Community Calendar

Recharge your body and mind with a relaxing yoga session and then practice some mindfulness on a relaxing hike through the arboretum.

Science shows that spending time in nature and practicing mindfulness, like yoga and meditation, can do wonders for your well-being. Now you can experience these benefits for yourself! Recharge your body and mind with a relaxing yoga session in a studio overlooking beautiful Mānoa Valley and practice mindfulness on a silent hike on a lush trail at Lyon Arboretum. No yoga experience needed.

The Hawaii Sustainability Expo and Electric Home Show celebrates Earth Day 2026 at the Blaisdell center! Attendees can test drive up to 10 EVs without having to go dealer to dealer to dealer, ride e-bikes/skate/hoverboards, eat at the farm-to-expo food court, play cornhole at the all-electric tailgate and BBQ, see the latest in induction cookstoves technology, heat pump technology, solar portable power stations, and all sorts of other climate-friendly advances of the clean tech revolution.

Bestselling author Bill McKibben headlines an amazing lineup of speakers, panels, and workshops throughout the weekend and homeowners will have a chance to see all the greatest home improvement technologies available and meet qualified contractors who can help them get their home all-electric and solar powered.

It’s “Chocolate in Paradise” for the 13th Big Island Chocolate Festival April 23-25 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Spa. New this year is a free Chocolate Farmers Market showcasing local cacao growers and chocolate makers. In addition, the annual free college student chocolate competition is open to spectators. Think Master Chef college style!

“These students are the future chefs of Hawai‘i,” says Farsheed Bonakdar, president of the Kona Cacao Association. “They will show their skills and creativity to produce plated desserts that will be critqued by a panel of high-octane chefs. The fruits of this competition can only be beneficial for our food service industry, which caters largely to our tourism industry.”

In addition, Bonakdar adds the students will further benefit by attending culinary demonstrations during the festival, which are also open to the public. “Itʻs a win-win for these young people to meet and learn from top-caliber chefs.”

Festival activities kick off Thursday with a plantation tour at Konaʻs Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory before continuing Friday at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for the Chocolate Farmers Market, college competition and cacao farming and processing seminars. Culinary Tasting Demonstrations are Saturday culminating with the fun fundraising gala and silent auction.

The indoors and outside evening gala offers walkabout booths for savory and sweet chocolate-inspired culinary creations. Enjoy speciality mocktails, unlimited beer and wine—including poured selections by Volcano Winery— plus a colossal chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and pastries.

The 5:30-9 p.m. gala opens with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and fun includes Peopleʻs Choice voting, edible chocolate “portraits,” a zany photo booth, silent auction and DJ with dancing. Choreography by Kona Dance and Performing Arts Youth Company will wow attendees with “Bonbon” and “Restoration.” An awards presentaion will celebrate winners of the student competition, Peopleʻs Choice and Best Cacao Bean.

All event tickets and packages are sold online at https://bigislandchocolatefestival.com and additional tax and ticketing fees apply. General admission gala tickets are $109. A VIP experience with three special pupus and beverage pairings, private wine bar and reserved table seating is available for $179—limited tickets available. The silent auction bidding opens online noon April 21 to benefit 2026 non-profit beneficiaries: Kona Dance & Performing Arts, ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Assoc. and participating culinary students.

The three-day festival itinerary includes:
April 23: Guided Farm Tour in Kona, Tickets are $30 each or $50 for two.
Sampling included at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory

The rest of the activities are at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort:
April 24: Free Student Chocolate Competiton
Watch student teams from three Hawai‘i community colleges compete 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to create plated desserts using chocolate and cacao. King’s Hawaiian is sponsoring $5,000 in scholarship awards for the top three winning teams that will be presented during the gala.

April 24: Free Chocolate Farmers Market
Local makers sell cacao, chocolate bars and products using their artisan chocolate 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 24: Farm/Processing Seminars 11 a.m.-4:15 p.m..: $45 for all four, $60 for two attendees
• 11 a.m.-Noon: “The Ins & Outs of Small-Scale Cacao Processing for Micro-Farms” by Dr. Raven Hanna.
• 12:15-1:15 p.m.: “Post-Harvest Cacao Processing” by Dr. Nat Bletter, founder and “flavormeister” of Madre Chocolate. Bletter was inspired to start his traditional ingredient and artisanal chocolate company after researching plants while working on his doctorate in ethnobotany.
• 1:30-2:15 p.m.: “Nematode Biocontrol Against Queensland Longhorned Beetle” by Ema Stierhoff. Find out about highly effective, research-backed nematode treatments to combat the most destructive insect pest to cacao: the Queensland Longhorned Beetle.
• 2:30-4:15 p.m.: “The Importance of Properly Tempering Chocolate” is presented by world pastry champion Chef Stéphane Tréand, MOF Pâtissier. Chef demonstrates why mastering the art of tempring is an essential skill for cacao growers.

April 25: Culinary Demonstrations with Tasting $89 for all three or $44 each
• 10-11:30 a.m.: Culinary Demonstration by Four Seasons Resort Maui Executive Pastry Chef Ashish Thalakkat.
• 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.: “How to Make THE Best Bonbons” returns by popular demand by award-winning Pastry Chef Helen Hong of the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection.
• 1:30-3 p.m.: “Creating an Artistic Chocolate Showpiece” by world pastry champion Chef Stéphane Tréand, MOF Pâtissier Chocolatier and international pastry shop consultant. Chef is a master at crafting all kinds of chocolate treats and standout sculptures. The masterpiece will be on display during the festival gala.

The Big Island Chocolate Festival is presented by the Kona Cacao Association (KCA). Support is provided by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program.

April 4-30, 2026
Opening Reception Sunday, April 5, 2026, 6-8pm

We’re excited to present Stillness in Motion: An Exploration in Pinhole Photography, a group film photography exhibition curated by Jana Uyeda. Experience a collection of dreamy, imaginative images captured through long exposures—where time, light, and motion come together in beautifully unexpected ways. Come immerse yourself in this unique visual journey.

Photographers include:
Alex Yates @pinholista
Brendan Comey @thatdarkroomlife
Greg Malais @blobmatters
Jana Uyeda @jana_obscura
LisaMarie Brems
Monica Smith @monismithphotography
T E Schlemmer @the_schlem

A pinhole camera is a simple, lensless device that uses a tiny aperture—known as a pinhole—to create an image. Essentially, it’s a lightproof box with a small hole on one side. Light from a scene passes through this opening and projects an inverted image onto the opposite surface, a phenomenon known as the camera obscura effect. The size of the projected image depends on both the distance between the subject and the pinhole, and the distance between the pinhole and the surface where the image appears.

A Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is observed on the last Sunday of April, every year.

Come see for yourself the Beauty of Pastel in an exhibit sponsored by Pastel Artists of Hawaii (PAH). The exhibit, open to all pastel artists statewide, will be juried by Terrilynn Dubreuil, She is an internationally recognized “Master Circle
Pastellist with IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies), a juried Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), Signature member of Pastel Society of Maine,” among others…

PAH is a Hawaii-wide group of artists who produce works using soft, sometimes known as dry, pastels. The pieces must consist of at least 80% soft pastel. Used for hundreds of years by the likes of Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-August Renoir, soft pastels are nothing more than pigment (or color) held in a stick form by a minimum amount of binder, allowing the artists many ways of applying and manipulating the color.

Scenes from Hawaii tend to feature prominently in PAH paintings, but you can also see portraits, still life, and maybe even a few abstracts. Come see some views of the islands and more through the loving eyes of these local artists.

Painters and ceramicists collide in "Forms of Voids." Two local artists—painter Kloe Kang and ceramicist Suzanne Wolfe—explore the symbolic power of the bowl, bridging the gap between ethereal painting and tactile clay.

After first collaborating in 2007 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts (Linekona), Kang and Wolfe reunite for a shared investigation of one of humanity's most elemental objects. The exhibit uses the simple form of a "bowl" to explore complex themes of identity and physical reality.

In this renewed partnership, the artists transition from sharing a studio to sharing a conceptual anchor. Kang’s paintings function as "visual pronouns" exploring the ephemeral state of being, while Wolfe’s ceramic forms remain rooted in material reality, layered with intricate text and imagery. It is a compelling look at how local artists collaborate and evolve across different mediums over decades.

Learn the art of lei making at the Hawaii State Library on the 2nd Floor, Art, Music & Recreation Section.
We will be making tī leaf lei just in time for your next graduation celebration or family lūʻau.

All supplies will be provided, just bring yourself and/or a friend or family member.

Space is limited, reserve your space by calling (808)586-3520.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. All programs are subject to change.

Join us in Honolulu for an immersive honolulu turkish mosaic lamp workshop experience. You'll design and create your own Turkish mosaic lamp using hand-cut stained glass tiles and beads, learning traditional techniques passed down through generations.

Our Honolulu studio provides a welcoming, creative environment perfect for both beginners and experienced makers. In 2 hours, you'll complete your project with guidance from our expert instructor, working in a group of up to 1-20 participants. No prior experience is needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy the process of making something uniquely yours.

April 25 Party Theme: Stray Kids (K-pop)

Join us for a fun and engaging kids’ evening designed to inspire movement, creativity, and connection. The night includes dancing, learning choreography, arts and crafts, karaoke, and an exciting Silent Disco experience.

Parents are invited to enjoy a night off while we take care of the fun. Simply send your child with dinner or snacks packed, and we’ll handle the rest. At pickup, families will be treated to a short performance showcasing what the kids have learned during the evening.

We begin with calm coloring and guided introduction activities to help children feel comfortable and connected with new friends. The evening continues with a hip-hop dance class, creative craft time, singing, and concludes with a high-energy Silent Disco complete with laser lights.

Drop-off begins at 4:45pm.

We look forward to welcoming your child for a memorable and joyful evening!

Introducing Molokaʻi’s Augie B. “Lopaka” Colón Jr., one of the top Latin-Afro-Cuban-Hawaiian percussionists in the World. A multi Na Hōkū Hanohano Award winner (Hawaiʻi’s version of the Grammy®), Lopaka is an energy explosion on and off the stage, adding a unique ingredient to every band, show, or musical project he is part of. His vibrant percussive sounds and exotic animal calls will now come center stage for his latest project “Lopaka Colón’s Sophisticated Savages.”

The Sophisticated Savages will pay homage to Lopaka’s deep musical lineage, as well as to the legacy of Lopaka’s Father, the “original” Sophisticated Savage and World famous percussionist, Augie B. Colón Sr. Join Lopaka as he takes you on a rhythmic excursion across exotic Polynesia.