Held on the first Saturday of March this year, the event blocked out the entire main street of…read moreWaikiki. I came at night for the cooler weather. Tons of food vendors, crafts, goods that were sold. The variety of food was extensive with long lines at most. Fun, vibrant energy at this event.

Another great street festival on the main drag of Waikiki. Lots of food and cool giftsread more

Make a plan for Spam Jam. That's my advice to get the most out of this event. It's always fun, but…read moreit gets crowded quickly, so what I do is look at the list of vendors and check out what they'll be offering ahead of time. I even go to their Instagram because a lot of times they will show pictures and describe the items in more detail. So then I have a plan going into Spam Jam of the things that are must-eat and then the "maybe I'll get this if I have room" stuff. This year, I really wanted funnel cakes, which had been listed online as part of the menu, but when I got to that vendor's tent, there were no funnel cakes, just spiral potatoes, gandules, and some other things. So no funnel cake for me. I kind of hate when the listing online shows things that will be there that are not even offered when you get there. I did get delicious hula pie topped with candied Spam from Duke's along with a teriyaki katsu sandwich from Duke's, which was interesting because it had both pineapple tidbits as well as raisins (?!) but the raisins kind of oddly worked. My favorite was Il Gelato's caramel Spam gelato topped with Spam toffee, which was delicious! There are several Il Gelato locations near my place so I will be checking them out later on for sure. I also enjoyed birria tacos from Skybox Taphouse. I got the queso birria tacos for $9 for 2 tacos, which I thought was reasonable. My husband got the two "hellfire" tacos for $14 which were (1) too hot for me and (2) I couldn't tell why they were $5 more than my tacos. Other than the heat and including two large jalapenos, I couldn't tell what inside them merited a $5 increase. A fun time hopefully had by all. We enjoyed our celebratory day of Spam!

A great event, with lots of retail and food booths, supported by specialty Spam dishes at various…read morerestaurants, roaming photo ops, entertainment, and happy people. Hawai'i Foodbank also thanks everyone for their support! We arrived a tad late, it was a busy day - so we just missed the drone show, and most spam specialties were sold out. Those that weren't still had long lines, so YAY it was a success! This was our first time at the Waikiki Spam Jam, and we were happy to miss the super big crowd. We just wanted to check this out, and we're very glad we did! Mahalo to all the volunteers, vendors, security, and HPD for helping create and make this a wonderful and safe event for everyone to enjoy!!!

The memory of being parked at Magic Island, the perfect spot at 7:20pm with unobstructed views from…read morea distance. At times, I rode the city bus into Waikīkī to be on the beach or better yet, on resort property to watch the pre-show at the Hilton Super Pool. That was me, years ago when I used to live on O'ahu. To watch fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, on a Friday night at 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 2026, many years later and now residing on the Big Island of Hawai'i where I was born and raised. Traveling to O'ahu recently, I decided to select overnight accommodations specifically on a Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. To enjoy the fireworks show. Staying on-site gave me zero logistical hassles, walking right from my hotel room avoiding pre 'n post show traffic on the roads and sidewalks. By watching the fireworks from the comfort of a private balcony/lanai, it allowed me to avoid crowds and skip the time of securing a spot on the beach or within the resort property. Dining reservations were made months in advance. It's 7:24pm and there's a massive crowd already on the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the 7:45pm fireworks show. If you're not a registered resort guest, take the time to secure a spot here. Then, venture on-property to enjoy the resort offerings for a cocktail or snack, enjoy live entertainment or shop at one of the many boutiques. The open shoreline in-front of the resort provides perfect, unobstructed views. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As the controlled explosions, those brilliant colors fill the sky above the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a sense of emotion comes over me. Filled with nostalgia, I began to remember watching fireworks while growing up in my hometown with my family. Along with those special summer trips to Disneyland. A tear began to roll down my cheek as the visual spectacle continued. Once I passed the emotional stage, my adrenaline started to kick-in with the booming sounds. As I began to anticipate what colors, what flashes of light and shapes will appear before me. A thrilling high, a deep euphoria from fireworks in the Waikīkī sky. My eyes, frozen in-position as the sensation of wonder begins to pull me out of my worries. Brilliant chrysanthemums, electric blues and pinks, ruby reds and golden yellows bursts in the horizon, as flares rain down sparks and create a dazzling light show. The deep, echoing booms resonate across the sand and water, followed by a "crackle" and "hiss". Amplifying this visual, multi sensory experience. It captures my attention, sparks wonder and amazement. A smile appears, I can't believe I'm actually here. Watching it live with such an amazing viewpoint, I've waited years for this. As each firework shell is mounted on the white sand beach in-front of the balcony I'm perched on, a feeling of gratitude comes over me as the dazzling display comes to an end. What a spectacular finale. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Watch the show from a distance, time your arrival accordingly to obtain that perfect viewing spot. Or venture into Waikīkī and join the crowd on the beach hours before as you take a dip in the ocean, then venture on resort property to explore. Become a registered guest at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and enjoy the fireworks show from your balcony, from exclusive viewing areas for resort/dining guests. The sensory combination of light and sound, allow it to capture your emotions and trigger childhood memories. Like it did for me. As the sky transitions from darkness to brilliant bursts of color, let it symbolize a new chapter of hope, unity and fresh beginnings. Right here at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, every Friday night at 7:45pm. (photos and videos of the fireworks were taken from my iPhone)

I just arrived for the Jazz Festival and was extremely excited about the experience. Unfortunately,…read morethat excitement quickly turned into frustration after having to stand in line for over an hour just to check in. We have now been waiting for more than an hour, while there is a separate line for loyalty guests. As a longtime Marriott supporter, I chose to step outside my usual Marriott experience specifically because of the Jazzy Festival, hoping to try something different. Unfortunately, this has been one of the worst check-in experiences I've encountered. I sincerely hope this is not an indication of how the rest of the Jazzy Festival experience will be. Guests should not have to begin what is supposed to be an exciting event by spending over an hour waiting to check in. I expect better organization and communication, and I hope this situation is addressed immediately. I need to update this review as soon as we got to the desk Mia turn around this experience. She took total control and things were great afterwards. Second night of Jazz festival and I m more than satisfied!!

What a fun multi day event. We stumbled upon the Pan-Pacific Festival in Waikiki. There were…read moreperformances, parades, and vendors. My only complaint was not knowing a schedule of events and the vendors not being multiple nights.

Pan-Pacific Festival was held back in June 2018. I attended the Pan-Pacific Ho'olaulea on Friday…read moreJune 8, 2018. It was held during hours of 7pm and 10pm Friday night. I was with three other individuals that night of the Ho'olaulea. We walked from the start of Lewers Street on Kalakaua Avenue and headed east towards Diamond Head. There were a lot of food trucks and craft booths. There were even three stages set up for entertainment. We seen live music, hula dancers, and even Taiko drummers. I believe there was a lion dance as well. As for the food vendors...I noticed Leonard's Malasadas Wagon, Mega-load Burgers, Blue Water Shrimp, as well as food trucks or booths that sold steak, ribs, corn cob, and waffle dogs. Lines were too long so I totally bypassed all the food vendors. Craft vendors included jewelry, carved wood puzzles or figurines, paintings, as well as hair clips. I personally checked out the booth with the wood carvings while the other three individuals checked out the jewelery booth or hair clip booth. Pan-Pacific Festival used to be held at the Kapiolani Park during the day time. With the change of time and location more tourists and residents managed to enjoy the Ho'olaulea this year. I know I sure did.

For this year's annual trip, we decided to visit during the week of the Honolulu Festival, which…read moretook place on March 13th-15th. Having been to Honolulu over the years, we never had the chance to partake in the festival activities. I had always thought the Festival was an event promoting Hawaiian culture but from being here, I found out his was the 30th year for this cultural event that promotes mutual understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim region. Over 2,300 participants from Japan and other countries were here to participate in this Festival with events at the Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center and Waikiki Beach Walk. I went to the Saturday events at the Convention Center. On the main performance stage, there were 25 various performance acts of traditional, dance, musical cheerleading, and a singing performance by Hitomi Shimitani to conclude. There were art and craft vendors and a sake and food fest section with free sample offerings. Love the sake and beer tastings, cookie and cracker tastings and a sushi making workshop. Due to the Kona storms that hit Hawaii during this week, I was disappointed that the Grand Parade and the Nagaoka Fireworks to conclude the festival were cancelled. I will plan to be back again next year for this Festival and look forward to the Parade and famous fireworks.

This year admission for adults was $10 at the door ($8 online)…read more In the past, especially last year, there were many food sample booths offering samples of different Japanese food products with none of them offering any for sale. But this year there were no samples, only food for sale, so there was no way to try it before buying which would have been helpful.

Historical building with beautiful architecture and a spacious garden. It was closed today so we…read moreweren't able to enter. This is the Royal palace for King Kamehameha and other royals until 1893. This is an easy walk from the piers if you are on a cruise. The Monkey Pod trees are huge and spacious. The grounds are well kept.

The Iolani Palace is Hawaii's historical landmark, the only official royal palace, visitors must go…read morethrough the self guide audio tour, which can last 30 to 45 minutes depending on your own pace. Despite the underground jewelry room is closed for maintenance, the tour indeed offers a glimpse into Hawaiian history, showcasing the 1st floor staterooms, and the private 2nd floor living spaces where the queen was held under house arrest. I think it should be sufficient planning two hours here, including parking, getting tickets, watching video, and time stamped self guide audio tours, and it costs $28 for adults.

If you love Mangoes, this event is for you! I attended the evening event titled Mangolicious Sunset…read moreReception which featured 10 chefs & 3 mixologists. All of the dishes were very tasty but my favorite was the mango fried chicken from chef Leanne Wong. For me, it had the perfect balance of texture (crispy fried chicken vs. mango bits) and flavor (savory & sweet). My bf voted for the pipikaula from chef Jason Schoonover of 12th Ave. Grill. He said that the mango chili pepper water won him over. We tried all of the mango cocktails & my favorite was the sassy lassi (Kula Dark Rum, mango puree, honey, coconut water, lime, spices) from mixologist Jesse Suderman. My bf's favorite was the mango-cillin (whiskey, scotch, mango purée, lemon juice, ginger syrup) from mixologist Micah Suderman. There were silent auction items for bid where proceeds benefitted the KCC culinary program. Free parking with validation at Princess Kaiulani hotel across the street.

Eh? You like mango? Go buy den! Buwahahahaha! Nah, I just kidding…read more....... Well, I really do like mango.........and yes, I bought mango today! Well sorta........more like bought food that incorporated mango in the various dishes. This wonderful fruit (mango) was utilized in desserts, drinks, & of course the main entree! Various well know island chef demonstrated their culinary skills on using the mango to make their wonderful dishes! A few of the well known celebrity chefs that were here today were - 1. Lee Anne Wong - Koko Head Cafe 2. Ronnie Nasuti - Tiki's Bar & Grill 3. Carolyn Portuondo - Royal Hawaiian Hotel 4. Michelle Karr-Ueoka - MW Restaurant 5. Hiroyuki Mimura - Taormina 6. Ed Kenney/Maggie King - Town 7. Andy Reagan - Morimoto Waikiki 8. Mark Noguchi - Pili Group/Mission House If I'm correct, this was the 8th annual mango festival at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki. I read my Yelp buddy - Lyla D's review last year, as she went here back in 2015, and when I saw this event again........I knew it was my time to check this festival out! The event was held at the beautiful Moana Surfrider Hotel, and as you go there you will see three large banners featuring this Mango Festival Event. At the event, they had vendors who sold various types of mangoes at the Mango Farmer's Market, as well as other vendors who sold items related to this event. At the event, there was also a silent auction where you can bid for various items, like dining at a fine dining restaurant, or a hotel stay at a luxury hotel, and also bidding on some expensive booze. I believe the Mango Festival event is free to look at, but if you wanna sample da grindz...........you gotta pay by buying some food tickets. There were two ways that you can buy the food tickets............you can buy your food tickets at the door for $6.00 smackaz a piece, or you can be akamai (smart) like me, where I purchased the tickets on-line (go to - HonoluluBoxOffice.com to buy the tickets)..........If you buy on-line, you get 10 tickets for $48.00 smackaz (which comes out to $4.80 per ticket), but you gotta buy 10 tickets in increment. All proceeds will benefit the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College, so it's for a good cause. Parking - Free Parking if you park at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel. All you have to do is take your parking ticket with you, and as you get to the Mango Festival event, just get a validation at the registration table when you pick up your food tickets. The event ran from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday July 15, 2016, and I must say.............. it was the perfect day to have this event, as we were blessed with wonderful weather today! Nothing like a beautiful day in Hawaii nei............and to top it off, you get to pig out on mango!!!! Oink, oink, oink!!! Lol!

