is a mix of vintage tone, psychedelic jams, heavy hooks, group harmonies and rock-n-roll revival. You can find the band’s roots growing deep in the musical vocabulary of influential guitar legends such as Warren Haynes, Tony Iommi and Billy Gibbons. Their stop in Hilo will be an epic experience not soon forgotten, complete with musical light show and visuals. Tickets are $30 general admission, $40 priority orchestra; prices are $5 more day of the show.

More info/tickets: Visit the Palace Theater website.

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No. 5 — “Under the Sun” workshop (Hilo, May 31)

When: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location: 303A E. Maka’ala St.

Join Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA) for a health education workshop all about sun and water safety tips so you can protect yourself and your family this summer during outdoor activities. You’ll also learn how to prevent skin cancer, heat illnesses and more. Free to attend.

More info/register: Visit the HMSA website.

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No. 6 — “Female Trouble” (Hilo, May 31)

When: 7 p.m.; doors, box office and concessions open at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.

This crime comedy written and directed by John Waters and starring Divine tells the story of a spoiled schoolgirl who runs away from home, gets pregnant while hitchhiking and ends up as a fashion model for a pair of beauticians who like to photograph women committing crimes. Part of the Palace’s retrospective film series from iconic cult filmmaker John Waters. Tickets are $10 general admission, $9 seniors, students and veterans.

More info/tickets: Visit the Palace Theater website.

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No. 7 — Hilo Pride Kick-Off Party (Hilo, May 31)

When: 9 p.m. to midnight

Location: The Airhouse, 108 Kalākaua St.

Kick of Pride Month right by boogying the night away with tunes from B. Lively and Kefi + Opulence, with ambient overhead aerial gogo from the Aerial Arts Hawai’i collective. This party is for those 21 and older. Come countdown to midnight in style! Be sure to snag your tickets for this epic bash in advance, as prices increase by $5 the day of the party. Tickets are just $15.

More info/tickets: Visit the Aerial Arts Hawai’i website.

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No. 8 — “Friends & Lovers” (Waimea, June 1)

When: 2 p.m.

Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road

Waimea Community Chorus presents its 30th spring concert, featuring songs such as “Lean on Me,” “With a Little Help from my Friends,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Stand By Me” and “Count on Me.” The concert promises to have you tapping your toes, humming along and enjoying an uplifting afternoon of music. Tickets are $15 for keiki, $35 for adults.

More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website.

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No. 9 — Build a Gameboy wokshop (Waikōloa, June 2-6)

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive, K104

Have you ever seen your buddies playing one of those handheld game consoles and thought how cool it would be to have one of your own? What if you could get one that you built yourself? Hawai‘i Keiki Museum in Waikoloa invites keiki ages 8 to 15 years old to build their own Gameboy during this workshop whre they will learn simple electronics, soldering, components, assembly and programming. Cost is $250 per child.

More info/register: Visit the Hawai‘i Keiki Museum website.

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No. 10 — 8th annual Hawai‘i Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival (Kailua-Kona, June 6-8)

When: Various times

Location: King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort, 75-5660 Palani Road

Come celebrate Hawai’i Island and its beauty as a cultural melting pot during 3 days packed with fashion, food and cultural expressions that will include a hula hō‘ike, firkenife competition, culinary event and much more. The festival is an experience for island residents and visitors alike, bringing awareness to the cultural heritage that is here in Hawai’i. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!

More info/tickets: Visit the festival website.

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Check for yourself to see what’s happening around the Big Island

We admit. We can’t fit everything going on each week in our top 10. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.

• Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
• Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
• Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
• East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
• Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
• Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
• Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
• Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
• Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
• Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
• MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
• Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
• Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
• Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/
• Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/