Hoʻokipa Hawaiʻi Festival

A two-day community and culture event

September 12 & 13, 2026

At the Royal Hawaiian Center

Hoʻokipa - to host; to be hosted

Hoʻokipa Hawaiʻi Festival, is a two-day family-friendly event dedicated to the inclusion of Hawaiian culture and knowledge systems through the medium of Hawaiian culture exhibition, cultural practitioners and vendors that engages community and visitors in a greater understanding and appreciation for the Native Hawaiian culture and Hawaiʻi.

Kuhikuhi Marketplace is a curated mākeke designed to showcase small businesses whose products and services align with NaHHA's mission and foundational values. Each participating vendor has been personally invited by NaHHA and vetted to ensure their offerings reflect the principles of regeneration and represent Hawaiʻi in a culturally appropriate and pono way.

Featured within this year's marketplace are participants from the Pākōlea by NaHHA Program, a cohort-based small business incubator created specifically for early-stage Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs developing consumer packaged goods (CPG), food products, fashion and apparel. The program is designed to address long-standing barriers that prevent Native Hawaiian-owned businesses from accessing visitor industry markets and preparing cohort members for retail readiness. Supporting businesses whose products express the Intrinsic Value of Hawaiʻi are sustainable, socially responsible, culturally grounded, and locally produced.

Also included this year, are various small business members of a program called Keiki Rise, a youth focused small business incubator that supports ʻōpio (youth) entrepreneurs, driving small business innovation, product creation, and developing the next generation of leaders in the Hawaiʻi business sector. Introduce yourself to Coen Cadinha and Leah Dakroub, both youth and small business owners themselves, who lead the organization and its programs.

For more information and ways to participate, please email info@nahha.com

Pākōlea Buyers Showcase

New this year, NaHHA will host a complimentary VIP Event called the Pākōlea Buyers Showcase from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on September 12, prior to the public opening of the marketplace.

This exclusive event is reserved for buyers and procurement representatives from hotels, retail stores, attractions, activity providers, destination management companies, and other visitor industry businesses. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with Pākōlea cohort participants and Kuhikuhi Marketplace vendors, explore their products and services, and identify opportunities to incorporate Native Hawaiian-owned businesses into their own retail, gifting, programming, and guest experience offerings.

For many Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs, one of the greatest challenges is not product quality or readiness, but access. Industry buyers are often difficult to identify, reach, and engage, creating barriers that disproportionately impact small businesses with limited networks and resources. The Pākōlea Buyers Showcase is intentionally designed to create direct connections between buyers and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses in a meaningful and relationship-centered environment.

Through these initiatives NaHHA seeks to expand economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, strengthen pathways into the visitor industry supply chain, and ensure that tourism-related spending benefits Hawaiʻi's families and communities. By increasing visibility and access for Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, these efforts help keep local dollars circulating within Hawaiʻi's economy while reducing capital flight and fostering a more regenerative and equitable visitor industry.

Register HERE

4th Floor Stage Activities

4th Floor stage at Ka Lewa Lānai activities

Ka Lewa Lānai stage on the 4th floor of Royal Hawaiian Center will include hula demonstrations by award winning keiki hula hālau and mele from Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning artists.

Also featured are 50 Native Hawaiian vendors, including food booths, artisans, crafters and more!

Enjoy our 21+ experience in the Poi & Palaka Lounge, with beer, wine, and a selection of specialty spirits made right here in Hawaiʻi!

On Sunday enjoy our Poi & Palaka Mele Series on the Rooftop at Ka Lewa Lānai at the Royal Hawaiian Center featuring legends in Hawaiian music. As we build our our line-up of artists, more information will be shared!

(Photos to the Right feature last year’s 2025 line up, Kuʻuipo Kumukahi, Karen Keawehawaiʻi, the men of Ke Kai O Kahiki and Jeff Rasmussen.)

This event is partially supported through funding from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through the Hoʻomohala Kaiāulu Community Economic Development Grant Program.

NaHHA values these relationships and honors OHA and the many other sponsorship organizations for their commitment to authentic Native Hawaiian cultural representation and support of Native Hawaiian small business & community.