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Maui’s largest culinary festival is held each year on the Friday and Saturday closest to September 15th. Dozens of island restaurants and hotels put their best culinary creations forward while many of Hawai’i’s finest modern musicians provide the entertainment.

Contemporary Hawai’i is celebrated from mid-September to mid-October every year. The festivities begin on O’ahu and move through the island chain with at least a week-long celebration at every stop. A “royal court” is chosen on each island, and the festivals are marked by floral parades, concerts, and craft fairs.

Not just a Southern U.S. “thang,” this deliciously messy treat can be found at every local festival and market.

The brainchild of respected Hawaiian cultural specialist Clifford Nae’ole, Maui’s Ritz-Carlton Kapalua resort hotel (see The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua) is transformed during Easter weekend into a honeypot of cultural activities. Cultural presentations and craft demonstrations are held throughout the festival. The traditional lū’au presented in a very contemporary setting celebrates Hawaiian food, music, and dance.

The sound of hundreds of thousands of firecrackers, the time-honored Lion Dance (see Lion Dance), and bountiful feasts of delicious and traditional foods mark Chinese New Year in the islands. The celebration takes place in early February, and you most certainly don’t have to be of Chinese heritage to take part.

Wide noodles are wokfried with bits of pork, green onion, and other vegetables and served in a paper cone.

Corn-batter-coated, deepfried hot dogs on a stick – not for the faint of heart!

Yes, even in paradise, this old-fashioned spun sugar treat is a hit with kids of all ages.

Hawai’i’s most important food (see Local Dishes) is celebrated each spring in Hāna. The first day of the three-day event features a symposium; then there’s an allday festival of food, music, hula, arts, and crafts; and finally a taro pancake breakfast.

Kālua pork, lomilomi salmon, chicken long rice, laualua , rice, poi , or any variation make up the modern Hawaiian plate.