Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Oct. 30-Nov. 5: Tales of horror and plenty of frightfully fun Halloween haunts
A smorgasbord of spooky seasonal shindigs Friday and Saturday includes festivities offering tricks, treats, activities, live music, food and overall fall fun, plus more; many also encourage costumes and all guarantee smiles.
The spooky season reaches its pinnacle this weekend with Halloween on Saturday.
Communities around the island are celebrating the occasion with several festive — and frightfully fun — events, most suitable for the entire family.
Start the weekend off at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea to get a thrill during “The Land Has Spoken: Tales of Indigenous Horrors,” a theatrical experience looking through the lens of horror, complete with suspense, humor and unforgettable storytelling by an all-indigenous cast.
The smorgasbord of spooky seasonal shindigs includes festivities Friday and Saturday, all of which offer tricks, treats, activities, live music, food and overall fall fun, plus more. Many encourage costumes and all guarantee smiles.
Keep reading to check out all of this week’s top 10 things to do, and have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend, Big Island!
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No. 1 — Halloween Spooktacular (Waikōloa, Oct. 30)
When: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: Kings’ Shops, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive
Families are invited to a free evening of trick-or-treating, games, contests and activities, featuring an interactive Halloween maze, pumpkin roll in the cemetery, candy corn counting contest, Halloween bingo scavenger hunt and photo opportunities. There will even be some spooky surprises.
More info: Visit the Kings’ Shops website.
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No. 2 — Trunk or Treat (Pāhala, Oct. 30)
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Kaʻū District Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St.
Treats, food, fun and more! The evening will include a Spook House, best decorated vehicle contest and Halloween costume contest, which is from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Those who want to participate should arrive by 4:15 p.m. to register; costume categories include most spookiest, most original and best Disney-themed.
More info: Call 808-928-3102.
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No. 3 — “The Land Has Spoken: Tales of Indigenous Horrors” (Waimea, Oct. 30)
When: 7 p.m.
Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road
This thrilling theatrical experience reimagines native storytelling through the lens of horror. Performed by an exceptional all-indigenous cast, with live Foley sound effects and an original atmospheric score. Intended for mature audiences, the production delivers suspense, humor and unforgettable storytelling.
More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website.
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No. 4 — Halloween Bingo Scavenger Hunt at Kahuku (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Oct. 31)
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station (turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Highway 11 in Kaʻū)
Back by popular demand! Families are invited to get their free bingo cards, head out into extraordinary Kahuku landscape and find the items pictured. When five in a row are achieved, return to the visitor station to collect a goodie bag. Costumes encouraged!
More info: Check the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website.
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No. 5 — Kaʻū-loween Bash (Nāʻālehu, Oct. 31)
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway
This free community event will feature live entertainment provided by Hālau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, Just Us Band and Always Free, along with kendama demonstrations and a keiki zone with bounce houses, food vendors and trick-or-treating, plus more.
More info: Call Hawai‘i County Office of the Mayor at 808-961-8211.
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No. 6 — Spooky Scavenger Hunt at Kīlauea Summit (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Oct. 31)
When: Noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Meet at Kīlauea Military Camp flagpole, in front of the park welcome center
Join park rangers for a spooky scavenger hunt through the bewitching forests and ʻāina near the volcano’s summit, exploring haunting facts and learning about nananana makakiʻi, the Hawaiian happy face spider that lives in trees, along with other plants and animals. Costumes encouraged!
More info: Check the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website.
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No. 7 — Heroween (Hilo, Oct. 31)
When: 1 to 7 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo Driving Range, 120 Banyan Drive
Celebrate Halloween during this free, family-friendly event honoring Hawai‘i Island’s first responders and community leaders. The fun includes trick-or-treating, keiki fun, food and plenty of opportunities to connect with the community, plus a day full of live music featuring a performance by Sudden Rush.
More info: Visit the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo website.
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No. 8 — Keiki Fest (Ocean View, Oct. 31)
When: 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: ʻĀina & Co. Farm & Market, 92-2021 Kailua Boulevard, Ocean View
An evening full of laughter, excitement and unforgettable memories, all for free! Tons of keiki activities, from a bounce house to Bubbles by Ben, plus mechanical bull rides, glow-in-the-dark mini golf and a lot more, along with tasty grinds, live entertainment and more. Costumes encouraged.
More info: Call 808-464-1204 or email to info@ainacompany.com.
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No. 9 — Family Fall Fair (Waikōloa, Oct. 31)
When: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: New Hope Waikōloa, 68-1975 Waikōloa Road
Enjoy free popcorn and cotton candy, plus fun games with a chance to win sweet prizes! Come hungry, too; Ho Jah food truck will serve up Taiwanese street food while Dirty Bubbles & Lattes will have yummy specialty coffees, delicious bobas and refreshers, all available to purchase. Bring the whole ‘ohana and join the fun!
More info: Call 808-498-0746.
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No. 10 — Hulaween! (Kailua-Kona, Oct. 31)
When: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Location: Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar, 75-5770 Ali‘i Drive
It’s an ultimate oceanfront spooky celebration that promises an unforgettable high-energy night of non-stop dancing under the stars on the rooftop with beats by top-notch, heavy-hitting local DJs. Bring your wildest, spookiest and most creative looks for a chance to win prizes!
More info/tickets: Visit Eventbrite.
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Check for yourself what’s happening around the Big Island
We admit. As hard as we try every week, we still likely didn’t find every event happening around the Big Island. Plus, we can’t fit everything going on in our entertainment roundup. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover even more events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops.
- Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
- 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
- Hale Kanikapila (formerly Hilo Town Tavern), Hilo: https://halekanikapila.com/
- 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: 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/
- Waimea Arts Council, Waimea: https://www.waimeaartscouncil.org
- Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
