Activities

Treat the woman who gave birth to you with an event that has a more personal touch; when you saw it, Mom was the first person who came to mind. This week’s top 10 has some great ideas!

Increased foot traffic is expected from about 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in Kona in conjunction with the women-centered community fun run celebrating movement, culture, music and wāhine empowerment.

Applications for the 2-year civic leadership and workforce development program for incoming Big Island high school juniors for the 2026-27 school year are available online; deadline to submit applications is May 22.

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Botanical Garden with free tours and a unique chance to explore rare tropical plant collections this May.

This upcoming weekend promises 3 days packed full of so much fun for the entire ‘ohana, we had to slightly increase the top 10 to a top 11 things to do — with activities, events and festivals planned spanning from the earth under your feet to outer space.

“Whether you walk, dance, roll, ride, strum or march — we want you in the parade,” said organizers of the 2026 Kailua Village Independence Day Parade who are soliciting entries.

A quick look at news happening throughout the island, state and nation.

Celebrate Mother’s Day early at the Kona Orchid Society’s annual Orchid Show on May 2 at Makaeʻo Pavilion, where you can explore a stunning array of vibrant, blooming orchids.

Update pertains to Big Island game bird and game mammal hunting.

Keiki, ‘ohana and the broader community are encouraged to listen deeply, create meaningfully and reflect collectively on their relationship to ʻāina through a series of intergenerational experiences at the Hilo art center.

The Salty Swim School hosted a free ocean swimming course for visiting athletes preparing for the Lavaman Triathlon last month to help them stay safe in Kona ocean conditions.

hosted by Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, the event is slated for April 29 in Waimea and will feature presentations of information about data analysis correlating work between public safety and behavioral health and more, breakout sessions providing Native Hawaiian insight into substance use reduction, resource booths by community partners and more.

This week’s top 10 has everything from an ongoing exhibit featuring the legacy of Hawaiʻi beekeepers to raising awareness about sexual assault and how to prevent it; check out this week’s listings right now!

Discover the vibrant world of local art at the Big Island Art Fair in Waimea, taking place April 23 to 25 at Kahilu Town Hall.

The new event showcases local cacao growers and chocolate makers; 3-day festival also includes educational activities, farm tour, college student chocolate competition, grand gala and much more.

It’s another week with plenty to do around the Big Island, but if you’re a music enthusiast — or just like to listen to great tunes — several venues have events planned that are pitch perfect for you; check out this week’s top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies can apply for state tourism funding for events, festivals and experiences that are scheduled for July through December.

There are plenty of activities and events happening around the island during the next week, and not all of them are related to Merrie Monarch Week. Check out the top 10 things to do now!

“It’s a place where you can watch a kapa demonstration, see live performances from local hālau and connect with the people behind the art,” said fair co-chairpersons Taylor Escalona and Kegan Miura. “The artisans and volunteers who return year-after-year are truly the heartbeat of this event, and that aloha spirit is something you really can’t replicate anywhere else.”

Be sure to add theses special Hawaiian music performances to your Merrie Monarch Week itinerary, which fit perfectly into a week the celebrates all things Hawaiian.