EVENTS ARE LISTED IN ORDER OF DATE.

To find out about May 2009 events
Hawaii Travel Newsletter

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MAY 1, 2009

May Day Festival

Location: Queen Kapiolani Regional Park Bandstand Google Maps Directions

82nd Annual celebration sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu to celebrate the lei. Celebration includes a lei contest, entertainment, and free lei workshops.

Lei Day History

Photo Gallery
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MAY 1-30, 2009

World Fireknife Dance Competition and Samoa Festival

On the grounds of the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Attracting competitors from Hawaii, American Samoa, Samoa, the US mainland and other locations in the
Pacific-Rim, this event sees participants compete in dance-offs to be crowned champion in the World
Fireknife Dance Competition. Winners progress to the next round and the final is held on the last day of the
festival. The competition is part of the Samoa Festival, which includes a high school competition of
traditional customs such as speech making, basket weaving, coconut husking and fire-making - as well as
singing and dancing.
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MAY 16-17, 2009

Hawaii Music and Book Festival Celebration of Story and Song

Article from the Honolulu Advertiser (April 22, 2009) Featured will be John Saul, Terry Brooks, Stuart Coleman, James Rumford, Kate Elliot, Scott Goto, Chris McKinney and pop-up book kings Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart. There will be concerts as well with Jake Shimabukuro as seen on Late Night with Conan O'Brien as well as a Hawaiian band competition with 6 bands one of which will Cyril Pahinui and Kaukahi. For kids there will be a keiki (children's) area and storytelling.

The Mayor of Honolulu described the event as:

"This unique event will showcase the proud literary and musical traditions of our islands in a way that is
fun, accessible and memorable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and tastes. Hawaii’s publishers strive to
introduce Hawaii’s books and music to the world and to introduce Hawaii to new worlds of books and
music. They honor our host culture, including the oral and written histories of the Hawaiian people, and
highlight lifelong literacy for all of Hawaii’s people."

The 2008 festival featured Michael Ondaatje, Linda Sue Park, and James Rumford.

Images of the 2008 festival

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MAY 12-30, 2009

THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL - MAMMA MIA!

Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall 777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, HI, 96814 (short cab ride from Waikiki)
Tickets available from Ticketmaster.com

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DATES:
May 21-22-23-24-25
May 29-30-31
June 5-6-7
June 11-12-13-14
June 19-20-21

50th State Fair

Aloha Stadium

General Admission:
Noon to 6 p.m $3
6 p.m. to closing $5
Under 40" tall Free

Hawaii's annual state fair. Rides, food, games and entertainment.

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MAY 21-24, 2009

The 20th Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

Doris Duke Theatre (Honolulu Academy of Arts)

Showing gay and lesbian productions
Ticket Information

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May 23 2009 12 noon - 5:00 p.m.

HONOLULU SYMPHONY FAIR
Family friendly activities at the Waikiki Shell including music, food, an instrument petting zoo.
$3.00 admission, children under 12 free.

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MAY 23, 2009 (Saturday) - 7:30 p.m.

DAVE KOZ AT THE WAIKIKI SHELL

Waikiki Shell
In a career spanning nearly two decades, Dave Koz has established himself as a platinum-selling artist and instrumental music advocate. The celebrated jazz saxophonist returns to Honolulu for one night only with Matt Catingub the Toyota Pops at the Waikiki Shell, featuring chart-topping songs such Koz’s moving rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” which received a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance.”

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MAY 25, 2009 - 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

LANTERN FLOATING CEREMONY IN HAWAII

Following the Buddhist tradition ofToro-Nagashi ("lantern offerings on the water"), this annual event honors the deceased. Prayers or messages to loved ones who have departed are transposed onto recycled wooden, paper lanterns which are light in the evening and set to sail from the beach of Magic Island. In 2007, an estimated 37,000 people gathered to participate or witness the event which is free to the public. Prayers are completed ahead of time but for conference attendees who plan on staying on Oahu during the Memorial Day weekend, this is a cultural event worth seeing.

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MAY 30, 2009

2009 Ford Ironman 70.3 Honolulu Triathlon

One of the premier sports events in the world. Takes place in Kona on the Big Island. Made up of 1.2 mi. swim • 56 mi. bike • 13.1 mi. run