Showing all 80 listings · Wednesday, Nov 11 – Saturday, Nov 21
By My Kailua
Don’t miss
Makahiki Festival — Waimea Valley
Wednesday, Nov 11 · 8 AM–3 PM
Veterans Day is the big day on the North Shore: Makahiki season opens at Waimea Valley with the Te Moana Nui Games (Polynesian sports competition), hula, mele, oli, local vendors and hands-on cultural activities for the whole family. It is the kind of all-ages, all-day outing that makes the drive worth it, and kamaʻāina and military families get in free with ID.
Start time unconfirmed, sources list 8 AM and 9 AM; please check the source before planning.
Admission conflicts between sources: Waimea Valley's site lists free kamaʻāina admission for Nov 11, while HONOLULU Magazine lists $5 kamaʻāina / $10 general; please check the source before planning.
Waimea Valley, 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleʻiwa · Free for kamaʻāina and military with valid ID; $10 general admission per HONOLULU MagazineKamaʻāina offers · Add to Google Calendar
The patch's last day, storytimes at three libraries, and a movie night in Waimānalo. Heads-up: all Hawaiʻi public libraries are CLOSED Wednesday, Nov 11 for Veterans Day, so plan storytimes and holds around it.
Wednesday, Nov 11 · Special hours 9 AM–4 PM
Waimānalo Country Farms — the very last day
This is the last day, truly: the windward side's beloved fall festival closes Wednesday. The pumpkin patch, sunflower fields, hayrides and country market run 9 AM to 4 PM (last entry 4 PM) for the final day. Weekday afternoons have been the quietest time to go, and this is your last quiet afternoon of the season. One honest note carried over from last week: we could not confirm a petting zoo for 2026, so set expectations with the littles.
41-225 Lupe St, Waimānalo · $12 general / $10 kamaʻāina-military; ages 3+ pay, under 2 free; pumpkins $2–$30 extra; 3.5% card fee, so bring cashFarm site · Add to Google Calendar
Stories, rhymes and songs with Miss Shelby, plus coloring or a small craft, for ages 2–5 (all welcome). Children must be with a parent or adult caregiver. Sponsored by the Friends of Kāneʻohe Library.
Storytime for keiki and families at the Waimānalo branch, a sweet, small-room morning on the east side. Themed stories, songs, rhymes, movement and a simple craft for ages 2–5 with an adult caregiver.
Family Hui Hawaiʻi: The Journey Workshops — Waimānalo Library
An interactive family workshop for families with young children ages 0–5: learning through play, plus a free family guide, children's books and take-home activities. Pre-registration is required.
Family Movie Night: Toy Story 5 — Waimānalo Library
A free family movie night at the Waimānalo branch, rated PG. Bring blankets to sit on and your own food and drinks; a light snack is provided. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. Sponsored by the Friends of Waimānalo Library.
Lunch with Honu the sea turtle mascot, hula and a "Rainbow of Colors" sing-along, a coloring sheet and mini crayons for keiki, then reserved seating at the 12:15 PM Aloha Naiʻa dolphin presentation. A full morning out at the park, bundled into one ticket.
Sea Life Park, 41-202 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Waimānalo · Lunch + general admission $74.99 adult / $64.99 child; kamaʻāina or military $49.99 / $44.49 with ID; lunch-only $25 (ages 4+, under 3 free on a lap)Character lunch · Add to Google Calendar
Sip and shop in town, a night market at the mall, and a Veterans Day worth pausing for.
Thursday, Nov 12 · 4–7 PM
Kailua Holiday Sip + Shop
The holiday shopping kickoff through Kailua Town: 30+ local businesses, seasonal sips and treats, live music, event-only offers, and complimentary gift wrapping from Make-A-Wish Hawaiʻi. Check in at the Welcome Table in front of the Lau Hala Shops lobby (near UFC Gym). Tickets are $10 early bird online by noon Nov 12 ($15 at the door after noon), no cash; a lanyard is required for vendor giveaways, and the first 100 guests spending $100+ combined can redeem a holiday gift by 7 PM.
The second-Friday night market: food trucks, local artisans, giveaways and live music, outdoors in the mall parking lot next to Leonard's. Free admission, the easy family Friday night, and the grown-ups' excuse to skip cooking.
Everyday Heroes of Hawaiʻi — Palikū Theatre, Windward Community College
Thu Nov 12 through Sun Nov 15: seven original scenes about real-life local heroes, staged by the Hawaiʻi Conservatory of Performing Arts and directed by Taurie Kinoshita. Recommended for ages 14 and up (staged violence, strong language). A windward stage night that is actually about us.
Palikū Theatre, Windward Community College, 45-720 Keaahala Rd, Kāneʻohe · $25 general; $20 seniors 62+, military, UH staff, DOE teachers; $15 students (in person only) · Box office (808) 235-7315This week in Kailua · Add to Google Calendar
Veterans Day ceremony — National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
The Veterans Day ceremony at Punchbowl, open to the public, with keynote Adm. Samuel Paparo. Free. Expect traffic and limited parking, so go early if you go.
Aloha Friday: Pau Hana in the Park — Sea Life Park
The park after dark, for grown-ups only: live local music (Brandon Onishi, Val Vasquez, Denny Ono), beer, wine and an appetizer menu on the Beach Boy Lānai, free parking. $20 plus tax includes two drinks.
808 Craft & Gift Fair — Windward City Shopping Center
The regular second-Saturday outdoor craft fair in Kāneʻohe: handmade items, accessories, gifts and food. Free admission, and an easy start on holiday shopping close to home.
The family pick of the week is The Cat in the Hat (PG, animated, 1 hr 54 min, Bill Hader voicing the Dr. Seuss character), playing on both windward screens this week, at Kailua Cinemas and at Regal Windward in Kāneʻohe. Movie times are posted on the theater websites, so check movie times here before heading out.
All-day Tuesday tickets are $7 (excludes holidays and new releases), and Wednesday matinees before 4 PM are $7 for kupuna. Regular prices: adult $14 after 4 PM / $12 matinee, child (11 and under) matinee $11, military $12. In-window: $7 Tuesday falls Nov 17; Kupuna Wednesday falls Nov 18.
Regal Windward — Value Days + holiday gift card bonus
Free Regal Crown Club members get discounted tickets plus 50% off popcorn every Tuesday, and 25% off candy on Mondays. Through Dec 31, every $50 in gift cards bought in theatres earns a free $10 concessions bonus, redeemable Jan 1 through Feb 28, 2027.
Exact Tuesday ticket price at Regal Windward unconfirmed, Regal does not publish a per-theatre Value Day price; please check the theatre before planning.
The windward circuit, a Friday night in Kailua, and Kalapana at Blue Note.
Every week
Windward stages — the weekly circuit
The Garden (44 Kainehe St) — live music nightly at 6 PM, free with food or drink purchase · Nico's Kailua (970 N Kalaheo Ave) — live music nightly 6–8 PM · GOEN Dining+Bar (573 Kailua Rd) — live music most evenings 4:30–6:30 PM · Koʻolau Distillery — trivia Thursdays 7 PM, live music Fri and Sat 5–8 PM · Big City Diner Kailua — free live music every Friday · Lōkahi Kailua Market — live music every Sunday 9 AM–1 PM.
Kama Kakaio at Nico's Kailua, 6–8 PM; Val and the Lanikai Rockets at Koʻolau Distillery, 6–8:30 PM; and live music at The Garden from 6 PM. Pick a room, or wander between them.
Henry Kapono at Duke's Waikiki — the Sunday tradition
Henry Kapono plays Duke's on Sunday, the weekly Waikīkī tradition, free in the restaurant setting. Worth the drive for a late-afternoon set with the family.
The honest corner, including one registration we could not verify as open.
Games Jan 9 – Feb 27, 2027
Kailua-Waimānalo AYSO Region 100 — Winter 2027 soccer, check before you register
We ran this registration in our last issue, but this week the region's Winter Season page shows "No Programs are Currently Displayed" under its registration listing, so we can no longer confirm that late registration is open or that spots remain. The season itself is still on the calendar: practices may start in December once coaches get rosters, games Saturdays Jan 9 through Feb 27, 2027, players born Aug 1, 2014 through Jul 31, 2021 (U6–U12), plus Kickstart for younger kids. Winter is the only season you can request a coach.
Registration status unconfirmed, the region's Winter Season page currently shows no programs listed; please contact the region directly before planning.
AYSO Kāneʻohe Region 113 — 4U & 5U registration open
The youngest divisions are still open in Kāneʻohe: 4U is $50, 5U is $70, for players in the youngest age groups. Season runs January through February 2027, and players are contacted by the coordinator in December.
