by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:10 AM ET, Fri September 5, 2025

Hawaii¡¯s visitors and locals alike can immerse themselves in the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands by exploring its breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant communities and unique-to-Hawai¡®i activities and events.

M¨¡lama Hawai?i & Culture

• Bishop Museum (O¡®ahu) and the Hawaiian Council reimagined the museum¡¯s retail space as a hub for Hawai¡®i-made products and cultural storytelling.
• Hyatt Regency Waik¨©k¨© Beach Resort and Spa(O¡®ahu) Southern Sun represents a new immersive art experience tracing the story and history of Waik¨©k¨©.
• Wahi Pana: Storied Places (O¡®ahu) unveils its third phase of island-wide public art installation openings at several culturally significant sites in September 2025. ??
• Wayfinder Waikiki (O?ahu) launched two new sustainable guest experiences designed to deepen connections with Hawaiian culture and the ?¨¡ina (land). ?

New Hotel Developments

• Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra (O¡®ahu) is undergoing extensive refurbishment in 2025.
• Ka La¡®i Waik¨©k¨© Beach (O¡®ahu) launched a multimillion-dollar redesign in celebration of its 15th anniversary. ?
• Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (island of Hawai¡®i) is launching a major restoration project to preserve its renowned art collection commissioned by Laurence S. Rockefeller. ?
• Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa (island of Hawai¡®i) invites guests to immerse themselves in the rich history and heritage of Hawai¡®i and Keauhou Bay in its newly renovated Aloha Cultural Center. ?
• Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows (Maui) will launch Mana Up Market, the accelerator¡¯s first Maui retail presence. ?
• The Royal Sonesta Kaua?i Resort on Kalapak¨© Beach unveiled a multimillion-dollar transformation for the oceanfront property. ?
• The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach (O¡®ahu) completed its multiphase, multimillion-dollar renewal. ???
• The Royal Hawaiian (O¡®ahu) debuted a new Historic Gallery displaying the hotel¡¯s storied past as the Pink Palace of the Pacific. ?
• Wailea Beach Resort (Maui) unveiled a resort-wide refresh, introducing all-new Signature Oceanfront Villas ranging from one to four bedrooms with open-concept layouts and spa-like features. ?

Culinary Offerings

• Big Island Bees (island of Hawai¡®i) organic ¡®?hi¡®a Lehua honey was honored with the Good Food Foundation¡¯s 15 Years of Good Food Awards.
• Boarded Up by Chubbies Burgers (O ¡®ahu) is a revamped concept from Chubbies Hawai?i resurrecting its signature smash burgers in Honolulu¡¯s Kaimuk¨© neighborhood. ?
• Cooking Kaua¡®i¡¯s culinary experiences at The Shops at Kukui?ula offer hands-on lessons creating beloved local dishes. ?
• Fumi¡¯s Kahuku Shrimp (O?ahu) brought its locally sourced, garlic butter-drenched shrimp from North Shore to Honolulu at the Makai Market Food Court in Ala Moana Center. ?
• Moo Bong Ri (Oahu), a Korean culinary franchise opened its first Hawai¡®i eatery in Honolulu named Moo Bong Ri Soup and Yakiniku. ?
• Lahaina Brewery/Kohol¨¡ Brewery (Maui) now doing business as Kohol¨¡ Brewery, has acquired Mahalo Aleworks and resumed brewing operations in Upcountry Maui following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. ?
• The Pig and The Lady (O¡®ahu), Honolulu¡¯s award-winning Vietnamese restaurant is relocating to Kaimuk¨©¡¯s Civil Beat Plaza in fall 2025.
• Sera (O¡®ahu), in Honolulu¡¯s Renaissance Hotel spotlights coastal Mediterranean cuisine in the space formerly occupied by Mara restaurant. ?
• Side Street Inn (Central O¡®ahu) brings Portuguese-inspired comfort food to Ewa Beach at Wai Kai. ?
• Romer House Waik¨©k¨© (O¡®ahu) added the final addition to its neighborhood island clubhouse experience with the arrival of Honolulu cocktail bar The Lei Stand.
• Ululani¡¯s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Maui-born) opened its first O¡®ahu storefront in Waim¨¡nalo. ?
• Wabisabi Dining (O¡®ahu) offers daily rotating dishes ¡ª including tonkatsu, sushi, tempura and shabu?shabu at its secret teppanyaki-style Omacase experience in Honolulu Park Place. ?

