Five Hot Hawaii Summer Events

A sunset in Hawaii // Photo by Freeimages.com/Diane Groves

Got clients who still haven’t booked that summer vacation to Hawaii this year? Travel Agent found five hot events that could entice travelers to visit the Aloha State before “Old Man Winter” returns. 

The 46th Annual Ukulele Festival

The ukulele, one of Hawaii’s most celebrated instruments, will be on full display July 17 at Kapiolani Park on Oahu. The event is expected to attract more than 10,000 people and will include top musicians. The 46th annual Ukulele Festival is from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Among the musicians will be the Roy Sakuma 700-piece Ukulele Band composed of children and adults. Other festival offerings include free ukulele lessons, ukulele displays and giveaways by ukulele manufacturers, food booths and Ukulele Festival souvenir shirts available for sale. The event is free and open to the public.

Visit www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org

The 17th Annual Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo

Perfect for families heading to Kauai this summer, the 17th annual Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo will take place at the CJM Country Stables on July 22.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for the popular party that includes bull riding, horse riding, food and music. The event will include Kauai's own country music band, “Not My First Rodeo.” The band will perform live before and after the rodeo. The event run until 9 p.m.

Guest can enjoy the drill team on horseback at 5:30pm followed by an evening full of thrilling rodeo events, including bull riding, junior steer riding and barrel racing.

Attendees can also get their fix of island delights at the "Food Truck Frenzy,” which offers everything from hamburgers to Mexican food to Greek food to ice cream.

Guests should also dress in their best cowboy attire and bring their cameras for a photo opportunity on a rodeo horse at the "Wild West Photo Booth."

Visit www.cjmstables.com

Kauai’s Red Clay Jazz Festival 

Kauai’s Red Clay Jazz Festival, taking place August 3-6, features U.S. mainland, Oahu and Kauai jazz performers playing island-wide at different venues and culminates with an ocean-front main concert on August 6 at the Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach. 

Percussionist Pete Escevedo and his septet, from California, will headline Saturday’s concert, along with Adagio, a quartet from Oahu, and Jazz Kanikapila from Kauai. 

Performances start at 4 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. Tent seating will be available, along with bring-your-own beach chair seating. Adding to this string of jazz entertainment will be six food booths dishing out a variety of choices created by some of the island’s top chefs. 

Visit www.redclayjazz.org

The Hawaii Poke Festival 

The Hawaii Poke Festival is a sampling event that will feature some of the most prominent poke vendors on Hawaii Island, and select purveyors from around the state. 

From 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 24 in Hilo, guests will sample dozens of varieties of fresh poke while also enjoying fresh local craft brews and other refreshments, as well as live Hawaiian music played by Mark Yamanaka.

Visit www.hawaii-poke-festival.ticketleap.com/hawaii-poke-festival

The M4Molokai Paddle Boarding Race

M4Molokai was introduced to give local paddlers a chance to race and also to bring out of island paddlers to Molokai.

The event is all about fun and being the event in the middle between two major crossing events, the M4Molokai will give racers a chance to really experience Molokai and learn about the island. 

The race will be departing from Kamalo Harbor on July 23. The start time will be about 3:15 p.m. due to the tides.

The course will finish at Hotel Molokai, where local entertainment and all local Molokai food will be served. The race will require racers to stay over night and enjoy the island or they can leave on the last flight, but will miss local entertainment ranging from Na Kupuna playing their music, to local hula dancers and local bands.

Visit www.supmolokai.org and visit www.gohawaii.com. Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Hawaii news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike.