Pick your passion, and it’s likely that Oahu has a festival to match. Year-round, the island’s wide variety of special events reflects its overall diversity from shore to shore.
As Oahu’s celebrations invite clients to explore Hawaii’s heritage, history and customs, they also lead to meaningful interactions between visitors and locals. Better yet, they’re often free or open to the public at a minimal charge.
This all makes Oahu’s calendar a vital and successful tool for travel advisors, according to Karishma Chowfin, director of sales for Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB).
“Curating memorable itineraries around our signature events offers business-building opportunities for advisors as they share their knowledge and expertise,” Chowfin said. “In doing so, they can provide their clients with a full range of vacation experiences.”
Many Oahu events focus on the destination’s ethnic mix. Each year, for instance, the Honolulu Festival honors Asian, Pacific and Hawaiian traditions (March); the Pan-Pacific Festival shines a spotlight on regional song and dance (June); and other annual parties salute Greek, Korean, Okinawan and Samoan lifestyles.
Hawaiiana takes center stage at such favorites as the King Kamehameha Celebration (June); Prince Lot Hula Festival (July); and Aloha Festivals (September), a longstanding highlight.
Foodies whet their appetites at yearly flings such as Waikiki Spam Jam (April) and Hawaii Food and Wine Festival (October). Music lovers get in tune with Mele Mei, a medley of shows in the spring; and the delightful Ukulele Festival, featuring strummers of all ages (July). Crafters and shoppers make a beeline for the Made in Hawaii Festival (August), while movie buffs are drawn to the Rainbow Film Festival (August) and Hawaii International Film Festival (November).
Sporting events bring more reasons to gather, from Duke’s Oceanfest (August) to the end-of-year Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Clients can join the action during challenges such as the Great Aloha Run (February) and Honolulu Marathon (December).
Chowfin encourages advisors to monitor Oahu’s happenings through OVB’s webinars, e-news-letters and online calendar.
“Matching travelers with enriching Oahu experiences is important to satisfying clients and ensuring repeat business,” Chowfin said.
The Details
Oahu Visitors Bureau
www.visit-oahu.com
