Hawaii Holiday Events & Activities 2011

Beginning in December, whales are easily spotted wading in the Winter waters of Hawaii.

Hawaii

For a direct link to the 
Official Tourism Site of Hawaii Holiday Calendar of Events:

 Following is a sampling of events taking place in Hawaii during November and December, 2011. For a complete listing and up-to-date schedules and contact information, visit the state’s tourism website by clicking button above.

Moku O Keawe International Festival (Hawai‘i’s Big Island) – Nov. 3-5. This festival features hula hälau (hula schools) from around the world showing their interpretation of the hula along with workshops and various cultural classes at the Waikoloa Beach Resort. For more information, visit MOKIF.com.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (Hawai‘i’s Big Island) – Nov. 4-13. Hawai‘i’s oldest food festival features over 50 events in Kona including coffee plantation and mill tours, a Grand Parade, the Miracle Mile Race, golf tournament, art exhibits, and recipe contest. For more information, visit KonaCoffeeFest.com.

World Invitational Hula Festival (O‘ahu) –Nov. 10-12. Hula hälau (hula schools) from around the Pacific Rim gather to celebrate the Hawaiian culture and language at the Waikïkï Shell. Their performances in traditional and contemporary hula are judged by kumu hula (masters). For more information, visit WorldHula.com.

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (O‘ahu) – Nov. 12 – Dec. 20. The most successful professional surfing series in the world takes place on O‘ahu’s North Shore with three competitions each for men and women:

Men:
$125,000 Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale‘iwa’s Ali‘i Beach
$125,000 O’Neil World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach
$280,000 Billabong Pipeline Masters at Banzai Pipeline

Women:
$30,000 Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale‘iwa’s Ali‘i Beach
$67,500 Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach
$67,500 Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay

For more information, visit TripleCrownofSurfing.com.

EA Sports Maui Invitational – Nov. 21-23. Hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, the EA Sports Maui Invitational is considered the best early-season college basketball tournament with the nation’s top ranked programs competing in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Lahaina Civic Center. For more information, visit MauiInvitational.com.

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (O‘ahu) –Dec. 1 to Feb. 29. In the ultimate challenge of man versus the sea, a selective group of the world’s big wave surfers compete in conditions not less than 20-foot plus waves at Waimea Bay on the infamous North Shore of O‘ahu. Challengers compete for a purse prize of $98K while honoring the legacy of Hawai‘i waterman Eddie Aikau. For more information, visit Live.Quiksilver.com/2009/eddie.

Festival of Lights/Lights on Rice Parade (Kaua‘i) – Dec. 2-31. The island of Kaua‘i kicks off the holidays with the annual lighting of Christmas decorations on the grounds of the Historic County Building. Live local entertainment, Christmas caroling, and a float parade down Rice Street are some of the night’s activities. For more information, call 808-245-6931.

Honolulu City Lights (O‘ahu) – Dec. 3. The Christmas spirit comes alive in downtown Honolulu with the annual Honolulu City Lights celebration. Every year, Honolulu Hale and the Civic Center grounds are transformed into a spectacular Christmas display that features various themed Christmas trees and wreaths, gingerbread houses, and gigantic statues of Mr. and Mrs. Claus – Hawaiian style. The opening night kicks off the month long celebration with various food booths, keiki (child) rides, the annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony, Electric Light Parade, and entertainment. For more information, visit Honolulu.gov/csd/citylights/

XTERRA Trail Running World Championship (O‘ahu) – Dec. 4. This half-marathon event features an off-road course across hills, flat valley trails, and streams throughout Kualoa Ranch. As participants work their way to the finish line, they’ll be treated to picturesque views of Ka‘a‘awa Valley and the white sandy beach on O‘ahu’s northeast shore. For more information, visit XterraPlanet.com.

Honolulu Marathon (O‘ahu) – Dec. 11. One of the world’s largest and most festive road races, the Honolulu Marathon’s 26.2-mile scenic course includes spectacular views alongside world famous Waikïkï Beach and Diamond Head. For more information, visit HonoluluMarathon.org.

Diamond Head Classic (O‘ahu) – Dec. 22, 23 & 25. This collegiate basketball tournament takes court at the University of Hawai‘i’s Stan Sheriff Center featuring an eight-team, 12-game bracket format. The tournament is a partnership between the University of Hawaii and ESPN. For more information, visit DiamondHeadClassic.

There’s a lot more being added to the Hawaii events listing every day. To see a complete and up-to-date listing, visit the state tourism website.

Photography Top: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
Photography Thumbnail: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Kirk Lee Aeder