Though Hawaii became a state in 1959, it wasn’t until July 4, 1960 that the new flag with all 50 stars flew for the first time throughout the country.

Speaking of July 4th, I’d like to wish you a happy Independence Day. If you’re lucky enough to be in Hawaii today, you’ll find many opportunities to celebrate the day in these listings:

• July 4th Fireworks and Events on Oahu
• July 4th Fireworks and Events on Maui, Kauai, & the Big Island

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Counting today, tt’s 50 days until August 21st. What’s the significance of that day?  On August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower made Hawaii’s Statehood official by signing the proclamation that welcomes Hawaii as the 50th state of the union.

To celebrate 50 years of Hawaii’s Statehood, I’ll be posting an interesting fact about Hawaii each day between now and August 21st. I hope you’ll enjoy these 50 facts about the 50th state in celebration of Hawaii’s 50th anniversary.

To organize this series, I’ve created a new category under the “General Hawaii” drop down menu that’s located  towards the top of the site. The new category is “50 Facts about Hawaii”.

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Winter Waves

We snapped this photo in February 2009 from the shoreline.

(For even bigger waves just a few miles down the road and on the same day, take a look at my post on the Banzai Pipeline.)

Summer Calm

We snapped this photo in June 2007 from the lanai at our room.

See this link for more examples of Hawaii in contrasts.

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* Starting August 23, you can get an outstanding room and car packaged deal at the Sheraton Kauai for a rate of $179 per night. The Sheraton Kauai is situated on Kauai’s sunny Poipu beach which is a great area to stay in Kauai to avoid rain. I found this deal through TravelZoo and Expedia. For comparison, Travelocity’s lowest rate was $199 without the rental car. This deal is good for stays August 23 through December 26, 2009.

* The Mighty Mo battleship will be moving to dry dock for up to three months in September. The historic battleship will undergo some maintenance and repair work per the Star Bulletin.

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We all know that dining in Kauai can be expensive. So, I recently asked Brian if he would be interested in providing us with a list of his favorite budget-friendly places to dine on Kauai. Lucky for us, he said yes. Here’s his list of places that you can easily dine for under $10 per person:

Pho Kauai
Lunch & Dinner
4303 Rice Street Suite B1
Lihue
808-245-9858
”Vietnamese food, good prices, good size portions”

La Bamba Mexican Restaurant
Lunch & Dinner
3-2600 Kaumualii Hwy Ste C1 (in the Kukui Grove Mall)
Lihue
808-245-5972
”My personal favorite is the Chicken Enchilada Plate.”

Costco
Lunch & Dinner
4300 Nuhou St
Lihue
808-241-4000
”Well, it just doesn’t get any cheaper! Pizza, Chicken bakes, Chicken Caesar Salads and Hot Dogs. Not all local food, but decent eats at low prices! Prices start at $1.50 for a big kosher hot dog or polish sausage with a 20 oz soda. Alicia and I love Costco! We can both eat lunch for less than $5.00 total.” (Note that you don’t have to have be a Costco member to access the Costco restaurant.)

KCL BBQ Restaurants
Lunch & Dinner
4971 C Kuhio Hwy
Kapaa
808-823-8168
”Wide variety of local food, good sized portions.”
Menu link

Oki Diner
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
4491 Rice Street
Lihue
808-245-5899
”Check out the daily breakfast special. eggs, pancakes, rice, and spam, bacon, or sausage.”

Mahalo to Brian and Alicia for their  local insight on where to dine in Kauai on the cheap!

For more ideas of where to eat on your Kauai vacation, see my post of finding the best Kauai restaurants.

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MAUI

Makawao Paniolo Parade (July 4 at 9 a.m.) – 44^th annual parade showcasing Maui’s best Paniolo, themed “Na Paniolo Maoli No,” which translates to “The Original Cowboys!”  Makawao Town, Upcountry Maui.  For more information, call (808) 572-9565.