It's Kaimuki's own street bazaar, complete with vendors and a festive atmosphere to ring in the…read more2012 holiday spending blitz. I first noticed this event a few weeks out on a banner posted at the former Liliuokalani Elementary School walking home. The event is mostly on Waialae Avenue, with one part on 12th Avenue going just past the First Hawaiian Bank. Since I live in the area, I just walked to this event without much thought. If you require parking, there is street parking past 7-Eleven on Waialae Avenue, paid parking at the Kaimuki Municipal parking lot, paid parking lot behind 3660 On the Rise on Wilhelmina Rise. It was a hot, humid day and it probably took about 20 minutes to see everything. You get pretty much everything here: from food, clothing, and specialty items, including jewelry and other nicknacks. From Waialae Ave and Koko Head Ave to Waialae Ave and Sierra Dr, it was certainly a short stretch of road for a road showcase that displays what is unique to Kaimuki and the surrounding communities. Its strange that there were vendors that were not even part of the Kaimuki business community and had set up shop to sell and promote themselves and their business. White tents lined the street, along with a stage in the middle of the festival, which a mc and a young singer belted out some songs while I was there. There was plenty of people checking things out. While I didn't buy anything at the time, it's pretty cool to have these community type events to showcase the community and the common bonds that make everyone of us who live here be proud to live, work, and play in Kaimuki. While I was disappointed at the lack of variety of stuff to be offered and the small event venue, it was a positive experience that I hope that it will be a continued event that will be a regular thing at various points of the year. Support local! B+

Celebrate Kaimuki Kanikapila gets better every year!…read more What is it? An annual celebration / craft fair / street festival put together by the Kaimuki Business & Professional Association (KBPA) to celebrate local thriving businesses and the Kaimuki community. Think of it as a mini block party craft fair with food and live entertainment. Here's what I remember for this year (2012): - Bella Mia - pizza, calzones, etc. - Happy Days Restaurant - the dim sum looked great, but I didn't buy any this year - Bentos Mochi & Delectables - Primo Popcorn - Boy Scouts & KC Waffle Dogs - I had to buy one and I'm glad I was able to support the cute little Boy Scouts! - Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry - I'm already registered, but I was glad to see these guys here - North Shore Goodies - Dressings, sauces and syrups galore. The bf and I are a fan of their dressings, as we have some at home. But I always love sampling their stuff. - Olay's Thai Food - I wanted a spring roll so badly, but it's too hot today. - Waiola Burger - I ordered a burger bc the sample was so darned good. At least I know the mix is sold at Don Quijote! - Ono Pops Hawaii - Super awesome on a hot day like today! I had the POG. YUM. - Royal Hawaiian Hot Dog Co. - hot dogs and stuff Where is it? On Waialae, between Koko Head Ave. and 11th Ave. How much is it? Admission is FREE! What about parking? - Kaimuki Municipal Lots 1 & 2 - AMPCO Lot (Behind 3660 Wilhelmina Rise) - Street Parking **Make sure to stop by the Kaimuki Business & Professional Association (KBPA) booth (on 12th, near the stage): http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nseZHuXjYFoEfIbdnR6BiA?userid=U-7EVbeRf1wlSZfHW_gujQ#N6oRw96BKlqE9vzmfIelvQ .. to buy a CKK Coupon Booklet: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nseZHuXjYFoEfIbdnR6BiA?userid=U-7EVbeRf1wlSZfHW_gujQ#fai4fxj9K9vvU039Vh3HtA It's packed with coupons for nearby Kaimuki businesses and it's only $1. Proceeds support the KBPA scholarship fund, revitalization projects and community events. So........... Even if you're not a Kaimuki resident, I encourage you to Celebrate Kaimuki anyway! It's a great little (pet friendly) get together with food, crafts and live entertainment. See you guys next year!