YMCA Winter Break Day Camp — Windward YMCA a program site
$254/week regular, $228/week Y Family Member. Mon–Fri 7 AM–5:30 PM (Dec 24 and 31 until 2 PM); Y Teen Club grades 6–12 also offered. Registration is open now and winter-break weeks fill, a timely sign-up for working parents planning December now.
YMCA Camp Erdman 2027 — early-rate deadline Dec 31
Overnight camp ages 7–17 (completed grades 1–10), 5-night/6-day sessions starting May 30, 2027. Kamaʻāina $788.50/week vs $804 from Jan 1, 2027; Y Family Member $747 vs $762. If summer camp is on your 2027 list, this is the cheapest week to decide.
The cheapest way into the park all year: the 'Ohana Pass (up to 4 guests) is $99.99 (regularly $299.99, save $200), the Honu Pass Adult is $34.99 (regularly $59.99, save $25), and single-day admission is $14.99 a ticket when you buy 4 or more (ages 4+). All passes and tickets must be redeemed by June 30, 2027. Pass perks include 20% off retail and food and beverage, and 30% off animal encounters.
Child Honu Pass sale price unconfirmed, the child price was not stated in the source; please check the park's sale page before planning.
Hawaiʻi residents with valid ID: adults (13+) $24.99, children (4–12) $19.99; kids 3 and under always free. Military admission is 50% off: $29.99 adult / $24.99 child. Year-round, no pass needed.
Sea Life Park, 41-202 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, WaimānaloBuy tickets
Prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at special Restaurant Week prices at 34 participating restaurants island-wide. No tickets or passes required, just book the restaurant directly. A portion of proceeds supports the Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association Education Foundation. One windward note: the published list shows no Kailua or Kāneʻohe participants, so this one is worth the drive.
Thursdays Nov 12 & Nov 19 · Wednesdays Nov 11 & Nov 18
Big City Diner — kids eat free Thursdays + wine Wednesdays
Every Thursday, all day: one free keiki dine-in meal (ages 10 and under) with an $18+ adult entrée, up to two per table. Wednesdays bring Wine and Dine: 50% off all bottles and glasses of wine with any food purchase. Plus pau-hana happy hour Mon–Fri 3–6 PM.
$2 off all beers, $3 off craft cocktails, $14 pizzas, half off select apps. Verified on the official site in prior issues; confirm at the door if a promo has rotated.
The pau-hana dinner run: ready-to-eat food from local vendors, live music, picnic tables. Time per the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau listing. Same evening as Sip + Shop on Nov 12, so the two pair nicely.
60+ vendors, live music, free keiki activities, pet-friendly. One note for regulars: the market relocates beginning Nov 29, so Nov 15 and 22 are the last Sundays at this spot.
UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball vs Air Force — home finale
The 'Bows close the home schedule with this two-match series, having clinched a share of the Mountain West regular-season title. Thursday is Military Night (military 50% off adult tickets, max 8, valid ID) and Serve-and-Save Thursday (tickets from $5 in select upper-level sections). Friday is Senior Night and a White Out, honoring seniors Tali Hakas, Leilani Lopez and Panna Ratkai after the match.
UH football vs North Dakota State — the window's only home game
UH's only home football game in this window, and the first meeting ever against NDSU. UH (3-6) is chasing a third straight win and bowl eligibility, in the first home game since the passing of legendary head coach June Jones.
Official ticket price unconfirmed, resale listings run from the low $30s; please check hawaiiathletics.com for tickets.
UH women's basketball — North Shore Showcase, Laie
Worth the drive: top-25-level opponents in Laie, UH vs California and Gonzaga across the two days.
Opponent order and game times conflict between sources, hawaiiathletics.com and Wikipedia disagree on which team plays which day, and listed times differ; please check the source before planning.
Kalaheo vs. PAC-5 — HHSAA Division II football state tournament
Kalaheo (No. 4 seed, 10-0) opens the state tournament against No. 5 PAC-5. The winner plays at Kamehameha-Maui on Nov 20. A windward high school with an undefeated season on the line.
Through Saturday, Nov 14 · Heats on the best surf days
HTA Haleʻiwa Pro — QS finals week on the North Shore
Pro surf season on the North Shore: the longboard titles are already decided (Kai Sallas and Honolua Blomfield won on Sat Nov 7), and the QS 2,000 contest runs on standby through Saturday, Nov 14, conditions permitting. Free to watch from the beach at Haleʻiwa Aliʻi Beach Park, but check the day's heat schedule before driving up, since contests run only when the surf cooperates, not necessarily every day of the window.