Keiki Hula Festival (July 26 – 27) – A free event, this festival showcases Maui’s keiki in the spirit of song and dance at this 10^th annual hula festival, complemented with Hawaiian artisans and crafters.  Lahaina Cannery Mall.  Call (808) 661-5304 or visit www.lahainacannery.com.

See this post for July 4th Events on Maui

OAHU

8th Annual Korean Festival (July 11) – Experience Korean culture from the past and the present.  See live Korean dance performances, taekwondo (Korean martial arts) demonstrations, and cultural exhibits of Korean artifacts and memorabilia.  Taste savory, mouth-watering samplings of Korean cuisine, including favorites such as kalbi (BBQ shortribs), bibim gooksoo (spicy mixed noodles), and kim chi fried rice.  Listen to the sound of sogochum (Korean drum dance) and live singers performing traditional and popular Korean songs.  Come and experience Korea!  Kapi‘olani Park & Bandstand.  For more information, please visit www.hkccweb.org.

Japanese artist Yoshihiro Suda’s exhibition (July 11 – October 25) - Suda is internationally known for his installations of delicate carved and painted wooden plant life.  Suda’s sculptures of indigenous Japanese plants and flowers are meticulously created with surprising realism and in true-to-life scale that, at times, borders on the miniscule.  This will be Suda’s first solo exhibition in the United States.  Contemporary Museum.  Call (808) 526-0232 or visit www.tcmhi.org.

32^nd Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival (July 18) – Each year on the third Saturday in July, dancers from all of the islands converge at Moanalua Gardens.  The Prince Lot Hula Festival is the largest non-competitive hula event in Hawai‘i.  It honors Prince Lot Kapuaiwa who reprised the once banned hula in the district of Moanalua and features various hālau from O‘ahu dancing both hula kahiko (ancient hula) and hula ‘auana (modern hula) on one of the few remaining pa hula (hula mounds) in Hawai‘i.  Call (808) 839-5334 or visit www.mgf-hawaii.org.

Hale‘iwa Arts Festival (July 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – This is the 12^th Annual Summer ArtFest that features approximately 140 juried visual artists with original works and limited editions.  The ArtFest will also include performance arts, storytelling, cultural history tours, arts demonstrations and displays, and a host of hands-on children’s activities.  Hale‘iwa Beach Park.  For more information, visit www.haleiwaartsfestival.org.

38th Annual Ukulele Festival (July 19) - Many of the finest ukulele players in the world converge at the Kapiolani Bandstand in Waikīkī to share their musical talent during a free concert.  Hawai‘i’s top entertainers, national celebrities, and a ‘ukulele orchestra of more than 800 children will perform from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Call (808) 732-3739 or visit www.roysakuma.net.

“Moonlight Mele” concert series (July 30) – Two crowd-pleasing musicians will take on the Great Lawn at Bishop Museum for this month’s Moonlight Mele – Darren Benitez and Hoku Zuttermeister.  Darren is known for his falsetto Hawaiian music as well as his upbeat cachi-cachi hits.  He will be followed by Hoku Zuttermeister, who won six Na Hōkū Hanohano Awards last year for his solo CD ‘Aina Kupuna.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Museum Members and 6:00 p.m. for General Admission.  Advance tickets are $15 General; $10 for Bank of Hawai‘i Customers/Employees, Bishop Museum Members, and Military; keiki 3 and under are free.  General tickets purchased the day of the event are $20.  For more information, call (808) 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.

Independence Day Celebrations (July 3-4) – See this list of July 4th events and fireworks on Oahu.

HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND

Hawai‘i Volcanoes Cultural Festival (July 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) – Held in the special setting of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, this popular annual festival helps preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and traditional arts.  Featuring Hawaiian music, hula, crafts sales and demonstrations by local artists and practitioners.  Free. For more information, call (808) 985-6153 or visit www.fhvnp.org.

