January–April: Blossoms, Brews & Breaching Whales

🐋 January–March: Nature's Greatest Show

February brings cherry blossoms to upcountry Waimea—a gift from Japanese plantation workers who made this land their home. The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on February 1, 2025, transforms Lindsey Road into a pink-petaled paradise. The walkable circuit starts behind Parker School, where they provide shuttle service and ADA parking for kupuna and visitors with mobility needs.

My daughter Malia learned to make origami cranes here three years ago. An elderly Japanese-Hawaiian woman named Mrs. Yamamoto taught her while sharing stories about her grandfather's plantation days. That's the magic of this festival—it preserves memory through celebration.

The cherry blossom viewing, called hanami, works best in early morning when the trade winds haven't started yet. The trees bloom for just two weeks, so check their Facebook page for peak viewing updates.

March: Final Kona Brewers Festival (Mar 8, 2025)

March brings the final Kona Brewers Festival on March 8, 2025. After thirty years, this beloved event is ending, making this your last chance to experience something truly special. The eco-friendly "Trash Fashion Show" showcases local designers creating art from ocean plastic. Kids can run the Hops 5K while parents sample local brews in the stroller-friendly venue at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area.

I interviewed festival co-director Sarah Kim last year while sipping a taro-infused lager. "We're ending on a high note," she said. "Thirty years of supporting local nonprofits feels like the right time to pass the torch." This year's festival benefits seventeen local organizations, from ocean cleanup groups to music education programs.

The festival includes a keiki zone with face painting and hula demonstrations. Nursing mothers can use the private tent near the main stage. Parking fills up by noon, so arrive early or use the free shuttle from Kailua Pier.

April: The Island Holds Its Breath for Merrie Monarch

April belongs to hula. The Merrie Monarch Festival from April 20-26, 2025, transforms Hilo into the cultural heart of Polynesia. This isn't just Hawaii's biggest cultural event—it's our Super Bowl, our Olympics, our family reunion all rolled into one.

I danced at Merrie Monarch when I was twelve. The memory of stepping onto that stage at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium still gives me chicken skin. The entire island shifts its energy this week. Schools close early so keiki can watch. Restaurants stay open late to feed visiting 'ohana. Hotels book up a year in advance.

Getting tickets requires strategy. The mail-in lottery opens in December and closes in January. No online sales. International visitors should have tickets mailed to a Hawaii address or hotel. The stadium offers Kūpuna seating for elderly attendees and wheelchair-accessible entrances on the makai (ocean) side.

If you can't get tickets, join the thousands who gather in Hilo's parks to watch on big screens. Liliʻuokalani Gardens becomes an outdoor party with families sharing food and stories. The energy there rivals the stadium itself.

Parking is limited, so consider the free shuttle from Prince Kūhiō Plaza or walk from downtown Hilo. The mile-long walk becomes part of the experience as you join streams of people heading to the stadium.

During festival week, visit the Hawaiian Arts Fair next to the stadium. Aunty Pua Nakamura has been stringing leis there since 1997. "My grandmother taught me to select every flower by hand," she told me last year. "The lei carries the maker's mana to the dancer." Her passion fruit vine leis cost $25 but last for days in the hotel refrigerator.