Events
Oahu is home to many of the world’s top amateur and professional sporting competitions and championships, as well as renowned events that showcase the island’s rich arts and culture scene.- Hawaii’s largest festival, the Aloha Festivals, is from August 25 - October 14, 2006. This year, the Festivals celebrate 60 years of preserving the Hawaiian culture and perpetuating the diverse customs and traditions of Hawaii. This year’s theme is Na Paniolo Nui O Hawaii or The Great Cowboys of Hawaii. Events on Oahu include: the appointment and appearances of The Royal Hawaiian Court; traditional Hawaiian services at historical Kawaiahao Church; traditional hula and chants at Iolani Palace; Paniolo exhibits at the Bishop Museum; family activities including Hawaiian arts and crafts; a Hoolaulea (street celebration) in Waikiki and downtown Honolulu; the Festival’s signature event, the Floral Parade, featuring the kings and queens of past Aloha Festivals and parade floats; and a concert celebration.
- On September 24, 2006, the 25th Annual Honolulu Century Bike Ride takes place on Oahu. Hawaii’s oldest and largest cycling event attracts more than 4,000 participants of all ages and abilities each year.
- On October 19-29, 2006, Oahu will play host to The 26th Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). HIFF has grown to be one of the finest festivals worldwide and is renowned for its discovery of Asian and Pacific feature films, documentaries and videos. The largest "East meets West" festival in the U.S. also conducts seminars, workshops and special award presentations with top Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. HIFF attracts more than 65,000 people each year and has screened more than 270 films over 40 countries. This year’s festival will focus on cinema of Vietnam and contemporary cinema of the Philippines, along with hosting a delegation of five of China’s most renowned directors and premieres of their most recent films.
- Professional and amateur golfers from around the world will come to Oahu in early 2007 to compete in one or more of the following tournaments: The Sony Open, January 8-14, at the Waialae Country Club; Turtle Bay Championship, January 22-28, at Turtle Bay Resort’s Arnold Palmer Course; SBS Open, February 12-17, at Turtle Bay Resort’s Arnold Palmer Course; and the inaugural Fields Open, February 20-25, at Ko Olina Golf Club.
- The North Shore of Oahu, world-renowned for its big wave surf during winter months, will once again be home to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing contest, November 12 - December 2, 2006. The contest attracts thousands of spectators each year, who are there to watch world’s top professional surfers compete for the Triple Crown title. The contest consists of three "jewels," OP Pro Hawaii, O’Neill World Cup of Surfing and Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.
Miscellaneous
- Hawaiian Airlines has expanded service to Hawaii from San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. Starting September 6, Hawaiian is expanding nonstop San Diego to Maui service from summer only to year round. On October 13, Hawaiian is increasing both its nonstop Seattle to Maui and Portland to Maui flights to daily service. Beginning November 19, Hawaiian will have four more weekly nonstop flights from Sacramento to Honolulu, increasing the total number of flights to 11. Next summer, Hawaiian is converting one of its Los Angeles to Honolulu flights from four flights weekly to daily service.