Big Island Hawaiian Music Festival (July 18 – 19 from noon to 6 p.m. on both days) – The Festival honors the Hawaiian musical heritage by promoting and perpetuating authentic Hawaiian musical traditions.  Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, visitors from around the world experience world class musicians in slack key, falsetto, ‘ukulele and more.  Master musicians share their love and their craft through a series of talk story sessions, feeling like an old fashioned jam session.  The festival features more than 12 hours of unforgettable performances.  Hilo High School Auditorium.  Call (808) 935-9085 or visit www.ehcc.org for more information.

See this post for July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations on Hawaii’s Big Island

KAUAI

‘Ohana Saturday at Kaua‘i Museum (July 4) – Admission is free for the whole family with special presentations.  Call (808) 245-6931 for more information.

Kaua‘i Music Festival (July 29 – August 1) – The Kaua‘i Music Festival is a four day celebration of the art of songwriting.  At the festival, attendees learn songwriting from some of the best songwriters and Grammy-winning producers.  Music of the participants will be heard in small group seminars and in the songwriting competition.  Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort.  Call (808) 634-6237 or visit www.kauaimusicfestival.com.

See this post for a listing of Kauai’s July 4th Fireworks and Celebrations

Mahalo to the HVCB for providing this helpful list.

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* Guess which U.S. city is the most romantic according to TripAdvisor members? I’ll give you a clue. It starts with “Hono” and ends in “lulu.”  Wow! You’re right, it is Honolulu. How’d you guess so quickly?   I agree that Honolulu is very romantic, in fact, Hawaii is a very romantic destination in general. (Note that the photo above is of the Waikiki area of Honolulu at night.)

* Check out FareCompare’s new  “Cheap Deals to Hawaii” page, where you can see the best available round-trip airfare deals to Hawaii, for any month you like – from any airport. Rick Seaney, FareCompare’s CEO, says, “We gathered all the great deals to this favorite destination-which includes all the best-loved islands – by popular demand!” Spend a few minutes playing with this fare search tool and I’m sure you’ll want to bookmark it and/or sign up for their free real-time email alerts. I like how you can customize the results from your city so you’re not sifting through a sea of other originating destinations. Another feature I like is that you can check fares to all Hawaii’s major airports at a glance on the same page.

* Did you hear about the luau held on the White House lawn last night? Did your invitation get lost in the mail, too? Well, just in case you’d like to recreate the luau at home, you can find the recipes  from Hawaii’s award-winning Alan Wong here. The menu sounds very onolicious.

MAUI

July 4th Fireworks in Lahaina – Starting at 5pm, Lahaina town will begin celebrating with a free concert followed by a waterfront fireworks display at 8pm. You’ll be able to see the fireworks free of charge from the oceanfront, but for something unique, consider taking a tour boat out for the fireworks. Trilogy is one of my favorite boat tour companies in Maui and they have a special July 4th dinner and fireworks excursion. The Pacific Whale Foundation has some special boat tours, too.

44th Annual Makawao Paniolo Parade – Well this Upcountry event isn’t necessarily Independence Day focused, but it’s a great cultural event celebrating the paniolo, Hawaii’s cowboy. The parade starts at 9:00am in Makawao Town. See this link for more information. It’s also noteworthy to mention that the 54th Annual Makawao Rodeo is on from July 2 – 5.

KAUAI

20th Annual Concert in the Sky – At the Vidinha Soccer Field in Lihue, you’ll find games, food, live entertainment and fireworks. (Note that HAPA will be performing.) The celebration begins at 4pm. This event is a fundraiser for Kauai Hospice, so an entrance fee is required. See more information about this event and how to purchase tickets here.

July 4th Fireworks and Celebration in Kekaha – The small town of Kekhka on Kauai’s southwest shore will host a free Independence Day celebration including games, crafts, cultural displays, and live music followed by fireworks. The festivities begin at 5pm at Faye Ballpark. See this link for more information.

BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII

Great Waikoloa Rubber Duckie Race & 4th of July Extravaganza – Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast is hosting a great line up of events all day on July 4th. They’ll have games, bands, a rubber duckie race, and fireworks set to live music. (Note that the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific will be performing.) See more about these fun festivities here.

Kailua-Kona Community 4th of July Parade & Celebration – A fun parade through Kailua-Kona starts at 5:30 followed by fireworks display over Kailua Bay at 8:30pm. For more information with a parade route map, see this link.

Turtle Independence Day – This annual event at the Mauna Lani Resort educates visitors about the endangered Hawaiian green turtle, the honu. Young honu are raised in the ponds at the Mauna Lani Resort before their July 4th independence day when they are released back in to the ocean. This event goes from 10:30am until noon. See this link for more information.

Volcano Village July 4th Parade & Celebration -  This Independence Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Volcano Post Office and proceed for one half mile along Old Volcano Road to Cooper Community Center. The parade will feature the Hawaii County Band, floats, antique cars, fire engines, bicycles, horses, and animals in costumes! Music, games, food booths, dunking pond, craft fair and prizes to follow. Call Betsy Mitchell for more infomation at (808) 967-7209. (Per KonaWeb)

Hilo 4th of July Fireworks – A fireworks show sponsored by the Hilo Jaycee’s is set to start at 8:00pm from Coconut Island. You can view the fireworks from the waterfront in Hilo town.

Don’t forget that you can watch nature’s fireworks e.g., the active volcano. You can watch lava flowing from the Kalapana area.  From within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can watch the red lava glow from Halemaumau crater at night. Use these links for more helpful information:

• Advice for viewing Big Island lava flow
• Tips for visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Hawaii Volcano ObservatoryDaily Updates

OAHU

See my detailed list of Honolulu/Waikiki/Oahu July 4th fireworks and celebrations.

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Now compare that quiet beach to Oahu’s people watching mecca, Waikiki Beach.

Which beach would you prefer?

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* If I told you that you could stay in a top rated Four Seasons resort on Hawaii for under $200 per night, would you believe me? It’s true. If you stay three nights at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele using the third night free promotion, your average cost per night is $197. See more details here.

* You can stay at the Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa from $89 per night from now through December 23, 2009, but you must book before July 3. That’s a great rate for a Kauai resort that normally goes for at least $100 more. For more details and booking code, see this link.

* Per airfare guru, Rick Seaney, it appears that an airfare war to Honolulu might be looming.  Rick says he’s already found great fare sale ( between $250-275 round-trip with taxes) to Honolulu from Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Dallas. So, check fares from your city this afternoon and evening.

* US Airways announced that they are adding a non-stop flight from Charlotte, NC (CLT) to Honolulu, HI (HNL) starting December 17, 2009. US Airways will fly a Boeing 767 for this flight with a flying time of just over 10 hours to Honolulu and nearly 9 hours to Charlotte. Based on my experiences of flying from North Carolina, that will save about 2 – 5 hours each way. I’ve been periodically checking round-trip fares on these direct flights (807 to HNL and 808 from HNL) and fares are on the high side at around $1000 per ticket. It will be interesting to see how this new service impacts the pricing dynamic over the coming year.

* As frequently as airlines have been adding new fees, it’s been a challenge keep updated. USA Today published an excellent chart of airline fees.

* Oahu’s popular Bayfest, is going to be held August 14 – 16 this year. This family-friendly festival features carnival rides, games, fireworks and concerts. General grounds admission is $5, but children five years are admitted free of charge. For an additional fee, you can see the headline concert. This year the Black Eyed Peas will be performing on August 15th. Tickets for that concert go on sale June 27th and are expected to sell out quickly. You can learn more about Bayfest and ordering tickets here.

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If you are looking for a beautiful sunrise hike on Oahu, I recommend the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail on Oahu’s southeastern most point.  In addition to the excellent views of Makapuu Lighthouse along the trail, you’ll also enjoy outstanding coast views from Koko Head on the South to Kailua on the North. You’ll also see Makapuu’s role in WW II history with the concrete pillboxes built into the cliffs.

In the winter months, Makapuu offers a great vantage point for watching Humpback Whales. Along the path, there’s an educational plaque about Humpback’s annual visit to Hawaii. We were there in February and unfortunately we didn’t see whales. We did see dolphins, though.

On top of the great views, we enjoyed seeing lots of cacti. This section of Oahu is rather dry and only receives about 20 inches of rain per year. I don’t typically associate cactus and Hawaii, so that was an interesting contrast.

I think the best time of day to hike Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is early in the morning, ideally to enjoy sunrise and the cooler temperatures. Note that taking this hike is an excellent way to use jet lag to your benefit.

I would classify Makapuu Lighthouse Trail as a relatively easy hike. In fact, it’s more of a semi-steep walk. The path is actually a road that’s used to access and maintain the working lighthouse. (Note that no motorized traffic is allowed.) Since this trail is actually a road, it’s wide and well paved except for a few steps at the trail’s end.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is 1.4 miles one-way. It’s not a strenuous trail, but note that you’ll be gaining elevation all the way from the parking area to the trail’s end. The elevation gain is gradual, though.

You’ll find Makapuu Lighthouse Trail just off Highway 72, Kalanianaole Highway. See this Google Map and note the location of Makapuu Lighthouse Road. That’s the trail. There is a parking lot for this trail. As always, make sure that you don’t leave anything of value in your car.

See all our photos from hiking Makapuu Lighthouse Trail.

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“A Contemporary style of cooking in Hawaii today that borrows from all the ethnic influences you find in Hawaii.”

Mahalo to Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau for providing the video.

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* One of the best values on Waikiki Beach, Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel rates have been reduced to $109 for stays through December 23, 2009. In addition to the great rate for a hotel that overlooks Waikiki Beach, guests also receive free breakfast and loads of valuable coupons to stretch your vacation budget. See this link for more details on this special rate.

* When I wrote my review of Kauai Marriott Resort, earlier this year. I mentioned that I was hearing whispers that the resort might be undergoing a renovation. Well, the Pacific Business News reports that the resort will undergo a $50 million renovation. Room upgrades will include “new colors, upgrades such as flat-screen TVs and modern bathroom fixtures and vanity.” Note that the resort will remain open during the renovations.

* Diamond Wailea Resort & Spa, sports a new name and logo. This boutique resort perched on the slopes of Haleakala is now called Hotel Wailea Maui. The rebranded resort will also be spruced up with refurbishments. “Upgrades for the suites include complete bath and lighting re-dos with added amenities. Two 32-inch flat screen televisions for the living room and bedroom, new sofa, original artwork, cordless telephone and i-Home clocks will be featured in the ultra-spacious 900 sq. ft. accommodations.  New bed, luxurious new sheets with duvet, bed throw and plush bath towels will also be added.”

* Brides.com is giving away a free six-night honeymoon at the Waikoloa beach Marriott Resort and Spa. See this link for sweepstakes entry.

* Samantha Brown will  visit Maui with the environment in mind on her Travel Channel show. The Maui eco-tour show airs tomorrow (June 20th) at 10pm E/P on the Travel Channel.

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Dining in Hawaii can be an exotic vacation for your taste buds. Some of the best meals that Andy and I have ever had, have been in Hawaii.

With food that’s so good, Hawaii is bound to have some unique ways to describe delicious cuisine. Those descriptions may seem like a foreign language and to some extent they are. You may hear them spoken, see them on a sign, or read them in a review. I wanted to provide you with this list of words and phrases describing tasty food in Hawaii so that you’ll be in the know.

‘Ono – The word ‘ono with the okina means delicious in the Hawaiian language. ‘Ono is not to be confused with ono without the okina which refers to type of fish from Hawaii that’s also known as a mackerel and wahoo. ‘Ono is pronounced like “oh-no”.

Onolicious – This slang word is a variation of ‘ono combined with the word delicious.

Broke the mouth – This slang phrase is my favorite. When food tastes so good that it broke the mouth, that’s got to be some darn good food, right? I liken that phrase to a common Southern saying, “Tastes so good it will make your tongue slap your brains out.”

Grinds – This word also refers to good food and you might see it spelled like grindz . I consulted with my Hawaii friend, Nathan Kam, who gave me this example and context of how grinds might be used:

"Hey Sheila, that chicken katsu was grinds, yeah?"

"My grandma’s cooking is always grinds."

Mahalo to Nathan Kam who contributed to this post. Nathan is a Hawaii Travel/Tourism PR guy talking story about living, working, and playing in paradise. He blogs about life in the islands as he and his family lives and enjoys it at Kam Family Blog.

Can you think of another way good food is described in Hawaii? If you’ve been to Hawaii, please tell me what you think is the most ‘ono food you tried.

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• The island is 18 miles long and five miles wide.
• It doesn’t have streams and it doesn’t receive much rainfall so its environment is semi-desert.
• Sheep, cattle, and honey serve as the major industries.
• Niihau is noted for beautiful sea shells used in leis.
• Approximately 200 people live on Niihau.
• The Hawaiian language is the first language of Niihau residents. English is second.
• Niihau was purchased in 1864 for $10,000.
• The island is owned by the Robinson family.
• Niihau is not accessible to visitors.

Niihau is also called the forbidden island, though it’s not completely forbidden altogether. The owners even offer a few tours of Niihau. There are also a few snorkeling and scuba tours from Kauai that get near Niihau.

Hawaii’s KHON television station has a special series on Niihau this week. Check out this first feature making sure you see the video for rare footage of the island.

Photo use by Creative Commons. Credit to Nemo’s great uncle.

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As you drive Highway 550, first you’ll encounter the ten-mile long, one-mile wide, and 3,600 foot deep Waimea Canyon.

Then, as you carry on the road into Kokee State Park, you’ll find a couple of look outs for the Kalalau Valley at the Na Pali Coast.

I highly recommend  a visit to these two parks and that’s why I suggest a drive or tour to these parks is a must do if you only have a day on Kauai.

See more photos from Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks.

What do you think of this contrast of scenery? Do you also find it amazing that these two views are within a short drive of each other?

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* A new lava flow map was issued late last week. Using that map along with the USGS Kilauea eruption updates, we know that there are some visible surface lava flows on the pali (cliff). I saw surface flows on the pali last year and it was truly amazing to see the red and orange glow of lava on the hill at night. See tips for finding and viewing the lava flow on the Big Island.

* Wonder what it was like to be in a WWII flying Ace fighting for freedom?  The Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor on Oahu has flight simulator that lets you imagine yourself in the cockpit of a Wildcat or Zero aircraft. If you’d like to test your skills, then you can save with this free flight simulator coupon with paid admission.

*  Kaanapali Sunset Luau at the Sheraton Maui is offering free luau admission for children 12 and under with each full paying adult. The rate for children (ages 6 – 12) is normally $43. (Mahalo, RW!)

* I was organizing my files over the weekend and found a coupon for Shore Bird Restaurant on Waikiki. The coupon is for 50% off second entree of equal or lesser value. This restaurant is located on Waikiki Beach and has great views of the beach and Diamond Head. We stopped in there a couple of times during our stay at Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Their buffet breakfast is pretty good and a decent value at $15.95 per person, if I remember correctly. If you’re headed to Oahu and would like this coupon, please visit the site and comment on this post. If I have more than one comment, I’ll randomly select a winner.

July 3rd – Fireworks Display at Aloha Tower Marketplace

This fireworks event is a day early, but it has traditionally been a huge display and a local favorite. The fireworks show is set to go off from a barge in Honolulu Harbor between Sand Island and the Aloha Tower Marketplace around 8:45pm. (See this Google Map.)

As for getting there to watch the fireworks from Aloha Tower Marketplace, if you are coming from Waikiki, you might want to consider taking TheBus or the Red Line Trolley to prevent parking and traffic headaches. If you decide to drive there, you may want to arrive early to check out the restaurants and shops and validate parking ($2 for self-park and $4 for valet service).

My good friend, Dave from Oahu, tells me that the you can escape the crowds a bit and get the best vantage point from Sand Island. If you want to watch the fireworks from Sand Island, then it’s best to drive there otherwise, you’ll have a long walk from TheBus stop. By the way, the excellent photo on the top and right is one that Dave took on July 3, 2007 from Sand Island. Thanks, Dave, for sharing your photo with us.

The address for Aloha Tower Marketplace is 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, HI. For more information: See this Web site or call 808.528.5700.

July 3rd – Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach

Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a great little fireworks display on Waikiki Beach every Friday night. It’s not  a pre-Independence Day celebration, but it’s convenient if you’re in or around
Waikiki Beach. Fireworks go off at 7:45pm. If your around, you might consider checking out the Rockin’ Hawaiian Rainbow Revue before the show. See more here.

The Hilton Hawaiian is located on Waikiki Beach. The street address is 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI. Their phone number is 808.949.4321.

July 4th – Ala Moana Center Fireworks Show

This fireworks extravaganza from the Ala Moana Center is among the top 25 largest in the country. It’s also distinguished in that it’s the only show in Hawaii to launch from three separate platforms. The fireworks show begins at 8:30pm , but there’s lots of excellent entertainment starting at noon. See this link for the entertainment line up and shopping discount. You can see the fireworks from around the center, at Magic Island (Aina Moana Beach Park), and at Ala Moana Beach Park. See this Google Map to visualize the area.

To get there from Waikiki, you can drive, take TheBus, or the shuttle. If  your up for a good walk and have on good shoes for walking, then consider walking from Waikiki to Ala Moana Beach Park. You won’t have to worry about traffic and finding a parking space. The closer you’re staying to the western side of Waikiki, the shorter the walk. See this link for more information on transportation. Also, note if you have Trolley tickets, you can take either the Pink or Red Trolley Lines.

Ala Moana Center is located at 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu. Their phone number is 808.955.9517.

July 4th – Turtle Bay Resort Celebration and Fireworks

If you are staying in or around Oahu’s North Shore, the celebration and fireworks show at Turtle Bay Resort will be you’re most convenient event. The fireworks show starts “at dark”, but there’s display booths and games for the kids starting at 3:00pm. Turtle Bay Resort is located on Oahu’s North Shore at 57-091 Kamehameha Highway in Kahuku, HI. For more information see Turtle Bay’s Web site or call them toll free (866) 827-5327.

July 4th – Schofield Barracks Fourth of July Spectacular and Centennial Celebration
Hawaii’s largest Army post in Central Oahu will have an Independence Day celebration including games, rides, crafts and concert by the rock band Kansas. They will host a free fireworks display at 8:30pm. For more information see this flyer.

July 4th – Maunalua Bay Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show

Starting at 2pm, this family-friendly event includes entertainment, food booths, and a fireworks show at 8:00pm. Maunalua Bay is located between Diamond Head and Koko Head on the southeast side of Oahu. For more information see the event’s Web site. To get there from Waikiki, you’ll need to take TheBus or drive.

July 4th – Block Party & Fireworks at Pearl Harbor

This Independence Day celebration is open only to military affiliated personnel including active duty, reserve, retirees, DoD, family members. They’ll have great entertainment and games followed by fireworks at 9:00pm. See this link for more information.

July 4th Parade, Festival, and Fireworks in Kailua

The day’s events start with a parade at 10:00am and end with fireworks.Kailua is located on the east side of Oahu.  See this link for more information.

As more events and details are released, I’ll update this page.

Not going to Oahu for July 4th? Then check out all the excellent July 4th Fireworks on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii’s Big Island.

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Mahalo to Go Visit Hawaii reader, Chris from Hawaii Weddings, for telling me about this video.

© Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com.