SEP17
Festival · Thu, Sep 17–18 · sessions ~9:30 AM–3:00 PM
Te Kahu Tōpuni Kapa Haka Festival
Non-competitive primary-school kapa haka at Auckland Town Hall — waiata, haka, poi, mōteatea.
Auckland, New Zealandwww.aucklandlive.co.nz
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.
31 upcoming events
SEP18
Competition · Fri, Sep 18–20 · Fri 8:00 PM; Sat 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM; Sun 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Heiva i Paris 2026
Europe’s flagship ʻori Tahiti competition at Théâtre Bobino — HiP’s League finals weekend.
Paris, Francebobino.fr/event-pro/heiva-i-paris
SEP19
Festival · Sat, Sep 19 · from ~3:30 PM (~5 hours)
Pasifika Made (Brisbane Festival)
Free multi-stage Pasifika program at South Bank — ceremony, dance, Aaradhna, workshops, marketplace.
Brisbane, Australiawww.brisbanefestival.com.au
SEP19
Competition · Sat, Sep 19–21 · Sat competition from ~12:00 PM; Sun–Mon workshops
茅ヶ崎マカナ・フラ・フェスティバル 2026
Hawaiʻi-judged hula competition and workshops at Samukawa Arena — learning over competing.
Samukawa, Japanwww.world.hawaiianculture.org
SEP20
Festival · Sun, Sep 20 · Part 1 ~9:30 AM; Part 2 ~1:00 PM
Fujioka Ohana Hula Fes 2026 (20th)
Public Hawaiian hula festival at Mikabo Mirai Hall — 20th year.
Fujioka, Japanwww.eveco.me/events/494-20260920
SEP20
Hōʻike (hula showcase) · Sun, Sep 20–21 · 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM shows each day
Nā Poʻokela 2026 — The Best of Merrie Monarch
Merrie Monarch top hālau and Miss Aloha Hula bring Hilo-winning sets to Yokohama BUNTAI (~180 artists).
Yokohama, Japanna-pookela.com
SEP27
Festival · Sun, Sep 27 · 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Hula choose you. 2026
Free outdoor Hawaiian culture day at Kawasaki Fujimi Park — stages, workshops, makers.
Kawasaki, Japanhula-kihene.com/hcy
OCT3
Festival · Sat, Oct 3–4 · 12:00 PM–5:00 PM
クーハノハノ フラフェスティバル 2026
Free live Hawaiian band and hula on Kyoto Station’s grand staircase — Kansai/Kantō hālau gathering.
Kyoto, Japankuhanohano.kumulani.co.jp
OCT4
Festival · Sun, Oct 4–5 · 8:30 AM–3:30 PM daily
Pasifika Vibes Festival 2026
Two-day SE Queensland Pacific Island and Māori culture festival at Pine Rivers Showgrounds.
Lawnton, Australiapasifikavibesfestival.com
OCT9
Competition · Fri, Oct 9–10 · Fri 2:00 PM–7:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Ke Au Hou Festival 2026
Accessible ʻauana-focused hula competition at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium, Tokyo.
Tokyo, Japanwww.okinakalani.com/ke-au-hou-festival
OCT10
Civic · Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM–4:00 PM AEST
Fiji Day on the Coast 2026
Free inaugural Sunshine Coast Fiji Independence Day celebration.
Meridan Plains, Australiaevents.humanitix.com/fiji-day-on-the-coast-2026-sunshine-coast
OCT17
Competition · Sat, Oct 17–18
Heiva I Tokyo 2026
Ori Tahiti Japan Championship weekend at Tachikawa Stage Garden — solos, groups, exhibition.
Tachikawa, Japantahiti-heiva.com/tokyo/tyo_index.html
OCT17
Festival · Sat, Oct 17–18 · from ~12:00 PM
第38回 KA HULA HOA Yokohama
Long-running dancer-first Yokohama hula gathering — stage, vendor market, and kumu workshops. Free admission.
Yokohama, Japanwww.kahulahoa.com/ykh
OCT17
Festival · Sat, Oct 17–18 · Sat WS 2:00–3:30 PM; Sun Hōʻike from 1:00 PM
第８回 The Hula Festival (Hamamatsu)
Outdoor hula festival on Japan’s first purpose-built hula mound at Hamamatsu Flower Park — workshops Saturday, Special Hōʻike Sunday.
Hamamatsu, Japanthehulafes.com
OCT23
Festival · Fri, Oct 23–25 · Fri 9:30 AM–4:00 PM; Sat competition from 10:00 AM; Sun seaside from 3:00 PM
カギマナフラ in 宮古島 2026
Miyako Island’s Maui sister-city hula festival — dedication dances, international competition, free seaside stage.
Miyako Island, Japanwww.kagimanahula.com
OCT24
Festival · Sat, Oct 24–25
Pasifika Summer (Liverpool NSW)
Sydney west Pasifika festival of music, dance, and ʻohana.
Liverpool, Australiawww.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-west/events/pasifika-summer-0
OCT31
Festival · Sat, Oct 31
Pasifika Festival in the Bay (10th)
Tenth year of Pasifika culture and community in Tauranga.
Tauranga, New Zealandpasifikainthebay.co.nz/celebrate-10-years-of-culture-community-at-the-pasifika-festival-in-the-bay
NOV7
Festival · Sat, Nov 7–8 · from ~12:00 PM
KA HULA HOA in KYUSHU
First Kyushu edition of KA HULA HOA — free outdoor hula stage in Fukuoka with Kumu Blaine Kamalani Kia.
Fukuoka, Japanwww.kahulahoa.com/kyu
NOV14
Hōʻike (hula showcase) · Sat, Nov 14 · 11:00 AM–7:00 PM (planned)
Kupuna Hula Festa in Kobe 2026
Free-viewing kūpuna hula exhibition at Kobe Fashion Museum Orbis Hall.
Kobe, Japankupuna.hulafesta-kobe.com
NOV14
Festival · Sat, Nov 14 · 11:00 AM–6:00 PM; lūʻau 6:30–8:00 PM
石垣島フラフェスティバル 2026
Southernmost Japan hula festival deepening Ishigaki–Kauaʻi sister-city exchange; optional evening lūʻau.
Ishigaki, Japanishigaki-hulafes.com
NOV19
Competition · Thu, Nov 19–22 · World Championship outdoor stage Sun Nov 22 from 6:30 PM
ʻOri Tahiti Nui Competitions & World Championship 2026
International Ori Tahiti solos and groups in Tahiti, culminating in the World Championship.
Arue, French Polynesiaoritahitinui.org/en
NOV23
Competition · Mon, Nov 23
第14回 上野フラフェスティバル
Friendly outdoor hula festival and competition at Ueno Park outdoor stage — first-timers welcome.
Tokyo, Japanwww.ueno-hula.com
NOV25
Competition · Wed, Nov 25 – Dec 5 · Evenings ~6:00 PM (Nov 25–28 & Dec 2–5); Manihini Nov 25 & 27
Hura Tapairu 2026
Maison de la Culture’s major ʻori Tahiti competition for smaller troupes — plus international Manihini nights.
Papeete, French Polynesiawww.huratapairu.com/fr/acceuil
DEC1
Competition · Tue, Dec 1–2 · see organizer
Tainui Waka Primary Schools Kapa Haka Festival 2026
Competitive primary-school Tainui kapa haka at GLOBOX / Claudelands, Hamilton.
Hamilton, New Zealandtainuihaka.co.nz
DEC5
Festival · Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Melbourne Pasifika Festival 2026
Annual first-Saturday-in-December Pasifika day at Banjo Paterson Park.
Lynbrook, Australiawww.melbournepasifikafestival.org
JAN23
Music & Performance · Sat, Jan 23–24
Holoholo Hawaiʻi 2027 ～ Leo Kamaʻāina ～
Hawaiian music and hula concert in Kobe and Tokyo featuring Ikaika Blackburn, Chad Takatsugi, Kale Hannahs, Kaulike Pescaia.
Kobe, Japanmagicisland808.com
JAN23
Competition · Sat, Jan 23 · doors 11:00 AM / start 12:00 PM / close 8:00 PM (planned)
Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival Japan 2027
Japan edition of Kauaʻi’s unique-rule hula competition at Kyurian Shinagawa — winners can earn Kauaʻi Festival Japan-rep rights.
Tokyo, Japanwww.kahulahoa.com/mokihana
JAN30
Music & Performance · Sat, Jan 30 – Feb 7 · see stops
Happy New Year Concert 2027 (Japan tour)
Multi-city Hawaiian music and hula tour with Robert Cazimero, Kuana Torres Kahele, KEAUHOU, and Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala.
Tokyo, Japanstudiosaki.com/event/57696
FEB22
Competition · Mon, Feb 22–27
Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha 2027
Aotearoa’s national kapa haka pinnacle at Hopuhopu — pōwhiri, pools, and finals.
Hopuhopu, New Zealandwww.tematatini.co.nz
MAR6
Competition · Sat, Mar 6–7
Hoʻolauleʻa Japan Charity Hula Festival 2027
Major Japan charity hula competition at Kultz Kawasaki — all judges from Hawaiʻi.
Kawasaki, Japanhoolaulea.kumulani.co.jp
MAR13
Festival · Sat, Mar 13–14
Pasifika Festival Auckland 2027
Auckland’s largest free multi-village Pacific cultural festival.
Auckland, New Zealandwww.aucklandnz.com/pasifika