Attractions and Activities

• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters now offers tours departing from L¨¡na¡®i Airport showcasing the natural beauty of L¨¡na¡®i, Maui and Moloka¡®i in a single flight. ?
• Dolphin Quest (O¡®ahu) and the University of Hawai¡®i¡¯s Marine Mammal Research Program launched ¡°In the Wake of Whales,¡± a new short film supported by researchers studying the annual 3,000-mile migration of humpback whales from Alaska to Hawai¡®i. ?
• The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Lookout is now open on Kaua¡®i¡¯s North Shore offering stunning panoramic views of lush Hanalei Valley, Hanalei Bay and surrounding forest reserves. ?
• Honolulu Museum of Art (O¡®ahu) will present a landmark retrospective of famed American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt through October 12, 2025. ??
• The Honolulu Zoo (O¡®ahu) launched a new mobile app, ¡°animals, plants, and people!¡± enhancing guest experiences with GPS-enabled maps, real-time updates and personalized itinerary planning. ?
• Lydgate Farms (Kaua¡®i) introduced a new two-hour immersive Honey Farm and Tasting Tour adventure. ?
• Mana Cruises + Charters (O¡®ahu) will offer sunset departures at 4:30 p.m. from Waik¨©k¨© and Ko Olina beginning September 15, 2025. ?
• Mele: The Hawaiian Music Experience at Maui Ocean Center¡¯s Sphere Theater brings Hawaiian songs and stories to life every Tuesday and Saturday evening. ?
• Palace Theater (island of Hawai¡®i) in historic Hilo celebrates its 100th anniversary with a lineup of events for Hawai¡®i Island residents and visitors. ?
• Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design (O¡®ahu) announced an expanded partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art and Bishop Museum to enhance guest access and flexibility through a new dual-departure tour model. ?
• The Shops at Wailea (Maui) celebrates its 25th anniversary in November 2025 with a commemorative event honoring culture, community and local artistry. ???
• Scotty Browns (Kaua¡®i) opened its first Hawai¡®i location restaurant at The Shops at Kukui?ula. ?
• USS Arizona Memorial (O¡®ahu) in Pearl Harbor is slated to begin a preservation project. Visitors can still experience the memorial with first-come, first-served tickets available daily at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center as advanced online reservations have been temporarily paused.
• Wai Kai (O¡®ahu) launched AquaPeakz, a brand-new expansion of its popular AquaVenture floating playground. ?
• Wild Side Specialty Tours (O?ahu) is launching Savor the Sea: Fresh Uni, an immersive ocean-to-table adventure in fall 2025.

Festivals and Events

• Riding Your Waves of Joy (Maui) The Moore Aloha Foundation and Outrigger K¨¡¡®anapali Beach Resort present the inaugural Riding Your Waves of Joy: Building Self-Worth Mother-Daughter Weekend August 30-31, 2025. ?
• Okinawan Festival (O¡®ahu) One of the state¡¯s premier annual cultural festivals celebrates the Okinawan culture¡¯s long history in Hawai¡®i and its many contributions to the cultural fabric of the Islands.
• 54th Annual Waik¨©k¨© Roughwater Swim (O¡®ahu) A Labor Day tradition since 1970, this iconic 2.38-mile (3.84 km) open water race challenges swimmers to tackle the Pacific swells. ???
• 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II (O¡®ahu) The Battleship Missouri Memorial unveils a brand-new interactive exhibit experience: Pathway to Peace. ?
• 49th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow (O¡®ahu) Representatives of multiple Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native communities gather at Ala Moana Beach Park¡¯s Magic Island on September 6, 2025.
• World Manta Day (island of Hawai¡®i) at Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa on September 6, 2025, offers a free, family-friendly event dedicated to ocean education and manta ray conservation. ?
• Aloha Festivals (O¡®ahu) throughout September showcase Hawaiian music, dance, history and the culture¡¯s contributions to the Hawai¡®i community. ?
• Home in the Islands Livestream (O?ahu) ?Outrigger Resorts and Hotels partners with Duke¡¯s Waik¨©k¨© and musician Henry Kapono for the Home in the Islands livestream concert series via Facebook and YouTube beginning September 7, 2025 ?
• Kauluhiwaolele Maui Fiber Arts Conference (Maui) Hosted by the Outrigger K¨¡?anapali Beach Resort, the conference celebrates the art of Native Hawaiian weaving September 11-13, 2025.
• Ke Kai Series (O¡®ahu) ¡ª Hosted by the Outrigger Reef Waik¨©k¨© Beach Resort, this quarterly celebration of traditional Hawaiian voyaging culture is held on September 13. ?
• Empty Bowl Hawai¡®i (O¡®ahu) offers travelers a unique farm-to-table experience on September 17, 2025, celebrating sustainability and local food culture. ?
• Aloha Fun Ride (O¡®ahu) ¡ª The event on September 28, 2025, follows the Honolulu Century Ride, designed to welcome a wider audience, especially youth and families to the island¡¯s largest cycling event.
• Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race (O¡®ahu) on September 28, 2025, is a long-distance outrigger canoe competition gathering over 1,000 paddlers from around the world to cross the rugged Kaiwi Channel separating Moloka¡®i and O¡®ahu. ?
• Ironman World Championship (island of Hawai¡®i) hosted by The Outrigger Kona Resort on October 11, 2025, challenges elite athletes with a grueling course of swimming, cycling and running.
• Moloka?i Hoe 2025 (O¡®ahu) ¡ª The O?ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will present this 38-mile long-distance outrigger canoe race on October 12, 2025. ?
• 45th Annual Hawai?i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani Hotel, features a screening of works from Hawai¡®i¡¯s filmmaking community, a world-class slate of international films, and film-industry events on Maui, O¡®ahu, Kaua¡®i and the island of Hawai¡¯i from October 16-November 16, 2025.
• 15th Annual Hawai¡®i Food and Wine Festival (O¡®ahu, Maui, island of Hawai¡®i) held October 17-November 2, 2025, features renowned Hawai¡®i and international chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers highlighting the state¡¯s bounty of local produce, seafood, meats and other ingredients. ?
• Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival (O¡®ahu) on October 18, 2025, represents Hawai¡®i¡¯s largest LGBTQIA/MVPFAFF+ community festival event.
• K¨¡huli Festival (O¡®ahu), Bishop Museum¡¯s annual K¨¡huli Festival on October 25, 2025, celebrates the vital role of Hawaiian land snails in preserving biodiversity. ?
• Hawai¡®i Craftsmen (O¡®ahu), a yearly juried exhibition celebrating excellence in the Hawaiian Islands¡¯ fine-craft community since 1967 will be held from October 3 - November 1, 2025
• The Maui Jazz and Blues Festival (Maui) on October 23, 2025, will bring soulful sounds and vibrant rhythms to the Valley Isle. ?

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore