Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026

Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026: A Hāmākua Coast Celebration

Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026 is confirmed for Saturday, March 7, 2026 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) at Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park on Hawaiʻi Island’s Hāmākua Coast. It’s a family-friendly Big Island community festival celebrating Hawaiian music, culture, and ʻohana, with local food, handmade crafts, and a silent auction that supports programs at Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School.

The Laupāhoehoe Music Festival is described as a “beloved community tradition” on the Big Island’s Hāmākua Coast, growing from a small local gathering into an annual celebration that brings families, friends, and visitors together at Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park. The festival is explicitly positioned as a way to enjoy live performances, local food, and the “spirit of aloha” while supporting student programs at Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School. For an islands audience, that’s a perfect combination: a scenic oceanfront setting with a real community purpose, not just a commercial event.

If you’re planning a Big Island trip in early March, this festival fits beautifully into a Hilo-side itinerary. Laupāhoehoe is close enough for an easy day trip but far enough to feel like you’ve discovered a quieter, more local stretch of Hawaiʻi.

Key Dates, Times, and Location

Verified 2026 Date, Time, and Venue

The official festival website confirms the 2026 date and time as March 7, 2026 | 10 AM – 5 PM. The same official source confirms the festival takes place at Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park. A festival social post also confirms the event happens on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Laupāhoehoe Point, reinforcing the same date and location.

This is the key planning info you need to book accommodations and map your route. Since the event is daytime and ends at 5 PM, it pairs well with a sunset drive or an early dinner back in Hilo or along the Hāmākua Coast.

What to Expect: Music, Food, Crafts, and ʻOhana

The festival’s official description emphasizes Hawaiian music, culture, and community, with an atmosphere designed for families and visitors to enjoy together. Confirmed onsite activities include:

• Live performances in an oceanfront park setting.
• Local food (“ono grinds”), handmade crafts, and local art shopping.
• Hawaiian crafts and games, including lei making and kid-friendly activities like a bouncy slide.
• A silent auction featuring donated items and gift certificates, with proceeds supporting student programs.

This mix is exactly what makes Laupāhoehoe Music Festival feel like a Big Island cultural day, not just a concert. You can set up a chair, snack your way through local vendors, browse crafts, and still feel like you’re in a community gathering rather than a ticketed stadium event.

Cultural and Community Significance on Hawaiʻi Island

The festival is explicitly tied to supporting programs at Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School, which gives the event a clear community purpose. That matters in Hawaiʻi, where visitors increasingly want experiences that feel respectful and locally grounded. A festival that directs proceeds to student programs creates a stronger connection between tourism, culture, and community benefit.

The official site also frames the event around ʻohana and the “spirit of aloha,” which is a reminder that this isn’t only entertainment. It’s also about togetherness, hospitality, and keeping local culture visible and celebrated.

Getting There and Practical Information

How to Get There (Hilo and Waimea Directions)

The official festival FAQ provides clear driving directions to Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park:

• From Hilo, head north on Highway 19 for about 33 miles, then follow signs to Laupāhoehoe Point Road.
• From Waimea, head south on Highway 19 for about 43 miles, watching for event signage and traffic guides as you approach the park.

These details make it easy to plan a day trip from either side of the island. If you’re staying in Hilo, it’s a straightforward coastal drive. If you’re staying in Waimea or the Kohala area, it’s still doable, but you’ll want an earlier start.

Parking and What to Bring (Important Practical Notes)

The festival confirms free parking will be available in designated lots near the event grounds, with signs and volunteers guiding arrivals. A crucial operational detail is that the festival strongly recommends bringing cash because cellular service is too poor for card transactions, and it describes the event as cash only for purchases.

The official “what should I bring?” recommendations include:

• Lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses).
• Cash for food, crafts, and vendor purchases.

The festival also states that alcohol, drugs, and pets (except service animals) are not permitted, and it identifies the event as drug and alcohol free. For families and travelers looking for a comfortable daytime cultural festival, that’s a helpful expectation-setter.

Tickets and Pricing

The official site states: “2026 ticket info – COMING SOON,” meaning ticket pricing is not yet published in the captured official source. Because of that, specific ticket prices for Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026 cannot be stated as verified at this time.

If you’re building a Big Island budget, plan for tickets plus cash spending on food, crafts, and the silent auction, then check the festival’s ticket page closer to March 2026 once the official pricing is released.

Plan Your Visit: Make Laupāhoehoe Music Festival Part of Your Big Island Trip

Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026 is confirmed for March 7, 2026 from 10 AM to 5 PM at Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park on the Big Island’s Hāmākua Coast, combining live music, local food, crafts, and family activities in a community-first island setting. With free parking, clear driving directions from Hilo and Waimea, and a cash-only purchase environment due to limited cell service, it’s an event that rewards simple planning. If you want a Hawaiʻi Island experience that feels heartfelt and local, set aside March 7, pack your cash and a beach chair, and spend the day at Laupāhoehoe Point where music, ocean air, and community come together.

Verified Information at a Glance

Event Name:

• Laupāhoehoe Music Festival 2026

Event Category:

• Music and cultural community festival (family-friendly)

Island/Region:

• Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), Hāmākua Coast

Confirmed Date:

• Saturday, March 7, 2026

Confirmed Time:

• 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Confirmed Venue:

• Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park

Confirmed Activities:

• Live performances, local food, handmade crafts, lei making, silent auction

Purpose/Beneficiary (Confirmed):

• Supports programs at Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School

Parking (Confirmed):

• Free parking in designated lots near event grounds

Purchases (Confirmed):

• Bring cash; cellular service too poor for card transactions; cash-only purchases

Ticket Pricing (2026):

• Not yet published, “coming soon”