Activities

This weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, with Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, and the Big Island, especially Puna, has plenty to do for revelers looking to celebrate during the long holiday break.

There are four of the popular community events planned in May, beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Caffé Florian in Kealakekua.

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center Executive Director Julie Mitchell will provide those who attend with some practical tools they can immediately put to use to become more effective individually and collectively on a nonprofit board.

Local leaders, developers, investors and community stakeholders are invited to attend the upcoming summit and can register now.

Deadline to apply is May 29 for Cohort 22: Culinary Foundations through partnership between Culinary Institute of the Pacific and Culinary Institute of America; but don’t wait, seats are limited.

Special restaging of 2026 Merrie Monarch Festival Hōʻike performance also honors Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui.

There are a variety of talented musicians who will be performing this upcoming week on the island, including Robert Cazimero and Kalani Pe‘a.

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!