Waikīkī hosts several free street parades every year, and if you can plan your trip accordingly, they’re a spectacle worth witnessing.
The dedication and teamwork of our local communities in bringing Waikīkī’s incredible street parades to life is truly remarkable, and we’re grateful to witness the magic year after year.
These vibrant processions celebrate Hawaiʻi’s rich history, people and cultures, each with its own mission and story to tell — experiencing a Waikīkī parade is a moment you won’t forget!
In this post, we highlight Waikīkī’s upcoming street parades for 2025.
Table of Contents
- 1. Martin Luther King Day Celebration Parade (Jan)
- 2. Honolulu Festival Grand Parade (Mar)
- 3. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Mar)
- 4. National Vietnam Veteran’s Day Parade (Mar)
- 5. Salute To Youth Parade (Apr)
- 6. King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade (Jun)
- 7. Pan Pacific Festival Parade (Jun)
- 8. God’s ʻOhana Parade Day (Jul)
- 9. Aloha Festivals Floral Parade (Sep)
- 10. Honolulu Pride Parade (Oct)
- 11. Waikiki Holiday Parade (Nov)
- 12. Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade (Dec)
1. Martin Luther King Day Celebration Parade (Jan)
Paying tribute to Dr. King’s legacy with a march for unity, peace and equality.
📍 Ala Moana Beach Park › Ala Moana Blvd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Waikīkī Shell
⏰ When: TBC Jan 2026
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
This annual parade, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Coalition, celebrates and pays tribute to the inspirational man who stood for equality, peace, civil rights and fairness for all. The Martin Luther King Day Celebration Parade features 700+ marchers, vehicles, decorated floats and live bands. At the parades’ end, join the Unity Festival at Kapiʻolani Park Bandstand.
2. Honolulu Festival Grand Parade (Mar)
A cultural spectacle of dazzling performances from the Pacific Rim.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Waikīkī Shell
⏰ When: TBC Mar 2026 from 4-8pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
Honolulu Festival’s purpose is to highlight the different cultures and traditions of the islands and neighboring Pacific Rim countries. The festival is a three-day party, culminating in the epic Grand Parade, organized by Honolulu Festival Foundation. On parade day, the streets of Waikīkī are illuminated by Asian lanterns and costumed dragons appear, followed by artfully designed floats, marchers, bands, performers and dance troupes from all across the region.
3. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Mar)
A lively Waikīkī tradition celebrating Irish heritage with bagpipes and green galore.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: TBC Mar 2026 from 12-1:30pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates a religious holiday dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint. In honor of this day, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has morphed into a lively event organized by The Society of the Friends of St. Patrick. It’s a time when the vast number of Irish Americans celebrate their ancestral homeland with mugs of green colored beer, leprechauns, costumed dancers, marching bands and plenty of partying! It’s a fun, free parade to attend and everyone is welcome.
4. National Vietnam Veteran’s Day Parade (Mar)
Paying tribute to Vietnam veterans with a patriotic procession through Waikīkī.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: TBC Mar 2026 from 6-8pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The National Vietnam Veteran’s Day Parade takes place in Hawaiʻi each year. Why Hawaiʻi? The islands were a top R&R location for troops, plus, it was the first place that U.S. POWs returned to following the war. The event, organized by the Vietnam Memorial Parade Committee, honors and celebrates the men and women who served in Vietnam to preserve our freedom and liberty. This year, the parade is expected to attract 1,500 marchers, 30 vehicles and 12 bands.
5. Salute To Youth Parade (Apr)
Featuring Hawaiʻi’s talented performers, from marching bands to cheer squads.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: TBC Apr 2026 from 6-8pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
This year hosts the Salute to Youth Parade in Waikīkī, sponsored by The Hawaiʻi Invitational International Music Festival and Coastline Travel Advisors Inc. The parade is a highlight of a week-long music festival showcasing different genres, from jazz to orchestral and live band performances. In the parade, expect to see marching high school bands, auxiliary units, drill teams and dancers as you find a spot to sit along Kalākaua Avenue at sunset.
6. King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade (Jun)
Colorful flower-draped floats and pāʻū riders in honor of Hawaiʻi’s first King.
