SEP18
Festival · Fri, Sep 18–20
LA Int’l Ukulele Festival (10th)
Workshops, concerts, marketplace celebrating Hawaiian ʻukulele tradition.
Torrance, CAlosangelesukulelefestival.com
Events Calendar
What’s Happening on the Mainland?
Live music, hula, and entertainment, lūʻau, hōʻike, kanikapila, competitions, markets, workshops, civic days, and Pacific festivals on the U.S. mainland and abroad. Dated and curated. Featured nights keep a page after the date. Past events live in the archive. Events in Hawaiʻi stay in the islands; this book does not list them.
23 upcoming events
SEP19
Civic · Sat, Sep 19
SDSU Football Pacific Islander Night
Pacific Islander Night at SDSU football.
San Diego, CAwww.pifasandiego.com/events
SEP19
Festival · Sat, Sep 19
Sacramento Aloha Festival
NHOPI / Hawaiian cultural festival at Gold Country Fairgrounds.
Auburn, CAwww.sacalohafest.org
SEP23
Kanikapila · Wed, Sep 23 · 6:00–9:00 PM
Hawaiian Kani Ka Pila — Cupertino
Monthly Hawaiian kanikapila — in person and on Zoom. Instruments and hula welcome.
Cupertino, CAwww.cupertinooddfellows.org/events/hawaiian-kani-ka-pila-music-jam-in-person-and-zoom-2026-09-23
SEP25
Hōʻike (hula showcase) · Fri, Sep 25
Hiʻilani ʻO Ke Kai Hoʻike
Hālau showcase with Hoʻomana Hawaiian Band.
Salinas, CApaddle.kekai.org
SEP26
Lūʻau · Sat, Sep 26
Hiʻilani ʻO Ke Kai 42nd Annual Lūʻau
Sit-down community lūʻau with hālau hula and Hawaiian band.
Salinas, CApaddle.kekai.org
SEP26
Festival · Sat, Sep 26–27
Pacific Islander Festival (PIFA)
Largest U.S. Pacific Islander festival; free at Ski Beach.
San Diego, CAwww.pifasandiego.com/festival
SEP27
Music & Performance · Sun, Sep 27 · 4:00 PM
Patrick Landeza & Sons
Nā Hōkū–winning slack key with steel and bass — generations of Hawaiian music at Douglas Morrisson Theatre.
Hayward, CAdouglasmorrissontheatre.thundertix.com/events/267416
SEP27
Lūʻau · Sun, Sep 27 · Social 2:30 PM; dinner ~4:00 PM then show
Penngrove Hawaiian Luau
Community kalua dinner with Taimalietane Islands of Polynesia dancers at Penngrove Park.
Penngrove, CAwww.penngrovesocialfiremen.org/hawaiian-luau.html
OCT2
Civic · Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–10:00 PM
Hoʻomau Foundation Fundraising Gala 2026
Island-chic dinner supporting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander student scholarships.
OCT2
Music & Performance · Fri, Oct 2 · Doors 7:30 PM; show 8:00 PM
Māhealani Uchiyama and Hālau Ka Ua Tuahine
Music and dance of Polynesia — named hālau night at Ashkenaz.
OCT10
Music & Performance · Sat, Oct 10 · 7:00 PM
Masters of Hawaiian Music — Sebastopol CCC
George Kahumoku Jr. and the Masters trio at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.
Sebastopol, CApasifika-artists.com/george-kahumoku-jr
OCT11
Music & Performance · Sun, Oct 11 · 1:00–2:30 PM
Masters of Hawaiian Music — Club Fox
Masters trio matinee — slack key at Club Fox.
Redwood City, CApasifika-artists.com/george-kahumoku-jr
OCT16
Music & Performance · Fri, Oct 16 · 8:00 PM–10:00 PM
Led Kaapana
Slack-key grandmaster Led Kaapana live at Throckmorton Theatre — Kalapana lineage, falsetto, and kī hōʻalu.
Mill Valley, CAwww.throckmortontheatre.org/events/led-kaapana-2026
OCT18
Music & Performance · Sun, Oct 18 · 7:30 PM–10:00 PM
Led Kaapana at The Old Steeple
Led Kaapana returns to Ferndale’s Old Steeple for a Northern California slack-key night.
Ferndale, CAwww.ferndalemusiccompany.com/calendar/2026/10/18/led-kaapana
OCT23
Music & Performance · Fri, Oct 23
An Intimate Evening with Kalani Peʻa
Grammy-winning Hawaiian falsetto in the Carriage House at Montalvo.
Saratoga, CAmontalvoarts.org/experience/carriage-house-concerts/kalani-pea
OCT25
Music & Performance · Sun, Oct 25 · 6:00–8:00 PM
Ledward Kaapana at Pono Hawaiian Grill
Slack-key master Led Kaapana — Sunday night at Pono Hawaiian Grill.
Santa Cruz, CAhappeningnext.com/event/ledward-kaapana-pono-hawaiian-grill-santa-cruz-sunday-10-25-6-8pm-eid1ef0l5rop4qa
OCT28
Kanikapila · Wed, Oct 28 · 6:00–9:00 PM
Hawaiian Kani Ka Pila — Cupertino (Oct)
Monthly Hawaiian kanikapila — in person and on Zoom. Instruments and hula welcome.
Cupertino, CAwww.cupertinooddfellows.org/events/hawaiian-kani-ka-pila-music-jam-in-person-and-zoom-2026-10-28
OCT31
Music & Performance · Sat, Oct 31 · 2:00 PM
BEGIN Live in Concert (OAA Road to Taikai)
Okinawa Association of America presents BEGIN at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
Redondo Beach, CAwww.oaamensore.org/roadtotaikai.html
NOV7
Music & Performance · Sat, Nov 7
Lord of the Strings presents Jim “Kimo” West
Hawaiian slack key with Jim “Kimo” West in Mission Viejo.
Mission Viejo, CAlordofthestringsconcerts.com/tickets
DEC6
Music & Performance · Sun, Dec 6 · 4:00 PM
Kimo’s Hawaiian Slack Key Holiday Show
Jim Kimo West holiday slack key and hula at Alvas Showroom.
San Pedro, CAalvasshowroom.com/event/kimos-hawaiian-slack-key-holiday-show
JAN17
Festival · Sun, Jan 17
SoCal Slack Key Festival (20th)
Major mainland Hawaiian kī hōʻalu concert + Island Fair.
Redondo Beach, CAslackkeyfest.com/redondo-beach-festival
JAN28
Music & Performance · Thu, Jan 28
Legends: Keola Beamer & Henry Kapono — Saratoga
Same mainland Hawaiian music tour.
Saratoga, CApasifika-artists.com/keola-beamer-henry-kapono