If you are a newbie to Kailua, we’d like to introduce you to some of the weekly, monthly and standard community events that bring Kailua’s families and neighbors together. In late April, Kailua ushers in three seasons of fun (yes, we really do have seasons in Hawaii!) including outdoor parties, music, and holiday traditions. Kicking off the spring events is “I Love Hula in Kailua”. Once a month, a special Sunday is selected for “I Love Hula in Kailua Town”. This is a free treat – with everyone welcome, residents and visitors alike – to experience a magic hour on a Sunday afternoon enjoying local halau. Bring your own beach chairs as the hula halau perform in the Kailua Town Center Parking Garage. Different halau are featured each Sunday. The events, sponsored by Alexander & Baldwin, are a celebration of Hawaiian dance, music and culture. “I Love Hula in Kailua” runs year-round, but actual dates are posted three months at a time so check back regularly at: abkailua.com/latest-news/events-page/
Close on the heels of “I Love Hula in Kailua Town” is the annual “I Love Kailua Town Party” on the last Sunday of April. The 2018 town party marked the 26th year for this fun event that takes over Kailua Town’s main street, Kailua Road, from Kuulei Road to Hahani Street, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. (the street is closed from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on event day). This is a true street festival with more than a dozen local food vendors serving up a taste of Kailua, handmade arts and crafts by windward crafters, artisans, art in the park exhibits, live entertainment, even a keiki activity center. Exhibit booths that offer valuable information are represented by community groups that keep Kailua clean, green and beautiful.
Presented by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle and sponsored by local businesses, the “I Love Kailua Town Party” is a free super-fun event. However, most of the Kailua community purchase buttons and the I Love Kailua official T-shirts to help support the event. Donation buttons are $5 each and can be purchased at most Kailua stores. Each year, a new T-shirt design to commemorate the event is designed by a local artist or photographer and is available to buy at the event and wear or keep as a souvenir.
Everyone is welcome, visitors and residents alike. And, everyone takes the invitation to attend the “I Love Kailua Town Party” seriously. It’s a must to be there for fabulous fun, friends and family!
lkoc.org/town-party.html
It’s back to the Kailua Town Center Parking Garage for a relaxing Saturday afternoon of live Hawaiian music and hula. “Kanikapila in Kailua” is a free concert series featuring local entertainers. Held one Saturday each month, from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., it is hosted by Kawika Kahiuapo or Lynn Piccoli and sponsored by Alexander & Baldwin. Chairs are provided. Just bring your okole. No food or drinks are supplied so if you wanna eat, it’s ok to bring your own pupu and drinks. Check abkailua.com/latest-news/events-page/ frequently for the latest dates to celebrate Hawaiian culture and music.
In May, “Symphony in the Park” becomes the star event. This is a free concert in the Kailua District Park at the Pavilion. Beautiful music performed by the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra at 5 p.m., presented by the State of Hawaii. Sit on a blanket or bring a beach chair and enjoy!
kailuachamber.com/thingstodo
July 4 is the largest community celebration to be held in Kailua. Everyone comes out to celebrate our country’s freedom. The day kicks off with the Annual Kailua Independence Day Parade to honor our service members – retired and active men and women. Parade participants include bands, military and veterans marching units, horses, floats, youth groups, church groups, seniors, school groups, and local dignitaries. Kailua’s streets are lined with families, friends, neighbors, visitors — even family pets – all decked out in red, white and blue. After the parade, it’s time to head to the beach and block out your spot on the beach for your July 4 picnic, watch the air show, and the finale to a grand day, Kailua Beach fireworks. The parade is sponsored by the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. Details of the event including the parade route are posted on the Kailua Chamber of Commerce website:
kailuachamber.com/kailuaparade
kailuafireworks.net
Every season, every week, Kailua’s Farmer’s Markets attract people from Windward communities, and our visitors too. It’s like the old-time gathering place around the general store. Here folks gather to talk story, grab a local food favorite to dine on and shop while being entertained by local live music. And it’s a lot of fun! All of Hawaii’s bountiful produce, flowers and foods are on display: Produce picked fresh for sale, along with baked goods, jams, sauces and so much more! The Farm Lovers Maret at Kailua Town is held each Sunday morning, from 8:30 a.m. – noon, rain or shine, on the grounds of Kailua Elementary School. The Hawaii Farm Bureau Kailua Market that feels more like a neighborhood party than a market is at the Kailua Parking Garage ground level on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
farmloversmarkets.com
http://hfbf.org/farmers-market/kailua-farmers-market/
If you have kids, you know it’s never too early to plan for Halloween. As visions of monsters and princesses and Avengers run around in your children’s heads, Kailua Town’s A Magical Halloween is being planned. A fairly new tradition, the keiki can look forward to a costume parade, a magic show, crafts, and games at the Kailua Parking Garage – Kailua’s favorite place for fun events. The event is free, and, of course, there will be food and snack vendor booths.
No year is complete without attending the Kailua community unique holiday event, “AH Castle Tree Lighting”. Open to the public and hosted by Adventist Health Castle, this is more than a tree lighting. It also includes a delightful trolley ride from Kailua Town Center past all the beautifully decorated trees to Castle Hospital. The trolley, sponsored by A& B, makes a number of trips to make sure that everyone who wants to, gets there to enjoy live music, keiki activities, Santa’s visit, holiday foods, Christmas Carol singing and, of course, lighting the magnificent tree and sharing holiday greetings for one and all!
abkailua.com/latest-news/events-page