📍 ʻIolani Palace › King St › Punchbowl St › Ala Moana Blvd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: Sat 14 Jun 2025 from 9am-1pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade honors King Kamehameha the Great. The event’s legacy dates to 1871, when the king decreed a national holiday to celebrate the achievements of his grandfather – known as the father of Hawaiʻi. It’s one of the city’s most colorful parades. Honolulu statues are adorned with floral lei, floats are dressed in beautiful flowers, plus music, cultural performances and hula dancers fill the streets.
7. Pan Pacific Festival Parade (Jun)
A festive blend of cultures marching down Kalākaua Avenue in a grand finale.
📍 Fort DeRussy Park › Kalākaua Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: Sun 15 Jun 2025 from 5-7pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The three-day Pan Pacific Festival, once known as the Matsuri, first took place in 1980. It was a way to introduce Japanese culture, food and the arts to the people of Hawaiʻi. As the festival grew, it expanded to include other cultures, thus, becoming symbolic of Hawaiʻi’s diverse international community. The Pan Pacific Festival Parade, run by Pan-Pacific Festival Foundation, is the final event of the weekend. The colorful procession features steel bands, taiko drummers, cheerleaders, hula dancers, ʻukelele performers and much more.
8. God’s ʻOhana Parade Day (Jul)
A faith-based celebration promoting love, unity and community in Waikīkī.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: Sat 12 Jul 2025 from 9-11am (TBC)
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
This July event is organized by the First Baptist Church of Hawaiʻi. The God’s ʻOhana Parade Day invites families from all across the island to gather together to pray, worship and celebrate everything special in their lives. Bring a chair and relax beneath a shady palm to observe this lively parade filled with antique cars, marching bands, floats, trolleys and horseback riders. The event culminates with a program of worship at the bandstand of Kapiʻolani Park.
9. Aloha Festivals Floral Parade (Sep)
Hawaiian culture on display including elegant pāʻū riders (featured image).
📍 Ala Moana Beach Park › Ala Moana Blvd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Waikīkī Shell
⏰ When: Sat 27 Sep 2025 from 9am-12pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, sponsored by Aloha Week Hawaiʻi Inc., Aloha Festivals and the Waikīkī Improvement Association, is a true celebration of Hawaiian culture and traditions. The spectacle will include everything from colorful floats draped in fragrant flowers, to local performers, pāʻū riding demonstrations, hula dancing and Hawaiian music.
10. Honolulu Pride Parade (Oct)
A joyful march through Waikīkī supporting love, diversity and LGBTQIA+ pride.
📍 Ala Moana Blvd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: Sat 18 Oct 2025 from 3:30-6pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The annual Honolulu Pride Parade, sponsored by Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation, is a fully inclusive event held each year in October. It serves to unite LGBTQIA+ communities from the islands and beyond, bringing everyone together to celebrate freedom of self-expression, accompanied by lots of music and fun activities. This year’s parade (open to all) will feature merchandise and craft vendors, entertainers, food and an ‘ohana zone.
11. Waikiki Holiday Parade (Nov)
A heartfelt salute to Pearl Harbor heroes with marching bands from across the U.S.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Monsarrat Ave › Queen Kapiʻolani Park
⏰ When: Fri 28 Nov 2025 from 6.30-9.30pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The Waikiki Holiday Parade was started by the late Jake Pepper, a former Navy veteran, as a way to pay tribute to survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks that took place on 7 December 1941. The annual spectacle is held on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day each year. The cavalcade begins with a torch-lit procession from Fort DeRussy Beach Park. Find a spot along Kalākaua Avenue just before sunset to watch marching bands, military units and performers aside a shimmering backdrop of Waikīkī hotels festooned in lights and flowers.
12. Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade (Dec)
Commemorating 7 December 1941, with a patriotic evening procession.
📍 Saratoga Rd › Kalākaua Ave › Honolulu Zoo
⏰ When: Sun 7 Dec 2025 from 5.30-7.30pm
🎟️ Cost: Free to watch
The Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade remembers the past while being a beacon of hope and peace for the future. The parade, held in December, on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, honors and pays tribute to survivors and veterans whose service preserved liberty and freedom for the people of the world. The event, sponsored by Pearl Harbor Tours, promises to include marching bands, army veterans, floats, auxiliary vehicles and much more.
In summary, from cultural celebrations to historical tributes, Waikīkī’s parades showcase the island’s rich heritage — be sure to catch one during your visit.
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