Your month-by-month guide to the top cultural parades in Hawaii

Honolulu and Oʻahu host some of the most colorful and culturally rich parades in the Pacific. From Hawaiian royal traditions to global cultural festivals and holiday celebrations, these events bring the aloha spirit to life. Below is a chronological parade guide for 2026, complete with descriptions, dates, and attendance estimates—and links to help visitors plan the perfect day around each event.

🌺 January 2026 Parades

Onipaʻa Peace March

📅 January 16–17, 2026
📍 Downtown Honolulu → ʻIolani Palace
🧍 Estimated Attendance: 4,000–7,000

This culturally significant march honors Queen Liliʻuokalani and commemorates the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The march ends at ʻIolani Palace with cultural ceremonies, hula, music, and oli (chants).
💡 Tip: Combine this with a visit to historic Honolulu on a Circle Island Tour or Downtown Honolulu sightseeing as part of our Pearl Harbor Tour before or after the parade.

🐉 February 2026 Parades

Chinese New Year Parade – Chinatown Festival

📅 February 14, 2026
📍 Chinatown, Honolulu
🧍 Attendance: 300+ parade participants, 10,000+ festival attendees

Chinatown comes alive with lion dances, firecrackers, cultural performances, martial arts, and red lanterns decorating the streets. The parade marches along Hotel Street and is one of Honolulu’s most festive events.
💡 While in the area: Enjoy the city before joining a sunset Waikiki Sunset Cruise .

🌈 March 2026 Parades

Honolulu Festival Grand Parade

📅 March 15, 2026
📍 Kalākaua Avenue → Waikīkī
🧍 Estimated Participation: 1,500+
👥 Overall Festival Attendance: 30,000+

One of the biggest cultural events of the year, the Honolulu Festival highlights the traditions of Hawaiʻi, Japan, Tahiti, Korea, and other Pacific Rim cultures. The Grand Parade is filled with incredible costumes, taiko drummers, hula hālau, floats, and international performers.
👉 Perfect to pair with our Honolulu Private Tours.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Waikīkī

📅 March 17, 2026
📍 Kalākaua Avenue
🧍 Attendance: 200–300

A cheerful local parade with bagpipers, Irish dancers, and decorated vehicles. Families line the streets, and Waikīkī pubs host post-parade celebrations.
💡 After the parade: Hop on a Small Group Island Tour the next morning to explore Oʻahu’s highlights.

St Patricks Parade in Hawaii Waikiki Honolulu

Prince Kūhiō Day Parade – Kapolei

📅 March 28, 2026
📍 Kapolei Parkway → Ka Makana Aliʻi
🧍 Attendance: 1,000+

This parade honors Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, a beloved Hawaiian leader. Expect hula groups, royal societies, cultural schools, and pāʻū riders on horseback.
👉 Learn more about Hawaiian culture while exploring sacred sites on our Oʻahu Circle Island Tour.

National Vietnam Veterans Day Parade

📅 March 28, 2026
📍 Waikīkī / Kapiʻolani Park area
🧍 Attendance: 3,000+

A moving tribute to Vietnam veterans, with marching bands, ROTC units, color guards, and veteran groups.
💡 Many visitors book a Pearl Harbor Tour on the same weekend to honor history and veterans.

🌺 June 2026 Parades

King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade

📅 June 13, 2026
📍 ʻIolani Palace → Kalākaua Avenue → Kapiʻolani Park
🧍 Attendance: Hundreds of participants, thousands of spectators

A must-see cultural parade full of pageantry, featuring beautiful floral floats, marching bands, and the famous pāʻū riders dressed in island colors.
👉 Combine your day with a Scenic Island Tour to learn more about Hawaiian history and royal traditions.

🎄 November 2026 Parades

Waikīkī Holiday Parade

📅 November 27, 2026
📍 Kalākaua Avenue, Waikīkī
🧍 Attendance: 2,000+

Held the day after Thanksgiving, this parade honors Pearl Harbor survivors and features marching bands flown in from across the U.S., local schools, community groups, and torchlight walkers. The festive lights of Waikīkī make it one of the most magical parades of the year.
👉 Extend the holiday spirit with a Pearl Harbor Tour or a Private Oʻahu Tour.

🎅 December 2026 Parades

Hawaiʻi Kai Holiday Parade

📅 December 2026 (Date TBD)
📍 Hawaiʻi Kai
🎄 Attendance: Local community event, several hundred attendees

A festive neighborhood parade with youth groups, decorated trucks and BOATS(!), local performers, and holiday cheer throughout Hawaiʻi Kai.
👉 A great warm-up for the season before joining a Christmas-time Island Tour.

🎉 Tips for Visitors Planning Around Parades

• Arrive early for the best viewing spots
• Check for road closures and plan your route
• Bring sun protection (Hawaii parades last 1–2 hours)
• Book tours in advance—March and November are busy travel months
• Perfect pairing: Island tours + parades offer the best of cultural Hawaii