Hawai‘i has unique history, traditions, arts, skills, language and stories of its indigenous Hawaiian culture. Suggest your clients immerse themselves at one of these popular year-round events and experiences.

Kaua‘i 
The Kaua‘i Museum serves as a vital hub for historical and cultural preservation, dedicated to showcasing the artifacts of Kaua‘i and its neighboring island, Ni‘ihau. In addition to its impressive collection of exhibits, the museum offers guided tours led by docents and a variety of weekly classes, like lei hulu (feather lei making) and coconut weaving. Take a self-guided walking tour of Pā‘ula‘ula State Historical Site (formerly named Russian Fort Elizabeth), where King Kaumuali‘i, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau’s Iast reigning king, lived and ruled from. In 2021, a statue of King Kaumuali‘i was erected to honor and commemorate his life and the legacy he left for his people.

O‘ahu
Suggest your clients visit Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma Summer Palace) in Nu‘uanu Valley, which was once a sanctuary for Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV and their son, Prince Albert. Visitors can tour the palace’s tranquil grounds and interior, which preserve the belongings and legacy of the royal family, while bringing guests closer to understanding life in the Hawaiian Kingdom. Launching in 2025, the innovative public art initiative, Wahi Pana, will share the moʻolelo (stories) of eleven O‘ahu locations through contemporary art installations as interpretated by Native Hawaiian and local artists and storytellers. The art will inspire visitors and locals to engage with and learn more about the location’s history, community and people.

Maui
Encourage clients to experience Maui’s vibrant culture and history at Hale Hōʻikeʻike, where they’ll learn about Hawaiian culture and the influence of Christian missionaries through the museum’s collections of antiquities, photographs and archival materials. Suggest clients check out the Canoe Crop Corner at the monthly Wailuku First Friday for tastings, interactive activities, cultural demonstrations and storytelling. Local farmers and chefs at the Corner share the flavors and stories of Hawaiian canoe crops — kalo (taro), niu (coconut), ʻulu (breadfruit) and others — brought here by early Polynesian voyagers.

Island of Hawai‘i
Each June, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park’s Hawaiian Cultural Festival features a family-friendly day of hula performances, Hawaiian food tastings, archaeological hikes, kapa (tree bark) cloth- and lei-making classes, Hawaiian games and more. In July, the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Hawaiian Cultural Festival presents hula performances by hālau hula (hula schools), live Hawai‘i-inspired and Hawaiian music and fun, interactive Hawaiian crafting activities for attendees. The festival also shares knowledge of the park’s year-round preservation, protection and restoration efforts.