The first humpbacks of the season were spotted off Haleʻiwa on Oct 19. Peak viewing is still months out (Jan–Mar), but calm mornings are already worth a scan from the Kalanianaʻole Hwy lookouts. The Makapuʻu upper viewing area, closed Oct 21–Nov 4 for repairs, should be back open now.
Little Pickle — Kailua's new specialty hot dog shop
Grand opening was Oct 3, and it's genuinely new: all-beef, pasture-raised hot dogs with no hormones, nitrates or antibiotics, six specialty dogs at $12 each, flavors rotating every month or two. Owned by Kyle and Josephine Wai Lin, next door to their ice cream shop Please Come Again.
Garden classes, beach workdays, and the season turning.
Thursday, Nov 12 · 8 AM
Kaloko Inlet Restoration — 808 Cleanups
A morning beach cleanup on the Kaiwi coast at Kaloko Inlet: marine debris removal with 808 Cleanups. No restrooms on site (nearest half mile away at Sandy Beach Park). RSVP via the 808 Cleanups app or 808cleanups@gmail.com; site leader Kimeona Kane, 808-398-8989. All ages welcome, under 16 with a parent.
End time unconfirmed, sources list 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM; please check the source before planning.
Wāwāmalu Beach Service Project — Sierra Club Oʻahu Group
Native planting, seed collection and sowing, and invasive-plant removal at Wāwāmalu Beach. Work gloves provided; bring a water flask. Limited to 25 volunteers, reservation required from Reese Liggett, reeseliggett@outlook.com. Ages 18+, or accompanied minors.
A guided nature walk in the 400-acre windward garden, free. Pair it with a family stroll through the grounds (free entry; garden open 9 AM–4 PM, last vehicle entry 3:30 PM).
A garden class making windchimes from sea glass, a good grown-ups' outing in the 400-acre windward garden, which is free to enter. Registration details are on the class sheet.
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden — the standing invitation
Free admission to 400 acres of windward garden. Last vehicle entry 3:30 PM. Note the Thursday closure (so closed Thu Nov 12 and Thu Nov 19), plus free catch-and-release fishing at Loko Waimaluhia on Wednesdays and Saturdays by reservation, and free Tuesday Drawing and Painting 9:30 AM–12:30 PM.
The valley's third-Sunday ʻOhana Day: kamaʻāina free admission with valid state ID. A good Sunday for the gardens, the waterfall walk, and the cultural sites, without the festival-day crowds.
Hailiʻōpua Baker's 25th-anniversary revival staging two traditional moʻolelo, "Ka ʻEnuhe" and "Ka Puhi a me Ka Loli," about kupua (supernatural beings) threatening ʻohana. General admission $28; students $8 Thu/Fri, $13 Sat/Sun. Friday, Nov 13 is Buy-One-Get-One ticket night. Best for older kids, teens and adults.
The accident-prone Cornley Drama Society attempts Peter Pan, with flying mishaps, technical disasters and backstage chaos, family-friendly farce from the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong. Evening performances at 7:30 PM. Single tickets start at $28.
Sunday matinee time unconfirmed, please check the theatre's ticketing page before planning.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical — Diamond Head Theatre
The holiday season opens at Diamond Head Theatre with the Grinch musical, narrated by Max the Dog, all ages. Thu–Sun, matinee and evening performances.
Ticket price unconfirmed, please check the theatre before planning.
50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina Concert & Celebration — Bishop Museum
The culminating concert marking 50 years since the Kahoʻolawe Nine landing in 1976: mele inspired by Kahoʻolawe, hula, educational booths and food on the Great Lawn. Stage schedule from 5:30 PM, Protect Kahoʻolawe Band at 7:45 PM.
The third in the "Laʻa, Maʻa, Paʻa" series leading to the Kahoʻolawe 50th concert: a panel and talk-story on ʻohana and Kanaloa in Hawaiian Hall. Free admission.
Navigating by the Stars — Bishop Museum Planetarium
A planetarium evening on traditional wayfinding and navigation. Registration required, capacity limited.
Bishop Museum, J. Watumull Planetarium, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu · $10 general adult, $7 general youth; children 3 and under free (share a seat)November programs · Add to Google Calendar
26th Annual ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi Exhibition — Bishop Museum
A show-and-tell exhibition of custom handcrafted ʻukulele with demonstrations, and kanikapila all day hosted by the ʻUkulele Project (bring your ʻukulele and join in). Free with museum admission.
