Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Nov. 13-19: Lāʻau Love Fest, Toys for Tots, Honokaʻa Renaissance Faire, Smoke It Up, more
Native, canoe and food plants; take a ride to Laupāhoehoe to deliver a toy donation, get enlightened and hang with some fae folk in Honokaʻa and enjoy the bliss that is smoked meats in downtown Pahoa; and that's not even half of all the exciting entertainment happening during the next week around the island!
Let’s see, Big Island.
Anyone out there with love for native, canoe and food plants? Lāʻau Love Fest returns this weekend!
How about taking a ride out to Laupāhoehoe to deliver a toy donation to make the holidays brighter for tots and enjoy a fun-filled family day with live entertainment, food and more? That’s an option, too.
All lords and ladies along with fae folk and their friends from every corner of the realm have also been summoned by royal decree during the weekend to historic Honokaʻa Town for the annual Renaissance Faire and every ounce of fun in store.
If smoked local pork, beef, sheep and fish is where it’s at, with perhaps a handcrafted cocktail, local brew or two further tickling your palate, head to downtown Pāhoa and get your groove — and your meats — on this weekend.
That’s not even half of the exciting entertainment and amazing activities planned throughout the next week — and beyond. We included one holiday event a few more weeks out that you won’t want to miss, so get your tickets now.
Check out our top 10 things to do on the Big Island!
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No. 1 — 24th annual ʻUkulele & Slack Key Guitar Festival (Waimea, Nov. 13-14)
When: Various times
Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road
Hawai‘i Island’s premier celebration of Hawaiian music is back! Rich musical traditions, legendary Hawaiian music artists, extraordinary musicianship, beloved mele and unforgettable collaborations. It’s a weekend of music, culture, stories and spirit of Hawaiʻi for the whole ʻohana. Two-day passes available.
More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website for Friday and Saturday lineups.
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No. 2 — Pulley Live (Kailua-Kona, Nov. 13)
When: 6 to 10 p.m.
Location: Kona Elks Lodge, Suite E100, 75-170 Hualālai Road
These 1990s skate punks visit Kona for the first time ever for an all-ages event with special guests Cut-Rate Druggist, plus locals Kauz of Affliction and El Sancho. Free parking, onsite bar for those 21 years old and older. Don’t miss what will be an exceptional evening of entertainment.
More info/tickets: Visit Eventbrite.
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No. 3 — 2nd annual Lāʻau Love Fest (Kailua-Kona, Nov. 14)
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway
This free event features plant adoptions, hands-on workshops, local vendors and food and part of the ongoing Lāʻau Love initiative, encouraging residents to grow native, canoe and food plants that support healthy ecosystems and biodiversity while fostering community stewardship and long-term resilience.
More info: Click here, call 808-854-3129 or email to OSCER@hawaiicounty.gov.
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No. 4 — Toys for Tot s Toy Run (Laupāhoehoe, Nov. 14)
When: Meet at Hilo Bayfront 9 a.m.; depart 10 a.m.
Location: Laupāhoehoe Point and adjacent park, 36-1043 Laupāhoehoe Point Road
Cars, bikes, anything on wheels is welcome to participate and support a great cause. Bring an unwrapped gift for keiki. Enjoy live music, raffles, food and plenty of family fun.
More info: Call 808-557-0984.
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No. 5 — ʻUkulele Concert and Kanikapila (Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Nov. 14)
When: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station (turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hiighway 11 in Kaʻū)
Keoki Sereno and his fellow ʻukulele aficionados will share favorite mele followed by kanikapilia. Bring your ʻuke and play along! Chords and words will be projected on a large screen in the Visitor Contact Station.
More info: Visit the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park website or call Park Information at 808-985-6011.
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No. 6 — 2026 Honokaʻa Renaissance Faire (Honokaʻa, Nov. 14)
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Honokaʻa Sports Complex, 45-541 Lehua St., and throughout Honokaʻa Town
Hear ye, hear ye! By royal decree, all lords, ladies and fae folk are summoned to historic Honokaʻa for another fun-filled fanfare. So don thy festive garments and venture forth for a day of feast and festival!
More info: Visit the Honokaʻa Renaissance Faire website.
Photo Credit: Len Yokoyama
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No. 7 — Smoke It Up Hawai‘i Island (Pāhoa, Nov. 14)
When: 2 to 5 p.m.
Location: Hale Hālāwai O Puna, 15-2961 Pāhoa Village Road
Come savor the afternoon during this smoked meats festival. Enjoy an epic lineup of smoked food creations from more than a dozen chef stations, including local pork, beef, sheep and fish paired with handcrafted cocktails and local brews. Plus, live music by Drew Daniels and Friends.
More info: Click here.
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No. 8 — 10th annual Mahalo First Responders Dinner (Waimea, Nov. 18)
When: 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Kahilu Town Hall, 67-1182 Lindsey Road
Everyone is invited to celebrate the people who protect, serve and heal the community; the people who answer the call when lives are at risk, fight fires, respond to medical emergencies, protect our coastlines, help communities prepare for disasters and keep neighborhoods safe. Free.
More info: Contact Waimea Community Association President Nancy Carr Smith via email at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or visit the association website.
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No. 9 — Brazilian Jazz (Hilo, Nov. 19)
When: 7 p.m.
Location: Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikāula St.
Kamaʻāina Concert Series presents a moving, swaying evening of samba, mambo, waltz and other rhythmic styles. RSVP for free tickets to a special onetime meet-the-artists event.
More info: Email to info@KamaainaConcertSeries.com or click here.
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No. 10 — 3rd annual Tease the Season (Hilo, Dec. 19)
When: Doors open 6 p.m.; show starts 7 p.m.
Location: Hilo Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.
Tickets available now for the third raunchy run of this fan-favorite holiday cabaret featuring some of East Hawai‘i’s filthiest and most fantastic circus and burlesque artists. Suitable for audiences 18 years old and older.
More info/tickets: Visit the Palace Theater website.
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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.
- 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/