Bishop Museum, Watumull Atrium / Hawaiian Hall Courtyard, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu · Free with admissionExhibition · Add to Google Calendar
Locally made art, crafts and gifts from Hawaiʻi artists and artisans in Kapiʻolani Park. An outdoor market, so go expecting free entry and purchases extra.
Korean culture and cuisine: kimchi tastings, food vendors, cultural performances, K-pop song and dance, and a won bok-tossing contest, hosted by the United Korean Association of Hawaiʻi. Free to attend, open to the public.
Traditional voyaging and astronomy day with Friends of Hōkūleʻa, Hawaiʻiloa and Kānehonamoku Voyaging Academy: canoe-building workshops, lashing demos, compass navigation, keiki activities, live music by Kawika Kahiapo, then high-powered telescope stargazing (complimentary hot chocolate and juice for keiki noted).
Price unconfirmed, not stated on the source page; please check the listing before planning.
Four nights this week (Sun Nov 15, Mon Nov 16, Wed Nov 18 and Thu Nov 19): cultural activities at 5 PM, buffet at 6 PM, Polynesian show 7–8:15 PM. Packages from $149.99 per person (Bronze/Silver/Gold), including Sea Life Park admission per package terms.
The date is finally verified for 2026: the 62nd annual parade runs from Windward Mall / Kāneʻohe Bay Shopping Center to Castle High School along Kamehameha Hwy, theme "favorite holiday and year-round foods." Free to watch; streets close 8:30 AM.
Date conflicts between sources, the parade organizer's Spectators page still says December 6, but December 6, 2026 is a Sunday and the parade is always the first Saturday in December (December 5); please check the source before planning.
Oʻahu's biggest free holiday lights display opens with a block party, the Public Workers' Electric Light Parade stepping off from ʻAʻala Park, and the city tree lighting, with Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele. Theme for 2026: "Christmas in the Country." Displays open daily through December.
Parade step-off time conflicts between sources, about 6:00 PM versus 6:15 PM; please check the source before planning.
Saturday, Nov 21 – Wednesday, Dec 24 · During mall hours
Santa arrives at Windward Mall — Windward Wonderland
Santa photos at Windward Wonderland, Center Court. Pet photo days included; Santa takes a mid-day reindeer break.
Start date unconfirmed, sources list Nov 21 and Nov 22; please check the source before planning.
2026 photo package price unconfirmed, the $30 package (two 4x6 prints plus digital download) comes from last year's guide; please check the source before planning.
Oʻahu's biggest family-run holiday makers market, running since 1987: 250+ craft and food vendors. Hours: Fri 3–8 PM, Sat 9 AM–7 PM, Sun 9 AM–5 PM. Free admission during the last two hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, Nov 28 · Block party 5–9 PM · Parade 5:30 PM
Kapolei City Lights — opening night
The west side's answer to City Lights: a paniolo-themed parade from Kapolei High School down Kapolei Parkway, a block party around Kapolei Hale, and a 50-foot tree. Theme for 2026: "Paniolo Nights and Holiday Lights." Lights on display through Sun Jan 3, 2027.
Hawaiʻi's premier pop-up market comes home for the holidays: local furniture makers, artisans, jewelry designers and food vendors, at the Lōkahi Kailua Market spot.
Honolulu's premier holiday gift fair, about 300 local vendors: made-in-Hawaiʻi gifts, crafts, apparel and food.
Saturday hours conflict between sources, 10 AM–7 PM versus 10 AM–8 PM; please check the source before planning.
Admission price not confirmed on the organizer's own page, the $7 / $5 / free figures come from a listings site; please check the source before planning.
Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, 777 Ward Ave, Honolulu · $7 adults / $5 seniors 60+, students and military with ID / keiki 12 and under free (per listings site)Marketplace · Add to Google Calendar
The island-set Nutcracker in 1858 Honolulu: hula, a plantation-house party scene, the Sugar Plum Fairy, with guest artists including NYC Ballet principal Indiana Woodward (Sugar Plumeria Fairy) and Chun Wai Chan (Cavalier). Tickets via Ticketmaster and the Blaisdell box office.
Ticket price unconfirmed, please check Ticketmaster or the box office before planning.
Festivities from 4 PM and a concert 5:30–6:30 PM: a family-friendly holiday evening at Kailua District Park with Ukulele Kanikapila Klub, crafting, holiday games, and a live concert from the U.S. Navy Fleet Band. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a non-alcoholic beverage. Free; RSVP online.
